US3885468A

US3885468A - Automatic type setting apparatus for printing units

Info

Publication number: US3885468A
Application number: US055521A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wolfgang Leihe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-07-22
Filing date: 1970-07-16
Publication date: 1975-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-27
Also published as: DE1937128B2; AT323205B; GB1309316A; DE1937128A1; DK126765B

Abstract

A plurality of wheels are rotated into printing position by means of individual circular adjusting wheels. The adjusting wheels are arranged along a mounting shaft and include an internal lug-like projection extending radially towards the shaft. A stepping rack is positioned to extend transversely through an open portion in each adjusting wheel. Entrainment devices are mounted on pivotal slide bars and are moved progressively by the rack from alignment with one adjusting wheel to the next in sequential order. Actuation of a press key corresponding to the figure to be printed positions a stop pin by means of a control cable. A solenoid actuates the setting mechanism which rotates the pivotal slides. Consequently, the entrainment devices rotate the projection on the adjusting wheel into alignment with the stop pin to properly position the respective type wheel. Correction of a type wheel position can be made by manually positioning the entrainment devices on the slide bars and reactivating the proper press key. A plurality of line impressions can be made by duplicating the adjustable type wheel apparatus. One set of press keys is sufficient for a plurality of type lines by repositioning a plurality of corresponding cable sets below the fixedly positioned press keys.

Description

United States Patent Leihe AUTOMATIC TYPE SETTING APPARATUS FOR PRINTING UNITS [76] Inventor: Wolfgang Leihe, No. 9 Bulowplatz,

585 Solingen, Germany [22] Filed: July 16, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 55,521

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 22, 1969 Germany 1937128 [52] US. Cl l0l/93.l8; 101/110 [51] Int. Cl B4lj 7/08 [58] Field of Search 101/93 R, 95, 99, 93 C,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,308,907 1/1943 Anderson 101/93 R 2,349,660 5/1944 Hughes et al. 101/93 R 2,725,818 12/1955 Parsons 101/93 R 2,818,801 1/1958 Hart et al 101/99 3,031,954 5/1962 Oldenburg et al. 101/93 R 3,051,082 8/1962 Hagemann 101/93 R 3,151,546 10/1964 Clary et al. 101/93 R 3,450,041 6/1969 Gentry et a1. 101/93 R Primary E.raminer-Edgar S. Burr Assistant Examiner-Edward M. Coven Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Markva & Smith [451 May 27, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A plurality of wheels are rotated into printing position by means of individual circular adjusting wheels. The adjusting wheels are arranged along a mounting shaft and include an internal lug-like projection extending radially towards the shaft. A stepping rack is positioned to extend transversely through an open portion in each adjusting wheel. Entrainment devices are mounted on pivotal slide bars and are moved progressively by the rack from alignment with one adjusting wheel to the next in sequential order. Actuation of a press key corresponding to the figure to be printed positions a stop pin by means of a control cable. A solenoid actuates the setting mechanism which rotates the pivotal slides. Consequently, the entrainment devices rotate the projection on the adjusting wheel into alignment with the stop pin to properly position the respective type wheel. Correction of a type wheel position can be made by manually positioning the entrainment devices on the slide bars and reactivating the proper press key. A plurality of line impressions can be made by duplicating the adjustable type wheel apparatus. One set of press keys is sufficient for a plurality of type lines by repositioning a plurality of corresponding cable sets below the fixedly positioned press keys.

12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures /NVEN TOR WOLFGANG LEI'HE PATENTEU M27195 1885,4653

SHEET 5 I 31A INVEN TOR WOLFGA NG L E/HE PATENTEUHAYQ? m5 3,885,468

SHEET 6 [N VEN TOR WOLFGANG L El HE AUTOMATIC TYPE SETTING APPARATUS FOR PRINTING UNITS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a printing unit for making impressions at intervals on a record support or notation carrying means, particularly a continuously moving strip of labelling material, with type wheels which are rotatably mounted on a shaft and are adjustable by means of adjusting wheels and against which the material on which the impressions are to be made is pressed by means of pressure pieces.

Printing units of this kind, with which the type wheels are adjustable by means of adjusting wheels are already known. These adjusting wheels, however, have to be operated by hand, which is a tedious and timeconsuming process. The fact that the adjusting wheels are positioned to the side of the type wheels has a further disadvantageous effect, as regards the dimensions having to be given to the printing unit. Neither is it possible to print more than one line at a time with printing units of this kind. Label printing machines are also known to be fitted with printing units with which the type wheels are adjustable by means of pressure keys, via so-called pin boxes," which enable a printed line to be stored up. Printing units of this kind, however, likewise suffer from serious drawbacks. Relatively long transmission levers are required, for example, for the adjustment of the type wheels, with unfavourable effects, particularly on the dimensions of the printing unit. With these printing units likewise, moreover, only one line can be printed at a time. A further serious disadvantage resides in the fact that if any alteration has to be made to the printed line stored up, all the type wheels or adjusting wheels required for the storage of the said line have to be re-set, resulting in an unwelcome interruption to the cycle of operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the invention to provide a printing unit of comparatively simple construction, where the setting of the adjusting wheels associated with the type wheels by means of press keys is concerned, and enabling an alteration to be made at any desired point in a printed line without the restorage" of that part of the line that does not require alteration.

A further object of the invention is to enable the adjusting wheels of a further printing unit to be set by means of one and the same system of keys, so that at least two lines can be printed, if necessary.

To attain these objects the present invention resides in the fact that the peripherally toothed adjusting wheels which mesh with a toothing on the type wheels and which each have a lug-like protection on their internal periphery are traversed by a rack which is guided on a slide bar and also on two further slide bars, enclosing the said slide bar between them and pivotably mounted by their ends and by means of angular arms on a shaft, and which, by means of a semicircular bar rigidly mounted on it, is loosely engaged with slides which are guided on the pivotable slide bars and which are fitted with entrainment devices, respectively, each interacting with one of the projections of the adjusting wheels, and with which the pivotable slide bars are guided, when pivoted on the bar, to which rack a thrust is imparted via a slider which controls a transport lever capable of engaging the rack and which is guided on a shaft and which is displaceable by means of a lifting electro-magnet energized by the pressure of a finger on a press key, and which is provided at the end farther away from the lifting electro-magnet with an extension tapering in the forward direction, while each of the press keys serving to set the adjusting wheels is allocated a Bowden control cable which can be operated by said press keys and which, by that end of its core which is further away from the press key, the said end being armoured and said core resting in two arms of a supporting device when the Bowden control cable is actuated, serves as a stop for the arms which, for the transport of an adjusting wheel, pivot together with the slide bars bearing the entrainment device for the adjusting wheels, when the slider is thrust forward and as a result of the action of the latter.

The construction of the printing is considerably simplified by the fact that its adjusting wheels are controlled, in accordance with the invention, by the aid of a Bowden control cable which can be operated by means of the press keys. The use of Bowden cables as control elements also enables a more compact construction to be adopted than in the case of known print ing units fitted with a keyboard, as the Bowden cables, owing to their flexibility, for example, by comparison with transmission levers, can be positioned in a manner which makes full use of the space already occupied by the printing unit so that the system of keys can be mounted on the actual printing unit itself. In particular, however, the fact that the rack, with the entrainment devices, can be adjusted not only mechanically but also by hand in respect of each individual adjusting wheel, makes it possible to effect an alteration within the stored printed line without having to cancel the rest of the material thus stored up.

The invention also resides in the fact that each of the press keys serving to operate the Bowden control cables is each allocated a further Bowden control cable, one end of which is situated outside the zone of action of the press keys, while its other end is connected up to a second printing unit, and that all the Bowden control cables are mounted in a plate longitudinally displaceable in respect of the press keys and serving to move one Bowden control cable out of the zone of action of the press keys and to move the further Bowden control cable into said zone of action of said press keys.

This enables the adjusting wheels of the two printing units to be set one after the other, by means of one and the same system of keys, so that two lines can be printed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be de scribed by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of a printing unit without adjusting device;

FIG. 2 is an elevation in the direction shown by the arrow A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation in the direction shown by the arrow B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section, on larger scale, along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section, on a larger scale, along the line V-V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevation, on a larger scale, of a constructional detail;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section, on a larger scale, through a constructional detail,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the adjusting device with the keyboard;

FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a section along the line XI-Xl of FIG. 8, a press key having been actuated, and

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section, on a larger scale, through a constructional detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREP EMBODIMENT In the drawing, in which the feed device for the strip of label material that is to be drawn off a delivery roll, for example, is not shown as it does not form part of the invention, the reference numeral 1 denotes the stand of a printing

unit having walls

2 and 3 between and through which a shaft 4 extends so as to project by its ends from

said walls

2 and 3. Type wheels 5 which as well as their inking device are already known in the art and require no detailed explanation are rotatably mounted on the shaft 4. Each of the type wheels 5 is provided on one of its faces with a circular toothing 6. A peripherally toothed adjusting wheel 7 is associated with each of the type wheels 5. The adjusting wheels 7 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 8 which passes through the

walls

2 and 3 and are in mesh with the toothing 6 on the type wheels 5. With each adjusting wheel 7 is associated a double-armed ratchet pawl 10 which is pivotable about a horizontal shaft 9 and one arm of which bears a roller 11 while the other arm is engaged by a tension spring 12 under the action of which the ratchet pawl 10, by its roller 11, engages the toothing of the adjusting wheel 7 in order to fix the adjusting wheel 7 and the type wheel 5 associated therewith in the selected position (FIG. 4).

On that end of the shaft 8 which extends from the wall 3 a bushing 13 is mounted which bears an axially and radially displaceable cylindrical slider 14 (FIG. 7). One end of the bushing 13 has an annular widened part 15 by which it rests in a recess 16 of the slider 14. The outer casing of the slider 14 is provided, over about half its periphery, with a V-shaped widened extension 17 directed towards the wall 3. The slider 14 is also provided, over about half its periphery, with a widened part forming a lug 18 having a bevelled portion 19. On that end of the bushing 13 which extends from the slider 14 is firmly mounted an annular pressure piece 20, a ball bearing 21 being situated between said pressure piece and said bushing 13. The slider 14 is operated by means of a lifting electro-magnet 22 affixed by its housing to a further wall 23 belonging to the stand 1 and extending parallel to the wall 3. A pin 25 is affixed by one of its ends to the front end of the armature 24 of the lifting electro-magnet 22 and is loosely engaged by its other end with the pressure piece 20 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Two restoring springs 26 each act by one end on the pressure piece 20 and are affixed by their other ends to the wall 23. To the outside of the wall 23 is affixed a holding device 27 for a pad 28 which serves as a stop for the armature 24 of the lifting electro-magnet 22. On one end of the shaft 8 are mounted two

angular arms

29 and 30, each of which is pivotable by one of its ends and which are situated opposite to each other by their other ends and which in the initial position rest against padded stops 31 and 32 RED provided on the outside of the wall 2 (FIG. 3). On the other end of the shaft 8, furthermore, are two further

angular arms

33 and 34, each pivotable by one of its ends, these shafts being likewise situated opposite to 5 each other by their other ends and preceding the slider 14. The

arms

29, and 33, 34 are secured by adjusting nuts 35 against axial displacement on the shaft 8. The

arms

29, 33 and 30, 34 are rigidly interconnected by

slide bars

36 and 37, respectively, of square cross section. These slide bars pass through arc-shaped

perforations

38 and 39 in the

walls

2 and 3. The

arms

33 and 34

bear rollers

40 and 41 respectively which rest on the shanks of

screws

42 and 43 mounted in the

arms

33 and 34 respectively (FIG. 5). The

rollers

40 and 41 are situated in relation to each other in such a way as to form an acute angle in the prolongation of their axes which is directed towards the shaft 8 of the adjusting wheels 7. The slider 14, when in its initial position, rests by the front end of its extension 17 between the

rollers

40 and 41 of the

arms

33 and 34, in such a way that the

arms

33 and 34, with their

rollers

40 and 41, roll over the ascending edges of the extension 17, when the slider 14 is fed forward, and pivot towards one another in the process. A slide bar 44 of square cross section is arranged above the shaft 8 and is rigidly mounted by one of its ends in the wall 2 and by its other end, which passes through the perforation 39 of the wall 3, in the wall 23. Underneath the slide bar 44 is a rack 45 of which both longitudinal edges are provided with a toothing and which can move along the slide bar 44 by two cylindrical slides 46 and 47. The rack 45 is displaceable by means of a handle 48. This is affixed to a cylindrical arm 49 which is rigidly connected with the slide 47 by means of a transversal arm 50 and which is mounted on a slide bar 51 with a slide fit. This latter bar is rigidly mounted by one end in the wall 2 and by its other end, passing through the wall 3, in the wall 23. The arm 49, when being displaced in one direction, likewise passes through the wall 3. On the slide bar 51 is mounted a setting ring 52 which serves as a stop for the arm 49 or for the rack 45. On the slide 46 of the rack 45, and transversely to the latter is rigidly mounted a semicircular bar 53 on which are guided the slide bars 36 and 37 interconnecting the

arms

29, 33 and 30, 34, together with

slides

54 and 55 which are mounted on the said slide bars and which are each provided with a guide slit and with which at the same time the rack 45 is guided on the slide bars 36 and 37 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The

slides

54 and 55 are each provided with a lug-shaped

entrainment device

56 and 57 respectively, each of this latter interacting with a lug-shaped projection 58 situated on the internal periphery of each adjusting wheel 7. The projections 58 are situated inside the pivoting range of the

slides

54 and 55 and of the

entrainment devices

56 and 57 situated on the latter. The lug 18 of the slider 14 is preceded by a roller 59 which is mounted on the side of a lever 61 vertically pivotable by one of its ends at the point marked in the stand 1 (FIG. 2). A double-armed transport lever 62 which is likewise vertically pivotable, at the point marked 63, in the stand 1, and of which the arm directed downwards is provided with a bend 64 on which the lever rests by its lug-shaped end farther away from the articulation point. That arm of the transport lever 62 which is directed upwards is subject to the tractive force of the restoring springs 65 affixed by one end to the arm and by its other end to a pin 66 provided on the stand 1. That arm of the transport lever 62 which is directed upwards is provided with an angular extension 67 by which it can engage the toothing 45' on the rack 45. It is also guided by the extension 67 in an oblique slit 68 of a plate 69 affixed to the slide bar 44 (FIG. 6). This positive guiding action ensures that the transport lever 62 will engage, by its extension 67, the toothing 45' on the rack 45. On the lower side of the plate 69 a double-armed lever 70 is mounted so as to be horizontally pivotable, this lever being subject to the tractive force of a helical spring 71 acting on one arm of the lever 70. The lever 70 is provided on its other arm with a roller 72 with which it engages the toothing 45" of the rack 45, for the purpose of fixing said rack 45 in the particular position selected. The component part marked 73 is a setting device (FIGS. 8 to 11). This latter possesses a desk-like plate 74 which press keys 75 for setting the type wheels 5, a press key 76 serving as a blank key, and a press key 78 interacting with a switch 77 and serving to enable the driving motor of the feed device, eg for a strip of labelling material, to be switched on and off. Underneath the plate 74 are two further plates marked 79 and 80, these being situated at a certain distance apart, by the aid of spacers 81, the plate 79 being fixed in position. The plate 80 is longitudinally displaceable, by the aid of elongated slots 82, on the smooth shaft of insertion screws 83 mounted in the lower spacers 81. The displacement of the plate 80 is effected by means of an adjusting lever 84 situated on the plate 74. The

press keys

75, 76 and 78 each pass by a neck extension 85 through the plate 74 and also pass, when pressure is applied with the finger, through the plate 79. Each of the

press keys

75, 76 and 78 is provided on its neck extension 85 with two mutually

opposite projections

86 and 87. On each neck extension 85 is mounted a prestressed helical spring 88 which rests by one end on the plate 79 and by its other end on the

extensions

86 and 87 and which causes the

press keys

75, 76 and 78 to return to their initial positions when the pressure of the finger is relaxed. The component parts marked 89 and 90 are two levers which enclose the

press keys

75 and 76 and each of which is pivotable by one end about the ends of a horizontal shaft 91 mounted in the two upper spacers 81.

On the shaft 91 is mounted a leg spring 92 which is suspended by one of its branches in the plate 79, its other branch passing, subject to stress, under the

lever

89 and 90 are interconnected by transversal bars 93 on which the

press keys

75 and 76 come to rest by their projections 87 when operated, thus pivoting the

levers

89 and 90 in opposition to the action of the leg spring 92. The

levers

89 and 90 interact with a micro-switch 94 which is subject to the lever 90 and by which, when it is actuated, the current circuit of the lifting electromagnet 22 is closed. The plate 80 interacts with a change switch 94.

Bowden control cables

95 and 96 are associated with each of the

press keys

75 and 76. Each of the

Bowden control cables

95 and 96 is affixed by one end of its casing in two securing

bodies

97 and 98 which are screwed together and which enclose the plate 80 between them, while the core of the

Bowden cables

95 and 96 is mounted, by a sleeve 99 affixed to it and extending from the casing, in the securing body 97, and extends from the latter. The

Bowden cables

95 and 96 succeed one another in rows. Each Bowden cable 95, by one end of its core or of the sleeve 99 of the latter, precedes the

press keys

75 and 76 in such a way that they are actuated when the said keys and 76 are pressed with a finger, while each Bowden cable 96, by one of its core or its sleeve 99, is situated at a distance to the side of the Bowden cables 95, in such a way that in the position shown in the drawing the

press keys

75 and 76 do not act on them when pressed with a finger (FIG. 9). On that side of the wall 3 which is further away from the adjusting wheels 7 is a fixed three-armed holding device 100 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 12). The Bowden control cables are each firmly affixed, by the other end of the casing, in holes 101 arranged in a circle and belonging to the outer arm of the holding device 100. On the ends of the cores of the Bowden cables 95 which project from the casing are firmly affixed sleeves 102 which pass through the holes 101 and which rest by a projecting edge against the inside of the outer arm of the holding device 100. The cores, with the sleeves 102 and the holes 101 of the outer arm of the holding device 100, pass through corresponding holes 103 of the central arm of the holding device and, when the Bowden cables 95 are actuated, engage holes 104 which correspond to the holes 103 and which are provided in that arm of the holding device 100 which rests against the wall 3, and serve as stops for the

arms

33 and 34 pivotably mounted on the shaft 8. The Bowden cables 95 are also subject to the pressure exerted by helical springs 105 which are mounted on the sleeves 102 belonging to the cores of the Bowden cables 95 and situated between the outer and the middle arm of the holding device 100, the said springs each resting by one end against the middle arm of the holding device 100 and by the other end against the projecting edge of the sleeve 102. The Bowden cables 96 each lead by the other end to a second printing unit which is likewise accommodated in the stand 1 and which is marked D and which is situated immediately behind the printing unit described in the foregoing, with which it is constructionally and operationally identical (FIG. 1). With each adjusting wheel 7 or type wheel 5 is associated a wheel 107 of which the periphery bears the type of the wheel 5. The wheels 107 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 106 guided in the

walls

2 and 3 and engage the toothing of the adjusting wheel 7 by an annular system of teeth 108 provided on one of their faces. The type provided on the wheels 107 can be seen in a viewing window of the lining not shown in the drawing and belonging to the machine fitted with the printing unit. The transversal arm 50 of the rack 45 is also fitted with an indicator arm 109 which is partly shown in the drawing and by means of which, when the rack 45 is adjusted by hand, the selected type can be seen on the wheels 107.

The operation of the printing unit is as follows:

When a press key 75 is operated by the pressure of a finger, for example, the relevant Bowden control cable 95 is actuated and engages, by its end reinforced with the sleeve 102, and in opposition to the action of the helical spring 105, that hole 104 of the arm belonging to the holding device 100 and resting against the wall 3 which is associated with said cable, so that the latter is supported, by the sleeve 102, in two walls of the holding device 100. The press key 75 also exerts, by means of its projection 87, a pressure on the transversal bar 93 belonging to the

levers

89 and 90 and situated in its path, as a result of which the said levers 89 and 90, in opposition to the action of the leg spring 92, are pivoted, thus actuating the micro-switch 94, by

which the current circuit of the lifting electro-magnet 22 is closed. The armature 24 of the lifting electromagnet 22, via the pressure piece 20, and in opposition to the action of the restoring springs 26 acting on the latter, now moves the slider 14 forwards, with its extension 17, in the direction of the

arms

33 and 34. in this process the slider 14, by means of its lug 18, exerts a pressure on the roller 59 provided on the lever 61, in which process the said lever 61 is pivoted, causing the transport lever 62 to accompany its motion. The extension 67 of the transport lever 62 now engn. as the toothing 45' of the rack 45, in opposition to the u.:tion of the restoring spring 65, and moves said rack by a distance corresponding to one tooth, after which the said rack 45 is adjusted, with the

entrainment devices

56 and 57, to an adjusting wheel 7. As the slider 14 is moved farther forwards its extension 17 moves in between the lower ends of the

arms

33 and 34, which are now pivoted together with the slide bars 36 and 37, in which process the

rollers

40 and 41 of said arms roll over the ascending edges of the extension 17 until they come to rest against the Bowden control cable 95 which has moved into the operative position. In this process, whichever of the entrainment devices 56 abd 57 is situated closer to the projection 58 of the adjusting wheel 7 will entrain the said adjusting wheel 7 and thus the type wheel which meshes with the latter. The selected type is now stored. When the pressure on the press key 75 is relaxed the key will return to the initial position owing to the effect of the helical spring 88 which is associated with it and which was previously stressed and which is not stress-relieved. The spring thus releases the

levers

89 and 90, which, owing to the effect of the leg spring 92 which was previously stressed and which is now stress-relieved, are pivoted into the initial posi tion, thus releasing the microswitch 94, so that the current circuit of the lifting electro-magnet 22 is once again interrupted. The armature 24 of the lifting electro-magnet 22, in its return motion, moves away from the pressure piece 20, as a result of which the latter, owing to the effect of the restoring springs 26, which were previously stressed and which are now stressrelieved, returns to the initial position, causing the pressure piece 14 to accompany it in its motion. The pressure piece, by means of its lug l8, releases the roller 59 mounted on the lever 61, the transport lever 62 being pivoted into its initial position, as a result of the action of the restoring spring 65 acting on the said transport lever 62, and disengages from the toothing 45' of the rack 45, at the same time causing the lever 61 to accompany it into its initial position. The relaxation of the pressure on the press key 75 also causes the Bowden control cable 95 actuated to return to its initial position as a result of the action of the helical spring 105 which is associated with it and which was previ ously stressed and which is now stress-relieved. The storage of the remainder of the type required for a printed line is effected in the same manner. After a printed line has been stored the driving motor not shown in the drawing and belonging to the feed device for the strip of labelling material is started by pressing the press key 78 with the finger.

If a further printed line is to be stored in addition to that already stored, the plate 80 of the adjusting device 73 is moved longitudinally by means ofthe setting lever 84, as a result of which the Bowden control cables 95 are moved out of the zone of action of the

press keys

75 and 76 and the Bowden cables 95 connected to the printing unit D are moved into the zone of the action of the

press keys

75 and 76. When the plate 80 is displaced, moreover, it actuates the change switch 94', connecting the lifting electro-magnet associated with the printing unit D. The lifting electro-magnet associated with the printing unit D is then energized by the movement of the

press keys

75,76 and the switch 94. The storage of the second printed line is then effected in the manner described in the foregoing.

If an alteration is to be made at a certain point in the printed line, the rack 45 is displaced by means of its handle 48 to the distance required to ensure that it coincides, by the

entrainment devices

54 and 55, with the adjusting wheel 7, the alteration being effected by the re-adjustment of the latter. After the rack 45 has been set in this manner the desired type is stored by operating the appropriate press key.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

What is claimed is:

1. A type setting apparatus for use within a printing unit having a plurality of printing wheels comprising:

a. a plurality of adjusting wheels,

h. each said adjusting wheel including means to individually position a printing wheel of said printing unit when the adjusting wheel is rotated,

c. means to set each adjusting wheel at a preselected rotational position,

d. means for sequentially positioning the setting means adjacent each adjusting wheel, and

e. means for actuating said setting means to rotate the selected adjusting wheel to said preselected rotational position thereby positioning each printing wheel.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim I wherein said actuating means includes a plurality of selectively extendible stop pins and means for extending the stop pins to establish individual type positions at which each printing wheel is stopped during rotation.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a plurality of stop pins, a set of press keys and means connecting each stop pin to a press key,

each stop pin being selectively extendible by a press key connected therewith to establish an individual type position at which each printing wheel is stopped during rotation.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said connecting means includes a flexible cable.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a plurality of stop pins, connected with a set of press keys through a set of individual cables which separately interconnect each press key with a corresponding stop pin.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a plurality of stop pins, a set of press keys, means connecting each stop pin to a press key, each press key being electrically connected to a solenoid and an actuating switch for the solenoid,

each stop pin being selectively extendible by a press key connected therewith to establish individual type positions at which each printing wheel is stopped during rotation,

said actuating switch being closed by depressing a press key to energize the solenoid.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said setting means includes a pair of slide bars and entrainment means for slidable movement along said slide bars,

said sequential positioning means includes rack means for effecting transverse movement of the entrainment means along said slide bars to a preselected adjusting wheel,

said adjusting wheel including means to be entrained by the entrainment means to rotate the adjusting wheel,

said slide bar being movably mounted with respect to each other so that the entrainment means can effect rotation of a preselected adjusting wheel to said preselected rotational position,

said actuating means includes a plurality of stop pins, a solenoid, means for energizing said solenoid and cam means for movement upon energizing said solenoid,

said cam means being operatively associated with the slide bars for effecting movement of the slide bars to activate the entrainment means which abuttingly engages a selectively extended top pin to limit its movement.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said setting means includes a pair of slide bars and entrainment means positioned for slidable movement along said slide bars,

said adjusting wheels including means to be entrained by the entrainment means to rotate the adjusting wheel,

said slide bars being movably mounted with respect to each other to move the entrainment means for rotating each adjusting wheel when the slide bars move with respect to each other.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said sequentially positioning means includes rack means connected with said entrainment means for positioning the entrainment means with respect to each particular adjusting wheel.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said rack means is manually positionable so as to align the entrainment means with any desired adjusting wheel whereby the position of the aligned wheel can be changed without disturbing the position of the other wheels.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein all of the adjusting wheels are rotatably mounted on a single shaft,

each adjusting whee] includes a projecting member which extends radially inwardly toward the center of the wheel,

said setting means sequentially positions the projecting member causing rotation of the respective adjusting wheel to a preselected rotational position.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a single set of press keys, more than one set of a plurality of stop pins and more than one set of cables for moving the stop pins to an extended position.

one end of each set of cables being registered with a respective set of stop pins,

the other end of each said set of cables being fixedly attached to a shiftable mounting plate,

means for shifting said mounting plate is provided so that said other end of the cables may be selectively registered with the set of press keys.

Claims

1. A type setting apparatus for use within a printing unit having a plurality of printing wheels comprising: a. a plurality of adjusting wheels, b. each said adjusting wheel including means to individually position a printing wheel of said printing unit when the adjusting wheel is rotated, c. means to set each adjusting wheel at a preselected rotational position, d. means for sequentially positioning the setting means adjacent each adjusting wheel, and e. means for actuating said setting means to rotate the selected adjusting wheel to said preselected rotational position thereby positioning each printing wheel.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a plurality of selectively extendible stop pins and means for extending the stop pins to establish individual type positions at which each printing wheel is stopped during rotation.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a plurality of stop pins, a set of press keys and means connecting each stop pin to a press key, each stop pin being selectively extendible by a press key connected therewith to establish an individual type position at which each printing wheel is stopped during rotation.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a plurality of stop pins, a set of press keys, means connecting each stop pin to a press key, each press key being electrically connected to a solenoid and an actuating switch for the solenoid, each stop pin being selectively extendible by a press key connected therewith to establish individual type positions at which each printing wheel is stopped during rotation, said actuating switch being closed by depressing a press key to energize the solenoid.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said setting means includes a pair of slide bars and entrainment means for slidable movement along said slide bars, said sequential positioning means includes rack means for effecting transverse movement of the entrainment means along said slide bars to a preselected adjusting wheel, said adjusting wheel including means to be entrained by the entrainment means to rotate the adjusting wheel, said slide bar being movably mounted with respect to each other so that the entrainment means can effect rotation of a preselected adjusting wheel to said preselected rotational position, said actuating means includes a plurality of stop pins, a solenoid, means for energizing said solenoid and cam means for movement upon energizing said solenoid, said cam means being operatively associated with the slide bars for effecting movement of the slide bars to activate the entrainment means which abuttingly engages a selectively extended top pin to limit its movement.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said setting means includes a pair of slide bars and entrainment means positioned for slidable movement along said slide bars, said adjusting wheels including means to be entrained by the entrainment means to rotate the adjusting wheel, said slide bars being movably mounted with respect to each other to move the entrainment means for rotating each adjusting wheel when the slide bars move with respect to each other.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein all of the adjusting wheels are rotatably mounted on a single shaft, each adjusting wheel includes a projecting member which extends radially inwardly toward the center of the wheel, said setting means sequentially positions the projecting member causing rotation of the respective adjusting wheel to a preselected rotational position.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a single set of press keys, more than one set of a plurality of stop pins and more than one set of cables for moving the stop pins to an extended position. one end of each set of cables being registered with a respective set of stop pins, the other end of each said set of cables being fixedly attached to a shiftable mounting plate, means for shifting said mounting plate is provided so that said other end of the cables may be selectively registered with the set of press keys.