US3893393A

US3893393A - Platen alignment control

Info

Publication number: US3893393A
Application number: US447234A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gary G See
Original assignee: Multigraphics Inc
Current assignee: DBS Inc
Priority date: 1974-03-01
Filing date: 1974-03-01
Publication date: 1975-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-08

Abstract

A data encoding machine operating on the principle of a bed, an embossed printing plate, and a roller platen. The invention is in the improvement of the pressure and attitude control of the platen. The platen is carried by a carriage mounted to slide on a rod. The rod is supported by end cams resting against a fixed support and moveable in reference thereto. The cams are rotatable by manual adjustment for control of platen distance from the bed and printing plate. The carriage is also controlled by a second rod which is carried by end cams moveable in a direction to swing said carriage about the first rod for attitude control.

Description

United States Patent [191 See [ 1 PLATEN ALIGNMENT CONTROL Gary G. See, Chagrin Falls, Ohio [73] Assignee: Addressograph Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio 22 Filed: Mar. 1,1974

21 Appl.No.:447,234

[75] inventor:

[52] U.S. C1. 101/269 [51] Int. Cl B411 3/56 [58] Field of Search 101/269, 375, 212, 219

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,232,230 2/1966 Sheldon.............................. 101/269 3,269,307 8/1966 Bell et a1........ 101/269 3,309,987 3/1967 Pexton 101/269 3,420,171 1/1969 Maul et a1 101/269 3,447,457 6/1969 Dechert et al............ 101/269 3,529,545 9/1970 Gartside 101/219 3,673,960 7/1972 Ricci et a1... 101/269 3,756,151 9/1973 Zofchack.... 101/269 3,766,855 10/1973 Hardt 101/219 1451 July 8,1975

3,810,424 5/1974 Barbour 101/269 Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr Assistant Examiner-William Pieprz Attorney, Agent, or FirmRay S. Pyle [57] ABSTRACT A data encoding machine operating on the principle of a bed, an embossed printing plate, and a roller platen. The invention is in the improvement of the pressure and attitude control of the platen.

The platen is carried by a carriage mounted to slide on a rod. The rod is supported by end cams resting against a fixed support and moveable in reference thereto. The cams are rotatable by manual adjustment for control of platen distance from the bed and printing plate.

The carriage is also controlled by a second rod which is carried by end cams moveable in a direction to swing said carriage about the first rod for attitude control.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATEMTEMUL 8 ms 3, 8 93,393

SHEET PLATEN ALIGNMENT CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The genesis of machine addressing probably is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 558,936 issued on Apr. 28, I896, to Joseph S. Duncan, one of the founders of the business later to become the Addressograph Multigraph Corporation. Slow as it was, it provided accurate addressing from fixed plates.

From such a start, a sophisticated line of business machines, such, for example, as U.S. Pat. No. 2,359,850, were developed to do repetition printing of addresses and other fixed information from metal plates stored in long storage drawers. These machines are designed for long hard service conditions of large mailing demands.

The development of data recorders has brought forth many concepts, some of which are impact machines, and others of which provide rolling platens which roll across a superimposed form and embossed printing plate.

Groover US. Pat. No. 3,340,800 illustrates a type of addressing machine which has developed over many years to a point of sophistication which will enable the addressing of thousands of mailing pieces in each working hour without failure. These machines are intended for high production mailing situations and are very costly. The support track for the carriage which carries the platen of such machines is rigid beyond what would appear to the observer to be necessary, but has been proven to be necessary in order to hold a factory set impression condition.

The factory setting procedure on such machines is a skilled technique and costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed principally to the imprinting of forms, such as mailing envelopes, intended for reading by the human eye rather than detection by sophisticated magnetic and optical reading machines. In order to accomplish a machine which is adaptable to a wide variety of forms by an operator not necessarily trained to any substantial degree, this invention seeks to provide a dynamic support for a platen roller by the provision of a carriage to ride a support rail, which rail is shiftable in its relationship to the bed of the machine, and hence, affects both the pressure and alignment with respect to the bed.

Further, this invention is directed to a second control for the carriage which corrects for attitude and thus enables the platen to print uniformly across a wide path including several lines of printing matter.

It is the intention of this invention to provide means for adjusting the platen pressure as the machine is running and therefore allow the operator to provide the necessary print-out pressure from observation of result quality rather than using testing instruments and depending upon a Serviceman call for each change of printing form.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carriage support which is capable of complete attitude and pressure adjustment between particular runs of forms by a semi-skilled operator.

A considerably financial advantage is provided in that non-precision routine parts may be assembled, and after assembly a relatively simple cam position adjustment set by factory assembly personnel will bring the platen into proper alignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a pictorial illustration of a printing apparatus which employs a platen and platen control according to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the printing apparatus of FIG. I with a portion of its casing removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in comparision to FIG. 2, with further portions of the housing broken away to show interior construction;

FIG. 4 is a plan view as taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the platen carriage support shaft mounting as viewed along the line 55 of FIG. 4',

FIG. 6 is a view of the opposite side of the apparatus as taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is taken along the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration ofthe roller platen, carriage and the carriage support and attitude control rods; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the control movements available by means of the present inventron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A printing apparatus I0 is shown in FIGS. 1-4 and includes a sheet material supply hopper l6 in which a plurality of sheet material articles, such as envelopes 18, are stored on edge in an upright orientation. The envelopes 18 are transported one at a time from the hopper 16 along a horizontal path to a printing station 20 by a conveyor assembly 22 (FIG. 4). Printing plates 26 are moved sequentially along a vertical path from a removable drawer 28 to the printing station 20. During a printing operation, data istransferred from one of the printing plates 26 to one of the envelopes 18 at the printing station 20.

The envelopes 18 are stored in the hopper 16 with their face surfaces extending vertically upright and with their lower edge portions disposed in engagement with a support surface 48 (FIG. 4) which slopes downwardly toward a front control panel 52. When an envelope 18 is to be transferred from the hopper 16 to the printing station 20, an intermittent drive assembly 54 is activated by energizing a solenoid 56 for a short time to move a forwardmost one of the envelopes 18 onto a continuously driven conveyor belt 86.

The conveyor belt 86 engages a lower edge of an envelope l8 and transports it toward the printing station 20 with the envelope in an upright position, that is with the opposite face surfaces of the envelope 18 disposed in a substantially vertical orientation.

When the envelope 18 reaches the printing station 20, the leading edge of the envelope is stopped by engagement with a registration nip (FIG 4) formed by a pair of rollers in an assembly 106. Engagement of the leading edge of the envelope 18 with the nip I00 registers the envelope longitudinally relative to the printing station 20.

At the printing station, there is provided an anvil 102 which gives a support surface against which the printing plate 26 is supported against the pressure of the printing operation. A ribbon 104, a section of which is shown in FIG. 4, is provided by a supply take-up spool and fed through the station in a conventional manner. The ribbon provides the printing ink to make legible the impression. An alternative for such ribbon is an ink bearing platen roller. The illustrated embodiment has been selected wherein a ribbon is supplied.

The envelope ]8 remains in the upright orientation at the printing station while data is transferred from a printing plate 26 to the envelope. After this printing operation has taken place, the envelope I8 is ejected through the opening 34 (FIG. 1) into the tray 36. It should be noted that the assembly 106 can be moved, with the conveyor belt 86, from the retracted position as shown in FIG. 4 to the extended position shown in FIG. 1 to register different portions of an envelope 18 relative to a printing plate 26 at the printing station 20.

The specific construction of the conveyor assembly 22 is more fully disclosed and claimed in U.S. Application Ser. No. 327,065 filed on Jan. 26, 1973, by J. G. Gardner et al, and entitled FORM FEED AND TRANSPORT ASSEMBLY. It should be understood that the specific construction of the conveyor assembly 22 is not part of the present invention. The conveyor assembly 22 is utilized to transport many different types of sheet material articles, such as pamphlets to the printing station 20.

A plate feed mechanism according to U.S. Application Ser. No. 327,05 l is operable to engage a printing plate in a drawer 28, to move the printing plate 26 from the drawer to the printing station 20, and to return the printing plate 26 to the drawer 28. This plate feed mechanism is fully described and defined in U.S. Application Ser. No. 327,05l filed Jan. 26, 1973, by Gary G. See et al, and includes a pair of front plate feed slides which are raised upwardly through a feed stroke to move a first printing plate from the drawer to an intermediate station and to move a second printing plate upwardly from the intermediate station to an inspection station. Simultaneously therewith, a pair of rear plate feed slides move a third printing plate downwardly from the inspection station toward the printing station 20 and move a fourth printing plate 26 from the printing station 20 back to the drawer. Each time a printing plate 26 is removed from the drawer 28, the drawer is indexed or moved through a distance equal to the thickness of a printing plate to position a next succeed ing printing plate for engagement by the front plate feed slides.

Between operating cycles of the plate feed mechanism 32, a printing assembly (see FIG. 4) at the printing station 20 prints on an envelope 18 with one of the printing plates 26. The printing assembly includes a carriage 562 which is reciprocated by a rail support system from right to left (as viewed in FIG. 4) along a support rail, which is illustrated in this embodiment as a rod 564 to move a roller platen 566 through a printing stroke across anvil 102. During the printing stroke, the roller platen 566 presses an envelope 18 against ribbon 104, printing plate 26, and anvil 102 to imprint data on the envelope 18 (FIG. 4).

Once the carriage 562 reaches the end of its printing stroke, the printing roller platen 566 is toggled to a retracted position and the platen is moved through a return stroke during which the platen is spaced from the envelope 18. During this return stroke, the assembly I06 is operated at a relatively high speed to accelerate the printed envelope away from the printing station 20 ward the printing station 20 by the conveyor assembly 22. In addition, the plate feed mechanism 32 is activated to move a next succeeding printing plate 26 to the printing station.

In all data encoders, the roller platen must transverse the sandwich of form and printing plate with sufficient pressure to produce a proper print-out, and uniformly across all lines of the printing plate in order that each line may be legible.

Prior practice has been to establish a rail for the carriage and to factory-adjust and test that rail until a proper setting is obtained. Shims and similar adjusting devices have been the common practice.

This invention is probably shown best in FIG. 8 of the drawing and will apply to substantially any and all types of data recorders, but the prior description of one particular commercial machine has been given as an envi ronment for the complete understanding of the invention.

The support rod 564 has two ends, at least one of the ends is provided with a means to cause the axis of the rod to shift toward and away from the bed of the machine, which in this case is the anvil 102. Thus, the support rod 564 may be said to be movable through a plane which intersects the bed of the machine.

To accomplish such movement, a cam collar 570 is secured to the first end of the support rod 564 by means of a set screw 572.

The rod 564 is not confined in a rigid end structure, but rather is held by an anchor 574 and spring 576 against a frame abutment 578 of the printing machine. Thus, the distance of the first end of the rod 564 from the anvil 102 may be set by loosening the set screw 572 and rotating the cam collar 570 until the axis of the rod is moved a sufficient distance.

Also, the setting of the axis of rod 564 with respect to anvil 102 may be accomplished by rotating the rod 564 after the cam 570 has been locked to the first end of that rod.

The rod 564 has a second end which preferably is equipped with a collar 580 secured to the second end of the rod and backed up against a frame abutment in exactly the same manner as described with respect to the first end. A circular collar may be used for

parts

570 or 580 if adjustment of only one end is preferred for a very specific purposes, or if another type of position adjustment is required for one end. The anchor 574 for the second end of rod 564 is not shown in FIG. 8 of the drawing, but may be seen in FIG. 6. Although FIG. 7 is a specific view of the first end support, the preferred support of the rod 564 is to provide the FIG. 7 structure on both ends.

Usually setting of the

cam collars

570 and 580 will be a service personnel operation, or setting at the factory, and will not be done by the operating personnel, although it is entirely possible with very little skill to make such a setting in the field.

There is provided in this invention a means for changing the distance of the axis of the rod 564 by operating personnel even while the machine is in operation. This is accomplished by means of a sprocket 582 secured to the second end of the rod and driven in a rotary motion by means of a chain 584 threaded around a sprocket 582 and an upper sprocket 588 carried by a thumb wheel 586. Thumb wheel 586 projects from the cabinent of the machine accessible to the operator and is used to move the chain and hence the sprocket 582. By rotating the sprocket 582 and consequently the rod 564, the

cams

570 and 580 are rotated against their frame members and cause the end to which the collar is attached to move toward or away from the anvil 102. When both ends are equipped with such cam members, as shown in the preferred embodiment, the motion will be a uniform motion once the collars are properly established on the rod.

The alignment and pressure having been established and adjustable by this manner described, the attitude of the roller is then controlled by means of an attitude rod 600 located a short distance from the rod 564. The rod 600 is supported on each end by eccentric collars 602 which collars have face plates 604 abutting a machine frame plate. An opening in the machine plate accepts the eccentric collar 602 in a snug fit, but will permit rotation of the eccentric collar.

The face plate 604 has an arcuate opening 606 to accept a lock screw 608 threaded into the side plate of the machine. Hence, the ends of the rod 600 may be moved in a somewhat arcuate swing, but generally, in a path which is transverse to the movement of the adjustment movement for rod 564. These comparative movements are shown best in FIG. 9 where the result of the attitude control is depicted by the several dotted lines at the face of the roller platen.

The carriage 562 has an elongated opening 610 through which the rod 600 passes. This opening provides the effect of a bifurcated end on the carriage which establishes first and

second surfaces

612 and 614 closely fitting the surface of the rod 600.

The present commercial machine has cam members at both ends of the rod 564, and it is probable that this embodiment will be the usual mode of construction. However, the broad object achieved is to put together a practical machine from factory production by factory assembly personnel. The manner in which the broad concept is implemented is to provide cam collars on both ends of the shaft. After the collars are adjusted to bring the axis of the rod into alignment with the anvil, the working distance is selectable by rotation of the rod.

Further, the use of a second rail for attitude control eliminates a more costly formed rail rather than the round rod 564. Such a rail can be tilted for attitude control, but fitting a running bearing into the carriage to run on such a rail increases cost.

What is claimed is:

l. In a data recorder in which a bed anvil provides a support plane for a raised character print plate, a rail support system which establishes a guide path over the bed anvil, and a platen is transported on said rail support system in a print cycle from a home position over said bed anvil to a terminous and return for imprinting a form from the print plate, the improvement of said rail support system for establishing the attitude and elevation of said platen with respect to said anvil, comprisa carriage transport rail having a first and a second end;

a first end mount for said first end of the transport rail;

a second end mount for said second end of the transport rail; first and second means for movably supporting said first and second rail ends respectively for coordinated movement towards and away from said bed anvil simultaneously to a selected location;

a platen carriage mounted to run on said transport rail, said platen carriage slidably mounted and pivotal on said rail for establishing the guide path thereof, said platen carried by said carriage for travel in said print cycle, said platen thereby being adjusted in spacing with respect to said bed anvil for establishing proper print pressure of a form to be imprinted by a print plate on said bed anvil;

a guide rod for attitude control located a distance from said carriage transport rail and substantially parallel thereto said guide rod having a first and a second end;

a first end mount for said first end of the guide rod;

a second end mount for said second end of the guide rod; means for adjusting the position of said mounts to shift said rod in a plane generally parallel to said anvil and normal to itself;

said platen carriage having guide surfaces closely fitting said guide rod in said normal direction whereby shifting of said end mounts of the guide rod will cause a rotation of said carriage about said transport rail for platen attitude control.

2. A data recorder as defined in claim I wherein said first and second means for movably supporting said first and second rail ends comprise cams urged against fixed abutment supports by yieldable means.

3. A data recorder as defined in claim 1 wherein said rail is a round rod and the carriage has a through opening sized to fit slidably on said rod.

4. A data recorder as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide surfaces are defined by a slot extending through said carriage receive said guide rod, and said rod is swingable on end mounts through a short are to swing said carriage about said carriage transport rail as a fulcrum for attitude adjustment.

5. In a data recorder in which a bed anvil provides a support plane for a raised character print plate, a rail support system which establishes a guide path over the bed anvil, and a platen is transported on said rail support system in a print cycle from a home position over said bed anvil to a terminous and return for imprinting a form from the print plate, the improvement of said rail transport system for establishing the alignment and elevation of said platen with respect to said anvil, comprising:

a carriage transport rail having a first and a second end;

a first end mount for said first end of the transport rail;

a second end mount for said second end of the transport rail; means for supporting said second end mount at a location in a plane intersecting said bed anvil and said guide path at a substantially normal angle, and means for moving said means for supporting the second end mount along said plane by an operator controlled accessory;

a platen carriage mounted to run on said transport rail for establishing a guide path thereof, said platen carried by said carriage for travel in said print cycle, said platen thereby being adjusted in spacing with respect to said bed anvil for establishing proper print pressure of a form to be imprinted by a print plate on said bed anvil;

a guide rod for attitude control located a distance from and generally parallel to said carriage transport rail. said guide rod having a first and a second end;

a first end mount for said first end of the guide rod;

a second end mount for said second end of the guide rail;

means for adjusting the position of said mounts to shift said rod in a plane generally parallel to said anvil and normal to its major axis;

said platen carriage having guide surfaces closely fitting said guide rod in said normal direction, said carriage and rail providing for pivotal movement of plish shifting of the rail normal to itself.

Claims

1. In a data recorder in which a bed anvil provides a support plane for a raised character print plate, a rail support system which establishes a guide path over the bed anvil, and a platen is transported on said rail support system in a print cycle from a home position over said bed anvil to a terminous and return for imprinting a form from the print plate, the improvement of said rail support system for establishing the attitude and elevation of said platen with respect to said anvil, comprising: a carriage transport rail having a first and a second end; a first end mount for said first end of the transport rail; a second end mount for said second end of the transport rail; first and second means for movably supporting said first and second rail ends respectively for coordinated movement towards and away from said bed anvil simultaneously to a selected location; a platen carriage mounted to run on said transport rail, said platen carriage slidably mounted and pivotal on said rail for establishing the guide path thereof, said platen carried by said carriage for travel in said print cycle, said platen thereby being adjusted in spacing with respect to said bed anvil for establishing proper print pressure of a form to be imprinted by a print plate on said bed anvil; a guide rod for attitude control located a distance from said carriage transport rail and substantially parallel thereto said guide rod having a first and a second end; a first end mount for said first end of the guide rod; a second end mount for said second end of the guide rod; means for adjusting the position of said mounts to shift said rod in a plane generally parallel to said anvil and normal to itself; said platen carriage having guide surfaces closely fitting said guide rod in said normal direction whereby shifting of said end mounts of the guide rod will cause a rotation of said carriage about said transport rail for platen attitude control.

2. A data recorder as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second means for movably supporting said first and second rail ends comprise cams urged against fixed abutment supports by yieldable means.

4. A data recorder as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide surfaces are defined by a slot extending through said carriage receive said guide rod, and said rod is swingable on end mounts through a short arc to swing said carriage about said carriage transport rail as a fulcrum for attitude adjustment.

5. In a data recorder in which a bed anvil provides a support plane for a raised character print plate, a rail support system which establishes a guide path over thE bed anvil, and a platen is transported on said rail support system in a print cycle from a home position over said bed anvil to a terminous and return for imprinting a form from the print plate, the improvement of said rail transport system for establishing the alignment and elevation of said platen with respect to said anvil, comprising: a carriage transport rail having a first and a second end; a first end mount for said first end of the transport rail; a second end mount for said second end of the transport rail; means for supporting said second end mount at a location in a plane intersecting said bed anvil and said guide path at a substantially normal angle, and means for moving said means for supporting the second end mount along said plane by an operator controlled accessory; a platen carriage mounted to run on said transport rail for establishing a guide path thereof, said platen carried by said carriage for travel in said print cycle, said platen thereby being adjusted in spacing with respect to said bed anvil for establishing proper print pressure of a form to be imprinted by a print plate on said bed anvil; a guide rod for attitude control located a distance from and generally parallel to said carriage transport rail, said guide rod having a first and a second end; a first end mount for said first end of the guide rod; a second end mount for said second end of the guide rail; means for adjusting the position of said mounts to shift said rod in a plane generally parallel to said anvil and normal to its major axis; said platen carriage having guide surfaces closely fitting said guide rod in said normal direction, said carriage and rail providing for pivotal movement of the carriage about the major axis of said rail, whereby shifting of the said end mounts of the guide rod will cause a rotation of said carriage about said transport rail for platen attitude control.

6. In the rail transport system of claim 5 said end mounts being excentric cams mounted on the rail ends, with frame abutments providing fixed base reference platforms for said cams, and; said operator control being a manual drive means for rotating the rail and the cams thereon to accomplish shifting of the rail normal to itself.