US3902410A - Apparatus for printing with master cards - Google Patents

Abstract

An addressing machine using the hectograph transfer principle in which a motor drives the copy translating system while the moisture roller and card dispensing system are actuated by rotation of an auxiliary shaft intercoupled with the motor by means of a positive engagement clutch and a phase angle adjustment which permits adjustment of the angular position of the auxiliary shaft at the beginning of every moistening and card dispensing cycle. This system obviates the need for a second clutch device and/or an electronic time delay circuit with provision for adjusting the time delay between sensing of a copy and actuation of the auxiliary shaft.

Description

[ 1 Sept. 2, 1975 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING WITH MASTER CARDS George E. Shepherd, Dollard des Ormeaux, Canada [73] Assignee: P.S.M. Holdings Ltd., Quebec,

Canada [22] Filed: May 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 359,515

[75] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 31, 1972 Canada 155303 [52] US. Cl. ..101/53; 101/132.5; 101/235 [51] int. C1 B411 47/24; B411 47/46 [58] Field of Search 192/28, 33 R, 125 A; 101/53, 235, 245, 132, 132.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,456,928 12/1948 Curtis 192/28 2,858,388 10/1958 Eastman 192/28 3,053,176 9/1962 Shepherd 101/53 3,230,871 1/1966 Kooch et al. 101/53 3,245,342 4/1966 Wright 101/132.5

3,420,162 1/1969 Shepherd 101/53 3,444,807 5/1969 Kooch 101/53 3,547,027 12/1970 Gombault t. 101/53 3,581,856 6/1971 Fleckerlstein 192/28 3,640,215 2/1972 Shepherd 101/53 Primary Examiner-Edgar S.. Burr Assistant Examiner-William Pieprz Attorney, Agent, or FirmBacon & Thomas [5 7] ABSTRACT An addressing machine using the hectograph transfer principle in which a motor clrives the copy translating system while the moisture roller and card dispensing system are actuated by rotation of an auxiliary shaft intercoupled with the motor by means of a positive engagement clutch and a phase angle adjustment which permits adjustment of the angular position of the auxiliary shaft at the beginning of every moistening and card dispensing cycle.

This system obviates the need for a second clutch device and/or an electronic time delay circuit with provision for adjusting the time delay between sensing of a copy and actuation of the auxiliary shaft.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures |2 102 HO 5 1o 5; 1 50 y 116 5 Bl i lso APPARATUS FOR PRINTING WITH MASTER CARDS This invention relates to apparatus for printing with master cards, particularly addressing machines using the known hectographic transfer process, and the invention particularly appartains to electrically operated addressing apparatus.

The hectographic transfer process is well known and still widely used in the field of duplication by means of master cards. A number of such addressing machines are commercially available either in manual or electrically operable version. The addressing machine supports a stack of master cards on which the names and addresses to be duplicated have already been printed and the machine has three main functions. namely the translation of copy along a predetermined copy path, the moistening of a predetermined area on each successive copy and finally, the application of one particular pre-addressed card onto the moistened area of the copy by means of pressure for effecting transfer of the printed material directly onto the copy. One particular example of a manual addressing machine is found in Canadian Pat. No. 892,140 issued Feb. 1, 1972 to George E. Shepherd for an invention entitled Addressing Machine". In this particular system. a hand operated crank rotates a main shaft to which are directly coupled the copy translating means on the one hand. and the moisture roller and card dispensing means on the other hand, provision being made for physically pre-positioning of the copy prior to actuation of the hand crank.

In electrically operated addressing machines with which this invention is more particularly concerned, an electric motor continuously drives the copy translating means and a transmission is used for intermittently actuating the auxiliary shaft which drives the moisture ap plication means and the card dispensing means. Synchronization of the operation of the auxiliary shaft with the leading edge of the copy is effected either by means of two serially connected clutches or alternatively by means of a single clutch with an adjustable electrical time delay circuit so that the addressed area on the successive copy can be adjusted to suit the various requirements and it is also important to ensure that the successive copies will all be addressed at the exact same position because a slight error in location which may not be too apparent in the case of relatively large copy may become completely unacceptable in the case of relatively small envelopes.

A main object of this invention is to provide an electric addressing machine which operates with a single clutch and which does not necessitate the use ofa relatively complex electronic time delay adjustment. but in which machine means is provided for adjusting the location of the addressed portion of the copy.

A second object is the provision of an electric addressing machine of simple construction using as few components as possible and which can be easily operated and maintained.

In accordance with this invention, a printing machine is provided which is operated by an electric motor. which comprises copy translating means driven by the electric motor by a first transmission. an auxiliary shaft for driving the moistening roller and the card dispensing means. and a second transmission for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft through an angle of 360 from a predetermined starting angular position which transmission includes a single positively engaging clutch in addition to means for mechanically adjusting the angular position of the auxiliary shaft at the beginning of each cycle.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an exemplary preferred embodiment in accordance with this invention,

FIG. I is a side elevation view of an addressing machine with parts broken away to facilitate understanding of the operation of the machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the single positive engagement clutch and triggering system which are disposed on the opposite side of the machine as seen in FIG. I, the positive engagement clutch being illustrated in the disengaged and stopped position.

FIG. 3 is a further illustration of portions of the positive engagement clutch seen in FIG. 2 but in somewhat enlarged proportions and shown in the fully engaged condition.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the auxiliary shaft with means for actuating the moisture roller and the card dispensing system shown on the left hand side of the shaft and the positive engagement clutch located toward the right of the Figure. and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical sensing and triggering circuit.

With reference to FIG. 1, the addressing machine shown therein comprises a housing structure 10 having a lower portion 11 and an upper portion 12, the lower portion housing the electric motor 15 and the copy translating means which comprises rollers 16, 17 and 18 and a chain drive 19 which interconnects the copy translating rollers 16 to 18 to the drive sprocket 20 of electric motor 15. A tensioning roller 21 is used for adjusting the tension in the chain. The lower frame portion 11 also supports the upper frame portion 12 into which are incorporated a moistening means 30, a card dispensing means 32, an auxiliary shaft 34 which carries a crank 36 for operating the card dispensing means via rod 37, together with a cam 38 which operates the moistening means. Spring biased nip rollers and 46 apply pressure onto the upper portion of card translating rollers 16 and 17 to force any copy inbetween to move from the entry end 50 to the discharge end 51 along copy path 52. Hence nip rollers 45 and 46 are suitably spring biased such as by leaf spring 47 and leaf spring 48. j i

From the card dispensing means, the pre-addressed master cards follow down card path with is defined by means ofa suitably wide and thin strip of spring steel extending from the card dispensing means 32 to the card discharge end 61.

Towards the intermediate portion of card path 60, a spring biased roller bearing against the upper portion of the last copy translating roller 18 serves to apply pressure onto the master card which rests upon a portion of the copy since the two paths converge and meet at that point and since the spring steel strip 60 is pro vided with a sufficiently wide central aperture permitting direct contact of the master card and copy under lying same.

A pair of card extractor rollers 66 and 67 resiliently urged towards one another by means of springs 68 and driven into rotation by means of a suitable drive 69 extracts the card from the applicator rollers 65 and 18 to free and discharge same into a suitable receiving bin (not shown).

In operation, copy arriving at entry end 50 is picked up between rollers 45 and 16 and caused to move towards the right end side of FIG. 1 until the leading edge is picked up again by rollers 46 and 17 which rotate in the same direction and generally at the same linear speed as rollers 45 and 16, and at a predetermined point of the translation of the copy moisture roller system 30 is caused to bear against the upper surface of the copy to apply moisture over an area thereof and the card dispensing system 32 starts feeding the lowest card in stack 33 until same is picked up by applicator rollers 65 and 18 and at that point the copy is already partly through the same rollers so that the card overlies the moistened area of the copy and both sheets pass between rollers 65 and 18 where transfer of the printed matter on the master card onto the copy is effected. Beyond that point, the copy proceeds towards .the discharge end 51 along path 52 while the master card is forced to follow a diverging section of path 60 until picked up and extracted by rollers 66 and 67 and finally discharged at 61 into a receiving bin (not shown).

Moistening means 30 comprises a moistening roller :70 against which a suitable wick 71 brushes, which wick is in communication with a supply of a solvent such as methanol. Roller 70 and wick 71 are mounted to a roller carrier 72 which is pivoted as at 73 at its free end unto a portion of the addressing machine structure, and the intermediate region of the carrier 72 is engageable with cam 38 mounted to the auxiliary shaft 34. Cam 38 will force the carrier and roller 70 downwardly upon counter-clockwise rotation of auxiliary shaft 34 as shown by arrow 75. A return spring 76 will cause carrier 72 to follow the cam 38 causing roller 70 to leave the copy beyond the lobe portion of cam 38.

Card dispensing means 32 comprises a holding structure 80 which is stationary and which is adapted to receive a stack of master cards such as at 33 which are urged downwardly against holder 80 by means of a suitable weight 81. A reciprocating dispensing plate 82 disposed into a groove in the center of holder 80 is interconnected with crank 36 by means of rod 37 so as to effect a reciprocating motion as auxiliary shaft 34 is caused to rotate through single revolutions. Dispenser 82 is provided with a ramp 83 terminating into a shoulder 84 which is sufficiently high to positively grab the lowest master card in stack 33 but which is one or two thousandths of an inch lower than the thickness of each card thereby to pass below the stack 33 when moving downwardly along holder 80. Towards the other end of the holder 80, a separating bar 85 is provided which is adjustably secured a short distance over the leading portion of dispenser 82 forming a gap into which one card at a time can pass to thereafter proceed along card path 60 towards nip roller 65.

It will be appreciated that in an electric addressing machine of this type, since the copy translating system which comprises rollers 16, 17 and 18 are continuously driven into rotation by motor 15, means must be provided to only intermittently couple auxiliary shaft 34 to the motor since the moistening and the card dispensing cycles must only take place once in the presence of every successive copy, and secondly there must be'pr'ovision for synchronizing operation of the moistening and card dispensing means with the leading edge of each successive copy to adjustably control the position on the copy where the transfer of the printed matter is effected. I

In accordance with this invention, this is obtained by means of a single positive engagement clutch together with a sensing and triggering circuit which includes a micro-switch which appears on FIG. 1 of the drawings. Micro-switch 90 which is a double-throw switch as will be described hereinafter is adapted to open a set of normally closed contacts'and close a set of normally open contacts under the action of the leading edge of every successive copy for thereby providing a triggering signal that can be used for actuating the control means of the second transmission.

The second transmission is illustrated in greater details in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. With reference to these Figures, it' will be seen that the auxiliary shaft 34 which carries cam 38 for the moistening means and the crank 36 for the card dispensing means is held in position by means of suitable bushings 101 and 101a in aligned apertures of structure 12. The free end of auxiliary shaft 34 supports a gear 102 secured to a driving toothed wheel 103 on a phenolic bushing 104. Clearance being provided between bushing 104 and auxiliary shaft 34 so as to allow free rotation of the assembly of gear 102 and toothed wheel 103 with respect to the auxiliary shaft. A driven wheel-like element is also freely mounted to auxiliary shaft 34 by means of a bushing 111 and a disc 112 can be disposed between the adjacent faces of the driving toothed wheel 103 and the driven element 110 to reduce the friction therebetween. Shaft 34 also carries a split ring 115 and a compressed coil spring 116 which urges the driven element 110 towards the driving toothed wheel 103.

A control knob 120 is keyed to the extremity of auxiliary shaft 34 by means ofa suitable set-screw 121 riding along a keyway 123 in the shaft 34, and a compression coil spring having one end resting into the bottom of an enlarged bore 131 and the other end coupled to the end of auxiliary shaft 34 by a screw 132 and washer 133 forces knob 120 towards driven element 110. Driven element 110 includes a plurality of closely spaced apart bores which extend axially and into which a pin 141 secured to the bottom surface of knob 120 can extend.

With this arrangement, driven wheel-like element 110 is interconnected to auxiliary shaft 34 by means of knob 120 tied to the shaft and by means of pin 14] which is carried by the knob and projects into one of the axial bores 140 in the driven element 110. In addi' tion, it will be seen that by changing the position of pin 141 and inserting same into a different one of axial bores 140, the angular relationship between shaft 34 and driven element 110 can be varied, and the purpose of this phase angle adjustment will become apparent from the following description.

Referring again to FIGSv 2 and 4, gear 102 which is secured to driving toothed wheel 103 by means of screws is continuously driven into rotation by means of pinion 151 which is directly coupled with the first transmission which drives the copy translating rollers 16, 17 and 18. For example, pinion 151 could be mounted onto a free end of the shaft that carries roller 16.

In order to interconnect the continuously revolving driving toothed wheel 103 and auxiliary shaft 34 whenever it is desired to effect a complete cycle of the moistening and card dispensing means, a mechanical interconnection of driven element 110 and driving wheel 103 is effected by means of a pawl system which is carried on the driven wheel-like element 110. Pawl means 160 which is apparent from FIG. 4 is better illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Pawl means 160 is spring biaised into engagement with the toothed surface of driving wheel 103 by means of spring 161. Pawl means 160 consists of two interconnected members 162, 163 each pivoted to the driven wheel-like element 110 by means of spaced apart pins 164, 165 secured to element 110 and extending axially thereof. The first member 162 has a pointed nose 170 which is engageable with the ratchet teeth on driving wheel 103, and also has a head portion 17] onto which spring 161 bears to urge member 162 in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2. Tail portion 173 of member 162 extends towards the other member 163 whose head portion 175 is adapted to engage the tail portion 173 of the first member 162 to urge the nose portion thereof 170 away from the ratchet teeth. Tail portion 177 of the second member 163 provides a finger which can be used to maintain disengagement of pawl 160 with respect to toothed wheel 103. In fact, it will be seen that clockwise movement of the second member 162 will induce counter-clockwise pivoting of the first member 162 to move the nose portion 170 thereof away of the toothing surface of driving member 103. A first pin 180 limites the counter-clockwise motion of the first member 162 under the action of the second member 163 and a second limiting pin 181 limits the pivoting of the second member 163 under the action of return spring 161 as shown in FIG. 3.

A solenoid 200 with an associated plunger 201 is secured to the structure 12 of the addressing machine in such a position to interfere with the tail portion 177 of the second member 163 when the driven wheel-like element 110 rotates with driving wheel 103 in the counter-clockwise direction. Engagement of tail portion or finger 177 with plunger 201 in its normally extended position causes immediate disengagement of the nose portion of the first member 162 from the ratchet teeth on driving member 103 and in addition this engagement of finger 177 with plunger 201 positively stops driven wheel-like element 110.

On the other hand. upon retraction of plunger 201 of solenoid 200 as the result of a triggering current flow through the winding of solenoid 200 frees the tail por tion of finger 177 of pawl means 160 which is immediately urged into positive engagement with the toothed surface of driving member 103 as a result of the clockwise pivoting of the second member 162 to the action of spring 161. This in effect mechanically interconnects the driven wheel-like element 110 with continuously rotating driving wheel 103 as a result therefore auxiliary shaft 34 is forced to complete a 360 angular displacement in unison with driving wheel 103. This condition ofpositive engagement is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. However, before driven element 110 has had a chance to complete a single revolution, plunger 20] of solenoid 200 has returned to its normal fully extend position shown in FIG. 2 to pick up finger 177 as it comes around with driven element 110 and due to the rotation of element 110 finger 177 is forced to move upwardly to pivot second member 163 in a clockwise direction and in so doing cause disengagement of the nose portion 170 from the ratchet teeth of the driving element 103. This clockwise movement of the second member 163 being limited by means of limit pin 180 which acts upon the first member 162, the plunger 201 in effect stops rotation of driven wheel-like element 1 10.

Referring again to the fully engaged condition illustrated in FIG. 3, it is important to ensure that the nose portion 170 will remain completely in the bottom of the groove formed by adjacent teeth 210, 211 on driving element 103 throughout the angular displacement of the driven wheel-like element 110, and it is also essential that nose portion 170 be able to easily come out of the groove upon engagement of finger 177 with plunger 201 without damaging of any of the components. This is found achievable with ratchet teeth defining V- grooves 215 having an opening of about Centered upon the radius of driving member 103, and the position of pivot 164 being substantially perpendicular to the trailing surface of the V-groove 216 unto which the nose portion 170 of the second member 163 rests.

With this arrangement therefore defining wheel-like element which is freely mounted onto auxiliary shaft 34 but normally coupled therewith by means of the phase angle adjustment knob is normally freed from driving wheel 103. When a triggering pulse is applied across the winding in solenoid 200, retraction of plunger 201 permits immediate interconnection of driven wheel-like element 110 and driving wheel 103 with the result that element 110 and auxiliary shaft 34 complete an angular displacement of 360 and this en gagement of wheel-like element 110 takes place as finger 177 hits plunger 201 which has returned to its normal extended position.

The control system for triggering solenoid 200 is illustrated in FIG. 5 and comprises the above noted doublethrow switch 90 which normally forms a charging circuit for condensor or capacitor 300 connected across a source of alternating potential 301 which could be 60 cycles 1 10 to 120 volts, in series with rectifier 302 and resistor 303. The values of the components in the R-C circuit defined by condensor300 and resistor 303 are selected to permit quick charging of the condensor 300 immediately upon closing of the contacts into the normally closed position referred to in FIG. 5 by letters NC. In the normally open position (NO) the second contact of switch 90 serially connects the charged capacitor 300 with the winding of solenoid 200 causing a current pulse to flow through the Winding to immediately actuate plunger 201. Hence the leading edge of copy operates to move the whisker of microswitch 90 from the normally closed to the normally open position thereby to cause the solenoid to immediately trigger and release finger 177 of pawl means of the second transmission or positive engagement clutch illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 and consequently as soon as the presence of copy has been sensed by microswitch 90 auxiliary shaft 34 which is normally still will start rotating through an angle of 360 and again come to a rest.

This 360 displacement of auxiliary shaft 34 will of course effect a complete rotation of cam 38 and crank 36 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 with the result that both the moistening means 30 and the card dispensing means 32 will have effected one complete cycle of operation.

It will be noted that the ratchet teeth on driving wheel 103 seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 should be made as small as possible so as to reduce the positioning error of the addressing on the successive copy or envelopes and it has been found that the pitch of the toothed surface can be reduced more easily when the V- groovcs 215, 216, etc. define and include an angle of substantially 90.

It should be appreciated that by rotating knob 120 relative to driven wheel-like element 110 one effectively changes the phase angle of auxiliary shaft 34 and in effect changes the angular position of shaft 34 and of cam 38 and crank 36 mounted thereon at the beginning of each cycle of operation. In other words, by changing the position of the arrow 400, which is seen in FIG. 2, to the various index numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 which are disposed in a circle on structure 12 adjacent knob while the driven wheel-like element 110 is at rest, the position of the addressed portion of the copy is effectively changed without the help of any time delay means such as the electronic time delay system shown in US. Pat. No. 3,230,871 to Kooch et al. dated Jan. 25, 1966 and shown in FIG. 9 of said patent.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In an apparatus for printing copy by the known hectographic transfer process, comprising copy translating means for moving copy along a predetermined path; an electric motor; a first transmission means coupled to said motor for continuously driving said copy translating means; printed card holding means for supporting a stack of cards; card dispensing means operable in cycles for dispensing one card in each cycle; card dispensing actuating means for actuating said card dispensing means; card translating means for moving a dispensed card along a predetermined path having a first region wherein the card converges toward said copy path, a second region wherein the card meets said copy path and a third region diverging from said copy path; an applicator roller at said second region; a card extractor roller at said third region; moistening means for applying moisture to an area of said copy including a moisture roller, a moisture roller carrier pivoted at a point spaced apart from said moisture roller, and moisture roller carrier actuating means for causing engagement of said moisture roller with said area of said Copy during each cycle thereon; and second transmission means for driving said moisture roller carrier actuating means and said card dispensing actuating means; and control means for said second transmission means; the improvement, wherein said second transmission means comprises an auxiliary shaft coupled with said moisture roller carrier actuating means and with said card dispensing actuating means in such a manner that one moistening cycle and one card dispensing cycle are completed within substantially less than 360 angular displacement of said auxiliary shaft; said second transmission also comprising: a single clutch which has a driving toothed wheel mounted for rotation on and relative to said auxiliary shaft and continuously rotated by said first transmission means, a driven wheel-like element coaxial with and intermittently connectable with said driving wheel for rotation in unison therewith through an individual complete revolution, a pawl pivotally mounted to said driven wheel-like element, spring biased into an intermittent engaging position and actuable into a normal disengaging position; said pawl being adapted to positively engage the toothed surface of said driving wheel when in said engaging position thereby to positively interconnect said driving wheel and said driven wheel-like element said single clutch being the only clutch in said apparatus and coupling said auxiliary shaft to said first transmission means for actuating said card dispensing means and said moisture roller carrier means; said second transmission means further comprising phase angle adjusting means interconnecting said driven wheel-like element and said auxiliary shaft for unison rotation thereof, and for adjustment of the phase angle of said auxiliary shaft rela tive to said driven wheel-like element; said control means comprising a double-throw switch actuable by said copy from a normally closed position to a normally open position, an electrical circuit including a capacitor chargeable when said switch is in its normally closed position and serially connected with a solenoid when said switch is in its normally open position whereby the plunger of said solenoid is temporarily displaced from its normal position immediately upon actuation of said switch by said copy; said pawl including a finger engageable with the plunger of said solenoid in the normal position thereof and being freed therefrom upon temporary displacement of said plunger; and said finger when engaging said plunger being operative to maintain said pawl in its normal disengaging position.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said toothed surface of said driving wheel consists of relatively small ratchet teeth on the outer periphery of said driving wheel, and wherein the grooves defined by adjacent teeth are V-shaped and their included angle is of the order of 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said pawl consists of two interconnected members each pivoted to said driven wheel-like element by means of two spaced apart pins secured to said wheel-like element and extending axially thereof; the first one of said members being provided with a pointed nose engageable with said ratchet teeth, a head portion; a spring acting on said head portion urging said nose toward said ratchet teeth, and a tail portion extending toward the other member; the second member having a head portion adapted to engage the tail portion of said first member to urge the nose portion thereof away from said ratchet teeth, and a tail portion forming said finger.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the pivot pin of said first member is disposed generally perpendicularly to the trailing surface of the V-groove into which the nose portion of said first member rests when said nose portion engages said toothed surface.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said phase angle adjusting means comprises an axially slidable knob mounted to one end of said auxiliary shaft and keyed thereto against relative rotation and carrying an indexing pin, said driven wheel-like element being freely mounted to said auxiliary shaft immediately behind said knob and having a plurality of closely spaced apart axial bores disposed in a circle such that each bore is capable of receiving therein the free end of said indexing pin, hence determining said phase angle, said knob including a return spring urging said indexing pin into the registering one of said bores, whereby the connection between said driven wheel-like element is effected by means of said keyed knob via said indexing pin.

6. An apparatus for printing material from a master card onto a copy piece comprising:

a. at least a first and a second translating roller,

b. a first nip roller cooperating with said first translating roller.

c. a biased roller cooperating with said second translatingroller,

d. drive means connected to and driving said translat ing rollers whereby copy pieces are moved along a predetermined path between said nip roller and said at least first translating roller and said biased roller and said second translating roller,

e. master card holding means for supporting a stack of master cards,

. card dispensing means operable in cycles for dispensing one master card during each cycle,

g. card dispensing actuating means for actuating said card dispensing means,

h. card translating means for moving a dispensed card along a predetermined path passing between said biased roller and said second translating roller in contact with a copy piece,

i, a movable moistening means for applying moisture to an area of said copy piece,

j. means for causing movement of said moistening means into and out of engagement with the area of the copy piece during each cycle,

k. a common shaft means rotatable through an angle of 360 for concurrently operating therewith said actuating and causing means,

. rotatably adjustable means cooperating with said shaft mechanically adjusting said actuating and said causing means concurrently for varying the actuation of said dispensing means and movement of said moistening means relative to the travel of the copy piece through the apparatus, m. a single clutch coupling said drive means to said common shaft means, said single clutch comprising a drive member and a driven member, said drive member being directly and continuously coupled to said drive means,

n. switch means adjacent said first translating roller and first nip roller for activating said clutch means upon passage of a copy piece thereagainst and causing said shaft to rotate through one cycle. said shaft being operable to cause operation of said card dispensing means to feed a master card toward said cooperating biased roller and said second translating roller and simultaneously therewith move said moistening means toward engagement with the copy piece.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said causing means is a cam.

8. An apparatus as defined in. claim 6 wherein said actuating means is an eccentrically mounted crank.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said single clutch includes a continuously rotating wheel on said common shaft, a driven wheel coaxial with said rotating wheel, a pivotally mounted pawl on one of said wheels being spring biased into intermittent engagement with toothed elements on the other of said wheels.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said clutch includes a solenoid operated actuating means for causing operation of said clutch for coupling and uncoupling of said drive means to said common shaft.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said rotatably adjustable means includes indexing means cooperating with said shaft for rotating said shaft a se-

Claims (11)

1. In an apparatus for printing copy by the known hectographic transfer process, comprising copy translating means for moving copy along a predetermined path; an electric motor; a first transmission means coupled to said motor for continuously driving said copy translating means; printed card holding means for supporting a stack of cards; card dispensing means operable in cycles for dispensing one card in each cycle; card dispensing actuating means for actuating said card dispensing means; card translating means for moving a dispensed card along a predetermined path having a first region wherein the card converges toward said copy path, a second region wherein the card meets said copy path and a third region diverging from said copy path; an applicator roller at said seCond region; a card extractor roller at said third region; moistening means for applying moisture to an area of said copy including a moisture roller, a moisture roller carrier pivoted at a point spaced apart from said moisture roller, and moisture roller carrier actuating means for causing engagement of said moisture roller with said area of said copy during each cycle thereon; and second transmission means for driving said moisture roller carrier actuating means and said card dispensing actuating means; and control means for said second transmission means; the improvement, wherein said second transmission means comprises an auxiliary shaft coupled with said moisture roller carrier actuating means and with said card dispensing actuating means in such a manner that one moistening cycle and one card dispensing cycle are completed within substantially less than 360* angular displacement of said auxiliary shaft; said second transmission also comprising: a single clutch which has a driving toothed wheel mounted for rotation on and relative to said auxiliary shaft and continuously rotated by said first transmission means, a driven wheel-like element coaxial with and intermittently connectable with said driving wheel for rotation in unison therewith through an individual complete revolution, a pawl pivotally mounted to said driven wheel-like element, spring biased into an intermittent engaging position and actuable into a normal disengaging position; said pawl being adapted to positively engage the toothed surface of said driving wheel when in said engaging position thereby to positively interconnect said driving wheel and said driven wheel-like element said single clutch being the only clutch in said apparatus and coupling said auxiliary shaft to said first transmission means for actuating said card dispensing means and said moisture roller carrier means; said second transmission means further comprising phase angle adjusting means interconnecting said driven wheel-like element and said auxiliary shaft for unison rotation thereof, and for adjustment of the phase angle of said auxiliary shaft relative to said driven wheel-like element; said control means comprising a double-throw switch actuable by said copy from a normally closed position to a normally open position, an electrical circuit including a capacitor chargeable when said switch is in its normally closed position and serially connected with a solenoid when said switch is in its normally open position whereby the plunger of said solenoid is temporarily displaced from its normal position immediately upon actuation of said switch by said copy; said pawl including a finger engageable with the plunger of said solenoid in the normal position thereof and being freed therefrom upon temporary displacement of said plunger; and said finger when engaging said plunger being operative to maintain said pawl in its normal disengaging position.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said toothed surface of said driving wheel consists of relatively small ratchet teeth on the outer periphery of said driving wheel, and wherein the grooves defined by adjacent teeth are V-shaped and their included angle is of the order of 90*.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said pawl consists of two interconnected members each pivoted to said driven wheel-like element by means of two spaced apart pins secured to said wheel-like element and extending axially thereof; the first one of said members being provided with a pointed nose engageable with said ratchet teeth, a head portion; a spring acting on said head portion urging said nose toward said ratchet teeth, and a tail portion extending toward the other member; the second member having a head portion adapted to engage the tail portion of said first member to urge the nose portion thereof away from said ratchet teeth, and a tail portion forming said finger.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the pivot pin of said first member is disposed generally perpendicularlY to the trailing surface of the V-groove into which the nose portion of said first member rests when said nose portion engages said toothed surface.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said phase angle adjusting means comprises an axially slidable knob mounted to one end of said auxiliary shaft and keyed thereto against relative rotation and carrying an indexing pin, said driven wheel-like element being freely mounted to said auxiliary shaft immediately behind said knob and having a plurality of closely spaced apart axial bores disposed in a circle such that each bore is capable of receiving therein the free end of said indexing pin, hence determining said phase angle, said knob including a return spring urging said indexing pin into the registering one of said bores, whereby the connection between said driven wheel-like element is effected by means of said keyed knob via said indexing pin.

6. An apparatus for printing material from a master card onto a copy piece comprising: a. at least a first and a second translating roller, b. a first nip roller cooperating with said first translating roller, c. a biased roller cooperating with said second translating roller, d. drive means connected to and driving said translating rollers whereby copy pieces are moved along a predetermined path between said nip roller and said at least first translating roller and said biased roller and said second translating roller, e. master card holding means for supporting a stack of master cards, f. card dispensing means operable in cycles for dispensing one master card during each cycle, g. card dispensing actuating means for actuating said card dispensing means, h. card translating means for moving a dispensed card along a predetermined path passing between said biased roller and said second translating roller in contact with a copy piece, i. a movable moistening means for applying moisture to an area of said copy piece, j. means for causing movement of said moistening means into and out of engagement with the area of the copy piece during each cycle, k. a common shaft means rotatable through an angle of 360* for concurrently operating therewith said actuating and causing means, l. rotatably adjustable means cooperating with said shaft mechanically adjusting said actuating and said causing means concurrently for varying the actuation of said dispensing means and movement of said moistening means relative to the travel of the copy piece through the apparatus, m. a single clutch coupling said drive means to said common shaft means, said single clutch comprising a drive member and a driven member, said drive member being directly and continuously coupled to said drive means, n. switch means adjacent said first translating roller and first nip roller for activating said clutch means upon passage of a copy piece thereagainst and causing said shaft to rotate through one cycle, said shaft being operable to cause operation of said card dispensing means to feed a master card toward said cooperating biased roller and said second translating roller and simultaneously therewith move said moistening means toward engagement with the copy piece.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said causing means is a cam.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said actuating means is an eccentrically mounted crank.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said single clutch includes a continuously rotating wheel on said common shaft, a driven wheel coaxial with said rotating wheel, a pivotally mounted pawl on one of said wheels being spring biased into intermittent engagement with toothed elements on the other of said wheels.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said clutch includes a solenoid operated actuating means for causing operation of said clutch for coupling and uncoupling of said drive means to said common shaft.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said rotatabLy adjustable means includes indexing means cooperating with said shaft for rotating said shaft a selected number of degrees.

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