US895290A - Printing-machine. - Google Patents

Description

. No 895,290.. i A. MGPHBRSON- PRINTING MACHINE. urmouxox FILED mix. @1901.

PATEBTTED AUG 4, 1908;;

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

2 fie?" 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 PATENTED AUG. 4,1908.

of the chase bars ALFRED MCPHERSOX, OF STOKE NEWINGTQN, ENGLAND.

PRIN TIN G-MACHIN E.

Application filed March 6, 1901. Serial No. 360,933.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED MCPHERsON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 44 Fountayne road, Stoke Xewington, in the county of Middlesex, England, printer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Printing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to printing machines and has particular reference to those of the kind that are employed for addressing envelops and the like and in which the mat ter to be printed is arranged on numerous loose and independent type bars or slips which are fed to the machine and taken by a reciprocating table in, say, groups of four lying one against the other, and carried beneath an impression cylinder to effect the printing, after which they are conveyed away from the machine to a suitable receptacle.

The chief object of this invention is to enable the said bars or slips to be separated from each other so as to be correctly spaced prior to the printing operation for which purpose the chase, which supports the aforesaid type bars or slips and winch is carried by the re ciprocating table, is composed of several portions adapted, while moving towards the lmpression cylinder carrying the paper onvelop or other article to be printed upon, to be separated or spaced to the requisite degree, so that the various lines of printed matter impressed on the envelop or the like are at the required distance apart, the said portions, after the printing operation, closmg together again prior to their removal from the machine.

The invention also embodies other features which will be hereinafter described.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings-in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of one form of printing machine constructed according to this invention. 1 is a plan of the gearing for reciprocating the table of the machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan showing them in their spread orv separated position. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional eleva- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

tion of the means for feeding the type bars onto the chase.

A is a framework of the machine; B is the impression cylinder.

B B are the inking rollers and C is the re-' ciprocating table that carries the chase B The means for driving the reciprocating table comprise in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 1 a motor a, connected by a.

'chain or belt a to the wheel (L2 on the shaft a on which is also fixed the gear wheel a meshing with the gear wheel a on the shaft a. The gear wheel a meshes with gear wheel a (Fig. 2) which is fixed on the shaft of the im pression cylinder and thus drives the latter. On the shaft a and the parallel shaft (1, are mounted two intermeshing elliptical wheels (1- a", respectively, through which the power is transmitted at variable 5 eed to the shaft a and thus to the disk-crank o which drives the connecting rod 0). A short shaft a" passes through the cross head a of the connecting rod c and has mounted thereon two pairs of gear wheels, onepair a a gearing with the fixed racks a, (L and the other pair a a." gearing with racks a" (Fig. 1) on the underside of the reciprocating table. It will therefore be understood that the motor a by means of the intermediate gearing causes the short shaft o to be reciprocated, and the .eciprocating table driv an to and fro by means of the gear wheels a a and racks a".

As the reciprocating table carries the chase and type bars towards the im ression cylinder the type bars pass under tile inking rollers B 13*. These rollers are driven by the distributing drum B by means of the Intermediate friction rollers B". The distributing drum H is driven through a chain of wheels A from the pinion A-gearing with the rack 9 a" on the underside of the reciprocating table A. Ink is supplied to the distributing drum from the drum B through the intermediate drums or riders A and vibrator A;

' the drunrB is driven from the shaft of the impression cylinder B and carries upon its axle the cam A which imparts the vibratory movement to the vibrator A.

The chase 13 comprises several portions or bars of which in the example shown there are four namely 1) b b I) so arranged that they normally lie in contact with each other, at the feeding end of the machine, so that the type bars or slips D fed into the machine will arrive thereon in their closed positions. As

2 i V I s95,29o ;e

thereciprocating table C conveys the chase B beneath the impression cylinder the several chase bars b b" b I) automatically separate to the required distance, so that the printed matter upon the envelops will be spaced correctly, that is to say, the bar I) will rint a registration number at the left haml corner of the envelop, the bar I) will print the name of the person to whom the envelop is to be sent, and the bars 6 b the address of such person. The said chase bars, after the printing operations, then close together again at the opposite or delivery 'end of the machine as the stroke or travel of the table C is being completed, and the type bars or slips are finally removed from the several chase bars and conveyed away or otherwise disposed of as desired.

The above described movements of the chase bars may be effected by means of a bell crank lever E (Fig. 3) pivoted at e to the reci )rocating table C. The said lever E is adapted to engage at one end 6 with a cam groove or cam surface such as F on a fixed part of the machine, and at the other end 0 with a sliding bar b that is connected with the innermostone of the said chase bars so that movement will be imparted to this chase bar I) in accordancewith the extent of movement that the bell crank lever receives from the aforesaid'cam surface F. The next sneceeding portion or bar I) and the one adjacent to it b are each furnished with a pair of rods b having adjust able collars or stop pieces I) and are subjected to the action of springs b that normally tend to keep the said chase bars pressed one against the other and both of them against the outermost one I) which is fiXCCl. The position of the said collars or steps b 1s such that when. the innermost chase bar I) is shifted by the aforesaid bell crank lever B, it acts in succession upon the stops and thereby separates the intermediate chase bars If 6 from the outermost one I) and from each other, as shown in Fig. 3, to an extent depending on the position of the stop )ieces b. The chase bars are thus place into the required posit ionfor spacing the type bars they earr being retained 1n their position by the bel crank lever until it reaches the opposite end of the said cam surface F, whereupon said bell crank lever is moved under the influence of the compression spring E into a position to permit the chase bars to come together again. I) b are guide ieces for the said chase bars. The said type )ars D are held in place u on the chase bars by means of cli pieces suc i as G, which compiise fingers g having stems g controlled by s )rings g", said clip pieces being moved into their disengaging position at the proper tunes by suit-able means such as hereinafter described for permitting the said fingers g to become lifted fronrengagement with the ends of the type bars so that the latter can arm is fixed to the shaft 7:

be placed on and removed from the chase bars, v

The feeding of the type bars or strips D on to the chase bars from the feed table of the a machine may bepeIfQ ed by means of a rising and traveling 1 )latformwhichmay comprise a pair of rotary shafts carrying arms connected together at their free ends by intermittentlyby a pawl and ratchet device It receiving its motion from a crank and connecting rod h. v

A hinged piece .or fence K is provided at the feeding end of the machine for regulating the extent to which the type bars D are fed onto the chase B In the example shown two such fences are illustrated so that two sets of type bars can be operated upon simul taneously.

The actuation of each fence K is effected by means of an incline is secured to the reel rocating table C and adapted, upon t 1e return stroke of the latter, to engage a roller is mounted on the end of a bent arm 7r which is fixed to a shaft 7: The roller 7; is then raised, the shaft is partially turned, and the fence K lifted, the latter being carried by an The clip pieces G are formed with stems g, the lower extremities of which bear upon a plate 9 mounted on a rod g, the lower end of which is supported on a bar 9 pivoted at one end to the reciprocating table and having at the other orfree end a roller which engages with tilting levers g at each end of the machine,

said tiltinglevers being actuated through connecting rods 9, rocking lever 9 and rotating cam g. As the reciprocating table completes its return stroke to the feeding end of the machine, the fence K is raised as above described, and the clip pieces G are also raised by reason of the pivoted bar g engaging with the tilting lever 9 The continued movement of the reciprocating table carries the chase Bfbeyond the fence to an extent corresponding to the width of four type bars and said chase passes under the first four of the type bars that are waiting on the bridge piece H. I The table then commences to start moving in the reverse direction, that is to say towards the impression cylinder, and the chase 13 carries the four type bars away with it; the clip pieces G then descend and hold the type bars upon the chase while the reciprocating table travels under the impression cylinder. also descended and the typeieeding mech anism again becomesoperative. feeding more type bars forward until they fill up the ga )s on the bridge piece H and abut against t e Meanwhile the fence I has $9 5,290 I i g3 fence K, after which any further movement of the feeding mechanism merely results in the slipping of the traveling plat-form H under the type bars.

If five lines of type were required, the chase would of course consist ,of five chase bars, and the fence K would be situated further from the shaft 7: by an amount equal to the width of the additional chase bar.

The removal of the type bars at the delivery end of the machine is effected by means of a hinged piece or fence K which is raised by movement of a bent arm 1: when a pivot ed inclined plate 7r" on the reciprocating table comes against a laterally mounted roller on said bent arm 7c during the rearward travel of the table thus raising the fence K so as to allow the chaseand type bars to pass beyond the same. As the said table completes its rearward, movement the pivoted inclined plate passes beyond the bent arm 15 and thus permits the fence K to fall-in front of the type bars. When the table again advances, the fence K remains closed owing to the pivoted inclined plate It givin way to the laterally mounted roller on the bent arm said roller lifting the aforesaid )late 1c and passing under it; the fence K therefore removes the type bars from the chase, and retains them at the opposite or delivery end of the machine, it being understood that the clip pieces (l are at this time raised by the tilting lever g as hereinbefore described.

As the envelop to be printed is being carried along by the impression cylinder B from the feed table B a gripping finger I) or equivalent device engages with and holds down the rear portion of the said envelo so as to maintain the whole of its area in c ose PIOXllilitY to the surface of the cylinder and not merely its forward portion, which is held by a gripping device I) in the usual manner.

.As the impression cylinder revolves, it carries the envelop downward to the printing )osition to which the type bars have also )een carried by the reciprocating table C. The printing having been effected the impression cylinder conveys the printed envelop into a position from which it is transferred to an auxiliary cylinder B by means of fingers 'b in the usual way. From this auxiliary cylinder theenvelop is delivered to the. mouth of the box or receptacle B by means of stripping fingers b, whereupon a plunger advances and )ushes the envelop past suitable stop )ieces l) into said box or receptacle, the sai stop pieces being of such a character that the envelops will pass them. by slightly bending.

The movement of the plunger 6 may be derived from a rotary cam b, rocking arms Zr, b and link I)".

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of means for laterally separating said type bars during the movement of the table, for the purpose specified.

, 2. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a plurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating table for supporting said type bars, and means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, for the purpose specified.

3. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table and a plurality of independent t )e bars, of a plurality of chase bars carried y the reciprocating table for supporting said type bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, and means for feeding the type bars towards the chase bars intermittently, for the purpose s )ecified.

4. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a plurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating table for sup )orting said type bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, an endless traveling platform for conveying the type bars, and pawl and ratchet mechanism for intermittently moving said platform, for the purpose specified.

5. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a plurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating table for supporting said type bars, a bell-crank lever operatively connccted with sai.' chase bars, and a cam surface for actuating said lever during the movement of the said table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6'. In a printing machine, the combination. with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent ty )0 bars, of a fixed outer chase bar, a movable inner chase bar, intermediate chase bars, means whereby the movement of said inner chase bar is imparted to the intermediate chase bars to varying extents, and means for imparting said movement to the inner chase bar during the movement of the table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a fixed outer chase bar, a movable inner chase bar, intermediate chase bars, rods on said intermediate chase bars, adjustable stop-pieces on said rods for engaging with said inner chase bar, and means for imparting movement to the latter during the movement of the table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

bars, of a fixed, outer chase bar, a movable inner chase bar, a sliding bar connected with said inner chase bar, intermediate chase bars, rods on said intermediate chase bars, adjust;- able stop-pieces on said rods for engaging with said inner chase bar, a bell-crank lever whereof one arm engages with said sliding bar, and a stationary cam surface for engaging with the Other arm of said lever, substan tially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a fixed outer chase bar, a movable inner chase bar, a sliding bar connected with said inner chase bar, intermediate chase bars,

rods on said intermediate chase bars, adjustable stop pieces on said rods for engaging with said inner chase bar, springs for controlling said rods, a bell-crank lever whereof one arm engages with said sliding bar, a stationary cam surface for engaging with the other arm of said lever, and a spring for controlling said lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a plurality of chase bars carried by the reel proeating table for supporting said type bars. means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, and means for temporarily retaining said type bars on the chase bars, for the purpose specified.

11, In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocatiug table, and a plurality of independenttype bars, of a. plurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating table for supporting said type bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, and spring controlled clip pieces for temporarily retaining said type bars on the chase ars, for the purpose specified.

12. In a printing machine, the eombina tion with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a plurality 'of chase bars carried by the reciprocating table for supporting said type bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, means for temporarily retaining said type bars on the chase bars, and means for moving said retaining means into a position to liberate the type bars as the reciprocating table completes its movement to the delivery end of the machine and begins to return, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. In a printing machine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independ ent type'bars, of a plurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocatr table for supporting said type bars, means 4LT spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table,

springlcontrolledclirspieces for retaining 'said type bars on the chase bars, stems on saidclip-picces, a movable plate for engaging with said stems, tilt'n leyers for operatmg said plate, and cam' and lover mechanism for actuating said tilting ievers, as the recipr0- eating table completes its to-and-fro movements substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. In a printing machine, the combination with the impressi n cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a pi ralit-y of chase bars carried by the reeipreta-ting table for supporting said type bars. cans for feeding said type bars onto the c. e bars, means for temporarily retaining said type bars upon the chase bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, and means for obstructing the feeding of the type bars exec )t when the table completes its return SiIOliG, szibstantially as and for the purpose specified.

15. In a printing machine, the combination with the impressii n cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a PL aralityof independent type ba 5, of a plurality of chase bars carried by the reciprocating table for supporting said type bars, means ;'or spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, means for tem )orarii" retaining said tyre bars upon the cnase bars. a hinged fence or obstructing the fCttlltL of the type bars onto the chase, and an incl -12 on the reciprocating table for raising said fence as the table com- )letcs its return stroke substantially as and lor the purpose specified.

16. In a printmg achine, the combination with the impres "v11 cylinder, the reciprocating table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a p-iurality of chase bars carried by the recipr eating table for supporting said type i? means for feeding said type bars onto tn temporarily retaining said type bars upon the chase bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, a hinged fence for obstructing the feeding of the type bars onto the chase bars, and an incline on the reciprocating table for raising said fence as the tank completes itsreturn stroke. substantially as and for the purpose specii'ied.

17. In a printing: chine, the combination with the impression cylinder, the reciprocatiizg table, and a plurality of independent type bars, of a nirality of chase bars carried by the recip' ating table fcr supporting said type means for ceding said type bars onto chase bars, means for temporarily retaining said type bars upon base bars, means for the chase bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table,

means for obstructing the feeding of the type bars except when the table completes lts return stroke, and means for retaining the type bars carried by the chase bars at the ent type bars, of a plurality of chase bars carrier by the reciprocating table for supporting said type bars, means .for feeding said type bars onto the chase bars, means for temporarily retaining said type bars upon the chase bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, means for moving'said retaining means into a )OSltlOll to liberate the type bars as the table completes its movement to the delivery end of the machine and begins to return, and means, for obstructing the feeding of the type bars except when the table comletes its return stroke, substantially as and tor the purpose specified.

19. In a printing machine, the combina tion with the impression cylinder, the recigrocating table, and a lurality of indepen ent ty e bars, of a p urality of chase oars carrie by the reciprocating table for supporting said type ars, means for feeding said type bars onto the chase bars, means for temporarily retaining said type bars upon the chase bars, means for spacing said chase bars during the movement of the table, means for moving said retainin means into a position to liberate the type ars as the table completes its movement to the delivery end of the machine and begins to return, means for retaining the type bars carried by the chase bars at the delivery end of the machine, and

means for obstructing the feeding of the type bars except when the table completes'its return stroke, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED MGPHERSON. lVitn'esses:

T. SELBY WARDLE, WALTER J. S. MERTEN.

Images