BE475155A - - Google Patents

Description

       

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  "Improvements to Printing Machines."
The present invention relates to printing machines through which a series of printing members are driven so that prints from said members are effected on sheets, envelopes, business forms, etc., and it further relates to particularly mechanisms sergant to drive said organs through machines of this kind.



   In printing machines of this kind, the printing organs are introduced into a magazine and are taken out one by one and brought to a printing station where prints are carried out using said members on the sheets. or similar objects. One or more prints can be made by each printing member, and the printing device is operated so as to perform a cycle.

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 printing whenever such printing is to be performed.



   The printing bodies with the aid of which prints are made in machines of this kind can take many different forms, but in most cases each carries a number of lines of characters d printing, for example in relief, with the aid of which prints can be made on a sheet, business form, etc., although there are a wide variety of printing bodies which can be used in machines of this kind, the printing member described in the British patent? 339,895 of August 5, 1929 can be considered as a typical form of a printing device capable of being used. A. Another form of printing member, generally similar, is described in the British patent? 489.390 of February 24, 1936.

   This member comprises a rectangular frame or plate holder comprising a detachable printing plate or metal plate on which typographical characters are stamped to appear in relief on the working face of said plate. Typefaces may also be stamped on a so-called one-piece printing member, and such members may be used in machines constructed in accordance with the invention.

   Alternatively, typefaces can be formed on stencil paper carried by a frame of cardboard or other material,
An operator usually sits in front of the machine, and the machine is usually set up so that the printing station is relatively close to the leading edge of the machine, so that sheets, etc. can be either brought automatically to the printing position, or placed successively by the operator in positions such that they can receive a print from the printing members as these are successively brought

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 at the printing station.

   Until now, it was customary, in machines of this kind, to place the magazine either directly behind the printing station, or directly next to said station, so that the printing bodies are constrained. to move in a straight line from the magazine to the printing station. It has been found that this considerably limits the possibilities of application of the machine, since the position of the magazine in relation to the printing station either limits the dimensions of the sheet which can be placed in the printing position or else. prevents the desired portion of this sheet from being disposed at the printing position, or otherwise hinders the printing operation.



   In addition, it has been found that a vertical magazine located directly behind the printing station limits the efficiency of the machines because it hinders the assembly and operation of various forms of list printing devices which communicate a intermittent movement to formulas such as tax formulas often prepared in machines of this kind. Likewise, a magazine located on one side of the machine interferes with the automatic feeding of sheets across the machine.



   Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to allow a relatively large open area to be provided on the table top of a machine of this kind so that relatively large sheets or formulations can be moved around. a straight line from one side to the other of the printing station through which the printing members, in the form of plates situated in a substantially horizontal plane, are interlaced in steps.



   According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing the machine with two guideways which intersect at substantially right angles and with a mechanism serving to drive.

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 a series of printing members in the form of plates, in succession, first along the first of said paths, then along the second of these paths, to be rejected or evacuated at the end of the second path, the arrangement being such that in each path the printing members which are placed at a certain distance from each other on that path are immobilized for the performance of a function and that each printing member passes along one of the paths parallel to a lateral edge of the member and along the other path substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of said member.

   This function can be a printing operation or an operation in which certain tabs or similar elements of the printing organ are scanned or probed, or it can be a simple immobilization of the organ for a predetermined time at a point where said organ where portions of this organ can be observed by the operator.



   The invention also consists of a printing machine provided with two slides or guideways which intersect substantially at right angles and with a mechanism serving to drive in steps a series of printing members (in the form of plates situated in a substantially horizontal plane) in succession and at a certain distance from each other along a path passing through a transfer station located at the junction between the two paths, then at a certain distance from each other. others along the other path, said transfer position being determined by stationary members which guide and direct each printing member in the same direction as it arrives at the transfer station in a direction and when it leaves this post in the other direction.

   Preferably, the drive mechanism acts alternately in the two paths. Arrangements such as that previously described can be used very advantageously to obtain the desired arrangement of the parts of the machine if the actual printing station is placed on ur.

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 third way.

   The invention can then comprise a printing machine provided with the first and third paths substantially parallel to each other and the second path which intersects them substantially at right angles, the machine being furthermore provided with a mechanism serving to drive in stages a series of printing members (in the form of plates arranged in a substantially horizontal plane) along the paths, in succession and at a certain distance from each other, with their lateral edges always substantially parallel to said parallel paths. The mechanism can then be placed at the start of the first path, while an arm extending obliquely across the machine table from a point near the magazine can support the presser mechanism above. from the printing station.



   The machine can advantageously be arranged so that it can be automatically adjusted to take two or more prints from each printing member. In this case, the mechanism is advantageously designed such that the multiple printing mechanism of the machine invariably produces the desired number of prints taken from each printing member, including the first and the last of a series. number of printing bodies.



   On leaving the guide paths, the printing members are preferably collected in a drawer, and an important characteristic of the invention consists in establishing between this drawer and the other elements of the machine a relationship such that the printing members do not. cannot be pulled through the machine when a collector drawer is not in the desired position to receive it.



   The machine is such that the operating mechanism can be easily and conveniently operated by an operator seated in front of it and the operating and driving mechanisms can be constructed and arranged so that they can be operated.

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 be wrapped or housed inside the machine frame, so that they are concealed and protected by the frame elements. Owing to this construction, the present machine can have a clean and pleasant appearance, which until now has not been possible in machines of this general kind.



   The machine is such that it can easily be used in a fairly simple basic form capable of being sold for a reasonable price while at the same time being amenable to relatively simple modifications allowing it to be provided with many additional features relating to the machine. convenience or automaticity of operation.

   Thus, the distance traveled by the printing units from the magazine to the printing station allows the use of simple and inexpensive visual selection methods, such as an observation window placed on one side of the printing station. printing, so that the operator can, while seated in a normal position in front of the machine, have the observation window constantly following a normal line of vision, by affixing such a window to the previous situation directly behind the printing station.



   In order to better understand the invention and to facilitate its practice, a printing apparatus established in accordance with said invention will be described below by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a printing machine.



   Figure 2 is a plan view of this machine, a portion of its upper part being broken off to show part of the operating mechanism;
Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken just above the machine table top, this table top having been removed to show details of the construction included.

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 terior;
Figure 4 is a vertical section through the line
4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a vertical section through the line
5-5 of Figure 3;
FIG. 6 is a vertical section on a larger scale substantially similar to FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of the driving or driving mechanism shown in the left part of FIG. 3;

   
FIG. 8 is a horizontal section µ on a large scale showing the mechanism which is found in the right part of FIG. 3;
Figure 8a is a perspective view looking from the front right hand corner of the machine, this view showing the mechanism as seen when the table top is turned. the machine has been removed;
Figure 9 is a vertical section through the line
9-9 of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, but showing the? parts in different positions;
Figure 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Figure 8;
Figure 12 is a vertical section through the line
12-12 of Figure 8;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of details;
Figure 14 is a detailed plan view;

   
Figure 15 is a vertical section through the line
15-15 of Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a vertical section along the line.
16-16 of Figure 14;
Figure 17 is a vertical section taken on line 17.7 of Figure 14;

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Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17, showing some parts in different positions;
Figure 19 is a view similar to Figures 17 and 18, showing some parts in other positions;
Figure 20 is a vertical section taken on line 20-20 of Figure 25;
Figure 21 is a vertical section taken on line 21-21 of Figure 8;
Figure 22 is a vertical section taken on line 22-22 of Figure 3;

   
Figure 23 is a vertical section taken on line 23 -23 of Figure 3;
Figure 24 is a perspective view of details;
Figure 25 is a detailed plan view;
Figure 26 is a vertical section taken on line 26-26 of Figure 25;
Figure 27 is a vertical section taken on line 27-27 of Figure 25;
Figure 28 is a vertical section taken on line 28-28 of Figure 8;
Figure 29 is a plan view of the working or printing face of a printing member for use in the machine;
Figure 30 shows the lower edge of the printing member of Figure 29;
Figure 31 is an elevational view of the reverse of the printing member;
Figure 32 is a plan view of some parts of the machine;

   
Figure 33 is a plan view showing the parts of Figure 32 associated for operation with other elements of the machine;
Figure 34 is a vertical section through the line

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   34-34 of Figure 33;

   Figure 35 is a perspective view of some parts;
Figure 36 is a vertical section through the line
36-36 of line 7;
Figure 37 is a vertical section through the line
37-37 of Figure 25;
Figure 38 is a view similar to Figure 37, showing some parts in different positions;
Figure 39 is a vertical section through the line
39-39 of Figure 25;
Figure 40 is a vertical view taken along line 40-40 of Figure 25;
Figure 41 is a vertical section taken on line 41-41 of Figure 25;
Fig. 42 is a perspective view showing part of the machine;
Fig. 43 is an enlarged view showing part of the machine;

   
Figure 44 is a view similar to Figure 43, but showing some parts in didferent positions;
Figure 45 is a view similar to Figure 43 but showing some parts in other positions;
Figure 46 is analogous to Figures 43 to 45, but shows some parts in other positions;
Figure 47 is a vertical section taken on line 47-47 of Figure 48;
Figure 48 is a vertical section taken on line 48-48 of Figure 47;

   
Figure 49 is a vertical section taken on line 49-49 of Figure 47;
Figure 50 is a perspective view of the rear side of the machine, part of the table top being assumed

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 removed and the rear cover of the machine also being supposed to be removed to show certain parts of the drive and control mechanism of the machine.



   Fig. 51 is a perspective view, looking from the left rear corner of the machine, and shows the assembly and relationship of certain elements of the drive and control mechanism of the machine;
Figure 52 is a plan view of the main motor mechanism of the machine;
Figure 53 is a vertical section taken on line 53-53 of Figure 52;
Figure 54 is a vertical section taken on line 54-54 of Figure 52;
Figure 55 is a horizontal section taken on line 55-55 of Figure 54;
Figure 56 is a vertical section taken on line 56-56 of Figure 52;
Figure 57 is a vertical section taken on line 57-57 of Figure 52;
Figure 58 is a vertical section taken on line 58-58 of Figure 52;
Figure 59 is a section taken on line 59-59 of Figure 58;

   
Fig. 60 is a vertical section taken through the control mechanism for adjusting the number of printing operations to be performed using a particular printing member;
Figure 61 shows a fragment of Figure 60 with some of the parts in a different part of their duty cycle;
FIG. 62 is a view similar to FIG. 60, but showing the parts in another adjustment position.



   Figure 63 shows the mechanism in the posi-

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 tion set in Figure 62, but with the parts in a different part of their work cycle;
Fig. 64 is a view showing the operating mechanism in the same adjustment position as in Fig. 62, but showing the parts in relatively different positions;
Figure 65 is a section taken on line 65-65 of Figure 64;
Figure 66 is a section taken on line 66-66 of Figure 64;
Fig. 67 is a view showing the control mechanism in another position in which the device for driving the printing members is disabled;
Figure 68 is a section taken on line 68-68 of Figure 67;

   
Fig. 69 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3, and shows a mechanism by which a sheet feeder can be associated with the present machine;
Figure 70 is a section taken on line 70-70 of Figure 69;
Figure 71 is a section taken on line 71-71 of Figure 70;
Figure 72 is an elevational view of the left end of the machine showing how the sheet supplying device may be associated for operation with the printing machine;
Figure 73 is a section taken on line 73-73 of Figure 72;
Fig. 74 is a vertical section of the machine and shows an automatic control device which may be incorporated therein;
Figure 75 is a section taken on line 75-75 of Figure 74;

   

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Figure 76 is a section taken on line 76-76 of Figure 77;
Figure 77 shows a portion of Figure 74 on a larger scale;
Figure 78 is a section taken on line 78-78 of Figure 79;
Figure 79 shows a fragment of the mechanism of Figure 74, on a larger scale;
Figure 80 is a wiring diagram of the control circuits of the operating mechanism of Figures 74 through 79.



   The machine in general.



   The printing machine comprises a frame in the form of a desk 100 provided with a table top 1 on which sheets, envelopes, letterheads, invoice forms, register sheets, etc. can be placed. on which printing is to be performed. The printing operations are carried out with the aid of printing units such as, for example, the printing unit D shown in Figures 29 to 31, which are driven one by one from one supply store M to one. printing station V placed near the front edge 101 of the table top T, to be then unloaded into a drawer K. When a printing unit D is located at the printing station below a sheet or form resting on the plate T, the impression is drawn from this organ by a pressing mechanism P.

   The presser mechanism E. is supported above the printing station by means of a printing frame 104, which is described in detail in UK Patent No. 15,197 / 4L.



   The printing frame 104 is in the shape of a C and is attached to the frame 100 so that a portion of the link 105 rises through the table top T, an upper arm 104 thus being located. above the plate T while a lower arm 104 "is located below said plate. The lower arm 104" supports an anvil or base it on which

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 the printing units D stop for printing.



   The free end of the upper arm 104 'is provided with a cast head 108 on which is mounted the pressing mechanism P. In general, this mechanism comprises a carriage C mounted to perform a reciprocating movement in the direction. - tion front-rear of the machine along a path 109 which is mounted in an adjustable manner on the underside of the head frame 108.

   The carriage C is provided with a pressure roller PR mounted on toggle links 110 so that said roller can be lowered to a working position with respect to a sheet and to a printing member D, with a view to 'Obtaining an impression on the sheet by means of said member. This lowering of the pressure roller PR to a working position, as well as the withdrawal of the pressure roller PR to an inactivity position, takes place due to the back and forth movement of the carriage C, and this movement of lowering and raising the pressure roller PR can be obtained by means comprising a link 111, the construction and operation of which are described in detail in the English patent application pre -
 EMI13.1
 cited N 15.19 / + 1.



   The printing members used in the machines according to the invention can take many different shapes, such as, for example, the stencil type comprising a sheet of stencil paper mounted in a cardboard or metal frame and on which are formed letterpress characters; or the desired typeface can be formed by stamping on a metal plate which in some cases can be provided with a metal frame. The machine shown in the drawings has been established particularly for the use of stamped metal printing members D such as those of Figures 29 to 31.

   An el printing member may be of the type shown in the aforementioned English Patent No. 339,895 or of the type shown in the former

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 clay N 489.390 cited above.



   When a sheet or form and a printing member D occupy suitable relative positions at the printing station, an IR ink ribbon is placed between them so that the printing pressure imparted to the sheet by the pressure roller PR has the effect of producing an impression using the raised characters of the printing member D on the sheet or form, via the ink ribbon IR.



   As can be seen in FIGS. 29 to 31, the printing unit D comprises a rectangular frame 112 containing a stamp 113 of stampable metal held in position in a detachable manner along the lower portion of one of the faces of said plate. The cliché 113 is mounted on the frame 112 by inserting it at the end of a slide consisting of a lower rolled edge 113 'of the frame 112 and a number of rolled tabs 113 "stamped in the copps of the frame 112. The clip il-1 is held in such a way that it cannot be moved longitudinally in the frame by flexible resilient latches 114 which are cut out in the frame 112.

   Along the top edge of the same face of frame 112, a classification card 115 is held in position by a rolled top edge 115 'and retaining tabs 115 "; and a print of class. The element 116 'can be printed on the card 115 with the aid of the typographical characters 116 stamped on the plate 113. Along its upper edge, the frame 112 is provided with recesses or recesses 117' in which indicator tabs or Selection 117 may be selectively placed for purposes well known to those skilled in the art The frame 112 is angled at its ends to provide spacer flanges 118 which protrude from the underside or rear (Figure 30) of the frame.

   When printing members D are stacked in a magazine M, the smooth upper surfaces '112' formed along the ends of the upper surface of the frame 112

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 ..of a lower printing member D are in contact with the spacer flanges 118 of the directly upper printing member, so that contact of this directly upper printing member D with the characters is avoided. typographic of the lower organ D. '
When a printing unit D occupies the printing position, it rests below the ink ribbon IR ', with its typographic characters 116 facing upwards, the portion of the underside of the frame 112 which is situated between the edges d 'spacing 118 resting on the base A.

   The character lines 116 are then arranged parallel to the front edge 101 of the table top T, and the spacer edges 118 are perpendicular to the front edge 101 and protrude downwards, so as to engage in the recesses or grooves. 119 (Figures 6 and 25), formed in the base, A, so that the frame 113 is firmly supported on this base.

   When the printing unit D occupies this position and a sheet is placed on top of it, the pressure roller carriage .9- receives a feed or preparation movement during which the roller presses. Its PR is automatically lowered to its working position ',' as described in detail in the English patent application 15,197 / 41. This preparation movement has the effect of bringing the elastic lining PF of the pressure roller PR to the point of the sheet, just in front of the line of characters located furthest in front of the printing unit D, so that ', in the backward or working stroke of the presser roller carriage C, the PF lining of the roller,

   under the influence of the gear linkage with the reciprocating motion of the carriage rolls backward over the sheet and produces the desired impression of the various lines of letterpress 116 on said sheet or form. , At or near the trailing end of the carriage stroke, the roller ...

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  ..pressor PR is returned to its idle position, so that a new sheet can be placed at the printing station. If desired, this positioning of the sheet at the printing station can be facilitated by means of one or more sheet stops or guides G, such as those shown in FIG. 1.



   In the printing machine according to the invention, the arrangement of the various elements which are to be mounted above the table top T or on this table top is such that the machine can be used for a wide variety of printing operations. , which heretofore had been difficult to perform on printing machines of this general character. For this purpose, the printing frame 104 is generally disposed in a vertical plane forming a fairly acute angle with the front edge 101 of the table top T, this angle being approximately 45 in the present case.

   With this arrangement, as can be seen from an examination of Figures 1, 2 and 4, the vertical portion 105 of the printing frame 104 is located next to the printing station, so that a continuous free space is obtained. along the table T, from the front to the rear of said table and of considerable width in the lateral direction of the machine.

   As a result, the machine can be used to perform printing operations on relatively wide forms or sheets of registers which must, during operation, extend a considerable distance to the right of the station. printing and, in addition, the rear part of the plate T which is located immediately behind the printing station remains unobstructed, so as to allow the mounting of single or multiple column list printing devices, the along the rear of the table top, when necessary; and when these devices are thus mounted, they are easily accessible for placing sheets or

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 ..formulas.



   The position of the printing frame 104 also allows for a deep groove below the arm 104 ', in a direction from the front to the rear of the machine, and when a form or sheet is wide. such that it does not pass rearward along the left side of the vertical portion 105 of the printing frame (Figs. 1 and 2), said formula can be wound up in the form of a cylinder along a line parallel to the leading edge 101 and located just ahead of the vertical portion 105.

   In order that the working capacity of the machine in this regard can be exceptionally large, the area of the table top which is located in front of the vertical portion 105 of the printing frame is kept clear in front of the printer. said portion and entirely up to the adjoining end, such as the right-hand end 116 of the plate T. In order that these unobstructed work zones or spaces can be obtained on the plate T, the present invention provides a device making it possible to bring the printing members D to the printing station following a fairly complex path and such as to allow the magazine M to be located laterally to the vertical portion 105 of the frame / 104.



   Thus, as shown in the present example, the store M is located to the right (fig. 1 and 2) of the vertical portion 105 of the frame 104, and this position is preferably located at a fairly large distance towards the rear of the edge. before the vertical member 105, so that at the front of the store the necessary space is obtained to accommodate above the tray! a probing device, such as a selection bar S, without obstructing the free surface of the plate T.



   The printing machine shown is intended for use by an operator seated directly in front of the leading edge 101, in much the same way as a typist sits in front of a typewriter table, and

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 ..the control operations which are most often necessary are carried out by means of a series of pedals 120, 121 and 122, which are arranged below the frame in the form of a desk, in such positions. that they can conveniently be maneuvered by an operator seated in front of the table.

   Thus, an operator can initiate a normal printing operation by lowering the pedal 122, as will be explained below in more detail, and during such a normal printing operation, the presser mechanism
P operates throughout a printing cycle, and a drive of the printing members takes place. Consequently, when the machine has been set to operate normally or in the usual manner and the pedal 122 is lowered several times in succession, a succession of printing operations are carried out using a succession of 'different printing bodies D.

   However, when the operator wishes to "jump" a particular printing member D, he lowers the pedal 120 to cause a drive of the printing members while the pressing mechanism]? remains out of action. In other cases, when the operator wishes to make several prints from one and the same particular printing unit D, he presses the repeater pedal 121, in order to cause the presser mechanism to operate!, While allowing the mechanism to operate. - drive nism of the printing organs to remain out of action.



   An operator may, while seated in the normal working position in front of the present machine, also perform other frequently required control or adjustment operations, such as, for example, adjustment of the printing pressure. It performs this adjustment by maneuvering an adjustment handle 124, located in an oommade position to the right of the forged head 108 and operating in the manner described in the aforementioned English patent application N 15.197 / 41,

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 ..to effect a gradual vertical movement of the support plate 109 and the pressure plate carriage C.

   Other adjustments for the operation or for positioning of elements can also be carried out by the operator occupying his normal working position, as will be described later in detail.



   Construction of the frame.



   The frame in the form of a desk or table 100 is preferably mainly made of sheet metal to form identical end panels 130 and 131, provided respectively with legs 130 'and 131', which can be integral with the end panels. 130 and 131, so as to be extended upwards along the front and rear edges of said panels, to make them rigid. Along the inner or adjacent faces of the end panels 130 and 131, these panels have reinforcing U-section pieces 132 (fig. 3 and 5) arranged horizontally and relatively close to the upper edge of the panels, and these U-shaped pieces of reinforcement 132 support two bracing or support bars 134 and 136, arranged between the two end panels 130 and 131.

   In addition to their role of bracing the two end panels, the two bars 134 and 136 support most of the working or relatively heavy elements of the machine. The mounting of the bars 134 and 136 is such that these bars rest, at their opposite ends, on the projecting upper flanges of the U-shaped pieces 132, and the bars are held thereon by fasteners 133. Each fastener 133 is a stamped part, with end wings 133 'and a base 133 ". The base 133" rests on the upper wing of the associated U-piece 132, and the body of the fastener 133 rests on the upper wing. on the end panel to which it is fixed by a weld. The ends of the bars 134 and

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 .136 are fixed to parts 133 by bolts: 135.



   The assembly is made rigid by an intermediate wall construction, which connects the two panels 130 and 131 between their front and rear feet. This construction comprises (fig. 1) a vertical protective wall 138 located a considerable distance behind the front edges of the panels 130, and 131 and whose upper end connects to a wall 140, extending towards the front. 'front and upwards, which connects itself wing, on its front edge, to a front panel in several sections 142.



  The front panel 142 is substantially aligned with the front edges of the two end panels 130 and 131 and provides, within recesses 142 ', room for the convenient mounting of various control devices which may be used. used to set up this machine and govern its operation.

   A rear panel 144 can also be made of sheet metal and removably fixed in the space between the rear legs 130 'and 131' of the end panels, this fixing being made by means of screws (not shown) which are connected to corner consoles 144 ', carried by the rear legs, which, inside the frame 100, constitutes an envelope of considerable capacity, so that the working or driving mechanism of the printing machine can be accommodated in this envelope.



   The rear wall 144 is also bolted to a relatively rigid bracket 144 "which, as shown in Figure 3, protrudes rearward from the rear support bar 134, this bracket 14411 serving, in some cases. embodiments of the machine, to provide rigid support for accessory devices, such as single or multi-column list printing devices. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 4, the side panels 130 and 131 are attached to each other. end at their lower edges 146, located

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 ..at a considerable distance above the floor, and the protective wall 138 also preferably ends at a lower edge '138', similarly spaced from the floor.



  With this construction, the various pedals 120, 121 and 122 are mounted on the lower ends of supports 148 which are attached to the lower edge of wall 138 and extend downward from that edge. The end panels 130 and I3I, the front panel 142 and the rear panel 144 are provided along their upper edge (fig. 3 and 4) with horizontal support flanges 149 which extend outward and to which is fixed table top T. This is made up of several sections, as shown in figures 1 and 2, and those of the edges of the various sections which are to constitute the outer edges of the top are rolled (fig. 4) to form relatively thick beads with flanges extending inward and intended to be bolted to flanges 149.



   The T table top is made up of separate sections, several of which can be easily removed individually, so as to expose different parts of the interior structure. Thus, as seen in Fig. 2, an upper right section 160 is located along the extreme right portion, to the right of the magazine M, and the probing device S, and extends from the front at the rear of the frame. A generally similar section 161 is provided along the left end, and these two sections 160 and 161 may, if desired, be permanently fitted, since access to the interior of the frame 100, by removing the other sections of the plate T. Between the two upper sections 160 and 161 is provided a removable upper section 162, which goes from the front edge IOI to the front edge of the probing device S.

   In the space behind section 162 and to the left (fig. 2) of portion 105 of the frame.

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  ..d'impression, the table top T consists of a removable section 163; while between section 163 and end section 160 there is provided a section 164 which fits around the base of magazine M and portion 105 of print frame 104.



   The section 162 of the T-bed includes the laying of the bed in which the printing station is located, and in this area, therefore, the section 162 is cut away (fig. I, 4 and 6) to allow mounting. an elastic screen in several parts 165 above the area where the printing operations are carried out. Screen 165 has two front 165 ′ and rear 165 ″ sections, which cooperate to define a print opening 166 above pedestal A.

   The screen 165 also delimits an auxiliary printing opening 166 ', placed to the left of the opening 166 (fig. 1) and covering an auxiliary printing member 167, which can cooperate with an auxiliary pressure roller lining. PF-2 to perform additional printing operations, such as printing a date, signature, etc., each time the pressure roller is operated.



   Section 162 may also be provided with a support bar 168 along its front edge (fig. I and 2), this bar being intended to support accessory devices on the machine. In order that bar 168 can easily be ground into position or aligned in some machine applications, adjustable support screws 168 'are provided for this bar from the front edge of section 162 of table top T. As shown, two side guides -
These are adjustably attached to bar 168 by thumbscrews 169, these guides being used in some instances to determine the lateral position of the sheet or form at the printing station.

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   Print frame support.



   As stated above, the two bars 134 and 136 constitute the main support for most of the relatively heavy construction and working parts of the present machine and among the parts so supported are the printing frame 104 and a motor or main drive assembly 180 (fig. 2). The printing frame 104 carries, attached to the rear of its vertical portion 105 (fig. 3 and 8), a console 181 which rests and is bolted on the rear support bar 134. At the front end of the lower arm 104 "of the printing frame 104 is welded a bar 182 (Figs. 37 and 38) serving to support the pedestal, this bar 182 being arranged to rest on the front support bar 136.

   Below bar 182, a squeegee plate 183 (Figs. 36-39) is welded to bar 182 and the front edges of lower arm 104 ". Plate 183 serves to secure the front end of the frame. imprint 104 in place, this attachment being provided by screws 185 which pass through plate 183 and bar 136 (Figs. 4, 6 and 20). Socket A is in turn secured to the top of bar 182 by bolts 186 crossing this bar from bottom to top (fig. 36) and screwing into this base.



   Main motor mechanism.



   The main drive assembly 180 is housed in the generally triangular space. located behind the lower arm 104 "of the print frame; and this assembly includes a motor shaft 200 mounted horizontally, in front of the rear support bar 134, using support brackets 201, 202 and 203 bolted on and supported by bar 134. Near the left end (fig.3) of shaft 200, a pulley 204 is rotatably mounted on shaft 200. When the machine is running. the...

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 EMI24.1
 



  ..pulley z04 is continuously (-; 1 \ J, 'c8.îlJJ ra "--JI electric motor 205, via a speed reducer, Motor 205 is controlled by a switch 206, located behind the panel 142 (fig.8A) and actuated by a slider 207 (fig.l) which passes through the panel 142 and protrudes into the central recess 1421. When pushing the slider 207 inwards , the motor 205 stops, when pulled out, the switch 206 is closed, and the motor is started. The motor 205 is mounted on the rear side of the protective wall 138 and the motor is started. reduction in speed is achieved with the aid of a belt transmission.



   The motor support 205, which is clearly visible in Figures 4, 47, 48 and 50, comprises two vertically spaced uprights 208, formed by U-shaped pieces welded to the rear surface of the wall 138 and drilled through. lock-hole shaped slots 209 for supporting the mounting bolt heads 210 which support a motor support bracket 211. The bracket 211 is made of sheet metal to form a base 211 ', with protruding arms 211 " at its opposite ends The base 211 'has vertical slots 212 through which the bolts 210 pass and it is possible, by operating nuts 213 screwed on the bolts 210, to adjust the level of the bracket 211.

   At their ends, the arms 211 "have relatively wide curved recesses 215, serving to embrace one side of resilient rubber support bushings 216, which surround axial support hubs 217 of the motor 205. to hold it in place. with the motor in position on the console, each of the arms 211 "is provided with projecting tabs 218 located near the upper and lower ends of the recesses 215; and metal tether straps 219 are secured to ...

  <Desc / Clms Page number 25>

 



    These tabs 218 so that they extend from said tabs passing around the remote side of each socket 216 as shown in Figure 48. The adjacent ends of the straps 219 have lugs 220 angled towards the end. 'outside and, using a screw. blocking 221 extending between the ears 220, the bush 216 are held in position in the recesses 215.



   The transmission between the engine 205 and the pulley 204 can be seen olarly in FIGS. 4, 47, 48, 50, 54 and 55. It comprises a small pulley 230 fixed to the motor shaft and connected by a belt 231 'to a large pulley 232 which can rotate on an axis 232 'carried by a plate 233. This has a generally triangular shape and at its upper rear edge: a flange is fixed by bolts 234 to the rear support bar 134. At its front corner, the plate 233 is bolted to the upper edge of the wall 138 by a bolt 233 ', and a lateral bracing is obtained by means of a bar 235 which rises from a lower portion of the wall. plate 233 and is bolted to bar 134 (fig. 47).

   A small pulley 236 mounted on the axis 2321 and integral with the pulley 232 is connected by a belt 237 to a large pulley 238, mounted on a support axis 238 'projecting from the plate 233. A double pulley 239 of small diameter , integral with pulley 238, is connected by two para belts, leles 240 to pulley 204
Certain mechanisms of the machine must be able to be operated selectively, for example in a so-called "multiple'T or" repeat "operation, in which the presser mechanism P must operate during a certain number of printing operations. , while the same printing unit D remains immobilized at the printing station; or, for another example, in an operation ..

  <Desc / Clms Page number 26>

 



  The so-called "blasting" of the machine, in which the presser mechanism P remains out of action while one or more printing members D pass through the printing position. Therefore, selective drive links are provided, which consist of single-turn clutches 250, 251 and 252 disposed at points spaced along the length of the shaft 200, as seen in the figures. res 54 and 55.



   Clutch 250 (Figs. 53, 54 and 55) constitutes a main clutch used to connect pulley 204 to shaft 200, so as to turn the latter one revolution each time some portion of the mechanism needs to be actuated, while the clutches 251 and 252 are secondary clutches and are associated respectively with the drive mechanism of the printing units and with the pressure mechanism P. The secondary clutches 251 and 252 are arranged so that they can be selectively used to connect the printing member drive mechanism or the presser mechanism to the shaft 200, either individually or collectively.

   The main clutch 250 comprises a constantly rotating motor member, consisting of a bushing 55 mounted loose on the shaft ^, 1200 and serving to support the pulley 204, to which it is keyed at 256 (fig. 54). . At the right-hand end of the socket or motor unit 255 (fig.54), the clutch 250 comprises a receiving member in the form of a widened hollow hub 257 (fig.53) pinned to the shaft 200. A l 'Inside the receiving member 257, a clutch claw 258 pivots at 258A, so that a clutch tooth 59, carried at one end of this claw, can engage in a recess 260 of the motor unit 255.

   The claw 258 is biased towards this engagement position by a spring 261, acting between the claw and an anchor pin provided ...

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  .. in the hollow hub 257. When the tooth 259 is thus engaged in the recess 260, the hub 257 and the shaft 200 are driven with the pulley 204.



   The other end of claw 258 protrudes a considerable distance beyond pivot 258A and carries a stop tooth 263, projecting from the claw in a direction generally radial to shaft 200, so As it passes outwardly through a slot 264 of the hollow hub 257. When the tooth 259 of the claw has engaged in its recess 260, the rotation of the receiving member 257 begins in the direction dextrorotatory (fig. 53), and this rotation continues for about one full revolution, at which point the protruding stop tooth 263 engages with a stopper 270 ', formed on a stop lever 270 which prevents all movement complementary to the stop tooth 263 and thus causes the pivoting of the claw 258 to release the tooth 259 from the recess 260 of the motor member 255.

   The rotation of the motor member 255 can then continue, but the receiver member is stopped in a predetermined angular position and is prevented from performing any further rotation in the dextrorotatory direction, until the stop lever 270 has been disengaged from its retained position with respect to the stop tooth 263. The particular way in which the stop lever 270 is supported, actuated and controlled will be described later.



   The clutch 251, which governs the operation of the device for driving the printing members, is clearly visible in FIGS. 54, 55 and 60 and is generally similar to the clutch 250. Thus, as shown in In Figure 55, the support bracket 202 has a bush 202 'positioned between clutch 250 and clutch 251, and near the right end of this ....

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  ..the socket is pinned to the shaft 200, a driving member 255 'constituting the driving member of the clutch 251. At the right end of the driving member 255' is provided a hollow hub 257 'on which a clutch claw 258 'is mounted, in the same way as in the case of the clutch claw 250. The claw 258 @ is intended to engage in a recess 260' of the motor member 255 ', and a protruding stop tooth 263' of said claw is intended to engage with a stop lever 270 ', to complete the rotation of the receiving member 257' after this member has rotated. of a turn. The receiver 257 ′ of the clutch 251 is mounted on and carried by an eccentric 272 with the aid of a pivot assembly 273 shown in FIG. 55.

   Thanks to this construction, the rotation of the receiving member 257 'actuates the eccentric 272. The resulting rotation of said eccentric serves, by means of a connecting rod 274, to actuate the drive device. printing units, as will be described below in more detail.



   A little to the right of the eccentric 272 (fig. 55), the shaft 200 carries, pinned to it, a socket 255 "intended to constitute the driving member of the clutch 252, and a receiving member 257" is mounted on the shaft 200, so that its clutch claw 258 ", constructed and arranged in the same way as the claw 258 of the clutch 250, can be mechanically coupled with the receiver member 255" to communicate a movement of one revolution to the receiving member 257 "of the clutch 252. The claw 258" of the clutch 252 is controlled by a stop lever 270 "(fig. 58), as described. below in more detail.

   The receiving member 257 "of the clutch 252 is mounted on and carried by an eccentric 290, thanks to a pivot link 293,

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 generally in the same way that the receiving member 257 'is mounted on the eccentric 272. The eccentric 290 is used to actuate, through a link collar 294 and an adjustable connecting rod 295 , the presser mechanism E in its working printing cycle.

   Although the operating connection of the driving mechanism of the pressing member 2 has been described in detail in the aforementioned English patent application 15,197 / 41, it will be observed in Fig. 59 of the drawings. that the front end of the connecting rod 295 pivots on the end of an arm 29? ' which is fixed to the left end of a shaft 296, mounted in a bushing 296 'which passes through the lower arm 104 "of the printing frame 104 to which it is integral.

   At its right-hand end, the shaft 296 carries an arm 297, the pivoting movement of which is communicated to a rod '. its upper end, this link is connected to an arm 298 fixed to the right end of a shaft 298 'which is mounted in a bush-bearing 298 "passing through the upper arm 104' of the printing frame. 104 and solidary of this arm.

   At the left end of the shaft 298 'is fixed an arm 299 which is connected to the carriage C of the pressing mechanism by two arms 299'. The arrangement is such that each time the clutch 252 drives the eccentric 290 one full revolution, the carriage C of the press mechanism performs a printing stroke and is returned to its recalled, or rear, position as shown. 4, and in order to ensure the regular operation of the eccentric 299 and of the associated mechanism, a tension spring 295a connects the arm 295 'to an anchor pin carried by the support bracket. 203.

   The spring 295a is thus charged during the forward or inactive stroke of the presser mechanism and, during the return or working stroke of this mechanism, it supplies additional energy to actuate the presser mechanism.



   As the clutch 250 serves only to connect the ar-

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 bre 200 at the source of motive power, 3motor 255 of the clutch? 0 is provided with four circumferentially spaced notches 260, so that the time required for the clutch to close? 09 after the clutch claw 258 has been released by its stop lever 270, is reduced to a corresponding extent. As a result, clutch 250 engages after a rotation of not more than about 90.



   As regards the clutches 251 and @, however, it will be noted that only one notch is provided in the knurling members and, if one takes into account the fact that the driving members 255 ′ and 255 "of these respective clutches are both pinned to the shaft 200, it will be noted that the sizes of these members are in a predetermined angular relationship with respect to each other, so that the device drive of the printing members and the pressing mechanism invariably maintain a predetermined relationship in their working movements.



     Drive device for printing units.



   As has been said previously, the magazine µ is located at the rear and at a fairly large distance to the right of the printing station V, and this is through the use of the drive device printing units, which will now be described, that this relationship of the magazine M with the printing station can be obtained. According to the invention, the printing units D are driven from an initial station 1 located in the store M along a first path, or initial path, (fig. 3) in an intermittent manner and in such a manner. so that each of them stops in front of the store M, at a station II which, in this case, constitutes a probing station where one or more tabs 117 (FIG. 31) can be probed.

   In the next operating cycle of the drive mechanism of the printing units, the printing unit located at the probing station It advances to a transmission station.

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 fert 11-T, and this organ is almost immediately driven from this post to the left, looking at figure 3, along an intermediate path, to a first intermediate post III.



  In the next operating cycle of the device for driving the printing members, the member located at station III receives a new forward movement along the intermediate path to a second intermediate station * + where the printing unit is located below a window / provided in the table top T, so that the IV station constitutes an observation or visual selection station. During the ensuing operation of the printing device drive device, the device located at the IV station moves further to the left to a second IV-T transfer station located directly behind the station. printing station V, and at the second transfer station IV-T, the printing unit stops in the desired position to be driven along a final path to the printing station V.

   In the following operating cycle of the printing device drive device, the device located at the IV-T transfer station advances to the printing position, while, in the following operating cycle, the printing unit from the printing station passes along the final path and arrives at a collecting station 6, where it is discharged into the collecting container or drawer K.



   The initial path along which the printing units D are driven from the magazine M is formed by two spaced apart pulleys 300 and 301 which are arranged parallel and horizontally from the front to the rear of the machine. At their rear ends, these two joists 300 and 301 rest and are fixed by bolts on the rear support bar 134. The joist 300 is the one on the right and extends towards the front so that its front edge rests is fixed. onto, the front support bar 136 using a cap screw (not shown) which rises through the bar 136 and screws into

  <Desc / Clms Page number 32>

 is in the front end of the joist 300, while the other joist 301, located on the left, ends at the intermediate path and is supported by part of this path.



   The final path is formed by two laterally spaced beams 330 and 331, generally similar, the first constituting the right beam and being arranged to extend from the rear support bar 134 to a point beyond the front support bar 136 The front end of the joist 331 is similarly supported by the front bar 136 so as to protrude forwardly from this bar, in the same manner as in the case of the joist 330; and the rear end of joist 331 extends anteriorly beyond the IV-T transfer position. The rear end of the joist 330 is supported by and fixed to the bracket 303 by a bolted connection, shown at 332, in Figures 3, 50 and 51. The rear portion of the joist 331 is supported by the joist 330.



   The intermediate path is formed by two trusses 360 and, 161 which are supported at a certain spacing and in parallel by the beams 300 and 330.



   As seen in Figures 9 and 13, the rear ends of joists 300 and 301 are held at the desired spacing by an intermediate spacer bar 302 provided with tapered threaded ends 303 'which pass through holes in the joists. and which carry nuts 303 which serve to hold the two joists in the desired position relative to the spacer bar 302. Head screws 304 extend from top to bottom through the spacer bar 302 at a distance. - Lesson to securely hold the rear ends of beams 300 and 301 in position on the rear support bar 134.



  At the front of the bar 134, another spacer 305, consisting of a metal part having the shape of an inverted U, is provided between the beams 300 and 301, this organ-

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   do 30? also behaving like a support for part of the sounding mechanism.



   The desired support for the right ends of the two joists 360 and 361 is achieved by making suitable slots 306 and 307 through which the right ends of the joists 300 and 301 pass, as shown in Figures 8A and 13. beams 360 and 301 are held in this position by .2 (screws. At the right end (fig. 3) of the rear beam 361 thus supported, is connected by screws (not shown) 'the front end of the joist 301.



   At their left ends (fig. 3), the two joists 360 and 361 are arranged to cover part of the slotted support plate, 363, which is welded (fig. 8A, 20, 25, 26 and 35) on the side of the joist 330, and the gates are secured to the support plate 363 by screws 364 (Fig. 35).



   The joist 331 is kept parallel to the bin 330 and suitably spaced from this joist mainly by means of a relatively rigid connection with a printing base or anvil A (fig. 42), and this connection maintains the front ends of the joists 330 and 331 in a fixed position on the bar 136. Thus, the joist 331 butts against one end of the support A and is rigidly fixed to the latter by means of screws 332 '. The other beam of the final path similarly abuts against the other end of the support A and is attached to it, so that a relatively rigid relation is established between the two beams 330 and 331.

   This rigidity is reinforced by a spacer 333 which has the shape of a Ureversé and which is rigidly fixed by screws 334 between the two beams 330 and 331, a little behind the transfer station IV- T.



   The device used to communicate movement

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 step by step desired to the printing units, from the magazine to the transfer station II-T, is clearly visible in Figures 3, 8, 8A, and 9 to 13, and since this device is closely associated with the feed magazine M, we will first describe the construction of the store and its relation to said device. As can be seen in Figures 8, 9 and 13, the rear ends of joists 300 and 301 are provided with upwardly extending brackets 380 which brackets, riveted to the beams, constitute the pivot support. magazine M to allow it to be tilted back to an inclined position during the filling operation.

   The store M comprises two vertical members 381 which are provided at their lower end with arms 382 which project rearwardly and are connected, at their rear end, by means of a pivot 384, to the consoles 380. In the In this case, these two side uprights forming the magazine M are cast in one piece, and a series of suitable guide surfaces 385 are provided inside said uprights to engage the upper edges of the printing members D when those - these are stacked in the store. Near its lower end, the magazine has two spaced support arms 386 which extend forward so that whichever of the printers D is lowest in the magazine can rest on these arms during loading. .

   When the printers D have been placed in the magazine M, the spacer flanges extend downward into the relative position shown in Fig. 30 and the arrangement is such that the drive mechanism can engage with these. spacing edges 118 carried by the lowest printing unit in the stack in the magazine M, and moving this unit along the initial path. Along the left post 381 of magazine M, a cover 388 is supported to slide vertically and, when it is proposed to load the magazine, this cut is raised.

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 It is then rotated to the left (fig. 1 and 3) using a handle 389 to expose the front edges of the uprights 381 to allow the entry of the printers into the magazine.

   A storage drawer containing the printing units D which are to be loaded into the machine is then prepared for loading, which is obtained by unlocking the usual slide 389 '(fig. 36) and by sliding it. slide as well as the printing units D, towards the rear of the drawer. The drawer is then placed by its lower end on a hollow guide member 390 (fig. 9 to 13) extending upwards, said lower or rear end of said drawer resting on guide paths 391 formed on the guide member 390, and between upper guide tabs 392. The upper end of the drawer is then moved rearward until the upper edges of the printing members have been brought to the working position. compared to the guide surfaces 385 of the store.

   The magazine and the drawer are then tilted rearwardly about the pivot 384 and overcoming the antagonistic action of a retaining pawl 484 "(fig. 50) subjected to the action of a spring. and normally maintaining the magazine in / its vertical position. The latch 484 "is held under tension by a spring 484 '(fig. 3 and 8). When the magazine and the drawer have been tilted in this way, the printing units rest. entirely on the support arms 386 and on the guide surfaces 385. The lower end of the drawer is then removed from the magazine M, so as to leave the printing members resting in the form of a stack on the arms 386 and the guide surfaces 385 of the magazine.

   The cover 388 is then pivoted to the right, up to the general position shown in FIG. 1, then it is made to move downwards using its sliding connection, to the exact position shown in FIG. 1, -in which it maintains the imprinted organs

  <Desc / Clms Page number 36>

 Dies D in the desired relative position with respect to the guide surfaces 385. The magazine M is then tilted forward, and the printing members are guided to their proper position by the inclined side wings 393 of a Guide console which is fixed to the rear face of guide member 390, said members then occupying the desired position so as to be able to be driven one by one along the initial path.

   The drawer from which the printing units have thus been removed is then placed in the front part of the machine so as to temporarily constitute a part of the collector K intended to receive the same printing units which have been transferred from the drawer to the magazine M.



   To ensure the drive movement of the printing members D from the magazine M, there is provided a set of conveyor bars 400 which is clearly visible in Figure 13. This set includes two conveyor bars 401 and 402 which are of identical construction and which are intended to slide in leaf grooves 403 provided in the adjacent upper edges of the joists 300 and 301.

   Near their rear end, the conveyor bars are connected by a pivot -0+, which spaces them apart and holds them in the desired position relative to the sides of the grooves 403; and there is provided in the middle of the spacer pivot bar 404 a connecting rod 405 which is adjustably connected to said bar by means of two nuts 406 and a threaded section 407 formed at the same time. 'one end of the connecting rod 405.



  At their front end, the two conveyor bars 401 and 402 are maintained at the desired spacing from each other by retaining and support bars 410 (fig. 13 and 15) which come into contact with the sides. adjacent conveyor bars 401 and 402. Bars 410 are mounted at opposite ends of spacer bar 305.



   As seen in figure 13, the front part

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 of the upper surface of each of the two conveyor bars 401 and 402 is at a level a little lower than the rear part 411 of this surface, so as to constitute on each of the conveyor bars, approximately in the middle of their length, a shoulder 412 facing forward. The arms 386 of the magazine occupy a position such that, when the magazine is vertical, the printing unit D which is the lowest in this magazine rests by its spacer edges 118 on the conveyor bars 401 and 402.

   Thus, when the conveyor bars 401 and 402 occupy their advanced or previous positions (fig. 10), the surfaces 411 of said bars are located below that of the printing members D which is lowest in the shop. When the conveyor bars 401 and 402 move rearward to their normal rear position (Fig. 9), the surfaces 411 'of said bars move away from the surface below 1 (or - lowest printing gane, and this member falls, so that its spacer edges 118 come to rest on those of the surfaces 413 of the conveyor bars 401 and 402 which are located in front of the shoulders 412.

   In the following driving movement of the bars 401 and 402, the shoulders 412 engage with the rear ends of the spacer flanges 118 of the printing member D, and cause the latter to move below. retaining bands 414 fixed by screws to the upper edges of joists 300 and 301. Retaining bands 414 are placed so that they cover the conveyor bars (Fig. 15). When the printing unit D advances, and at the moment when it is about to reach the station II, the central portion of the component envisaged, that is to say that included between the two edges spacer 118, contacts or above the upper surfaces of support bars 410, as shown in Figure 15.

   When the advance movement of the conveyor bars 401 and 402 is completed, the or-

  <Desc / Clms Page number 38>

 The printing unit D is located approximately at station II, which constitutes the probing station, and since it is desirable that said member be exactly adjusted in position during probing, the machine comprises means for co-operating with a size 420 performed at one end of the printing member D to ensure this precise positioning of said member. The device thus provided for ensuring the exact position of the printing unit at the probing station is also used, in the present case, to prevent the retrograde movement of the printing unit during the backward stroke, or backward stroke. return, conveyor bars 401 and 402.



   In the present example, this device designed to exactly maintain each printing member D at station II comprises a registration pawl 422 which pivots about a vertical axis 423 on the upper surface of the beam 361, all the way to the right. of the beam 300 (fig. 3). This pawl is provided with a pointed locating tooth 424 (fig. 13) and is actuated and controlled so that the tooth 424 is released from the guide path of the printing member during the advancing movements of said member. . The tooth 424 is formed near the end of the click 422, and an additional device, in the form of a stop projection 425, is provided on the pawl for the purpose of exerting a stop action. or preliminary registration on each printing member before tooth 424 performs its final movement and precise registration.

   Tooth 424 and stopper 425 both protrude through slots provided in the upper edge of joist 300 so that they can be inserted into the guide path of the printing unit substantially within. the plane of the main body of the printing organs which are on this path.



   The locating pawl 422 carries near its end a stud 426 which projects downwards, and a link 427 is connected to the lower end of said stud for

  <Desc / Clms Page number 39>

 actuate the pawl around its pivot 423 in blind synchronism; the movement of the conveyor bars 401 and 402.

   The cycle of movement of the pawl 422 is such that, during the first part of an advancing movement of the bars 401 and 402, the tooth 424 and the stop projection 425 are both completely withdrawn from the guide path of the printing members. and, after the printing member from position II has been advanced beyond the stop projection 425, the latter is returned to the guide path so as to be located in the path of the member. next printer D advancing. However, at this time, tooth 424 is held out of said guide path, and arr projection 426 serves to prevent printing member D from being launched or driven beyond station II.

   Thus, the stop projection 425 constitutes a preliminary means suitable for placing the printing member D at the station II, this setting in the initial position being such that the notch 420 provided in the adjacent end of the frame of the member. printer is substantially aligned with the end of the locating tooth 424. The latter then advances to engage in the notch 420 and effect the precise positioning of the printing member and to prevent the backward movement of said member during the return stroke of the conveyor bars 401 and 402.



   When the conveyor bars 401 and 402 move rearward after bringing a printing member to position II, the support surfaces 413 of said bars disengage from the position they occupied below the spacer flanges 118 of the printing unit envisaged, and the latter is then supported at station II by the support bars 410.



   When the conveyor bars 401 and 402 have been completely returned to their rear limit positions (fig.



  9), two spring loaded pawls 430 mounted at the upper front corners of the conveyor bars are located a little behind the

  <Desc / Clms Page number 40>

 rear ends of the spacer flanges 118 of the printing member now occupying the probing station and, in the following movement of the forward conveyor bars, pawls 430 engage the rear ends of the reels. spacing edges of the printing member then located at the probing station, so as to cmmmuniquer an advancing movement to this member.

   It will be recalled that, at this moment, the locating pawl 422 is actuated in such a way, and is in a position such that the tooth 424 and the stop projection 425 have been released from the guide path of the components. printers; : and it is therefore clear that the proposed printing unit will advance from the sounding station II to the transfer station II-T.



   The shape, construction and mounting of pawls 430 are shown in Figure 21. The front end of each conveyor bar is recessed at 432 and provided on the rear wall of recess 432 with a seat. arc 433 in which the arcuate rear end of pawl 430 sits. A bearing is thus formed for this rear end of pawl 430 and, below said pawl, a hairpin-type spring 434 is formed. mounted in the recess 432 and biases the front end of said pawl upwards around the pivot formed by the arched seat 433.

   At its front end, the recess 432 is formed so as to have a stop tooth 435 extending rearwardly and with which a lug 436 of the pawl 430 engages in order to limit the pivoting movement. up the front end of said pawl. This is retained, in the lateral direction, inside the assembly thus formed, by the mutual locking of the spring 434 with the underside of the pawl and with the lower wall of the recess 432, as is seen in figure 21.

   It will be noted that each pawl 430 has a finger 430 ′ extending forward and intended to engage with the printing member,

  <Desc / Clms Page number 41>

 this finger being so arranged that, when the pawl occupies the highest position, the finger is located immediately below the corresponding retaining plate 414. During the rearward movement of the conveyor bars 401 and 402, the two pawls 430 are lowered below the printing member, which is then at station II, by faces inclined towards the rear and forming cams 430 ", provided on the upper surfaces of said ratchets.

   These cams come into contact with the forward ends of the spacer flanges 118 of the printing body at position II thereby causing the pawls 430 to lower and, when the conveyor bars are on point. to reach their rearward limit positions of Figure 9, the pawls 430 move away from the position they occupied below the printing member and return to their normal active positions so that they are ready to be moved. act on the rear edge of the printing unit D, which is then at the probing station II.



   As the printing member ± advances from position II to transfer position II-T, the forward ends of the spacer flanges 118 of said member engage with a pair of flexible pawls 440 which, as shown. in Figure 16, are mounted on opposite ends of a centrally supported leaf spring 441. This blade is mounted on the undersurface of the upper flange 361 "of the joist 361, between the two joists 300 and 301, and the upper flange
361 "of joist 361 is suitably cut, as shown at 444 (Figure 14), to allow spring 441 to trigger flexible pawls 440 to move upward to come into the path of spacer flanges 118 .

   After the flanges 118 of the advancing printing blade D have contacted the adjacent inclined surfaces of the pawls
1

  <Desc / Clms Page number 42>

 retained 440 so as to lower these, the continuation of the advancement movement of the printing member by the conveyor bars 401 and 402 has the effect of introducing the printing member into the slide or path guide formed by the beams 360 and 361. This intermediate path and the drive device of the printing members associated with it will be described in detail after the drive connections necessary for the conveyor bars 401 and 402 have been described in more detail.



   As stated above, clutch 251 serves to govern the operation of the printer drive device and, when engaged, eccentric 272 rotates. During this rotation, the eccentric acts by means of the connecting rod 274 so as to cause an arm 450 fixed by one of its ends to a horizontal shaft 451 to pivot.



  Arm 450 pivots at 452 on connecting rod 274 so that as eccentric 272 rotates oscillating motion is imparted to shaft 451.



   The shaft 451 is mounted in a support tube 455 which extends transversely through the lower arm 104 "of the printing frame 104 and is supported by this arm. The construction of the mounting of the support tube 455 is described. in detail in the aforementioned English patent application No. 15,197 / 41. The arm 450 is mounted on the left end of the shaft 451 (fig.



  3 and 8), and a second arm 460 is mounted on and fixed to the other end, or right end, of the shaft 451, so that it is located below the initial print path consisting of beams 300 and 301. The arm 460 has two laterally spaced and braced body portions, and / 'a pivot 461 goes from one of the two side portions of the arm 460 to the other, and passes through the rear end of the beam. the connecting rod 405 which, at its other end, is connected through the jar of

  <Desc / Clms Page number 43>

 404 to conveyor bars 401 and 402.

   Thus, with each oscillation movement of the shaft 451, the conveyor bars 401 and 402 perform a reciprocating movement of predetermined amplitude during which the driving movement of the printing members takes place. To prevent wear of the bearings, in particular of the eccentric 272, causing the conveyor bars 401 and 402 to be launched beyond the limits of their strokes, an adjustable stop 463 is provided on a bar. re transverse 464 between the two beams 300 and 301 (fig.



  9). Stopper 463 is adjusted so that when the forward limit of movement of conveyor bars 401 and 402 is reached, an inclined front end surface 465 of connecting rod 405 obliquely meets stopper 463, as seen in Figure 10. This oblique contact causes the stopping of the movement of the conveyor bars 401 and 402 forwards. in a manner sufficiently soft to prevent the risk of damaging the machine, while preventing said bars from moving beyond their normal stroke and damaging the parts of the intermediate guide path.



   The path provided between the transfer station II-T and the transfer station IV-T is formed by two beams 360 and 361. With this intermediate path is also associated a drive device for the printing members which operates in synchronism. with the operation of the conveyor bars 401 and 402 and which is also provided with a retaining device serving to prevent the retraction of the printing members during the return cut of the device for driving said members. The intermediate path of the printing members is arranged such that the latter are placed on it with their longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said path.



   , This intermediate path or slide is provided with a device for driving the printing members, with movement

  <Desc / Clms Page number 44>

 longitudinal reciprocating, set in the form of a set 470 which communicates the desired forward movement from right to left to the printing members in the intermediate slide, and it is also provided with a retainer established as a fixed assembly 471 (fig. 24 and 35) which engages with the extreme right edges of the printing members located in the intermediate slide to prevent the return movement of said members during the return stroke of the driving device 470.

   As stated above, joists 360 and 361 are generally Z-shaped in cross section, so that the lower edges of said joists have flanges 360 'and 361', respectively, which extend towards each other and constitute the necessary support for the reciprocating assembly 470. Thanks to this Z section of the two beams 360 and 321, we also obtain upper flanges 360 "and 36111, s' extending outwardly to the upper edges of said bins.



   The drive device 470 comprises two identical conveyor bars 481, 482, kept spaced at the desired distance from each other by U-shaped spacers 483, 484 and 485, which are distributed at intervals on the left. along said bars and whose branches directed upwards are fixed to said bars by head screws 486. The conveyor bars 481 and 482 slide on guide surfaces formed by the two wings 360 'and 361', the outer side surfaces of said bars being in sliding contact with the web of the two joists 360 and 361.



  When the conveyor bars are thus mounted, the U-pieces 483, 484 and 485 which connect them, extend slightly below the lower surfaces of the lower wings 360 'and 361' (fig. 20) and, in order to maintain the bars

  <Desc / Clms Page number 45>

 conveyors in position, the bracing pieces 483 and 485 having openings 487 on the lower corners (fig.

   35), so that a retaining bar 488 may be provided on the upper surface of the cross member of each spacer with its ends passing through the openings 487 and contacting the surfaces of the spacer. below the wings 360 'and 361', the retaining bars 488 are held in place by cap screws 489 which are screwed through said bars and penetrate into the transverse members of the bracing members 483 and 485. Conveyor bars 481 and 482 are thus mounted and guided along a predetermined path and can be reciprocated along this path by a connecting rod 490 (Fig. 35). One of the ends of this control rod 490 is connected to the spacer 484 by a pivot.



   As can be seen in Figures 17-19, 21-23, 25, 26, 33 and 35, the conveyor bars 481 and 482 are provided with pairs of drive pawls which are placed at intervals along said bars in such a manner. that each of the three printing bodies which, at certain times, occupy stations II-T, III and IV can be attacked and dragged to the next station.

   Thus, near the right ends of the conveyor bars 481 and 482 is mounted a pair of spring drive pawls 495 and at a distance to the left of the pawls 495, substantially equal to the distance between the II-T and III is mounted another pair of drive pawls 496, provided at a rate of one pawl for each of the conveyor bars 481 and 482; and near the left ends of said bars is mounted a third pair of pawls 497, one on each bar. The shape and mounting of the drive pawls 497 are substantially the same as those described for

  <Desc / Clms Page number 46>

 pawls 430.

   The pawls 495 and 496 are of identical construction, and their construction is shown in Figures 14 and 17. In each case, the conveyor bar has a recess 498, and there is an arched seat 499 at the end. moth back, or right, of each recess. In each case, the pawl is provided with a rounded end which cooperates with the seat 499 to provide a pivoting mount, and a hairpin spring 500 is provided in each recess below the pawl to bias the end. front or left of the pawl upward to a position determined by a lug 501 which comes into contact with a tooth 502 provided on the left wall of the recess.

   By engaging the spring 500 with the base of the pawl, the latter is held in the desired lateral position with respect to the recess 498.



   With the pawls constructed in the manner just described, it is evident that in a leftward movement of the conveyor bars 481 and 482, the drive pawls 495 engage with the far left edge of the The printing unit located at transfer station II-T, the drive pawls 496 engage with the far right edge of the printing unit located at station III, and the ends of the pawls 497 engage with the end edge right side of the printing unit at station IV, and as the movement of the conveyor bars 481 and 482 to the left progresses, each of these printing units advances to the next position.



   During this movement, the lower surfaces or edges of the spacer flanges 118 of the printing members are located directly above the surfaces 505 and 506 formed on the upper faces of the upper flanges of the gaskets 360 and 361 (fig. . 9) and it will be noted in this regard that the upper flange 360 "of the beam 360 is relatively

  <Desc / Clms Page number 47>

 thick in a vertical direction and has at the inside corner (fig. 9) a groove suitable for constituting the surface 505. Along the upper surface of the wing 360 ", a retaining strip 508 is attached. by screws so that the printers of the intermediate path are held in engagement with the pawls.

   On the other side of the intermediate path a space should be provided for the tabs 117, and it will be noted that the wing 361 "is relatively thin in a vertical direction. With this thin wing 361" is associated. ciée a bar or spacer strip 510 (fig. 35), the upper front angle of which is established, at 511, to constitute a longitudinal shoulder 512 facing forward and located along the rear side of the intermediate path, such that said shoulder can engage the rear ends of the spacer flanges 118 to secure the. maintaining the printing units in the correct lateral position in the slide.

   When the printers occupy such a position in the slide or guideway, the tabs 117 may protrude into the groove 511 of the spacer bar 510, and a relatively wide retaining plate 514 is attached to the top. of the bar 510 so as to extend forwardly across the surface 506 and in an opposite position with respect to said surface.



  Thus, the rear edges of the printing members are kept lowered by the retaining strip 514 and are kept in contact with the drive pawls such as 495. At station IV, which constitutes the visual selection station, the retaining strip 514 has a slot 515 intended to be placed above the groove 511 and thus to allow the operator to see the tabs which may be present on the printing unit located at station IV. In this regard, it will be noted that the table top 1 has a window 3 ^ at station IV. which makes it possible to see the slot 515.

   To allow

  <Desc / Clms Page number 48>

 easy identification of the position of any such tab by the operator, position indicating numbers are inscribed on the top face of the retaining strip 514, as seen at 516 in Figure 8A .



     After the printers of the intermediate slide have advanced to any one of the positions indicated above under the action of the transport bars 481 and 482, the backward movement of said members during the return stroke conveyor bars is prevented by means associated with the fixed assembly 471 shown in FIG. 35. This assembly comprises a central mounting bar 520 which, at its left end, rests in a slot 521 formed. on the top surface of mounting plate 363, that end of bar 520 being secured in place by screw 522 (Fig. 33). At the right end of the bar 520, this bar rests in a slot 523 formed in the beam 300 between the two beams 360 and 361.

   At its right end and in alignment with the initial path of the printing bodies, the bar 520 carries, fixed to said bar by a screw 526, a support plate? , and the right end of the bar 520 is fixed in the slot 523 by screws 527 which pass from top to bottom the support plate 525 and screw into the upper end of the joist 300. On one of the side faces of bar 520 a retaining pawl 530 pivots about an axis located (fig. 24 and 35) in a position such that, when a printing member comes to position III, a notch 531 made at the The upper left angle of the retaining pawl 530, looking at Figure 35, engages the right spacer flange of the contemplated printing member, so as to prevent recoil of that member.

   A similar retaining pawl 535 is similarly mounted on bar 520 in such a position that it plays the part.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 49>

 same rote with regard to a printing organ located at post IV? The construction and mounting of the retaining pawls 530 and 535 is clearly seen in Figure 24. A stud 536 is provided for each pawl and passes through the pawl between its ends. The pawl is held on its stud by a yoke 537. and an anchor stud 538 is provided near the rear end / A coil spring 539 connects the anchor stud 538 to an anchor stud Similar 540 of the bar 520 to urge the pawl to its working position.



   At the left end of bar 520, two pawls 540 pivot on opposite sides of this bar around a stud 541 which passes through the two pawls 540 and bar 50. At the right ends, pawls 540 are provided. tension springs 542 which are mounted in the same way as the springs 539 of FIG. 24. The two retaining pawls 540 are arranged on either side of the bar 520 and diverge from each other with respect to the the other so as to project through slits 543 made at the upper edge of the joist 330 (Figs. 32 and 33). The ends 540 'of the retaining pawls 540 (Fig. 33) are so arranged that, when these pawls occupy their upper limit positions, they prevent the return of the printing member along the intermediate path.

   As a printing member passes along the intermediate path above the retaining pawls 540, it is driven to the IV-T transfer station, and the primary role of said pawls is to ensure that the printing member which is located at this post will remain aligned with the final guide path.



   We will now return to the construction and arrangement of the transfer station II-T The two retaining pins 440 occupy a position such that they only come into contact with the spacer flanges 118, and an intermediate plate 550 is fixed by screws on the wing 361 ",

  <Desc / Clms Page number 50>

 between the two lugs 440, so that the front edge 512 'of this plate is aligned with the front edges of the two lugs 440 and with the guide shoulder edge 512. Thus, after a printing member has been moved towards the 'before and beyond the two lugs 440, the latter, the front edge 512' of the plate 550 and the guide edge 512 of the spacer 510 constitute a continuous guide edge which is in contact with the ends rear of spacer flanges 118.



   The support plate 525 has along its right edge (Fig. 35) an upper shelf 551, the upper surface of which is in the plane of the upper edge of the wire 360 ". The shelf 551 and the portion of the l Wing 360 "which is aligned with the original path supports a retainer plate 552 which is placed above the II-T transfer station. This plate is disposed substantially in the plane of the retaining strips 414 of the initial path, so that the conveyor bars 401 and 402 can introduce a printing member at the transfer station II-T in such a way that this member re - laying on the support plate 525 and is kept lowered by the retaining plate 552.



   The timing of the movements of the conveyor bars 401 and 402 relative to the movements of the conveyor bars 481 and 482 is such that a printing member comes to the II-T station when the pawls 493 are moving across. said station to the right of Figures 17 to 19 and 35. Means are therefore provided to recoil the pawl 495 near the joist 361 during the part of its movement in which said pawl would be liable to make. obstacle to bringing a printing unit to the II-T transfer station.

   Thus, a transverse pin 560 is provided near the end of the pawl 495 mounted on the

  <Desc / Clms Page number 51>

 conveyor bar 482 and, as can be seen in Figures 17,18 and 19, this pin 560 engages, during the return or rightward movement of said pawl, with a guide device which acts to pull back the drive pawl on which said pin is mounted.



  The adjustment over time of the two transport busbars is such that it is not necessary to impart a backward movement to the pawl before the latter has traveled approximately half the length of the transfer station. II-T and hence there is provided a spring-loaded guide blade 561 which is raised at its left end as shown at 562 in Fig. 17. Thus, when the conveyor bar 482 moves to the right from the position of Figure 17 in the position of Figure 18, the pin 560 contacts the inclined end 562 of the guide blade 561 and slides down along the lower surface of said member so as to bias the pawl to when the pin 560 slides away from the straight end 563 of the blade 561.



  The pawl 495 which carries the pin 560 is then located to the right of the transfer station II-T, and the corresponding spring can therefore urge the pawl upwards to its working position. It will be noted, by examining FIG. 18, that such a return movement of the pawl 495 has the effect of causing the pawl to move downwards, so that it is no longer in the path of the printing member. advancing from station II to transfer station As soon as the pawl 495 has passed the right end 563 of the guide member 561 and has risen beyond said end, the movement of the conveyor bar 482 towards the left can be released and in this movement the pin 560 'moves along the top surface of the guide member 561.

   When the pin 560 reaches the left end 562 of the guide member 561, this end is moved downwards

  <Desc / Clms Page number 52>

 due to the elasticity of the guide blade 561 and, during the continuation of its forward movement to the left, the pawl 495 is held in its upper working position so as to bring the printing member 8 to the position III. This pawl guide device 495 is mounted on the undersurface of the support member 525, as can be seen from Figures 12 and 14.



   The reciprocating motion of the conveyor bars 481 and 482 in synchronism with the reciprocating motion of the conveyor bars 401 and 402 is obtained by means of a driving link having its source at the clutch 251, and the driving action is obtained by a connection with the drive arm 460 by means of a system of levers, so as to drive the conveyor bars 481 and 482.

   This mutual connection is such that the printing members contained in the intermediate slide move from one station to the next with an acceleration and a delay set for each advance stroke, this adjustment of the acceleration and the delay being important to a practical point of view due to the fact that the clichés 113 are held in place by spring retainers 114 which, if the acceleration and retardation were not controlled could, in some cases, disengage under the influence of the inertia of said shots. Thus the initial part of an advancing movement of a printing member in the intermediate slideway is effected with a substantially constant acceleration, while the final part of each advancement movement of this kind is effected with a substantially constant delay.



   The drive device for the transport bars 381 and 382 comprises an angled lever 600 mounted on a vettical support pin 601 provided at the left end of a console.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 53>

 602 fixed by bolts 603 to the front support bar 134. The elbow lever 600 is connected by one of its arms 605, to the aid of a pivot 606, to the right end of the connecting rod 490, so that when the bent lever 600 oscillates around its vertical pivot 601, the conveyor bars 481 and 482 perform a reciprocating movement along the intermediate slide.

   Another arm 608 of the angled lever 600 extends in the direction opposite to the pivot 601, and to this baas is connected; by a pin 610 one of the ends of a connecting rod 609, the other end of which is connected by a pin 611 to a lever 612 mounted to pivot about a vertical axis formed by a pin 613 of the console 602 (fig. 8A and 9). Lever 612 is made up of upper plates: 613 'and lower 613 ", and rod 609 is connected to upper plate 613' (fig.



  9) and extends across the top surface of this plate. The two plates 613 'and 613 "in reality constitute an angled lever, and on this angled lever is mounted a second vertical pin 615 which is placed angularly and at a certain distance from the pin 611. By the in- Via the second pin 615, the lever 612 is connected to the arm 460 so that it pivots about its pin 613 in synchronism with the pivoting movement of said arm.

   The drive connection is obtained by means of an adjustable connecting rod 620, one end of which is connected by a universal joint 621 to the pin 6151 and the other end of which is connected by a universal joint 622 to a pin. 623 which is parallel to the shaft 451 and which is carried by the arm 460 between the ends of this arm. The desired adjustment of the connecting rod 620 is obtained at both ends with the aid of a tensioner, as indicated at 624 in FIG. 9.



   The connection between the arm 460 and the conveyor bars 481 and 482 is such that when the conveyor bars 401 and 402 have been returned to their positions.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 54>

 rear (Figure 9), the various elements of the lever system occupy the positions of Figures 3, 8A and 9, and the intermediate track conveyor bars 381 and 382 are located at the left end of their path.

   When the oscillating shaft
451 rotates in the levorotatory direction from the position of figure 9 to the position of figure 10, the conveyor bars 401 and
402 are, of course, actuated so as to drive the printing members in the initial guide path and, during this movement, the lever 612 pivots in the levorotatory direction (fig. 3 and 8A), so as to communicate a dextrorotatory movement corresponding to the angled lever 600. Thus, it is evident that when the conveyor bars 401 and 402 move forward in their driving strokes, the conveyor bars 481 and 482 move to the right in their preliminary strokes or inactivity.



   On the final path of the printers, constituted by the @ two joists 330 and 3- il, two conveyor bars 651 and 652 are mounted to slide in grooves ìl made along the upper angles adjacent to the joists 330 and 331. The two conveyor bars 651 and 652 are kept spaced apart, so as to slide in the two grooves ì1, by a spacer bar 654 which is capable of effecting movement of. oscillation and which is connected, by an adjustable connecting rod 655, to the end of the arm 450, by means of a pivot 656.



  Thus means are provided for communicating to the conveyor bars 651 and 652 an alternating movement in synchronism with the reciprocating movement of the conveyor bars 401 and 402, and the adjustment of the position of the reciprocating stroke of the conveyor bars 651 and 652 is ensured by an adjustable connection with the and nut 657 (fig. 36) between the connecting rod 655 and the spacer bar 654.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 55>

 



   The conveyor bars 481 and 482 are prevented from moving beyond their forward travel by means of a stop sole 658 having the shape of a U, bolted at 658 'on the rear face. of the pedestal A. The arms 659 of the console 658 protrude rearward (Figures 25 and 36), and have slanted rear end surfaces 659 'which, at the end of the movement of the conveyor bars 481 and 482 towards the front, come into contact with the cylindrical end portions 654 'of the cross member 654, as is apparent from FIG. 25.

   It is thus evident that even though the staves of the eccentric
772 or other bearings would wear out during uninterrupted machine operation, the stroke of the conveyor bars
481 and 482 forward would invariably end at the desired point. 1
The conveyor bars 651 and 652 are provided with a pair of drive pawls 660 which are substantially identical to the drive pawls 495. The pawls 660 are arranged such that ,. in a forward movement of the conveyor bars 651 and 652, from their position recalled in figure 32 to their advanced position in figure 38, the printing member, D located at the transfer station IV - T is located in- dragged along the final path to the print position above the pedestal A.

   At the forward ends of the conveyor bars 651 and 652 are provided two drive pawls 661 which are constructed and mounted generally in the same manner as the drive pawls 430. During the advance movement of the conveyor bars 651 and 652, from the retracted position (figure 37) to the advanced position (figure
38), the drive pawls 661 engage with the printing member located at the printing station and cause this member to move along the final path to position VI, where said member is made to drop into the collector K.



   The final path is built and arranged, with respect to the

  <Desc / Clms Page number 56>

 intermediate path, so that when a printing member moves opposite the retaining pawls 540 of the intermediate path, this member is suitably supported and placed in the final path to be engaged and actuated by the pawls. drive 660 of the conveyor bars 651 and 652. The individual frame members which are assembled to form the final path for the intended purpose are shown detached from each other in Figure 42. Two support bars 670 are provided along the length of the path. final path between separator 333 and anvil A.

   Thus, as shown in Figures 36 to 38, the front ends of the support bars 670 are inserted into slots 661 made on the rear face of the base A, while the rear ends of said bars are fixed by screws 672 on the upper surface of the separator 333.

   The support bars 670 are spaced inward and toward the center of the path so that there is between each of them and that of the conveyor bars 651 or 652 adjacent thereto a fairly large space, and the support bars 670 are used for mounting the various elements which collectively constitute the IV - T transfer station. Thus, it will be noted that the support bar 670 which is close to the beam 330 comprises a leaf spring 675, one raised end 676 of which is in operation, with respect to adjacent drive pawls 660, in substantially the same manner as guide blade 561 which is associated with transfer station II - T. The operation of guide blade 675 will be described in detail later.

   Provided on the second of the support bars 670 is a spacer strip 677 allowing an opening support plate 678 to be attached horizontally to the tops of the members 675 and, 677. The plate 678 serves to receive and support each. printing unit as it leaves the intermediate path and arrives at the IV - T transfer station, and to allow each

  <Desc / Clms Page number 57>

 printing member to be guided during this movement, a guide strip 679 is provided on the upper rear face of the plate 678 and substantially corresponds to the strip 510.

   Thus, the guide strip 679 has at the upper front corner of said strip a groove 680 which corresponds to the groove 511 of the band 510, and the front edge 681 of the guide band
679 constitutes a forward facing shoulder intended to contact the rearward facing ends of spacer flanges 118 of the printing members as such member advances to the transfer position
IV - T. At the top of the guide strip 679, a retaining plate 682 is held in position by screws 683 which pass through the plates 679 and the spacers from top to bottom and enter the support bars. support 670.

   We can see on. Figures 25 and 42 that the width of the retaining plate
682 is a little larger than that of the adjacent retaining strip514, so that it covers a large area from the rear position of the upper face of a printing member placed at the IV - T station. The other edge, or leading edge, of such a printing member is located, at this time, below the retaining strip 508 which, as shown in Figures 25 and 42, is extends entirely across the final guiding path and is attached, at its left end, to the joist
331, for example using a screw 685.

   We see in the figure
27 that the top of the joist 330, which is placed between the two joists 360 and 361 of the intermediate path, is approximately aligned with the top of the conveyor bar 651, so that the printing member can advance from the intermediate path, across the top of the joist 300, and pass over the support plate 678, and it will be noted that the latter is also approximately aligned by its top surface with the top of the conveyor bar 651, as well as the top of the conveyor bar 652.

   When the gold-

  <Desc / Clms Page number 58>

 printer gane D has completely reached the transfer station IV - T, as seen in figures 26 and 27, the spacer flanges 118 of the printing member rest on the conveyor bars 651 and 652 and the top of the joist 331 is at a slightly higher level than the top of the conveyor bar 652, so that a retaining band 683 'can be attached to the top of the joist 331 to curl the sur- face of the adjacent top edge of the printing member while this member is located in the final slide.

   A similar retainer band 684 is attached along the top of the other joist 330 to the front of the retainer band 508, as shown in one. examination of figure 3.



   At the moment when a printing member is engaged by the pawls 497 and arrives at the transfer station IV - T, the conveyor bars 651 and 652 perform their return stroke, or backwards, and the time adjustment of the parts. is such that the pawl 660 adjacent to the beam 330 would, in this case, be located in the path of the printing member which advances.



  The pawl 660 mounted on the conveyor bar 651 is therefore provided with a projecting pin 686 which, in the return or rearward movement of the conveyor bar 651, contacts the raised front end 676 of the guide member 675, and the pawl 660 is consequently lowered so that it disappears during its passage rearwardly below the transfer station IV - T. When the. Conveyor bar 651 has approximately reached the rear end of its stroke, pin 686 slides away from guide member 675, so as to come to its working position, shown in FIG. 41. It is therefore evident that in the forward movement of the conveyor bar 651,

     the pin 686 passes along the upper surface of the guide member 675, so that the corresponding pawl 660 can act on the rear edge of the printing member located at the station

  <Desc / Clms Page number 59>

 transfer IV - T to advance this organ along the final path and to the printing position.



   Of. means are provided at the printing station to ensure the precise positioning of the printing member during printing, these means protecting said member against a backward movement during the return stroke of the conveyor bars 651 and 652 and also being intended to prevent said member from being driven beyond the printing station. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 3, 25 and 42, to 46, a registration pawl 690 pivots at 691 on a vertical pin provided on the post 330 just behind the printing station, and this pawl is established. in the form of an angled lever, one of the arms 692 of which extends forward along the outer side of the joist 330 to a point beyond the printing station.

   At its end, the arm 692 carries a stop finger 683 which can protrude through a notch in the bin 330 to come into the path of an advancing printing member, so as to limit this movement. On the arm 692 is formed, behind the stopper finger 693, a locating tooth 694 which can protrude through a notch in the top edge of the joist 330 to engage the notch. V-shaped registration, 420, of a printing unit located at the printing station.

   The other arm, 695, of the angled pawl lever 690 protrudes substantially at right angles to the arm 692 and in a direction opposite to the final path, and by the control of the arm 695 the pawl is driven in a cycle of! working in synchronism with the device for driving the printing members, so that, when a printing member is to be driven forwards, from the printing station to the station VI, the tooth 694 and the finger ' stop 693 are completely clear of the printing body path so that the drive pawl 661 can engage with the trailing edge of the printing body at the printing station to

  <Desc / Clms Page number 60>

 advance this organ to the collector station VI.



     After the printing member has been moved past the stopper finger 693, the pawl 690 is actuated so as to move this finger a short distance to introduce it into the printing member slide, the position of the cli. quet 690 at the time envisaged being such that the locating tooth 694 is located, outside the slide. The control pawls 660 advance the next printing member, as it continues to move forward, to the printing station, so that said member can, in some cases, In this case, engage with the stop finger 693 and, in such a case, this finger initially acts so as to ensure the positioning of the printing member.

   The registration pawl 690 is then actuated in the dextrorotatory direction (FIG. 25), so that the registration tooth 694 engages in the registration notch 420 of the printing member, which has the effect of placing the printing unit in the precise position that it must occupy at the printing station.

   This engagement of the locating tooth 694 in the notch of the printing member is maintained during the rearward travel of the conveyor bars 651 and 652, and the result is that the printing member is held in position and protected against any damage. recoil movement, while the inclined upper surfaces of the pawls 661 are in contact with the forward ends of the spacer flanges 118 so that said pawls are lowered as they move rearwardly below the printing body.



     When a printing member D advances from the IV - T transfer station towards the printing station, it moves by its two end edges below the two retaining bands 683 and 684, and said member passes below a tape protector 700 which is attached to the upper face of the retaining bands 683 and 684, so as to extend like a bridge over the final printers path (just behind the printing station). 'impression.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 61>

 



  At its front end, the tape protector 700 is provided with two fingers 701 which protrude above the end portions of the printer body at the printing station, and the IR ink ribbon is disposed so as to extend across the printer. -above these two fingers 701 and across the printing station, as shown in figures SA and 42.

   Of course, the tape protector 700 is placed directly below the opening 166 of the screen 165 of the table top T, so that, when a sheet has been placed above said opening, the mechanism presser P can press the sheet down to the printing position with respect to the IR ink ribbon and the printing unit which is located in the printing position on the base A.



     When a printing member located at the printing station is grasped and driven along the final path by the pawls 661, this member enters a curved slide 720 which extends downward and directs the member downward. and in a generally vertical direction towards the manifold K. to constitute this slide, to each of the joists 330 and 331 is welded a vertical support plate 721, and along an outer portion of each such support plate is attached. a guide plate 722 for defining the outer edge of the vertical slide 720 due to the fact that it contacts the outwardly, or forwardly facing, surface of the adjacent end of the member printer.

   The inner side of the slide is defined by two guide plates 723 which tilt downwardly from the rear edge of the guide plates 722. The plates 723 are spaced from the support plates 721 (Fig. 43) and are fixed in place by a bracket 724 having the shape of a U, itself fixed by cap screws 725 to the front edge of the base A. The guide plates 723 are spot welded to the protruding arms of the U-bracket 724, as shown in figure 36.

   In his downward motion, along the slide

  <Desc / Clms Page number 62>

 outlet 720, a printing member comes to rest in a substantially vertical position on a pair of ears 726, extending rearwardly, these ears being formed on the lower end of a compressor frame 727 which pivots by its upper end around a pivot pin 728 extending from one to the other of the two support plates 721.

   The frame 727 receives a pivoting movement about its pivot 723 such that when a printing member falls along the slide 720, the ears 726 are located a little behind the position shown in FIG. 36, so that the lower edge of the printing member rests on said ears. The compressor frame 727 is then returned substantially to the position of Figure 36, after which the lower end of said frame moves to the right so as to push the printing member to the right and facing a pair of members. spring retainer 729, which occupy the desired position to engage the upper corners of the printing members located in the manifold.

   Upon completion of this compression movement, the ears 726 occupy a position such that the next printing member falls into the slideway 720 and comes to rest on said ears.



   The compressor frame 727 is operated by a lever 730 which pivots around the pin 728 on the left side of the left support plate 721 (Figure 4). Lever 730 is / * to frame 727 by a spring plunger 731 which allows said frame to be released from control arm 730 when an operator desires to rotate the compressor frame to a remote position to allow access to the mechanism located behind this frame.

   connected
During the compression operation, the sliding console 389 'of the drawer is pulled back along its slide arranged at the bottom of the drawer, the usual locking device 732 of the sliding console being at this time in

  <Desc / Clms Page number 63>

 the unlock position.



   The drawer K is removably mounted on a support or drawer holder 750 which pivots at an intermediate point of its length, at 751, on a bracket 752 supported at the top edge of the protective wall 138. The bracket 752 carries an arm 753, and the drawer holder 750 is normally held with its front end inclined upwards, and in the position desired to cooperate with the compressor device, by a latch 754, which normally rests on the upper part. a pin ¯755 carried by the arm 753 of the console 752. The latch 754: 'pivots, at 756, on the underside of the support 750 and can be released from the pin 755 by controlling a release button 760 mounted below said support 750.

   The pusher working head 760 is positioned near the front end of the carrier 750 so that an operator can easily grasp it when it is necessary to tilt said carrier down to insert or remove a drawer.



  The connection between the pusher 760 and the latch 754 is constituted by a rod 761, one end of which is connected to the latch 754 and the other to the pusher 760.



     When it becomes necessary to lower the front end of the bracket 750, the pusher 760 is pulled back so that the lower end of the latch 754 disengages from the pin 755. The end is lowered. front of the bracket by pivoting it around the pivot 751 and, due to the engagement of the front side of the latch 754 with the rear side of the pin 755, the pusher 760 is held in its position. rear while the support 750 occupies its lower position. In the movement of the latch 754 backwards, a link 762 connecting this latch to a pivot 763 acts on a pair of guide members 765 so as to disengage these members from the front portion of the drawer K.

   These members 765 normally project upwardly through openings provided in the bottom of the

  <Desc / Clms Page number 64>

 drawer K, so as to cooperate with the compressor mechanism to ensure the proper positioning of the printing members D in the drawer. The guides 765 are mounted on a lever 766 which pivots about a point 767 located behind the guides.



  The lever 766 is extended behind the pivot 767 and comprises a spring 768 which biases it in the dextrorotatory direction around its pivot 767 so as to push the guides 765 upwards to force them to enter the drawer. In the movement of the pusher 760 and the latch 754 backwards, the lever 766 pivots about its pivot axis 767 under the action of the link 762, and its front end pivots downward. in order to release the guides 765 from the drawer K, the operation consisting in removing the drawer! of the support 750 being thereby facilitated.



   When the printers of a particular drawer have been introduced into the magazine M, the sliding support console 389 'is moved from the drawer to the front part of said drawer and, while the support 750 occupies the position indicated on FIG. 49, in which its front end is inclined downwards, the empty drawer is placed on said support and the latter is again pivoted to its normal position of FIGS. 36 and 48.



   The compressor frame 727 of the compressor mechanism receives a pivoting movement for working movement each time; the shaft 200 performs its work cycle of 360, and this movement is obtained by means of a connecting rod 770 whose front end is connected to the lower end of the compressor lever 730.

   The connecting rod 770 extends in a generally horizontal direction towards the shaft 200 and, at its rear end, it is connected to a bearing 771 surrounding an eccentric 772. This is pinned to the shaft 200 between the bearing. support bracket 202 and clutch 250, so that eccentric 772 rotates whenever clutch 250 operates.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 65>

      



   Eccentric 772 is also used to drive an eccentric
1775 which is located to the left of eccentric 772 (figure 56) and is connected to the latter by a pin 776 so that it rotates with it.



   We can see on. Figure 56 that eccentric 775 is angularly displaced with respect to eccentric 772 and is used to impart the desired intermittent motion to the IR spotting ribbon. For this purpose, it is surrounded by a collar 777 which carries a connecting rod 778 extending forward (figure 57) to be connected to the drive mechanism of the ink ribbon shown in figures 3,5, 6 and 8A.



   The mechanism of the ink ribbon, shown in figure
3, comprises a pair of ribbon reels 780 and 781 mounted in consoles 782 and 783 on either side of the printing station, the ink ribbon running from one of these reels to the other in passing through the printing position as described above. The intermittent movement and the automatic change in the direction of tape drive are effected by a reciprocating slide 784 shown in FIG. 5. This slide 784 is reciprocated by an angled lever 785, one of whose arms is connected to said slide and the other, at 786, to connecting rod 778.



   The locating pawls 422 and 690 are actuated by the clutch 251 in such a way that they perform one duty cycle once the clutch 251 operates. Thus, as shown in Figures 54 and 55, a cam assembly 800 is mounted on the shaft 200 between the eccentric 272 and the clutch receiving member 252. This assembly comprises a central hub 801. to which a series of discs are secured with a pin 802. The left disc 803 is secured by the pin 273 so that it rotates with the eccentric 272.

   The right-hand disc 804 constitutes a control cam-disc which, while rotating, acts on a roller 805 carried by a connecting rod

  <Desc / Clms Page number 66>

 drive 806 near one end thereof.



  The other end of the link 806 is connected by a pin 807 to a block 808 which pivots by means of a pin 809 on the underside of an arm 810 of an elbow lever 811. As seen in Figures 58 and 59, this angled lever is mounted on a vertical axis 812 carried by the undersurface of the joist 330. The second arm, 813, of the angled lever 811 is connected by a stud and slot assembly 814 at the left end of the link 427. The latter is supported, at its right end, by a pin 426 and is guided by a pin 815 which passes through a longitudinal slot 816 of said link, the pin 815 being screwed into the beam 300.



   The angled lever 811 comprises a third arm 818 which is substantially parallel to the arm 810 and fixed by a pivot 819 to a link 820 (Figures 3, 25 and 43 to 46) connected, at its front end, to the arm 695 of the pawl 690.



   As seen in Figure 58, the rear end of link 806 is provided with two arms 822 having a pair of opposed parallel surfaces 823 which, when link 806 is actuated, slide along opposing surfaces of the link. a groove 824 (Figure 55), so as to guide the link 806 in one direction. The lateral guidance of the link 806 is obtained by means of a flange 825 formed on the hub 801 to the right of the link 806, so that the cam disc 804 and the flange 805 come into contact with opposing surfaces. sies of the arms 822 of the rod 806.



   The roller 805 is held in contact with the cam surface of the disc-cam 804 by a spring 830 (figure 3 and 59A) which acts between the link 427 and the arm 818 so as to urge the latter forward. This action of the spring 830 has the effect of urging the arm 810 and the rod 806 rearwardly, so as to keep the roller 805 applied against the cam disc 804. A spring 831 connects the two between them.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 67>

 rods 820 and 427 so as to gir parallel to the longitudinal axis of rod 427 and to urge the latter towards the left of FIG. 3.



  Therefore, it is clear that, due to the pin-and-slot connection 814 provided at the left end of the link 427, the spring 831 can act with elastic force, when the elbow lever 811 has been suitably. placed so as to force the locating tooth 424 of the pawl 422 to engage in the notch 420 of the printing member located at the probing station. The spring 830 acts dimilarly so as to keep the locating tooth of the pawl 690 engaged in the notch of a printing member placed at the printing station.

   Obviously, although notch 420 in each early member D is desirable, it is not absolutely essential, since if such a notch were not present the locator tooth would simply be pushed against the edge. of the printing member with an elastic force. This action would prevent the backward movement without damaging any parts of the machine.



   As shown in Figure 58, the cam disc 804 occupies its rest position due to the opening of the clutch 251, and this cam disc has a relatively sharp ramp 835 which acts on the roller 805 immediately after the release. The dextrorotatory rotation of the cam disc has started.

   The ramp 835 of the disc 804 connects to a resting, or concentric, surface 836, which maintains the two registration pawls in their recalled positions until the printing units have been moved past the probing station and the station. printing and, at this point in the work cycle, the pawls are enabled, due to the presence of a withdrawal surface 837 on the cam 804, to move inward and out. penetrate the guide paths of the printing members to such an extent that the stop fingers prevent these members from moving beyond their adjusted position.

   The locating pawls are held for a short time in this position, then, under the influence of a second withdrawal surface 838 provided on the cam 804, the pawls continue their inward movement with respect to the guideways. printing members to allow the locating teeth to be resiliently biased towards their notches provided at the ends of the printing members} this elastic action of the pawls during this part of the operation of the machine being ensured by the springs 830 and 831 as before described.



   ,

  <Desc / Clms Page number 68>

 THE CONTROL MECHANISM IN GENERAL:
In machine operation, the normal printing operation is so-called "consecutive" printing, in which a printed proof is taken from each of the printing members advancing through the machine. Thus, during normal operation or during consecutive printing of the machine, the drive mechanism of the printing members and the control mechanism of the pressing member each perform their normal working cycle, so that a drive movement is communicated to the printing members and a printing operation is performed.

   The drive movement takes place in the initial and final guideways or guideways during the first half of the machine cycle, during which time the press mechanism runs forward. Thus, the printing unit which, during the period of inactivity taken between the working periods of the machine, was at rest at the transfer station, IV - T advances, during the first half of the machine's working cycle, to the printing position V and, simultaneously, the printing unit previously used is transferred from this station to the collecting station VI, so as to be reclassified in the drawer from which it was initially withdrawn. In this case, the machine can perform a so-called "repetition" work and, in this case, the same printing unit is maintained at:

  print oste so that a series of printed proofs is sound. taken from this organ. In such repetitive work, the drive mechanism of the printing members remains in place and the pressing mechanism performs the number of cycles necessary for the desired number of printing operations.



  * In other cases, it may be desirable to operate the machine with so-called "blasting" cycles, during

  <Desc / Clms Page number 69>

 of which the pressing mechanism P is kept at rest, so as to avoid printing using the printing unit located / at the printing station; in such a "blasting" operation, the drive mechanism of the printing members performs the number of work cycles necessary to pass or "skip the clichés for which no prints are desired.



   When the machine is operating in the normal or "consecutive" manner, the pedal 122 is used to initiate each duty cycle and, when the pedal 122 is so operated, the main clutch 250, the clutch 251 of the shift mechanism. drive of the printing units and the clutch
252 of the presser mechanism P are all unlocked so that they perform their cycle of rotation of a single revolution. When- '. that the machine is intended to be used for a "repeat" job, the foot pedal 121 is used and operated whenever a printing operation is to be repeated.



   In this case, the main clutch 250 and the clutch 252 of the pressing member are both unlocked to cycle through one revolution. When the machine is to be used for "blasting" work, pedal 120 is lowered whenever a printing member is to be "blasted". In this case, the main clutch 250 and the clutch 251 of the printing member drive mechanism are both unlocked to cycle through one revolution.



   The pedals 120, 121 and 122 are similarly mounted in the brackets 148 extending downward from the protective wall 138. Each bracket 146 is a piece of sheet metal having the shape of a U. whose branches or wings 148 'extend rearward; and each pedal is mounted at the front end of a support lever 840 which pivots, at 841, on a pivot pin running from one of the two wings to the other
148 'of the support 148. Each lever 840 is connected to a vertical link; 842 which pivots around a pivot 842' located at the front

  <Desc / Clms Page number 70>

      of pivot 841, and said link rises through an opening in an interior flange 843 of wall 138.



  It will be noted that the inner rim 843 passes inside an opening in the core of the support 148 (FIG. 49). A compression spring 844 acts between the flange 843 and a washer 845 attached near the upper end of the link 842 to bias the link and the pedal carrier lever 840 connected up therein. This upward movement of the lever 840 is limited by the meeting of the upper surface of said lever with the top of a notch 846 through which the lever passes.



   As can be seen in figure 50, the lever 840 on which the front pedal 120 is mounted is connected to a link 850, itself connected, by a pin and slot assembly 852 (figure 49). , to a lever 854, the latter pivoting freely at its front end on an oscillating shaft 855 mounted in the upper ends of the wings of the supports 148.



  At its rear end, the lever 854 is connected to a vertical connecting rod 856 which extends upwards to the stop lever 870 'of the clutch 251 controlling the drive mechanism of the printing members.



   The lever 840 on which the pedal 121 is mounted is connected by a pivot pin 842 'to a link 860 connected by a pin and slot assembly, at its upper end, to a lever 864, which is mounted on the shaft 855 so that it protrudes rearward in the same way as lever 854.



  At its rear end, the lever 864 is connected to a connecting rod 866, the upper end of which is connected to the stop lever 270 "of the clutch 252 which controls the pressing mechanism P.



   It is thus obvious that if the clutch pedal 120 is lowered, the drive mechanism of the printing members is put into action and that, if the pedal 121 is operated, the pressing mechanism P is put into action. action, while a mechanism

  <Desc / Clms Page number 71>

 There is provided whereby when pedal 122 is depressed the levers 854 and 864 both pivot to operate the printing member drive mechanism and the presser mechanism simultaneously. For this purpose, a rod 870 pivots, by its lower end, around the pivot pin 842 'of the lever 840 and, by its upper end, on the outer end of a short lever 871 fixed to the oscillating shaft, 855.

   Thus, the oscillating shaft 855 oscillates in the dextrorotatory direction (figure 50) each time that the pedal 182. This movement is transmitted to the two levers 854 and
864 by arms 872 and 873 attached to swing shaft 855. Arm 872 is placed near lever 864 and has at its end a side projection 874 placed above this lever.



   The arm 873 is placed near the lever 854 and carries a similar projection 875 located above the lever 854. Thus, when the right pedal 122 is lowered, the two lower arms 872 and 873 act simultaneously through their projections 874 and 875. so as to lower the levers 854 and 864, respectively.



   As seen in Figures 51, 52, 53 and 54, the stop levers 270 'and 270 "of the two clutches 251 and 252 are mounted on an oscillating shaft 880 journalled in upper parts of the oonsole 202. To the right of this (figure 54), an additional support bracket 881 is provided to support the shaft 880. The two stop levers
270 'and 270 "of clutches 251 and 252 are mounted on the shaft
880 between the ends of these levers, and the rear ends, of the aforesaid stop levers are extended beyond the support bar 134 to be connected to the connecting rods 866 and
856, respectively.

   As seen in Fig. 50, each of stop levers 270 'and 270 "carries an assembly block 882. Thus, with respect to lever 270", block 882 has a vertical hole through. through which passes the upper threaded end of the connecting rod 856, the latter being so fixed

  <Desc / Clms Page number 72>

 adjustable to the desired longitudinal position by two locking nuts 883 located at the upper and lower edges of block 882.



   The stop lever 270 of the main clutch 250 is attached to the left end of the shaft 880 (Figure 54 ') and is biased towards its working position by a spring 880'.



  This lever is unlocked each time one or the other of the stop levers 270 ', 270 "is actuated. For this purpose, the shaft 880 carries two arms 886 and 887. The arm 886 is placed relatively near the stop lever 270 'of the clutch 251 and carries a side lug 888 placed below an adjustable screw 889 which protrudes on an lug 890 of said stop lever 270'. The arm 887 carries an lug similar 891 located below an adjustable screw 892 carried by an ear of the stop lever 270 ".



   Thus, the movement of one or the other of the stop levers 270 'or 270 "is transmitted to one or the other of the arms 886 or 887 so as to make the shaft 880 oscillate and unlock. - release the stop lever 270 of the clutch, main 250, this lever being consequently released each time one or the other of the clutches 251, 252 is disengaged; and as the motor components of these clutches are normally stationary until the main clutch has been engaged, means are provided to retain or lock the stop levers 270 'and 270 "of the clutches 251 and 252 in their free positions until 'at the moment when the closing of the main clutch 250 causes the rotation of the driving members of the clutches 251 and 252.

   This is achieved using two latches 900 and 901 attached to a latch shaft 902 which is mounted in bearings 202 and 881 (Figure 51). The latches 900 and 901 are intended to engage in notches 903 and 904 of the stop levers 270 "and 270 '(Figures 51 and 58). As a result, when one of the stop levers 270' or 270" rotates to 'to its position

  <Desc / Clms Page number 73>

      free, the latch 900 or 901 associated with this lever is raised under the action of a cam surface provided above the corresponding notch, such as the notch 903 in FIG. 58, and the latch thus actuated then moves downward to engage in the corresponding notch of the actuated stop lever.

   The latch shaft 902 is biased in the dextrorotatory direction by a spring 906 connecting a release lever 907 fixed at the end of said shaft to an anchor pin 907 'mounted on a fixed part of the frame. Thus, when the stop lever 270 "pivots under the control of its connecting rod 856, the arm 887 of the shaft 880 pivots to impart a simultaneous unlocking movement to the stop arm 270 of the main clutch. the pivotal movement of the stop lever 270 ", the latch 900 is subjected to the action of the cam surface 903 'formed on the stop lever 270", so that this latch pivots upwardly. overcoming the force of spring 906.



  Upon completion of the unlocking movement of the stop lever 270 ", the latch 900 is biased by its spring 906 to engage in the notch 903 of the stop lever 270". Thus, the main clutch 250 is made to close and the rotation of the shaft 200 begins, which causes the rotation of the motor member 255 "of the shaft 252 and the engagement of the claw of this. clutch so as to drive the pressure mechanism in a working cycle The same action takes place when the stop lever 270 'of the clutch 251 is actuated by its release rod 866.



   When the rotation of either of the clutches 251, 252 has started, the stop lever 270 'or 270 "is released by the effect of an automatic movement which is imparted to the shaft. latches 902 by the rotation of the receiving member of the main clutch 250.

   This unlocking action is obtained by the intervention of the pivot pin 258a of the main clutch, which pin (figure 54) protrudes towards the

  <Desc / Clms Page number 74>

 left to contact a release surface 910 of lever 907. Thus, looking at Fig. 54, during the dextrorotatory rotation of clutch slave member 250, pin 258a contacts the surface
910 of lever 907 to oscillate the latch shaft 902 in the levorotatory direction and, during this oscillating movement,

   any or each of the stop levers 270 'or 270 "capable of being retained at this time in their unlocked position is made free to stop the rotation of the clutch slave member at the same time. completion of the single round.



   The two stop levers 270 and 270 'are normally biased towards their working positions by coil springs 911 which are connected (figure 50) between the connecting rods 856 and 866 and the lower edge of the rear wall 144, so Lesson to urge these connecting rods upward and thus bring the stop levers 270 'and 270 "to their working positions and at the same time bring the levers 854 and 864 to their upper positions. The action of the springs 911 is assisted by that of the springs 911 'and 911 "which are provided between fixed parts of the frame and the stop levers 270' and 270", respectively, as can be seen in Figures 58 and 60.



   AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM:
Although the machine can be operated to achieve any desired sequence of "consecutive" printing operations, "blasting" operations or "repeat" printing operations by the appropriate operation of the pedals
120, 121 and 122, some automatic control of the operation of the machine can be effected.

   The arrangement of the automatic control mechanism is such that the machine performs (within certain practical limits) the automatic printing of any desired number of proofs from each of the printing units located at the printing station, and that the number of these printing operations which must be carried out

  <Desc / Clms Page number 75>

      using each printing member can be easily modified to meet the needs of the particular user.

   Thus, for example, a user may wish to obtain two printed proofs of each plate located at the printing station, or; in other cases, that he wishes to obtain the same impression on four or five related formulas, as for example when the machine is used to prepare formulas in the office of an insurance company in order to take into account all information from the accounting records relating to a particular insurance policy.



   Consequently, the clutch 251 which governs the drive of the printing members is provided with an additional control device which operates automatically in synchronism with the operation of the pressing mechanism P so as to engage the clutch 251. out of action in accordance with an automatic control mechanism having the desired duty cycle. Thus, as seen in Figures 52, 54, 56 and 60 to 67, the clutch 251 is provided with an additional stop lever 920 which freely pivots, at one end thereof, on the clutch. shaft 880 and the other end of which carries a stop projection 'which corresponds to the stop projection of the normal stop lever 270' of the clutch.

   Thus, it is clear that when the stop lever 920 pivots in the dextrorotatory direction from its inactivity position of Fig. 60 to its working position of Fig. 63, this movement of the stop lever 920 predominates over the control action of the stop lever 270 ', which prevents the closing and operation of the clutch
251.



   The stop lever 920 is controlled by an osoillant control frame 921 which is attached to a shaft 922 mounted at the front end of the top of the support bracket.
202 (figures 51 and 52). This oscillating frame 921 is fixed on the left end of the shaft 922 (figure 52), the other of which

  <Desc / Clms Page number 76>

 one end carries a control arm 923. At its end, the arm 922 is pivotally connected to a bar 924 which extends to the right of Figure 52 and which is then bent downwards so as to be able to slide. through an assembly block 925 fixed to a pivot 926 carried by one of the side faces of the stop lever 920.

   Between the block 925 and a washer 927 attached to the bar 924 is provided a coil compression spring 928 which urges the lever 920 downward along the bar 924, and two nuts 929 screwed onto said bar. re below block 925 limit this downward movement.



  It is evident that, thanks to this construction, a pivoting movement of the frame 921 in the levorotatory direction (figure 62) will pivot the stop lever 920 from its inactivity position (figure 62) to its working position (figure 63). In the present construction, the swing frame 921 is normally biased in the dextrorotatory direction so that it tends to hold the stop lever 920 in its inactivity position of Figure 62.

   This normal position of the swing frame 921 is provided by means such as a spring 930 which acts in a rearward direction between a lower arm 931 of the frame 921 and a fixed part of the machine frame; and the stop lever 920 is moved to its working, or predominant, position by an automatic device, whenever clutch 251 is to be disengaged for a particular machine cycle. Thus, as seen in Figures 51, 52 and 53, the swing frame 921 carries a forward extending arm 935 which is provided with a cam roller 936 rolling normally around the periphery of a disc. cam 937 forming part (figure 65) of an interchangeable control assembly 940.

   This assembly comprises a central bush 941 on one end of which is fixed the cam disc 937 and on the other end of which is fixed a ratchet wheel 942. The cam disc 937 is established so as to ensure automatic

  <Desc / Clms Page number 77>

 only the work in "duplicate" of the machine and, during such work, the clutch 951 causing the drive of the printing members is put out of action alternately, that is to say all the two cycles of the machine, to cause the printing of two printed proofs from each printing unit located at the printing station.



   It is obvious that the disc-cam 937 could have other shapes, so that a different number of impressions are obtained from each of the printing members, and when it is proposed to use a cam of a different shape one removes 'set 9.40 and replace it with a diff erent set.



   Control assembly 940 is mounted on a support stud 942 'which is secured with a shoulder 943 and a locking nut 944 in an anterior support projection of the console 202 (Figure 54). . This assembly is held in place on the support stud 942 'by a knurled screw 945 which screws into the end of said stud 942'.



   As shown in Fig. 53, the cam disc 937 has a series of raised surfaces 946 and a series of recessed surfaces 948 which are alternately and regularly spaced around the periphery of this disc. When one of the recesses 948 comes into alignment with the cam roller 936, the latter engages therein and the control or osoillant frame 921 moves in the dextrorotatory direction under the influence of its spring 930 in the measurement. shown in Figures 53 and 60, which results in the arm 923 raising the stop arm 920 to its inactivity position of Figure 60.

   However, when the cam disk 937 is moved to bring one of the cam protrusions 946 into alignment with the roller 957, the swing frame 941 pivots in the levorotatory direction from the position of Figure 62 to the position of. Figure 63, so that the stop lever 920 pivots in the dextrorotatory direction to the working position of Figure 63.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 78>

 



   Cam or control assembly 940 receives control or rotational movement about its support pin 942 'in an automatic manner and in synchronism with the working movements of the presser mechanism P, and this rotation is effected by a driving link between the actuating mechanism of the pressing member and the ratchet wheel 942. For this purpose, the shaft 296 of the operating mechanism of the pressing member is extended considerably to the left of the wheel. point where it is connected to arm 295 ', as seen in Figure 53, and carries an arm 950 to which is attached a link 951 extending rearward in a plane just to the right of the plane of the ratchet wheel 942, looking at figure 52.

   The rear end of the link 951 is biased upwards by a spring 952, the upper end of which is connected to a pin 953 carried by the outer face, or on the left, of the beam 331. The lower end of spring 952 is attached to a pin 954 projecting to the right on link 951 (Figure 52). The right end of this pin is engaged in a longitudinal guide groove 955 made in a guide rod 956 which pivots at its upper end on the anchor pin 953 and which extends downwards along the spring. 952, to help guide link 951 and prevent it from moving sideways.



   The spring 952 tends to pull the rear end of the link 951 upwards so that a pin 960 carried by this link engages the toothing 961 of the ratchet wheel 942, the link 951 making a movement back and forth. and comes every time the shaft 296 swings. It will also be noted that there is a tooth of the ratchet 961 for each of the recessed parts 948 and for each of the raised parts 946, so that, at each working operation of the pressing mechanism P, the oscillating movement of the shaft 296 causes the advancement of

  <Desc / Clms Page number 79>

      the control assembly 940 by an angular distance equal to the angular displacement of the adjacent teeth 961 of the ratchet wheel.

   To keep the control assembly 940 in the position to which it was brought by the link 951, a spring retainer 962 is provided in the support bracket 202, as seen in the figure. FIG. 66, this pusher being pushed by its spring into a series of recesses 963 of the ratchet wheel 942 in positions which correspond to the angular angular spacing of the teeth 961 of this wheel.



   Of course, it will be appreciated that the automatic control action of the control assembly 940 is not desired at all times and, therefore, means are provided to take the control assembly out of action. action when repeated work "of the machine is not desired or when normal operation or" consecutive "printing is desired. Such disabling is effected by a control board 965 which is mounted to oscillate on a support
966 carried by stud 942 'near console 202 and which is held in position by a shoulder 967' of said stud 952 '.



   The control plate 965 carries a finger 967 which, in one of the positions of said plate, contacts the upper surface of the link 951 (Figure 61) to prevent the pin 960 from engaging in the teeth of the ratchet 942. This disabling movement of the finger 967 of the control plate 965 takes place when the latter occupies its limit levorotatory position of FIG. 61, and said plate can be brought to this position by a control pusher 970 which passes through it, the front panel 142 and which carries an operation key 971 housed in one of the cavities 142 'of the front panel.



   In the present case, this operating key 971 is located at the lower end of the left cavity 142, looking at FIG. 1, the pusher 970 is connected to the control plate
965 by a 975 rod which pivots, by its rear end,

  <Desc / Clms Page number 80>

      on the pusher 970, at 976, and which pivots, by its front end, at 977, on an upper part of the control plate 965.



   Note that the pusher 970 has a series of longitudinally spaced retaining notches 978, 979 and 980 intended to cooperate with a spring retaining member 981 (Figure 60) to maintain said plunger in any one of three adjustment positions. longitudinal.

   Thus, when the pusher 970 has been depressed to its limit internal position, determined by the retaining notch 978, the control plate 965 occupies the position shown in Figures 60 and 61 and in which the machine is at. the state desired to operate normally or to perform a consecutive print. "When the machine has thus been adjusted, finger 967 occupies the position shown in Fig. 61 so as to prevent pin 960 from engaging with the machine. ratchet wheel 942.

   When the pusher 970 has been returned to an intermediate position determined by the engagement of the retaining ball 981 in the retaining notch 979, the parts occupy the position shown in figure 62, so as to cause a multiple printing. , determined by the characteristics of the 940 control assembly.



   When the pusher 970 is fully pulled out so as to engage the retaining notch 980 with the ball 981, as shown in Figure 67, a protrusion or cam surface 983 formed on the control plate
965 engages with a finger 984 provided at the end of the arm 935. The cam surface 983 then maintains the oscillating frame 921 in its limit levorotatory position, so as to constantly maintain the stop lever 920 in its position. active of Figure 67. At this time, the reciprocating blellette 951 is also engaged with a shoulder 983 'of the control plate 965 to prevent the operation of the actuator assembly.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 81>

 cam 940.

   Thus, in the setting position for repeat work of the pusher 970 (Figs. 67 and 68), the drive device 1 of the printing members is permanently out of action, and a series of printed proofs are taken from a single printing unit located at the printing station. This position of the control push-button 970 provides the same effect as if the operator were using the repeater pedal 121, but some operators prefer to use the "repeat" setting or setup obtained with pusher 970 'so that they can use foot pedal 112 in the same way as when the machine is operated for printing " consecutive ".



   When operating the machine under the control action of the assembly 940 to print a particular or selected number of prints from each of the printing members, it is obviously desirable to ensure the completion of the desired number of prints. prints of a particular cliché prior to bringing pusher 970 to its "consecutive" printing position, and a mechanism is provided to prevent such movement of the control pusher as long as the desired number of prints n 'was not carried out using a particular printing device. This mechanism comprises a locking lever 990 having a notch 991 facing downwards and in which the pin 984 of the arm 935 is intended to engage.

   Lever 990 protrudes rearward from pivot pin 977, and a spring 992 biases it toward and up to a lower limit position, determined by a stop tooth 990 'of plate 965. Dimensions of locking lever 990 are such that when pusher 970 has been set for multiple printing (Figures 62 and 63), notch 991 is located. directly above pin 984.

   Thus, when the roller 936; is located on one of the upper parts 946 of the cam-
937, the: pin 984 is engaged in notch 991 (figure

  <Desc / Clms Page number 82>

 63) so as to prevent the longitudinal displacement of the pusher 970 in either direction. It is therefore necessary to run the machine for one or more additional cycles until the roller 936 slips and enters one of the recesses 948 to be able to disengage the pin 984 from the notch 991.

   The pusher 970 can then be brought to its new control position. '
In the operation of the control assembly 940 under the action of the reciprocating link 951, a pin 993 carried laterally by the stop lever 270 '(Figure 54) is normally placed above the rear end. of lever 951 (figure 62), and when this lever occupies its working position of figure 62, said pin maintains the rear end of link 951 in a lowered position which is such that pin 960 cannot not meet the teeth of the ratchet during a movement of the link 951 forward. However, when the machine is used with the part setting in the automatic multiple print position, the foot pedal 122 is used to initiate each print.

   This operation of the pedal 122 causes the return of the stop lever 270 ', which thus tends to release the clutch 251 and allow it to engage.



  Of course, the closing of said clutch is prevented in certain cycles by the additional stop lever 920. When the stop lever 270 comes to its inactive position by pivoting in the levorotatory direction of FIG. 62, the pin 993 is found elevated to the position of Fig. 64, from which it follows that the rear end of the connecting rod 951 is made even to rise under the influence of the spring 952, so that in the movement towards the 'Front of link 951, pin 960 engages one of ratchet teeth 961 to advance drive assembly 940.,
The stop lever 270 ', which is thus brought to its position

  <Desc / Clms Page number 83>

 inactivity,

   is locked in this position by the corresponding latch 901 and remains in said position for a short period of time until the rotation of the shaft 200 has been initiated by the closing of the main clutch 250.



   The stop lever 270 then goes down but in this movement, this lever hits the periphery of the clutch receiving member
251, from! so that this downward movement is insufficient to bring fa, link 951 and its pin 960 beyond the area in which they engage with the ratchet wheel 942.



   Regarding the operation of the stop levers
270 'and 920 in cycles in which the stop lever
920 prevents the closing of the clutch 251, it will be noted that the stop lever 920 must not retain the claw of the clutch
951 that for a relatively short period of time just sufficient to allow the lever 920 to remain in the active position until the stop lever 270 has been released to return to its working position.

   Thus, when the cam follower 936 is in contact with a high point 946 of the cam 937 (figure 64), the stop lever 920 occupies the working position shown in figure 64 and, by triggering the desired work cycle using the pedal 122, the stop lever 270 'is brought back and locked in the position recalled in figure 64. consequently, the stop lever 920 prevents closing of clutch 251, but when clutch 252 has engaged and has started the levorotatory rotation of shaft 296, pin 960 of reciprocating link 951 is moved forward and backward. up to begin levorotating or advancing cam assembly 940.

   Before this advancing movement of the cam assembly has progressed sufficiently Four bring one of the recesses 948 opposite the roller
936, the rotation of the slave unit of the main clutch 950 acts on the lever 907 to release the latch 901.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 84>

 



  As a result, the stop lever 270 'is returned to its working position relative to the claw of the clutch 251 before the stop lever 920 has been disengaged and, as a result, the clutch 251 is kept disengaged. .



   When a cycle of the machine is started with the pedal 122 while the cam roller 936 is engaged in a recess 948 of the cam, the stop lever 920 occupies its position recalled in FIG. 62. It It follows that the return of the stop lever 270 'which has been caused by the operation of the pedal 122 allows the clutch 251 to engage.



  At the same time, the clutch 252 engaged and started the movement of the link 951 forward, as previously described, so that during the rotation of the clutch slave member 251, the cam assembly 940 advances from the position of Figure 62 to that of Figure 63 to force the stop lever 920 to rotate counterclockwise and rest on the periphery of the clutch receiving member 251.

   Of course, the stop lever 270 'is unlocked during this action, so that the two stop levers 270' and 920 act so as to complete this cycle by one revolution of the clutch 251. while the lever stopper 920 rests on the periphery of the clutch receiving member 251 (Fig. 63), the spring 928 is slightly compressed, so that when the end tooth of the stop lever 920 is subjected to the pressure. 'action of the claw of the clutch 251, the spring 928 is able to push the end of said tooth into the notch 624 of the clutch receiving member 251 to bring it to the position of the clutch. figure 64.



   As stated previously, the safety latch 990 insurable stop lever 920 will be biased out of its working position each time the machine is adjusted to pass from assembly to. multiple printing of figure 62 to one of its other montages. @   than,

  <Desc / Clms Page number 85>

 
SAFETY DEVICE FOR TRAINING THE ORGANS
PRINTERS:

   In the operation of a machine of the kind described, the proper reloading of the printing members D in the drawer from which they have been removed and in which they are normally stored is an important factor in keeping the system as a whole at maximum efficiency, and the The machine therefore comprises means which ensure that the collector K is placed in the proper position before the device for driving the printing members can be controlled to drive said members through the machine.



   Generally, this is achieved with the aid of an interlocking device which, when the drawer carrier 751 swings down / down, prevents the operation of the drive device. printing bodies. This device is associated with the linkage of the pedal control device. Thus, as seen in Figures 47-50, an oscillating shaft 995 is mounted in brackets 148 just below the oscillating shaft 8.5.5 'il and an arm 996 is attached to the oscillating shaft. 995. A link 997 pivots at its lower end on the end of the arm 996 and extends upwards to be connected to a rigid arm 998 which projects from one side of the drawer holder 850, behind pivot 751.

   The connection between the fixed arm 998 and the rod 997 is made adjustable by locking nuts 999 screwed on the rod above and below the fixed arm 998. Thus, when the slide holder 850 swings down from its position normal (Figure 48) to its unloading position (Figure 49), the rear end of arm 996 rises, and swing shaft 995 oscillates in the levorotatory direction (Figures 48 and 49). At its right end (Figures 47 and 50), the swing shaft 995 carries a locking arm 1000. This engages a locking notch 1001 made at the lower edge of the arm 854 to prevent

  <Desc / Clms Page number 86>

 the downward movement of the latter.



   Since it is necessary for the arm 854 to pivot downward to actuate the stop lever 270 'of the clutch 251 controlling the drive of the printing members, it is evident that when the locking arm is in its working position of FIG. 49, the device for driving the printing bodies cannot operate. The arrangement of the present safety mechanism is such that when the locking arm 1000 occupies its lowered position, that is to say when it has pivoted downwards and in the dextrorotatory direction from its working position (figure 49 ), all pedals 120, 121 and 122 can be operated in the normal way. On the contrary, when the locking arm 1000 occupies its working position (FIG. 49), only the central pedal 121 can be operated.

   However, this maneuver of the pedal 121 only has the effect of operating the pressing mechanism, the drive device of the printing members remaining at rest. With the lock arm 1000 in its working position, it is evident that, through the link rod 850, the pedal 120 only has the effect, when operated, of pulling the arm 954 down more firmly against the locking arm 1000.

   However, as stated previously, the operation of the pedal 121 under these conditions causes the movement of the corresponding arm 864 to operate the clutch 252! of the presser member, but since this movement of the arm 864 only has the effect of pulling that arm downward away from the position it occupied below the overhanging projection of the arm 873, said Operation of the pedal 121 has no effect on the arm 854, which must be actuated to operate the drive mechanism of the printing units.



   If an operator tries to operate the pedal 122 while the locking arm 1000 is in its working position

  <Desc / Clms Page number 87>

 In Fig. 49, link 870 acts on arm 871 to impart a slight swinging motion only to swing shaft 855. The projection 875 of arm 873 attached to swing shaft 855 then engages firmly. the top of the arm 854 and this only has the effect of pressing this arm harder against the end of the locking arm 1000.



   As a result, the attempted operation of the pedal 122 has no effect, and the driving of the printing members remains prevented as long as the drawer holder 750 has not been returned to its normal elevated position in FIG. 48. Of course, it is possible to do so. realizes that an operator will not normally bring back the drawer holder
750 to its normal position if there is no drawer K in this member, so that the engagement of the drawer holder with the drive mechanism of the printing members ensures the return of said members to the drawer and proper filling. of the latter in the desired order.



     AUXILIARY MECHANISM:
The machine is capable of being used for a wide variety of purposes, so that it can be manufactured as a relatively inexpensive standard model, which model is so constructed that it can easily be modified to accomplish other operations or functions which are not ordinarily possible with the standard or fundamental model. As an example of the ease of adaptation of the present machine by the incorporation or the addition of additional mechanisms of various types, the machine is represented in FIGS. 69 to 73 in the form that it affects when the user wishes to use an automatic sheet feeder in combination with the machine.



   As shown in Fig. 72, the sheet feeder / comprises a frame 1005 which is placed near the end wall 131 whenever said feeder occupies his working position on the printing machine. Of course, a

  <Desc / Clms Page number 88>

 Frame similar to frame 1005 would be located near the extreme wall 130 of the machine. It is obviously desirable that the sheet supplier occupy a predetermined position relative to the printing station, and it is particularly important that this relative position, in a vertical direction, be exactly determined each time the sheet supplier. is brought to the position of cooperation with the printing machine.

   For this purpose, a support rail 1006, constituted by an angle iron, is welded in a horizontal position along each of the end walls 130 and 131 (figures 70, 72 and 73), and the supplier of sheet is supported by the two rails 1006. In view of this support, each frame 1005 is provided with a series of rollers 1007 intended to rest on the rails 1006.



   The position of the sheet supplier along the rails 1006 is obviously important in order for the sheets supplied by the sheet supplier to be properly placed in the print position. This positioning of the sheet feeder on the rails 1006 is obtained by an easily detachable connection constituted by a fixing block 1008 which is fixed on the rail 1006 by means of a knurled screw 1009. A locking pawl 1010 pivots around a pivot pin 1011 fixed to the block 1008. Near its free end, this pawl 1010 has a notch 1012 intended to embrace the rear roller 1007. Thus, the supplier's position number of sheets on the rails 1006 is exactly determined by the engagement of the roller 1007 in the recess 1012.



  Of course, this locking device is provided on each of the rails 1006, so that the two ends of the sheet feeder are held in an exactly determined position along the rails 1006. Preferably, the locking pawl 1010 is fixed in its working position of Figures 72 and 73 to be sure that the vibrations do not cause

  <Desc / Clms Page number 89>

 do not include unlocking the sheet supplier.



   For this purpose, a stud 1013 is screwed through the ratchet
1010 and carries a narrowed end 1014 intended to engage 'in a hole or oreusure of the fixing block 1008. When it comes to disengaging the lolo pawl, the stud 1013 is unscrewed to release the narrowed end 1014 of the hole 1015. The ratchet
1010 is thus made free and it can be pivoted away from roller 1007.



   The sheet feeder is connected to the main drive mechanism so that it is actuated each time the printing machine performs a print cycle.



   Thus, as seen in Figures 69-71, a shaft 1020 for actuating the sheet feeder is mounted so that it passes through an opening 1021 in the end wall.
131 of the machine frame. A transmission disc 1022 is attached to the protruding end of the shaft 1020 and is connected to a link 1023 from the sheet supplier by a pin
1024 which can be screwed into an eccentric threaded hole 1025 of the disc 1022. The shaft 1021 is supported a little below the support bar 134, using a bracket 1030 bolted to this bar.

   At its other end, or right end looking at Figures 69 and 70, the shaft 1020 carries a toothed wheel 1031 which meshes with a driving toothed wheel 1032 mounted on the shaft 200 between the sleeve 255 and the console. support 201. We see in figure 55 that a spacer piece
1035 is placed on the shaft 200 between the console 201 and the socket 255 and that, when the machine is intended for use with the sheet supplier, the spacer 1Q35 is removed and the spacer 1Q35 is removed. mounts toothed wheel 1032 in its place.



   The toothed wheel 1032 is mounted loose on the shaft 200 and, whenever a leaf driving operation is desired, this wheel is coupled with the driving mechanism so that it turns in one revolution. This is obtained using

  <Desc / Clms Page number 90>

 of a single-turn clutch1036 analogous to clutches 250, 251 and 252. In clutch 1036, the sleeve 255 which rotates with the take-up pulley 204 constitutes the driving member and is set in approximately the same way as described in about other clutches. The clutch slave member 1036 is a shell-shaped part 1037 provided with a clutch claw 1038 similar to the clutch claw 258.

   The claw 1038 is actuated by a stop lever 1039 which is biased towards its working position of figure 71 by a spring 1040. The stop lever 1039 is mounted on a pivot pin 1041 in a support bracket 1042 attached to the bar 134.



   To move stop lever 1039 to an idle position whenever the sheet feeder is required to operate during a duty cycle, clutch 1036 is operated by the press mechanism. Thus, as seen in Figure 71, shaft 296 is extended to the left beyond the point at which arm 950 is located, and an arm 1045 is mounted as shown in Figure 71. This arm is connected. at the stop lever 1039 by a rod 1046 which pivots, by its front end, at 1047, on the end of the arm 1045, while its rear end has a longitudinal slot 1048 which embraces the pivot pin 1041 and ensures the reciprocating movement of the rod 1046 at each work cycle of the pressing mechanism.

   During such a reciprocating movement, the link 1046 first brings the stop lever 1039 to its inactive position to allow the clutch 1036 to close and then allows said stop lever to return to its position. its working position so as to disengage the clutch 1036 at the end of a revolution. This operation of the stop lever 1039 is obtained by means of a cam roller 1059 mounted on said lever and intended to be actuated by a cam 1051 formed on the rod 1046.

   The oame 1051 is placed behind the

  <Desc / Clms Page number 91>

 roller 1050 (figure 71), and when the pressing mechanism begins a print cycle, the link moves forward so that the roller 1050 contacts the cam surface 1051, which causes the lever to move forward. stop 1039 at its idle position. Before clutch 1036 has completed one rotation, the return movement of the pressure mechanism causes linkage 1046 to move to the position of Figure 71. Stop lever 1039 is thus returned to its off position. work in sufficient time to complete the one-revolution clutch cycle.



   When the machine is used with an auxiliary mechanism such as an automatic sheet feeder, it is desirable to make the machine run continuously instead of triggering each work cycle by the operation of the pedal 122 and, when such continuous printing machine operation is used, it is desirable that automatic machine shutdown be provided under certain circumstances such as, for example, the exhaustion of printing units D of the magazine or the The supply of sheets fed by the automatic sheet feeder has run out.



   The basic machine previously described can easily be adapted for such continuous and self-completing work by means of an automatic shut-off mechanism 1060, the operation of which is controlled by a control button 1061 mounted in the front panel 142, the mechanism 1060 operating so as to allow continuous operation of the printing machine, and being influenced by the detection of certain undesirable conditions in order to automatically terminate such continuous operation of the machine.



   Thus, the automatic shut-off mechanism 1060 includes a support bracket 1062 secured by bolts 1063 along the front edge of the front support bar 136. The console 1062 carries a vertical wall 1064 which extends forward 1065 , and along the upper edge of which is provided a flange 1065

  <Desc / Clms Page number 92>

 as shown in Figures 76 and 77. A lower rim 1066 is also provided along the lower edge of the vertical wall 1064, and the control pusher 1061 is intended to slide along the upper surface of the lower rim 1066. and to be held in position by a guide roller 1068 which rolls on the upper face of the pusher 1061 as seen in FIG. 76.



   The pusher 1061 is intended to effect a reciprocating movement between an inner position (Figure 74) and an outer position (Figure 77), and when this pusher has been returned to its outer position, continuous operation of. the machine is triggered and does not end until pushbutton 1061 has been returned to its internal limit position (fig. 74). The control action of the pusher 1061 takes place through the upper oscillating shaft 855 of a / the consecutive printing pedal 122.

   Thus, as seen in Figures 74 and 75, a bracket 1070 is mounted on the rear face of the protective wall 138, a little to the right of the right end of the upper oscillating shaft, and a piece of shaft 1071. mounted at one end in console 1070, is connected at its other end to oscillating shaft 855 by a coupling 1072. An arm 1073 is attached to shaft 1071, and a another arm 1074, mounted loose on this shaft, carries an ear 1075 located above the arm 1073. Thus, when the arm 1074 pivots downwards, a corresponding pivoting movement is communicated to the arm 1073 and to the shaft. oscillating 855.

   Nevertheless, the latter can be actuated when desired by the pedal 122 without this maneuver being hampered by the arm 1074.



   A connecting rod 1078 rising from the end of the arm 1074 is connected by a pivot block 1079 to one of the arms of an angled lever constituted by a triangular plate 1080 pivoting at 1081 on a bracket 1082 mounted on the arm. upper end in a manner which is equivalent to an uninterrupted lowering

  <Desc / Clms Page number 93>

 the wall 138. The other arm of the angled lever 1080 is connected to the pusher 1061 by a link 1083 which extends along the left side of the support bracket 1062 of the automatic stop device.

   At its front end, the rod 1043 pivots at 1084 on the lower arm 1085 of an elbow lever 1086 which pivots at 1087 on the vertical side wall 1064 of the console 1062. The elbow lever 1086 is placed on the left side. f che of the. wall 1064 and carries an arm 1088 which extends forward from the pivot 1087. At its front end, the arm
1088 carries a cam follower 1089 which protrudes to the right of figure 76 and is intended to rest in a recess
1090 provided on the underside of the pusher 1061.

   A spring 1091, acting between the arm 1088 and an anchor pin 1092, tends to keep the roller 1089 pressed against the underside of the pusher 1061 and to hold the roller 1089 in the recess 1090 when the pusher 1061 occupies its limit interior, or rear, position in Figures 74 and 75.



   Thus, when the pusher 1061 occupies its internal limit position, the spring 1091 actuates the elbow lever 1086 so that the control arm 1074 is held in its raised position. It follows that the machine will not work, unless, of course, the operator operates one of the pedals 120, 121 or 122. When it is proposed to adjust the machine for its uninterrupted operation , we pull the pusher 1061 to bring it to the position of Figure 77 and thus rotate the elbow lever 1086 in the levorotatory direction and oscillate the upper oscillating shaft 855. The stop levers 270, 270 'and 270 "are thus returned to their inactivity positions, and the machine operates without interruption while the automatic stop button 1061 remains pulled out.



   The pusher 1061 can of course be returned to its rear or internal position at any time to stop the function.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 94>

 continuous operation of the machine, but means are also provided for automatically returning said pusher to its rear position under the influence of certain undesirable conditions. For this purpose, an angled lever 1100 is mounted at 1101 on a pivot pin projecting to the right of figure 76 on the wall 1064 of the console 1062.

   The angled lever 1100 moves between two positions, one of which is shown in figure 77, this position being limited by the meeting of an arm 1102 of the angled lever with the upper flange 1065. The lever elbow 1100 is maintained in one or the other of its two positions by the eccentric action of a spring 1103 acting between an anchor pin 1104 and a pin 1105 mounted on the other arm 1106 of the elbow lever.

   When the elbow lever 1100 pivots in the levorotatory direction from its position in FIG. 77, the arm 1106 strikes a pin 1108 provided on one side of the pusher 1061 and, during the levorotatory movement of the elbow lever 1100, said pusher is returned to its rear or internal limit position, which terminates the continuous operation of the machine.



   The necessary levorotatory movement of the elbow lever 1100 is triggered by a solenoid 1110 which is mounted on the side wall 1064, and whose frame 1111 is connected by a link 1112 to the front end of an arm 1102 of the elbow lever 1100. Thus, when the solenoid 1110 is energized, the frame 1111 is recalled to cause the elbow lever 1100 to pivot in the levorotatory direction to an eccentric position such that the spring 1103 continues the levorotatory movement of said lever, although the The solenoid's excitement was only momentary.



   The excitation of solenoid 1110 is determined under the influence of the detection of a wide variety of undesirable conditions, such as, for example, the supply of two sheets, the absence of a sheet in an automatic feeder, sheets, or under the influence of the print detection device

  <Desc / Clms Page number 95>

 $ ion the end of a mechanical lister. However, the detector mechanism shown is associated with the store II and acts to detect the supply of the last printing member by the store! When this supply of the last printing member has been de-linked, the solenoid 1110 energizes to terminate the continuous operation of the printing machine.

   For this purpose, a pivoting detector lever 1120 is mounted on a pivot pin 1121 carried by a bracket 1122 which is fixed to the right side of the beam 300 immediately below the store M. The detector lever 1120 carries to its upper end a finger 1123 intended to protrude inside the magazine M just behind the guide rim 393.

   When the finger 1123 receives a movement towards the left of FIG. 78 and comes into contact with the end of a printing unit D, its movement is limited by this contact, and when the supply of printing units from the magazine M has been exhausted, the detector lever 1120 is free to move a greater distance to the left of Figure 78 and, during this additional movement, an adjustable isolating pusher 1125 carried by the finger 1123 actuates one of the contacts of a normally open contact reed switch, 1126, so as to close the latter. This closing of switch 1126 can, therefore, be used to energize solenoid 1110 so as to terminate continuous operation of the machine.

   The control circuit from switch 1126 to solenoid 1110 is shown in figure 80, where it can be seen that a wire 1127 runs from a contact of switch 1126 to a point 1128 of the main engine circuit, which circuit is placed under the control of the main engine switch 206. A 11-29 wire goes from. the other side of the main motor circuit has a contact of a normally closed preparation switch 1130 which is part of the automatic shut-off mechanism.

   Thus, as shown in Figure 77, the normally closed switch 1130 is mounted

  <Desc / Clms Page number 96>

 , on the console 1062 such that the upper end 1131 of one of the contact blades is located in the path of an insulating roller 1132 carried by the pusher 1061. The mounting and the arrangement of the switch 1130 are such that when the push-button 1061 has been pulled to its external position, the switch 1130 is closed, while bringing said push-button to its internal position has the effect of opening the switch 1130.

   The other contact of switch 1130 is connected by a wire 1133 to one side of the control coil of solenoid 1110, while wires 1134 and 1135 arranged in series connect the other side of solenoid 1110 to the second terminal switch 1126. Thus, when the automatic stop button 1061 occupies its external position, the preparation switch 1130 completes a circuit terminating at one of the sides of the solenoid 1110, and when the supply of the last component M magazine printer is detected by the sensor lever 1120 so as to close the switch 1126, the solenoid 1110 is energized and the automatic operation of the printing machine ceases.



  To ensure the excitation of the solenoid 1110 under the action of other types of sensing devices, a socket 1136 is mounted on the extreme left panel of the frame 100, and the terminals of this socket are connected in parallel with switch 1126 by wires 1137 and 1138 connected respectively to wires 1127 and 1134.



   So that the detector finger 1123 is only kept in contact with the printing members D when there are such members at rest inside the magazine, the detector lever
 EMI96.1
 1120 pivots in synchrozlism with the drive device of the printing bodies. For this purpose, a swing lever 1140 is mounted on the shaft 1121 immediately to the left of the detector lever 1120 (Fig. 79), and a pin 1141 of said swing lever passes through a relatively large opening of the lever 112.0. A spring 1143, running from an anchor pin 1144 of the

  <Desc / Clms Page number 97>

      lever 1140 to an anchor pin 1145 projecting downward from the lower edge of the joist 300,

   acts to rotate lever 1140 in a dextrorotatory direction (figure 78), and pin 1141 normally tends to transmit this action to sensor lever 1120 to release sensor finger 1123 from magazine M. This clearance is limited by the contact of a stop finger 1146 with the underside of the joist 300 (figure 78). When the detecting finger 1123 must engage inside the magazine M, the rocking lever
1140 rotates in the levorotatory direction (figure 78), and this movement is elastically transmitted to the lever 1120 by a spring
1147 connecting the pin 1141 to a pin 1148 projecting on the lever 1120 a little to the right of the pin 1141 (figure 78).



   The desired movement of rocker lever 1140 is effected by a cam plate 1150 which is attached to the right end of shaft 296 (Figure 74.). This plate carries an extreme rim
1151 having a cam surface 1152 for contacting a cam follower 1153 of the rocker lever 1140.



  Thus, as seen in Figures 74, 78 and 79, the roller 1153 is mounted on a stud 1154 which protrudes from a lug 1155 of the rocker lever 1140. The plate 1150 and its cam surface 1152 are set and placed on shaft 296 such that roller 1153 contacts cam face 1152 just before the completion of forward movement of conveyor bars 401 and 402, so that sensor finger 1123 is biased towards the interior, with respect to the magazine M, at a time when the printing members contained in the magazine are at rest.

   Thus, when the oscillating movement of the shaft 296 is reversed in the last half of the work cycle of the drive device of the printing members, the cam 1152 disengages from the roller 1153, and the spring 1143 releases the detector finger 1183 from the store M.

  <Desc / Clms Page number 98>

 



    OPERATION:
In the operation of the machine, the printing elements which must be led through the machine are first introduced into the magazine M, which is obtained by sliding the front cover 388 upwards and by making then pivot this cover to the left of FIG. 1. The drawer is then placed in which the printing members have been stored, with the rear end of said drawer resting on the guide paths 391. The follower member 389 'is then unlocked. of the slide by actuating its latch 732, and this follower member and all the printing members D contained in the drawer are pushed towards the rear of said drawer.

   The front end of the drawer is then rotated upwards until the upper edges of the printing units come into contact with the guide surfaces 305 of the magazine. The magazine M is then tilted backwards around its pivot, and the lower end of the drawer is pulled, which has the effect of rotating the drawer around its upper end and leaving the printing units in the form of a stack resting on the support fingers 386 and on the guide surfaces 385.

   The front cover 388 is then brought to its right-hand position, so that it engages the lower edges, facing forward, of the printing members contained in the magazine, and the magazine is rotated. forward to its normal vertical position, where the lower printing member spacer flanges come to rest on the upper surfaces 413 of the conveyor bars 401 and 402.



   The engine 205 is started by closing the main switch 206 of the engine. This is achieved by operating the control button 207 mounted in the front panel 142 of the machine.



   The machine is then in the desired state to drive the

  <Desc / Clms Page number 99>

 printing units D of the magazine M to the printing position, and this preliminary drive of the printing units on the guide paths 1 of said units is carried out as a result of the operation of the "blasting" pedal 120, which causes the operation of the mechanism of the printing units while the pressing mechanism! stay at.rest.



   In this preliminary operation or preparation of the machine, the pedal 120 is lowered four times, so that four printing units D are supplied one by one by the store.
M. Thus, the first printing member which has been brought on the path for guiding said members is located, at the end of the fourth preparation maneuver, at the transfer station.
IV - T. The machine is then in the desired state to perform the first printing operation. It will be noted that, during this operation, the printing organ located at position IV -
T advances to the V position during the first half of the machine cycle, so that a printing operation can be performed during the first half of this cycle.



   As a result, after the operator has lowered the pedal 120 four times and thus prepared the machine for its first printing operation, a sheet or formula is placed on the table top on top of it. the print opening 166 of the tape protector 165, this positioning of the sheet being facilitated by the proper adjustment of the side guides along the support bar 168 and by the proper position of the rear guide.



   Before carrying out the first printing operation, the operator normally checks the positioning or adjustment of the automatic device governed by the pusher 970, and whether he wishes to carry out the printing operations in a normal manner. normal or "consecutive", so that only one proof is taken from, each of the elements of a series of successive printing units it places the pusher 970 in its internal position

  <Desc / Clms Page number 100>

 limit, in which an operation of the pedal 122 effects in each case the actuation of both the drive device of the printing members and the pressing mechanism. In this way, only one printing operation is performed using each printing member D.



   After checking the adjustment of the control push-button 990, the operator lowers the pedal 122 and, by this action, oscillates the oscillating shaft 855 in such a way that it tends to actuate the two arms 854 and 864 controlling the clamps. clutches. It will be noted that, in the preceding description of the operation, the mounting of the drawer K in the drawer holder 750 has not been described, and if the operator has neglected to place the drawer in the desired position to receive the printing members. of the final guide path, the safety interlocking mechanism comes into play. As a result, the locking arm 1000 occupies its working position and disables the drive mechanism of the printing members, so that the first preparation maneuver of the pedal 120 does not have the effect of operating the machine.

   The operator is thus warned that an additional preparation maneuver of the machine is necessary, and he then places the drawer K in its suitable position.



   The operator can then operate the pedal 120 again to perform the four preparation cycles, and he can then actuate the pedal 122 so that the arms 872 and 873 of the oscillating shaft 855 act on the arms 854 and 864 which, via the connecting rods 856 and 866, communicate to the stop levers 270 'and 270 "of the clutches 251 and 252 their unlocking movements. In such a movement, one of said stop levers acts, via the arm 886 or 887, so as to bring the stop lever 270 of the main clutch 250 to its unlocked position. The claw of the main clutch 250 is thus immediately released,

  <Desc / Clms Page number 101>

 so that the immediate closing of the clutch takes place.



   The stop levers 270 'and 270 "of the clutches are, however, held in their unlocked position by the latches 900 and 901 until the rotation of the shaft 200 causes the clutches 251 and 252 to close. of rotation of clutch slave member 250, pin 258 engages release lever 907, causing the latch shaft 902 to swing and release latches 900 and
901, allowing the clutch stop levers 270 'and 270 "to return to their normal active positions to complete the rotation of the receiving members at the end of the one-turn cycle.



   While the clutch receiving member 252 rotates in its cycle, it drives the eccentric 290 which, by its connecting rod 295, oscillates the shaft 296 of the mechanism actuating the pressing member for a movement of job. In such an oscillating movement of the shaft 296, the linkage which connects this shaft to the shaft 298 'causes the oscillating movement of the arm 299 which is fixed to the shaft 298' at the rear of the presser carriage C, and as this arm is connected to the carriage C, the pressing mechanism operates, first performing its forward stroke, or empty, during which the pressing roller descends to its working position, then its backward stroke, or working , during which it rolls backward across the sheet to produce on the sheet an impression taken from the printing unit located at the printing station P.



   Concurrent with the operation of clutch 252 to drive the presser mechanism in its print cycle, clutch 251 drives its eccentric 272 and, through connecting rod 274 and lever 450, communicates a motion. - ment oscillating to the shaft 451 which is part of the control mechanism of the drive device of the printing members.



   As the lever 450 is also connected, at its upper end,

  <Desc / Clms Page number 102>

 at the conveyor bars 651 and 652 of the final guide path of the printing members, the oscillating movement of the shaft 451 has the effect of actuating all the elements of the device for driving the printing members.

   The drive of the conveyor bars 401 and 402 of the initial guide path of the printing bodies is carried out by means of the arm 460 fixed to the right end of the shaft 451 and, due to a connection between this arm and a linkage located immediately in front of the transfer station II - T, the conveyor bars 481 and 482 of the intermediate guide path receive a back and forth movement in synchronism with the movement of the transport bars of the initial guide paths. and final.

   The relationship between the various members of the linkage is such that when the conveyor bars of the initial and final guide paths of the printing members move forward in their active strokes, the drive device of the printing members of the Intermediate guide path moves to the right, that is to say in its preliminary or preparation course.



  Thus, when the drive devices of the printing members of the initial and final guide paths have finished their forward stroke and perform their backward stroke, the drive device of the printing members of the intermediate path performs its active or left run, during which the printers of the path advance to the left from one station to the next.



   In Figs. 43 to 46, the various retaining bands and other covering elements of the guideways of the printing members have been assumed to be removed so that the drive means are clearly visible in a series of positions which can be seen. they occupy during the driving movement of the printing members, and, in this series of views, said members are shown in the position which they occupy in the second printing operation. In other words,

  <Desc / Clms Page number 103>

 the printing unit 1 which was first withdrawn from the magazine M is shown in FIG. 43 at the printing station V, the position which it occupied during the first actual printing operation.

   Thus, for identification purposes, the first printer unit which has been withdrawn from magazine M has been indicated at D-1 and is located at the printing station, the second unit which has been withdrawn from magazine M is indicated. in D-2 and is located at the IV - T transfer station, the third printing unit is indicated in
D-3 at position IV of the intermediate path, the fourth printing member withdrawn from the magazine is indicated at D-4 at position III, while the fifth printing member withdrawn from the magazine is! indicated in D-5 at sounding station II. Another printing unit is also represented at D-6 (figure 43) in store M, that is to say at station I.

   The various elements of the mechanism 'are represented in figure 43 in the positions which they occupy at the end of a working cycle of the machine, and it will be noted that the locating pawls 422 and 690 are respectively engaged in the notches provided. at the ends of the printing members D-5 and D-1. It will also be noted that the shoulders 412 provided on the conveyor bars 401 and
402 are located just behind the printing member D-6 so that the printing member rests on the surfaces 413 of the conveyor bars 401 and 402. It is thus seen that, in the following forward movement of the conveyor bars 401 and 402, the shoulders 412 engage the rear ends of the spacer flanges 118 of the printing member.
D-6 so as to advance this member out of magazine M and towards position II.

   It will also be noted in Figure 43 that the pawls 430 are located at a sufficiently large distance to the rear of the printing member D-5 located at station II, so that they are ready to act on the printing member D. -5 in the following movement of the conveyor bars 401 and 402.



   In the intermediate guideway, the trans-

  <Desc / Clms Page number 104>

 carriers 481 and 482 are shown in Fig. 43 at the end of their leftward strokes, the drive pawls 495 therefore being in contact with the rear, or right, edge of the printing member D-4 at station III, and this member has been moved to the left, in the previous cycle, to an extent sufficient to allow the retaining pawl 530 to engage with the rear edge of said member.



  The drive pawls 495 and the retaining pawl 535 are similarly engaged with the rear edge of the printing member D-3 located at station III. The drive pawls 497 are shown in engagement with the rear edge of the printing unit D-2 at the IV - T station, and the retaining pawls 540 are shown in engagement with their ends relatively near the rear edge of the unit. printer D-2, but slightly spaced from said edge to ensure free forward movement of member D-2 in the following driving motion.



   In the final path of the printers, as shown in Fig. 43, the drive pawls 660 are spaced slightly behind the trailing edge of the printers D-2 located at transfer station 17 - T, then that the drive pawls 661 are placed a considerable distance behind the printing unit D-1 which is located at the printing station V.



   When the drive device of the printing members comes into action, the conveyor bars 401 and 402 of the initial path and the conveyor bars 651 and 652 of the final path are moved to the positions of FIG. 44 and, at the moment when the pawls 430 and 661 are about to reach the rear edge of the printing unit D-5 and the rear edge of the printing unit D-1 respectively, the pawls 422 and 690 are actuated by their cam 804 so as to return the locating teeth and the stop teeth to the positions shown

  <Desc / Clms Page number 105>

 tees in Figure 44.

   This movement of the locating pawls
422 and 690 clears the path of aorta printers D-5 and D-1 that, when pawls 430 and 661, engage with printers D-5 and D-1, respectively, these members can advance the aorta. along the respective paths on which they are placed. In the advancing movement of Fig. 43 in Fig. 44, the shoulders 412 engage the trailing edge of the printing member D-6 so as to advance the same 1 from the base. from the magazine and along the initial path to station II, the printing unit D-5 having by this time been driven from the probing position.



   In the final path of the printers, the conveyor bars 651 and 652 moved forward during this time, so that the pawls 860 engaged with the print member D-2 and advanced it from the printing station. transfer IV - T to the printing station V. It will be noted in this regard that the pawls 497 are released from the extreme right edge of the printing unit D-2 before the drive of the latter. started. During this movement of the conveyor bars 651 and 652, the pawls 661 have engaged with the rear edge of the printing unit D-1 located at the printing station, this action having taken place a little after that of the labels 660 on the printing unit D-2.



   While the printers of the initial and final paths have thus received a partial drive movement towards the successive positions of the paths, the transport bars 481, and 482 of the intermediate path have started their preparation movement, as well as it can be seen from a comparison of Figures 43) and 44. As this movement to the right of the conveyor bars 481 and 482 takes place, the unexpected upper edges of the pawls 497 and 496 respectively come into contact with the edges of the pawls. left of printing units D-3 and
D-4, so that these sets of rags go down and pass

  <Desc / Clms Page number 106>

 freely below the two printing bodies.

   In this downward movement of the pawls 497 and 496, the two printers D-3 and D-4 are kept protected against any recoil movement by the retaining pawls 535 and 530. The pawl 495 which is mounted on the conveyor bar 481 at all times remains in its upper or working position, while the pawl 495 which is mounted on the conveyor bar 482 only remains in its highest position until it has been shifted to the right about half the length of the II - T transfer station;

     at this moment, the pin 560 of the pawl 495 contacts the guide strip 561 and is lowered by it so as to disengage the corresponding pawl 495 and to release the transfer station II - T for the entry. of the printing unit D-5 which, at this moment, advances towards the printing station (figure 44). The pawl 495 carried by the conveyor bar, 482 is held in its recalled position until it has passed the right end of the transfer station II - T, and this pawl then passes beyond the extremity. - moth of the guide strip 561 and is elastically projected upwards so that, in the return movement or to the left of the conveyor bar 482, this pawl occupies its upper or working position.



   The forward movement of the drive device of the printing members of the initial and final paths then progresses, from the relative position visible in figure 44, until the end of the first half of the stroke or cycle. which is shown in Fig. 45, and it will be noted that after the trailing edge of the printing member D-5 has passed the stop tooth of the locating pawl 422, the latter is enabled to move to the right a sufficient distance to place the end of the stopper tooth on the path of the rapidly advancing printing member D-6.

   A similar movement of the registration pawl 690 also has the effect of pro-

  <Desc / Clms Page number 107>

   and stop the stop tooth on the final path after the rear edge of the printing unit D-1 has passed the position of the stop tooth of the registration pawl 690. In this way, the or- The rapidly advancing printer gane D-2 can come into contact with the registering pawl stop tooth 690, so that the registering pawl stop teeth 422 and 690 have the effect of securing the preliminary positioning of the printing bodies when they arrive at the printing station and at the polling station.



   It will be noted that in the final part of the movement of advancement of the conveyor bars 651 and 652, the printing unit D-1 is evacuated by the path 720 so that it is classified in the drawer K by the compressor mechanism. .



   After the printing units D-6 and D-2 respectively have been brought completely to the probing station and to the printing station, a final registering action is exerted on these two units by the registering pawls 422 and 690 which, at this point of the cycle, are released by the action of the retraction surface 838 of their control cam, so as to allow the locating teeth to be resiliently biased to engage in the notches provided at the ends of the printing organs.

   As a result, the printing units D-6 and D-2 located respectively at the probing and printing stations are held by the registration pawls 422 and 690 and protected against a backward movement when the corresponding conveyor bars perform their return run. have
As regards the printing member D-5, it will be noted that, during the advancement of said member from the position of figure '44 to the transfer station II - T, the front ends of the guide flanges 118 of said member came into contact with the rearward sloping surfaces of the retaining pawls
440, so as to move these pawls downward and out of the way of the advancing printing member D-5.

   It is

  <Desc / Clms Page number 108>

 evident that the downward force to be exerted on these retaining pawls is made possible by the bottom-up reaction exerted by the printing member D-5 on the retaining bands 414 and the retaining plate 552 .

   As the leading ends of the spacer flanges 118 advance past the pawls 440, these flanges come to rest on the support plate 525, so that the printing member D-5 is supported by this. plate as it arrives at transfer station II - T. When the input movement of the printing unit D-5 at transfer station II - T is completed, the two retaining pawls 440 return to their upper positions. res, in which their leading edges are in engagement with the rear ends of the spacer flanges 118 to constitute an extension of the guide surfaces of the intermediate path.



  The front edge of the plate 550 also cooperates with the front edges of the pawls 440 to constitute the guide surfaces suitable for ensuring the proper positioning of the printing member D-5 in its subsequent movement to the left along the intermediate path. .



   During the forward movement of the conveyor bars 651 and 652, as described above, the printing unit D-2 has moved away from the transfer station IV - T, so that when the movement of the conveyor bars 651 and 652 towards the front has been completed, the transfer station IV - Test unoccupied and in the desired state to receive the printing unit D-3 in the movement to the left of the conveyor bars 481 and 482, which will now be described in detail.



   When the parts occupy the positions of figure 45, the advance cycle of the printers is at its midpoint and the drive pawls 495, 496 and 497 are located somewhat to the right of the printers D-5, D-4 and D-3 and occupy their working position for the advancement of said organs. Thus, when the conveyor bars 481 and

  <Desc / Clms Page number 109>

   482 have advanced left-handed from the positions of Figure 45 to the positions of Figure 46, printers D-5, D-4, and D-3 move to the left.

   In this movement the left extremity! or before the printing member D-5 comes into contact with the inclined upper surface of the retaining pawl 530, while the printing members D-4 and D-3 exert a similar action on the retaining pawls 535 and 540 , respectively. As the movement to the left of the conveyor bars 481 and 482 progresses from the positions of the figure
46 at the positions of Figure 43, the printing member D-5 advances to station III, and the retaining pawl 530 returns to its upper position to hold said member at station III.



   The printing unit D-4 simultaneously receives a forward movement to station IV and the retaining pawl 535 returns to its upper or working position to retain the printing unit D-4 in that position. During this same period, the printing member D-3 receives an advancing movement which takes it to the transfer station IV - T, and, during this movement, this member is supported by the contact of the ends of its edges. spacing with the support plate 678. The various elements of the drive device of the printing members then come to rest, and the machine is in the state desired for its next action.

   Note, however, in this regard that after the printing unit D-2 has reached the position of Figure 45, the pressing mechanism P performs its reverse, or print, movement so that the desired print using the printing member D-2 takes place while the conveyor bars 651 and 652 return to their rest positions.



   When the machine has been set up for consecutive printing, the operator can observe the printing units through window W, when they are located at the IV station, and visually identify some of these units which must perform

  <Desc / Clms Page number 110>

 either blasting operations or repeat operations. If he wishes to skip a particular printing member, he lowers the pedal 122 to initiate the cycle, which begins when the chosen printing member is located below the window W. A printing operation is thus performed at using the printing unit driven from the transfer station IV - T to the printing station V.

   As a result, the selected printing unit advances, during this intermediate operation, to the transfer station IV - T and is in a position such that, in the next operation of the machine, it will advance to the position of. impression. In this next operation of the machine, therefore, the operator operates the "jump" pedal 120, so that when the selected printing device arrives at the printing station, the presser mechanism P remains out of action. If the operator wishes to print with the aid of the next printing member, he operates the pedal 122 in the usual manner.



   If, by examining the window W, the operator has identified a particular printing member intended for "repeat", he advances that member to the printing position in the usual manner, for example. the operation of the consecutive printing pedal 122. In this movement, the first operation of the pedal 122 brings the selected printing member to the IV - T station, and the following operation of this pedal brings said member to the printing station and causes the production of a first impression using this chosen organ.

   For each of the additional prints which are to be taken from the chosen printing body, the operator operates the "repeat" pedal 121. As soon as the desired number of prints have been taken from the chosen printing body, the operator operates the pedal 122 to bring another printing member to the printing station. When the pedal 122 is thus used to bring the next printing member to the printing station,
1

  <Desc / Clms Page number 111>

 an impression is obtained with the aid of this organ. If the next printing member is one the operator wishes to "skip",,, he employs the "blast" pedal 120 to initiate the next cycle of the machine.



   As previously mentioned, some operators prefer to use the foot pedal 122 when a large number of repeated printing operations are to be performed, and the machine can then easily be adjusted to meet the operator's preference. Thus, after a partial member has been brought to the printing station, the machine can be adjusted, with the aid of the control pushbutton 970, so that each of the following operations of the pedal 122 has only for, the effect of triggering the operation of the pressing mechanism P, while allowing the drive mechanism of the
T printing organs to remain inactive.

   The operator makes this adjustment by pulling pusher 970 to its "repeat" position (figures 67 and 68); in this position, the stop lever 920 is continuously maintained in its working position of FIG. 67 so as to prevent the closing of the clutch 251 controlling the drive of the printing members. When the operator uses the automatic control governed by the pusher 970 to make the machine work in "repeat" mode, the replacement of the printing member located at the printing station by another can easily be obtained by operating the conveniently accessible pusher. 970.

   Thus, after the operator has made the desired number of prints from a particular printing member, he moves the pushbutton of control 970 backwards to its limit internal position, or position d. 'consecutive' printing, so that the machine is re-set for the consecutive printing. The operator can then lower the consecutive printing pedal 122 and, during the work carried out with the aid of this mounting of the machine, the drive device -

  <Desc / Clms Page number 112>

 ment of the printing units performs a drive cycle so as to advance the next printing unit of the station
IV - T at the printing station.



   The machine is set for "multiple printing" mounting by operating the control pushbutton 970 to its intermediate position in Figure 62, and it will be noted that, in most cases, when a such operation of the control pusher must be performed, the cam roller 936 is housed in one of the hollows 948 of the cam 937.

   this normal position of the control assembly is due to the fact that this assembly has been set for multiple printing, and since the safety catch 990 prevents the pusher 970 from being moved out of its original position. multiple printing of figure 62, unless cam follower 936 is engaged in a recess
948, the construction is such that the pusher 970 will never be moved from one position to another unless the pin 984 occupies its lower position. However, if the pin
984 occupies its raised position due to contact with the roller
936 with one of the raised points on the cam, the forward angled end of the latch 990 may contact the pin 984 to lift the safety latch above the pin.



   When the machine is thus set for multiple printing by bringing the pusher 970 to the position of Fig. 82, the four machine preparation operations must be performed each time the magazine is reloaded, and these Preparation operations are obtained by lowering the "blasting" pedal 120 in the manner already described.



   It will be noted that, although the machine has now been set to work in multiple printing, the additional stop lever 920 of the clutch 251 controlling the drive of the printing members occupies its retracted position, 1 ' is actuated by link 951 only when the machine

  <Desc / Clms Page number 113>

 or inactive, so that when the relief pedal 120 is operated, the normal stop lever 270 'of the drive clutch of the printing members releases this clutch for a normal work cycle.

   Since only the clutch 251 is released when operating the blasting pedal 120, it is clear that the presser mechanism will not operate and therefore the control assembly 940 and its cam 937 will remain in their initial positions until. that the desired number of preliminary operations have been performed. Thus, when the four preparation operations have been carried out by the operation of the blasting pedal 120, the machine is in the state desired to carry out successive multiple printing operations.

   The operator will therefore use the pedal 122 to initiate the next work cycle, and in this cycle the printing member drive mechanism will advance the first printing member from the IV - T station to the printing station, and the presser mechanism will operate during its normal cycle to produce an impression taken from the printing member which has just been supplied to the printing station. During such an operation, the control mechanism of the pressing member acts on the rod 951 to impart to it a stroke of reciprocating movement during which the ratchet 942 is actuated and advances by an angular step.

   This angular rotation of one step is sufficient to bring the next high point
946 of the cam 937 opposite the cam roller 936, and the latter is therefore lifted so as to oscillate the control frame 921 in the levorotatory direction.



   This movement of the control frame has the effect of bringing the additional stop lever 920 to its working position of Fig. 63 so that when the pedal 122 is again actuated, the clutch 951 controlling the operation. 'drive of the printing units is kept disengaged despite the fact that its normal stop lever 270' has been returned to its position

  <Desc / Clms Page number 114>

   of inactivity, A second printing is therefore carried out using the printing unit located at the printing station.



  During this second printing operation, the control assembly 940 again receives a forward movement under the influence of the control rod 951, and this movement of the rod results in a depression 948 of the cam faces the roller 936. The additional stop lever 920 is thus enabled to pivot to its inactive position of FIG. 62, so that, in the following maneuver of the pedal 122, the drive mechanism of the printing members is enabled to operate and thus bring the next printing member to the printing station.



   Thus, the automatic controller, the operation of which is governed by pusher 970, can be used to produce any reasonable number of prints using each of the printing members, depending on the shape and construction of the printer. control assembly 940. When the machine is used in its multiple printing state or set-up, the push-button 970 can, if the occasion requires it, be returned to its repeating position of figure 67 in substance of the same way as already described so that a greater number of prints can be made from selected printing members.



   Of course, this adjustment of the control pusher 970 for "repeat work" must be carried out at the end of the number of cycles of the machine, which has been predetermined by the shape of the cam assembly 940, this restriction being enforced by the automatic safety action of the latch 990. Thus, after the desired number of repeated prints have been made using the selected printing member, the control pusher 970 can again be swept back to its multiple print position of Figure 62. In this regard, it will be noted that although the control pusher has occupied its "repeat" position, the drive link 951 has actually

  <Desc / Clms Page number 115>

 been put out of action by the shoulder 983 '.

   It follows that when the control pusher is returned to its position of multiple pressure, the cam roller 936 is engaged in one of the recesses 948, of the cam; and the machine operates automatically to produce the desired number of prints from the next printing unit.



   When the machine has been set for multiple printing, the usual or normal blasting operation of the machine can be carried out in the usual manner by the operation of the pedal 120. Of course, this operation of the pedal. blasting 120 would be performed after the last of the desired prints has been taken from a particular printing member, and an operator would normally be aware of when that desired number of printing operations have been performed. .

   However, if the operator has made an incorrect count of the number of prints taken from the printing unit at the printing station and has prematurely attempted to perform a blasting operation, the automatic operation of the ma - china will have the effect of warning him that the desired number of prints of the particular printing member has not been obtained.



   Such a warning would result from the fact that, when the operator depresses the jump pedal 180, the clutch 251 would not have the possibility of engaging, due to the fact that the additional stop arm 920 occupies. its active position. This active positioning of the additional stop lever 920 would necessarily result from the fact that, at this moment of the operation of the machine, the roller 936 is in contact with a raised part of the cam 937. It would be therefore it is necessary for the operator to make one or more additional prints so that the control assembly 940 advances to bring a hollow of the cam 937 to the alignment of the cam roller
936.

   The additional stop lever 920 would then be recalled away from its working position, and the stop lever 270 '

  <Desc / Clms Page number 116>

   would then constitute the only control element of the clutch 251 of the drive mechanism of the printing members. The blasting pedal 120 could then be operated to cause the closing of the clutch 251 and the operation, which would result, of the device for driving the printing members in a drive cycle. During such a driving movement, the clutch 252 of the pressing member would remain disengaged, and a "blasting" operation would result.



   As the pressing mechanism remains inactive in such a machine "blasting" operation, it is evident that the control assembly 940 also remains inactive and that the control operation of this assembly is not disturbed.



    CLAIMS.



   1.) A printing machine comprising a table top having an opening delimiting a printing position, an arm rising from said tray at a point spaced both laterally and longitudinally from that printing position and beyond. extending obliquely across said platen and at a certain distance from said platen so that this arm comes above the printing position and thus forms a deep groove both in a lateral direction, which allows the passage of relatively wide sheets longitudinally below said arm, and a deep groove in a longitudinal direction, for the passage of relatively wide sheets laterally below this arm,

   a path or slide for guiding printing units passing through this printing position and along which printing units can receive a driving movement so that impressions are drawn therefrom when they are placed at the center. printing position, and a magazine into which the members can be introduced in order to be subsequently withdrawn and drawn along said path.


    

Claims (1)

2.) A printing machine according to claim, comprising <Desc / Clms Page number 117> including means supporting said magazine out of a position laterally and longitudinally aligned with said printing position and a printing device of which at least a part is carried by said arm and can be actuated for the production of prints at using printing units arranged at the printing position. 3.) A printing machine according to claim 1, comprising cooperating printing means mounted partly below, the opening and partly on said arm, the supply magazine for containing the printing members being. arranged near the part of said arm which extends upwards, and the device for driving the printing members comprises the guide path of said members. 4.) A printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the supply magazine is disposed above the table and away from the paths paroourus by sheets passing longitudinally or laterally below the arm, and the guide path for the printing units starting from the magazine passes below the table top. 5.) A printing machine according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the opening in said table top is disposed near a front portion of said table top, said arm includes a portion rising from a point of said said table top. tray placed at the rear and at a sufficiently great distance to the side of said printing position, and another part extending angularly across and at a certain distance from said table top, so that it overhangs said table top. printing position,; the printing unit magazine rises from said table top and is located near said upwardly extending portion of said printing arm, and the printing unit drive device is placed below said table top and can function to advance the printing elements at: from said magazine to said printing position. <Desc / Clms Page number 118> 6.) A printing machine according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, comprising a probing device for defining a probing station placed at the front of the magazine and at the bottom. the rear of the part situated most in front of the upwardly directed portion of the printing arm, the drive device of the printing members functioning in such a way as to advance said members forwards, from the magazine at the probing station, and a drive device placed at or below the table top operative to advance the printing members from the probing station and then to bring each of said members to said printing station. 7.) A printing machine according to which of claims 1 to 6, comprising two guide paths intersecting substantially at right angles and with a mechanism for driving a series of printing members in the form of plates in succession, d 'first along the first of said paths, then second along the second, to unload them at the end of said path, the arrangement being such that, in each path, the members which are placed at a certain spacing from each other. others in this path, are immobilized for the performance of a function, and each printing member passes along one of said paths which is substantially parallel to a side edge of the machine and along the same another path which is substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the machine. 8.) A printing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising two guideways which cut substantially at right angles and with a mechanism for driving in steps a series of printing members (in the form of plates located in a substantially horizontal plane) in succession and at a certain distance from each other the. along one of the guide paths, passing through a transfer station located at the junction of the two paths, then at a certain distance from each other, along the other path <Desc / Clms Page number 119> guide, said transfer station being defined by fixed parts which guide and direct each printing member, at the, times when it arrives at the transfer station in one direction and leaves this station in the other direction. 9.) A printing machine according to either of claims 7 and 8, in which the drive mechanism acts alternately in the two guide paths. 10.) A printing machine according to either of claims 7, 8 and 9, wherein the drive mechanism of the printing members comprises two drive devices with reciprocating motion, of which the one performs a driving movement in one of the paths while the other performs a return movement in the other path, and vice versa, the two driving devices being controlled by a common driving element. 11.) A printing machine according to any one of claims 7,8, 9 and 10, wherein the drive mechanism for the printing members communicates to these members a gradual movement during which the movements are regularly. accelerated and slowed down. 12.) A printing machine according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein each printing member passing along the first path to the transfer station, slides on retainers and lowers these rising members. then to the rear of the printing member so as to retain it in the transfer position until such time as it is driven along the second path which is partially defined by the retainers. 13. A printing machine according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein a third guide path extends at right angles from the end and on the side of the second path away from the first path. . 14 ,.): A printing machine according to claim 1, <Desc / Clms Page number 120> in which a first and a third path are substantially parallel to each other, and a second path intersects the first two substantially at right angles, the machine being further provided with a mechanism for feeding in steps a series of printing members (in the form of plates situated in a substantially horizontal plane) along the guide paths, in succession and in spaced relation, with their lateral edges still substantially parallel to said parallel guide paths. 15.) A printing machine according to any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the drive mechanism is arranged so that each printing member is immobilized between the ends of each path and at the junction between adjacent paths. 16.) A printing machine according to claim 15, in which the guide paths are substantially covered but a window is provided at one of the positions at which the printing members are immobilized to allow the members to read. be observed as they pass through the machine. 17.) A printing machine according to any one of claims 7 to 16, wherein the guide paths are arranged to receive printing members provided with tabs occupying selected positions along one edge. 18.) A printing machine according to either of claims 16 and 17, wherein the window is located in the second guide path, and the arrangement is such that the operator can see the tabs as well as the face of each printing unit. 19.) A printing machine according to any one of claims 15 to 18, having a pedestal placed in one of said <Desc / Clms Page number 121> positions at which each printing member is immobilized, and a pressing mechanism is arranged to perform a printing operation in cooperation with a printing member placed above the base. 20.) A printing machine according to claim 17, wherein the guide path parallel to which moves that of the edges of each printing member which carries the tabs, comprises upper and lower retaining plates between which move. the tabs, one of the plates having an opening through which the presence or absence of a tab in a particular position on a printing member can be determined. 21.) A printing machine as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 18, in which a print unit magazine is placed above the starting end of the first path, and a drawer for collecting. said organs is located below the end of the third path. 22.) A printing machine according to claims 16 and 19, wherein a mechanism for probing the printing members is intended to cooperate with each of these members in the position where it is immobilized between the ends of the first guide path, then that the window is disposed between the ends of the second guide path and that the printing base is disposed between the ends of the third path. 23.) A printing machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine comprises front and rear support bars between which are mounted beams constituting the guide paths. 24. A printing machine according to claim 22, wherein the machine is provided with a rectangular table top near the leading edge of which the pedestal is disposed and near the trailing edge of which is disposed a magazine for storage. <Desc / Clms Page number 122> supply the printing units to the rear end of the first guide path. 25. A printing machine according to claim 24, wherein the presser mechanism is supported by an arm extending obliquely across the table from a point adjacent to the magazine. 26.) A printing machine according to claim 25, in which the arm constitutes the upper branch of a C-shaped frame disposed in a vertical plane, the printing base being carried by the end of the the lower branch of said frame. 27.) A printing machine according to claim 26, wherein the pressing mechanism is actuated and controlled by means located below the table top, in a substantially triangular space located behind the lower branch of said frame. 28.) A printing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine is arranged to receive cyclic operations determined by actuation of a single-turn clutch, and the machine has two. Additional single-turn clutches for selectively engaging in each cycle to effect printing and operate the drive mechanism of the printing members, respectively. 29.) A printing machine according to claim 28, wherein the machine is arranged so that the effect of each cyclic operation can be determined at will either by causing the actuation of two additional clutches for an operation of. consecutive printing, either by performing a repeat or blasting operation by controlling one or other of the additional clutches. 30.) A printing machine according to claim 29, wherein the repeat consecutive printing operations <Desc / Clms Page number 123> titioning and blasting are carried out respectively by the use of three pedals connected to levers controlling the clutches. 31.) A printing machine according to claim 10 and any one of claims 13 to 30, wherein the printing members are driven along the third path by a reciprocating device which operates in phase with the device. drive relating to the first path, so that printers are driven along the first and third paths simultaneously, and printers are driven along the second path while those of the first and third paths are immobilized. 32.) A printing machine according to any one of claims 14 to 31, wherein a positioning pawl is actuated in synchronism with the drive mechanism so that it is disengaged from it. a path while an organ is brought to a position in which it is to be immobilized, but to be engaged in a notch provided at the edge of the printing organ, to maintain said organ exactly in this position, as soon as the training movement has ceased. 33.) A printing machine according to claim 32, wherein the positioning pawl is. arranged so as to elastically engage with the printing member. 34.) A printing machine according to either of claims 32 and 33, wherein the positioning pawl comprises a tooth and a stopper protrusion which engage the leading edge of a printing member arriving at the position in which the member must be held exaotement, said projection having the role of ensuring a preliminary positioning of the member and the tooth being intended to then engage in the notch to ensure the precise positioning of the organ. 35.) a printing machine according to any of the <Desc / Clms Page number 124> Claims 10 to 34, in which the driving devices comprise pawls, and means are provided for automatically recalling certain pawls of one of these devices at the moment when it makes its return stroke, so that said pawls do not interfere with the driving movement of a printing member by the second driving device to the position where paths associated with the two driving devices intersect. 36.) A printing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine is provided with a normally inactive operating mechanism operable to be operated in its active adjustment state, so as to put the mechanism in motion. drive disabled for a predetermined number of print operations, but can only be returned to its inactive setting state when the drive mechanism is not disabled. 37.) A printing machine according to claim 36, wherein the control mechanism comprises a selection cam actuated by a snap. 38.) A printing machine according to either of claims 36 and 37, wherein a latch mechanism locks the control mechanism in its active set state until a predetermined number of prints. were taken from a printing organ. 39.) A printing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the printing members are transferred from the guide path into a manifold which can be brought to an unloading position, a mechanism being provided for bringing the mechanism. drive out of action while the collector is in its unloading position. 40.) A printing machine according to claim 39, wherein the manifold comprises a drawer mounted in a <Desc / Clms Page number 125> drawer carrier movable from a loading position to an unloading position. '41.) A printing machine according to either of claims 39 and 40, wherein the manifold cooperates with a compressor mechanism from which it is withdrawn when brought to the unload position. 4.) A printing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine is arranged to perform separate printing cycles at the will of an operator or to perform self-work by an operator to perform self-work. = tick.continuous, and electrical means are provided to automatically stop the automatic operation when a predetermined action occurs. 43.) A printing machine according to claim 42, wherein the machine is provided with a sensor finger disposed so as to be periodically moved by a cam action and through a resilient link, and brought to a position. position in which it detects the presence or absence of a printing member in a store supplying the series of printing members, and the electrical means operating when this finger detects the absence of a printing member in the store. 44.) A printing machine according to either of claims 42 and 43, wherein the electric means operates under the control of a series of circuits in parallel, so that the continuous operation can be stopped as a result. any of a series of predetermined actions.