ES359230A1 - Method and apparatus for printing cheques and stacked leaves - Google Patents

Abstract

Books or stacked leaves are printed by a method which comprises causing a printing and stamping device and the stacked leaves to carry out two reciprocating movements relative to each other, one parallel and one perpendicular to the printing plane, wherein the printing is effected in a position corresponding to an end position of each movement whilst in the zone of the other end position of the relative parallel movement, and individual leaves, after printing, are raised by suction and inclined to the printing plane away from the stack so that printing can then take place on the next leaf. General arrangement of apparatus.-A frame 1 carries a printing and stamping mechanism 2 and a horizontally reciprocating carriage 3 which supports a stack of leaves, e.g. a bound cheque book 4. The mechanism 2 includes a vertically reciprocable printing plate 7 and an ink ribbon 8. In use, the top leaf of book 4 is printed in mechanism 2, and the cheque book 4 and carriage 3 is moved horizontally away from under the plate 7 the top leaf is engaged by a suction device 11 which raises the end of the leaf remote from the binding during movement of the carriage back under the plate 7, Fig. 2 the wall 6 of housing 5 for the mechanism 2 guides this top leaf to a vertical position where it is retained by device 12, (Fig. 3, not shown), and the next leaf of the book is printed. In an alternative embodiment (Fig. 11, not shown), the cheque book 4 remains stationary, the printing and stamping mechanism performing both vertical and horizontal movements. Impression mechanism, Fig. 6.-A motor 13 causes carriage 3 to reciprocate under the action of gearing 14, shaft 15, and, on each side of the carriage, sprocket 19, chain 20, follower pin 22 and follower bracket 24. Simultaneously, a reciprocating motion is given to frame 30 by gearing 16, 26, shaft 27, crank wheels 28, 281 and connecting rods 29, 291 alternatively, the crank wheels can be replaced by cams (Fig. 6a, not shown). At the topmost position of frame 30, springs 34 are compressed and the drive is disconnected through electromagnetic couplings 31, while pawls 36 lock the frame in this position. When cheque book 4 reaches printing position, the pawls are released, and frame 30 carrying plate 7 is forced downwards for impression by springs 34.