US1530871A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1925i H. c. wsu-ER PRINTING APPARATUS med 'web'. 1, 1923 3 Sheets- Shui 2 n Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED ASTATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN c. WELTER, or; ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AssIGNoR To,HALn-wELTERloo.,`r

' 1No.,oE RocHEsT-ERNEWYORK.

PRINTING AiPPARATUs.

Application mea February 1, 1923. serial No. 616,369.

To all '1v/ont it may concern.' Be it known that I, HERMAN C. VVELTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of NewYork, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Printing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to type carriers, and an object of the invention is 'to provide a carrier on which type bars are removably supported in such manner that one bar may bereadily substituted for another.

Although the invention 'may beadapted to dierent forms of printing apparatus, it is more particularly intended for usein connection with machines in which a carrier is provided with a plurality of type lines, the carrier being movable to bring the several lines of'typeiselectively into printing position. The vvari-ous makes of check r,writing machines usuallyembody a printing element of this character, thev carrier commonly being a cylinder with the type lines formed integrally on its peripheral face. y Such a machine, howevenis limitedin its use to printingspecifically the words or characters formed on the cylinder, and it is a further object of the invention, by providing the'carrier with removable and interchangable type bars, to extend` the use o-f the machine to printing on commercial papers other than checks or like negotiable instruments. That is, although a' machine may be intended for use primarily as a check writer, by being ableto ysubstitute one type bar for another business establishments may for a nominal cost have type bars furnished them bearing distinctive words or characters so that the machine lmay be used in printing on other papers such as order slips, invoices, receipts, express forms and the like.

In the manufacture of type' cylinders with the type formed integrally thereon, a large Vpercentage of the cylinders have to be scrapped owing to one or more of the type lines being defective. This is a waste in the cost of' manufacture which it is a further object of the invention to overcome by forming the type cylinder and the type bars separately and removably supporting the` type bars on the cylinder so that if one bar proves defective it may readily be replaced by a perfect one.

And, a stillfurther obj ect of the invention is` to provide a type wheel with removable type bars arranged onits peripheralsurface at an angle to the axis of the wheel. the bars being so positioned that their printing faces when brought selectively into printing position, will present` a vHat surface to a correspondingly flat surfaced platen common to the several type bars. y

To these and other endsthe invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts as will be fully set'forth in the following description and particularly defined in the appended claims. f i y. l The accompanying drawings illustrating thefinvention are as .follows:- n n Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, `side and face views, with type'bars removed, -of a preferred form of type Wheel made in cordance withmy invention.

Fig. 3 is a face viewof` y taining member forfthe-.type bars. f

Fig. 41 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the wheelas seen inv Fig.` 1.V

Fig. 5 isf an enlargedy fragmentary sectional view as onthe line 5 5, Fig. 2, but with the typebars in place.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail'jon the line 6--6, Fig. 3. Y Figs. 7 and 8 are` enlarged fragmentary side views of the assembled wheel.y

Fig. 9 is aninner face view, of the rigid type bar retaining member.

Figs.. 10 and 11 are side and face views, respectively, of the reinforcing clamping plate for the part shown in Fig. .l ,y y

Fig. 12 shows infront elevation a .printing machine in which a type wheel such as he resilient reshown vin theV above described figures may be Fig. 13 enlarged fragmentary tional view of the `assembled type wheel as taken longitudinally of one of the type bars.

Fig. 14C is a'view similarto Fig. 13 showing the relative positions of" type Wheel and platen.

Figs. 15 and 16 are top and kside views, respectively, of one of the type bars.

Fig. 17y isan illustration ofthe printing done by the printing Wheel.

Fig. 18 shows a modification of the type Wheel in which the slots for the type barsl on the other side of thel web.

being a section-al View on the line 21-21, Fig. 20,l While Fig. 2O is a side view of a type cylinder or Wheel onv which the type bars are arranged transversely of its axis. Fig. 22 is a perspective view, partlyin section, showing the invention as embodied in a machine employing an endlessy belt as the type'carrier. Fig. 23 is an end vi'evv,vvith parts broke away, of still another modification ofthe invention in which the type surfaces are arrai'iged in a' sin'gle'plane.

And, Fig. 24 is a side view of the seen in Fig. 23; y

Similar reference numerals .1I-oferto siniilar parts'throughoutthe several views.

Referi-ingnrst to 1' iio i?, inclusive. The numeral 1 represents the type carrier which, in this instance, is cylindrical parts vand comprises a wheel formed with a hub- 2, a central Vweb 3, reinforcing radial arms a on one side of the web 3 and radial arms The peripheral surface of the Wheel is formed with a plurality of regularly spaced slots 6. These slots are open ended andv extend fromv one side of thevheel to the other and at an angie to the of rotation of the wheel, the side Walls of each slot preferably being parallel While the bottom Wall vis in a plane tangentialto' a concentric circle ofthe Wheel. Fitted Within the slots'` 6 are bars 7, the outer faces of which constitute type faces S'bearing any suitable WordsV or characters and,

' when the invention is embodied in a check ing of the check. f'

Anysuitable means may be provided for removably holding .the type bars in place. In 'this instance, theV top and lbottor'n end edges `of the bars Vare parallel to the side faces of the wheel, but tiieyend vfao-'es of the bars ,are beveled so as to inclino upwardly and inwardly, these ond fao-es at. one sido ofthe Wheel lockingly engaging the under-k cutannular portion 9 of a rigid circular retaining plate 10 secured by screws' Il. to the Wheel arms et, the plateJ having` a central bore 12 for receivingthe hub 2 and an amiular. shoulder 13 for engaging the inner face of the Wheel rim. The opposite bevelled end faces of Ithe typebars are ryieldingly engaged by .a circular plate 111-' of spring metal, such plate being slotted radially to form an annular series of regularly spaced spring members 15, one for each bar 7, these spring portions extending ont- Wardly from the body of the plate over the Wheel rim and theninw'ardly substantially parallel With the end faces of the type bars and engaging the bars under tension. The' bodyl portion of the spring plate 14 lies against the Wheel-arms 5 and is secured thereto by means of a reinforcing ring 16 and screws 17k which latter are threaded into the arms 5, the plate Ill` having a center bore 18 for receiving the hub 2.

As hereinbefore stated, the type Wheel as just above described may be used. in a check Writing machinesuch as shown in Fig. 12. Vhen so employed it is housed Within an overhanging head portion 19 of the frame and fixed to a shaft-,20' revolubly supported a member guided for vertical movement in such head portion, the shaft 20 alsoI having firedv thereon a dial Wheel 21 and a suitable turning knob 22'. In order to bring a selected one of the type facesinto printing position, the shaft is rotated by means of the knob 22 until vthe corresponding indication on the Wheel 21 'is brought into registration with the index 23. The printing is then effected f by moving the type Wheel and platen relatively toward each other. In this 'instance the type Wheel is the movable member and is carried toward and from the' platen 24 by meansv of suitable mechanism, not shown, having' connection with the type' Wheel supporting membery and the operating crank 25. l The platen 24 is common to all of the typefaces.y It is mounted in the base'26 of the machine and presents a serrated surface through an opening in the bed plate 27 over which the check 28 is fed in a direction longitudinally ofthe machine, the oheckbengaging betvveen the feed rollers 29 and pressure rollers 30 and being fed by the rollers` 29 a predetermined distance on the return movement of the type 'Wheel after each printing operation, the feeding mechanism not being shown as it forms no part of the inifention'.r

'The printing faces of the type bars, it ivill be understood, when 'selectively brought into printing position, lie in a plane pai-a1- lel to the platen which, in turn, is parallel to the plate 27 and these bars, when in such position, are at an angle to the directionof feed of the check so that the printing will appear, as illustrated in Fig. 17, oir parallel lines diagonal to the line of feed.

An opening, not shown, in the .front Wall of the head 19 is normally closed bya Aremovable cover plate 231 which when removed permits access to the type wheel for the substitution of one type bar for another, a suitable tool, Aindicated at 32 in dotted lines in Fig. 13, being used to move a bar 7 longitudinally in its slot against the action of its spring member 15 to disengag'e the bar from the undercut portion of the plate 10.

vIt might be added, also, that this plate is formed with an annular series of regularly spaced projectlons' between adjacent ones of which a guiding lug, not shown, kengages IOT ill

in the movement of the type ivheel toward the platen so as to center the Wheel and pre-` vent its rotation during the printing opera-y tion, elongated openings 34 being formed in the plate 1.0 for the screws l1 to permit adjnstment of the plate so that the slots be-` tWeen the lugs 33 will. register with their respective type bars.

Byhaving the vtype bars removable a per-y fect bar may be substituted for a damaged one Without the necessity of furnishing an entirely new Wheel. Also, should a pur-v chaser desirel a certain distinctive linecof type for his checks, such as a type line bearing his name so that his name may be printed on the checks in the same manner and preceding the amount for Which the check is drawn, the saine may be furnished at a very nominal cost While permitting him to purchase a stock machine and not requiring a type Wheel to be made special.` And, again, by having the type bars removable a user may at any time insert vtype bars bearing such Words or characters as Will permit the machine being used in` a business establish-` ment for lmany other purposes'other than Writing on checks or like negotiable 1nstru ments.

In Fig. 18 there is shown a modification Aof the type Wheel inwhich the slots 36 eX- tend parallel with the axis of rotation. The type bar retaining members in this instance Would be the same as those for the Wheel l.

In Figs. 19, 2() and Q1 the invention is illustrated as embodied ina printing ma chine in which the type carrier is an elongated cylindrical member 37 splined to a shaft 33 and having a segmental portion 39 grooved transversely thereof to yform regularly spaced open ended curved slots 40 adapted to receive similarly curved type bars l-l the ends of which are bevelled in like manner as the bars 't'. Secured to one vvall of the segmental portion 39 of the cylinder by screws 42 is a retaining plateel arranged at such an angle as to lockingly engage the abutting ends of the type bars 41, While the other ends of the bars are Vyieldingly engaged b v spring members` 44; projecting angularly outwardly from a spring ymetal plate 45 with which they are integrally formed and which is held by means of a re- .iuforcing plate 4G and screws-4.7 to the body of the cylinder. The curved printing faces of the type hars coact with a roller platen t8 mounted in a support l() and projecting through an opening 5() in abcd plate 5.1 over which the check or other instrument is fed, the printing elements in this instance con stituting the feeding means and the platen being common to the several type bars'vvhich` are selectively brought into printing position relatively to the platen by movement of the cylinder along the shaft 38. y

Fig. Q2 shows the invention as it may be embodied in a'n'iachine in which the type carrier 1s an endless belt. Each typebar 52 is, yin this instance, supported in a grooved y block 53 secured to the belt members 54 in any, suitable .mannen as by the rivets 55. The block 53 may be a' casting With the groove open at one end only but having the inner face of the end Wall undercut to lockingly engage the abutting bevelled end face 56l of the4 type bar, the other end of the bar beingyieldingly engaged by a spring arm 57 bent angularly from a plateS secured by rivets '59 to a side Wall of the block.v

In the modification shown in Figs. 23 and 24 the type facesy of the several type bars 60 constitute a llatsurface, and to this end the supporting member is a, framel formed with regularly spacedlparallel slots G2 for receiving :the bars 60. These grooves are open ended and are closed at one end yof the frame'by a .plate 63 secured to the frame by screws 64e and having an undercut longi-y tudinally extending portion on its inner face for lockingly engaging the -abutting bevelled end faces 65 of the type bars, the other ends of the bars yieldingly engaging the spaced spring portions G6 projecting from a plate .6.7 'clamped to aside Wall of the frame 'by the. reinforcing plate G8 and screws 69.

From .the foregoing it Will be seenthat in the several modifications of the invention the type :bars are removably supportedl on their respective type carriers, in each instance a bevelledv end face of the type bars lockingly engaging va correspondingly bev elled surface of a fixed member at one side of the carrier to hold the bars against vertical displacement, While the bars arey yieldingly held by spring members engaging their other ends against both vertical and p 4longitudinal displacement. Also, in one `em-=v bodiment of the invention the typel bars are arranged `onl the periphery' of a type Wheel at an angle, other than a right angle, to the axis of the `Wheel and in such manner that each type bar, When brought into printing position, presents a flat printing surface to the paper on which the impression is to be made. Furthermore, `vvithjthe typek bars having a slight yielding movement longitudinally oftheir respective slots in the type carrier, should the wheel be out of true the bars when brought into contact with the lined platen will 'adjust themselves to the platen so -that there will be a perfect mating` ofthe serrated surfaces and consequently a `clean printing impression.

lVhatI claim is: i l. In a printing apparatus, av cylindrical type carrier having a plurality of spaced slots extending angularly across the peripheral face thereof, the `bottom Wall of each slot being in `a plane tangential to a con type bars being parallel to the platen.

` ing surface, al supporttfor 'the platen, av

" printing members haring serrated impres.

faces.

2.. In printing apparatns, a cylindrical type wheel, and a plnrality of disposed type 'bars extending angnlarly across ith-c peripheral liace oit' the wheel, lthe contacting snrtaee orf cach type bar being tangential 'to a concentric circle vot 4the Wheel.

In a .printing apparatus, a .cylindrical type Wheel baring regularly .spaced slots extending angularly `.across its peripheral face, and type lbars removably :supported in `said slots, the contacting .surtaoe of each type bar being in :a plane tangential to a concentric circle of the Wheel.

l. The combination, in :a printing apparatns, ot :a platen having a non-curved :printsnrface, a sup-port for the `platen, a cylindrical type carrier, a plurality of type bars extending angularly .across the peripheral tace :of the carrier, the type carrier being rotatable vto selectively bring said type bars into printing position .and when in such position the contacting surfaces of the the plane of 5. The `combination, in a .printing apparatus, oli' za. .platen having a non-curved printcylindri-cal .type carrier, a plurality of type bars removably supported angularly across the peripheral face of thel carrier, the type carrier being rotatable to selectively bring said type bars 'into printing position and when in such position the contacting .surfaces yof the type bars 'being parallel to the plane of the platen.

'6- In .a printing apparatus, two izo-acting printing nielnbcrsliaving serrated impression surfaces, and yieldable incans permit-- ting relative incitement ot said members mating of the serrated L'sarta-ces.

7. In a printing appaiatils, :two co-acting sion surfaces, and yieldable ineens permitting longitudinal movement of one of said lneniuers oli-.contact with the other member to ellect proper mating oit' the serrated .sur-

8. In a printing apparatus, a platen having a `serinted surface, support for the platen, a cylindrical type carrierhaving a plurality olf serifated type bars .engaging in slots across the peripheral 'face olf the cafl'rier, said .carrier being rotatable to :selectively bring :the -type bars into prin-.ting position., :and yieldaible means permitting longitudinal .movement Aol' .each type bar in its respect-ive slot on contact with the platen to eil'ect proper mating ot .the serrated surfaces.

9. ln a printing apparatus, a cylindrical type carrier `formed with regularly spaced slots in its :outer periphery, type bars removably supported in the said slots and` haa/'ing betelled end Yfaces, .a plate scci'lrod to :the 'type carrier having' a surface loci;- ingly the abnttim bevelled end lianes off the `type .bai-s, :a second plate :secniied' to the type carrier, :and spring arms pmjectimg from said .second named .plate and bearing :against respective ones off the other bevelled end tacosk of the Ibiars to yieldingly hold the bars again-st displacement. y.

l0.. In :a printing apparatus, `a cylindrical type carrier formed with regularly spaced slots in its outer' periphery, type bars removably supported in the vsaid slots and having bev-oiled end faces, a plate secured to the type carrier having a surface lockingly engaging the abutting bevelled end faces of thel type bars, :a Vsecond plate secured to the type carrier, and spring arms projecting from ysaid second named plate and bearing vagain-st respective ones of the other benelled end `faces of the bars to yieldingly hold l the bars against displacenient, .each bar being movable against its spring arm to disengage its bevelled end from locking engagement with the said first named retaining plate.

l1. The combination in a printing niacliine, of 1a bed having a llat surface over which the paper to be. printed on is ted, a platernfa type wheel, and' regularly spaced type bars :arrangedon the periphery ot' the type. Wheel'at v.an angle less than` a rig-ht angle to the axis ot rotation, the' type Wheel being rotatable to selectively bring said type bars into printing position, and when in such position the selected type bar and platen having their contacting surfaces in parallel planes parallel to the-said bed.

12. The' combination in a printing niachine., of having a flat surface over' which the paper to be printed on is led, a

platen, a type Wheel formed with regularly spaced :slots extending acrossv the wheel at an :angle to its axis of rotation, and type bars removably .supported said slots, the type Wheel being rotatable .to selectively bring the type bars into printing position, and *when vin such position .the selected type bar and platen having their contacting surtacosl in parallelplanes parallel to the said bed.

The combinati-on in a printing inaolline., ,of a bed having a flat surface over which the paper :to be printed on 1s ted, a

platen, a type Wheel formed with regularly spaced slots .extending across the wheel at an angle to its axis ,of rotation, type bars removably supported in said slots., fthe type Wheel` being rotatable to selectively bring the 'type bars into printing position, and when in .such position the selected type bar and platen having their contacting surfaces in parallel planesparallel to `said bed, and type bar retaining. means on Said Wheel permitting the removal and insertion of the several type bars independently of each other. f

14. Iu a printing apparatus, a type Wheel formed on its 'fperiphery With regularly spaced slots extending across the Wheel, type bars removably supported in said slots and having their end faces at one side of the Wheel bevelled, a plate secured on one sidev of the wheel and having an undercut annular surface portion for lockingly engaging the abutting bevelled end faces of the type bars, and a plate secured tothe other side of the Wheel and slotted radially to form a plurality of regularly spaced spring arms7 said spring arms bearing against the other end faces of the type'bars toyieldingly hold the said bevelled end faces in lock# ing engagement with the undercut surface of the said first named retaining plate.

l5. In a printing apparatus, a type Wheel formed on its periphery with regularly spaced slots extending across the Wheel, type bars removably supported in said slots and having their end faces bevelled, a plate secured on one side of the Wheel and havingan undercut annular surface portion for lockingly engaging the abutting end faces of the type bars, a plate secured to the tending Voutwardly from the body of the plate and then angularly inwardly to bear against the other bevelled end faces of the type bars to hold the bars against both vertical and longitudinal displacement,

and a clamping member secured to the Wheel for reinforcing the said spring arms.

16. In a printing apparatus, a type Wheel formed on its periphery with regularly spaced angularly disposed slots eX- tending across the Wheel, the bottom Walls of the slots being in planes tangential to a concentric circle of the Wheel, type bars removably supported in said slots and having type faces parallel to the bottom Walls of their respective slots, the end faces of the bars being bevelled, a plate secured to one side of the Wheel and having an undercut annular surface portion for lockingly engaging the abutting end faces of the type bars, a plate secured to the other side of the type Wheel and slotted radially to form a plurality of regularly spaced spring arms, said spring arms extending outwardly from the body of the plate and then angularly inwardly to bear against the other bevelled end faces of the type bars to hold the bars `against both vertical and longitudinal displacement, anda clamping ring secured to the type Wheel for rein orcing the said spring arms. v

i HERMAN C. WELTER.

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