US1811815A - Printing plate - Google Patents

Description

Julie 23, 1931. s, ANTHONY 1,811,815

PRINTING PLATE Filed Nov. 21, 1929 M/VVW 24 Iii 30/ 9 Mr John T. Smith Tech Chambers 15 70 8 lrvingtonSt I sostomMass 16 Dear Sir: 13 3 13 rfl PM 33 2o 31 2 19 rUimZ 1' (Idol. .TM

z'ledmsdl) rbsT s .32 noJgnivftI 8 22 22 24' 225M noizofi IN VENT OR an BY Patented June 23, 19311 UNITED STATES PATENT r;

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. STANLEY 'ANTHONY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGrNOIR TO ADDRESSOGRAPH COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE PRINTING PLATE Application filed November 21, 1929. Serial No. 408,39.

This invention relates to printing devices and more particularly to printing plates adapted for use in a holder frame of the type that permits removal of the printing plate 7 and the substitution of another at will.

The commercial use of printing plate frames, which hold an identifying card-as well'as a printing plate and are stored in accordance with the cards as an index, require 10 many changes in the cards and consequently in the related printing plate. It is an object of this invention to improve the printing plate in a manner to insure its 'insertion,in

correct printingposition in the frame, both I to the recess in the printing'plate frame designed to receive it. I

The metal frame 10 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 quickly and accurately. A further. object of the invention is to provide a printing plate, for insertion in the standard frames, of such 'form orfedge configuration as'vto permit an accurate stamping thereon of more lines of printed matter than is possible on printing plates nowgenerally in use. p To the accomplishment of these objects and such others as may hereinafter appear, as will readily be understood'by those skilled in theart, the invention comprises the features and combinations of-parts hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The features and scope of the invention will best be understood from a description. of the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates the manner in which the improved printing plates are cut from a strip 10f suitable metal;

Fig. 2 illustratesprobable steps in the insertion of one of the improved printing plates into aprinting plate frame and Fig. 3 illustrates one of the improved printing plates, filled substantially from edge to edge with an address stamping, in printing position in the frame- It must be understood that the purpose of this invention is to improve upon conditions that have been found detrimental in the use of standard equipment of the type illustrated. Accordingly the printing plate of this invention must be of such dimensions as to fit the printing plate recess provided on standard printing plate frames now in use. This means, in present day practice, that the greatest width of the printing plate is one inch.

"In the accompanying drawings I have shown a plate of 1 x 3 inches, outside dimensions, as illustrative of a standard size.

The improved printing plate, the preferred embodiment of which is shown in the drawings, is designed to utilize what may be termed the printing width of a printing plate to the best advantage by building up the material along the edges where it is most needed while still preserving an edge of the kind that will permit, and even aid, hasty and unjustified presentation of the end of the printing plate illustrates the present commercial standard formfor use in addressing machines. The

upper half is stamped with a. continuous edge A stamped-up end stop'16 prevents loss of the card. The lower half is stamped with a continuous edge channel 18, with opposed end stops 22, forming-a recess for receiving a printing plate corresponding to the address card and holding itv in position for printing.

It is of the utmost importance that the printing plate be designed to permit the worker to slip it into place within the channels 18, 19, 20 and 21 without efiort and speed- 'ily. All danger of the plate sticking when partly inserted must be eliminated. Accordingly) the printing plates 24 are provided with a lo gitudinal edge configuration that will permit immediate and progressive'insertion of the plate within the channels however careless may be the presentation of the leading end to these channels. For absolute effi- 'ciency the longitudinal edges must be designed to pevent a j am-lock against the leading corner 26 of the channel 18 or against the leading corner 28 of the channel 21 when'an angular presentation of the printing plate 24 is made, as indicated by the dotted line channel12 and below it are opposed channels 13 and a corner-pocket 14: forming a recess. for-receiving an address an index card 15.

position on Fig. 2. Sticking of the forward end of a plate within the channels is overcome by providing an edge configuration that invariably cams off or slips past the leading corners 26 and/or 28 of the. channels if the plate has been presented angula'rly to the mouth of the recess, and thus turns or guides it under pressure of the worker into what may be termed a right-line position with respect to the channels. The plate is then in such position that it may be slipped easily and quickly into its position in the recess, as indicated by the full line position on Fig. 2.

To gain this end the plate is provided with sinuous or serpentine upper and lower edges the sinuation for best results being constant throughout each margin of the plate, that is, the distances between the centers of any two nodes or emarginations are equal. The depth of each sinus is substantially inch, leaving an inside width dimension of 7 inch on a plate of standard size, but because of the relatively short undulation, preferably about 7 inch, the effective inside dimension or printing width is increased somewhat as will presently be made clear. The provision of edges formed wholly by curves which cannot offer resistance to pressure when engaged with the corners or shoulders 26 and/or 28 is most advantageous in gaining a speedy insertion .of the plate because the danger of ment havlng been speclfically described,

sticking on a substantially perfect right-line presentation is prevented and when an angular presentation is attempted the natural pressure exerted to force the plate inward causes it to turn on the sticking points 26 and/or 28, as fulcrums, into its correct position for complete insertionjn the frame recess. In Fig. 2 the dotted line position shows a plate 24 partially inserted but apparently jammed by an engagement of its third loweredge node with the corner 26 and its first,

upper-edge node with the corner 28. But

due to the convex curvature of these nodes continued pressure causes these apparent obstructions immediately to slip past the corners and in doing so automatically turn the plate into its right-line or correct position for entry in the recess. All this occurs in one movement. It is unnecessary to remove the plate and re-insert it more carefully as is now necessary with plates that jam tightly when incorrectly presented.

Referring again to the increased printing width provided on standard printing plates the serpentine edge is effective to remove as little material as possible, i. e. the depressions between the nodes of the edge, that cause the narrowing of the printing width, have substantially no length because the curved outline serves quickly to build up material on each side of the low or depressed point. Therefore, when stamping a plate with an address or other matter the upper and lower lines of print can be placed very near the edge and still have sufficient plate material outside of the line to prevent deformation of the stamped letters. The novel edge configuration permits an extra line successfully to be stamped in a plate as shown by Fig. 3.

It also is important that the plate be so formed as to permit the worker to determine instantaneously which edge must be held uppermost for engagement in the channels 19, 20, 21, so the plate will be inserted in position for correct printing. Accordingly the sinuous edge of the knife which severs the plates 24 from the strip material 30 (Fig. 1)

is so proportioned that the severance at each edge of the strip is at the center of a sinus. After severance one serpentine edge will terminate at each end in a half-depression 32 and the other serpentine edge will terminate at each end in a half-node 34. Each edge has,

therefore, its own distinctive end characterwhat is claimed as new, 1s

1. A printing plate comprising a metal strip for use in a holder having retaining means with which the plate engages to seat it in printing position, said strip being of greater length than width and both longitudinal edges thereof having a sinuous or serpentine outline.

2. A printing plate comprising a metal strip of greater length than width adaptedto be slipped endwise within channels stampedup from the material of a metal holder, and each longitudinal edge of said strip being formed by a succession of curved nodes and depressions so arranged that the nodes at one edge are transversely opposite the depressions at the other edge whereby the insertion of said longitudinal edges within said channels is facilitated.

STANLEY ANTHONY.

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