US2092026A - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

l l printing'esalesjslips and(y ofl illustrated inlthe drawings,v and the the like; mvqivingthe of a customers token evidencinghis'y credit stand- Tj ing. 4 `Such systems arenovv frequently employed. in; 'large retail stores', lWhere a e metallicv token,l in j ss platve,is issued to; n 1 a, ,Y t` amcuntofredit., Thesame token ,mayfapplv to. severalldi rentr stores, each storehavingan 'individual 1indication i 10 on' the tokennot applicabletofanyof thezother 1 stores. li/flfienythe customer-presents his tokentor ythe proper store, the salesman utilizes it in-,printf' ingoneor Lmore sales slips, and if desired an entry in the ales', yanfs sales book, with the resultthatj give only to thoseentitled toit, the acl--y n' the,"` ccount `slip and the Vdelivery sllipvis.

rilyy correct;v and there isa material saving imeinl makingoutsuch slips.A s

`vide 'to creditonthebasisofthattoken.L y 4 l.

A objectv 'the invention 1Std sbfdevise v l hat theraising-of the Platen mechanism,

they 0 n manual ,release enables pid` printingre-by" rolling i -v y actionwith a definite printingpressure, independ-f "ent of the manual uforce appliedbytheoperatorg l i In invention ris to enable .t e A i niachi'ne`,vor itslwithdrawal therefrom. l

My invention is hereinafter rnoretiilly`v` desc in connection .with a preferred ernloodimentthe In they drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevationof the e im 'nNG DEVvIC,

It ,is an object of thepresentfinvention to pro, printing device, utilizableY ien-.thealcove f ou ned vsystermwhich s'hal1`effectively and visibly reject tokens not intended forv that machina; so" f. i thatno explanation willtbe'necessary/ by the sal i man to show :the lcustomer-that lie is not entitl v d nner" novel' features are summarized 'n the claims.`

y j achinen,itscooltdycondition readxior printing `from ,an inserted1token;Fig;2

l is asimilar view showing thecondltionof thepa'rts after the printing-has.been-effected;Figf3 is "af plan of the tokenprinter;l Figgli is allong'itudinal 4714 o'nFig. 3;"Ffig. 5, is"a,-transverse verticalysec-4v` l tionthroughtheprinterihdicated by the line-5 5] on4 Fig. f1;-'Fig5 6,is a. sidefelevation of the printer, l

with platen raisedfinto theposition'lwhich;cocks.`

the platen'. carriage; Fig;- '1 is'. a sectionalplan ofl the printerjust abovethebed, as indicated bythe` .l line 1 1 on Fig. 6; 1igs.8,l and 9v are diagrammatic f 1:@- Y

plansshowlng theactionon` the control mecha-- nism oef-a token intended for that 'machine-and. one notso intended,` respective1y;-llg.- v10 is a verticalt longitudinal section 2 showing v the y'action ,ofi

theplaten arxn .-inre1`easing an:impropertoken.` The remaining figures show the, token itself, zliiig." l if 11K-'being aface viewoi theclosed device looking at1v I the cover;Fig.y,12,l a cross section onthe linerI4 j i l2 -.i,2 on Fig.`11,and Fig. 13 a view loo-kingat the token open-andready forlinsertion` inthe maf" chine. n

- Referring to 13',Ntheitoken i shown comprises an `embossed printing plate zi'and l 'aiianged cover l2 hinged ,totheiplateat adjacentu ends. j l The pIatehas depressedimarginal portionsl v S 3,l4gafprojecting tonguegS v'ai'. the lfreeend, while;

thefother end is cnrled'oyer into-anear 6. The.`

coveij-p1ate` is formedywithgaangel extending ,n entirely around its-Adjacentthe printing. fplatens as litis formedinpthelcover plate and flange to providea bar portion about which-the earl ext tendswAttheother end of; the cover-plate the@` l Y l flange is cut; down at 9 torecelve vthetongue When the token is folded in position for storage,

the printineplate seatszwitmnthe flange' 1 ofthe covelf-,laasillustrated;L particularly inqFig.l 12. ,rThe Y- free'liend Lof lthe printingg-plateq; makesa-fsnug l, l enough engagement Withthefange 1 oni opposite 7 sides ofthenotchsogthatlthe plateremains"nora"j4 v The projecting tongue 51,- u however, allows'ltheltoken ogber,eadilyopened,y the mallywithin the cover,

operator grasping the cover i side; edges,` ,forjv in-`r stance', between the thunb andonef'or more fingers: n oij'the left hand andvplacingaingerfand thumb of y A the fright-)hand against :the hinge eargand: the.y

n tongue 5, @A slightlongitudinal Vpressure onftl'ie?` 'tongue then allowsthe'ready opening of the tokens;5 y so ithat/,it 'comes intojtheposition illustrated in-` f' In or ryto identify, tokensjvvith` a particulary i store,lI form on one lof the edges of the printing plate I Ya. notch l0. The position of this notchin such edge determines the store to which the token corresponds, as all the printing machines of that store have'a controlling member hereinafter described, adapted to enter such notch. Any token with the notch in any other position will, accordingly, not allow the controlling member to take the position it would if the notch were in a. proper position for that store, and this abnormal position of the controlling member operates mechanisms hereinafter l described to i discard suchV improper token. i

The plate portion I of the token is embossed with suitable printing characters I2, which are struck up from the bottom of the plate portion and thus when the token is closed arehoused within it and protected from injury. `Within the cover I place an identification card i3; whichv may carry an imprint of thev embossed matter and is of such contour that it ts flange of the cover.

'I'he printing machine in the embodiment shown is designed to print from the printing plate of the token just described,`while the cover por tion `of that token acts as a handle for the insertion but extendsidly at the front ofthe ma` chine during the printingoperation. VI will now describe such printing mechanism'.

In Figs,i1 to 10 inclusive, 20 Ydesignates the bed of the machine whichis shown as a hollow rrectangular memberhaving a horizontal top plate 2| and a vertically depending skirt'at the ends` and sides. Rising from the top are a pair of ears 25 carrying'a shaft 26 which is embraced by a tubular portion 3|, formed on the platen arm 30, thusenabling this arm to be substantially horizontal as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or verticalas y 42 occupying the respective grooves 33 of the head. At its lower forward portion the side members of the carriage carrya support for the transverse shaft 45 on which is a roller platen 46. y

An adjustable stud 35 carried: by the platen arm is adapted to engage the' bed platen 2| and K. limit the lowermost position of. the arm. *The platen head 32 is provided within the grooves' 33 with shims 31 adjustable by screws 38. By these means the position and path of theroller platen is accurately effected, so that rit may move horizontally lwith the desired printing pressure 'y against .the token on the 1bed, as hereinafter described.

-..The carriage 40 is connected by alink 50 to an arm Whichis loosely-journalled on theshaft 26. -Pivoted tothe arml`5| is a catch '52 pressedl in a4 downward direction byl a spring 54 and designed to coact with aleaf "spring retainer 55 se- I cured to .the rear end-offl the bed 20. This construction Vserves to 'retain the elevated platen arm in vertical positionagain'st inadvertent displacement, as illustrated in Fig. 6, while allowing Y' it to be readily lowered manually when desire'diV snugly within the 56 on the carriage and at the rear ends toa rod 59 secured to the platen arm.

It results from the construction described that when the platen arm is in a substantially horizontal position the tension of the springs 51 tends to draw the carriage to the rearmost position, as shown in Fig. 2. As the arm is raised, the eiect of the link 50, swinging about the pivot at the upper end of the restrained arm 5| is tov shove the carriage lengthwise of the arm 30 toward the free end thereof. When the arm comes into the ver- .tlcal position; shown in Fig. 6, the carriage is at the extreme end of the platen arm. In this position afiange 48 at the rear end of the carriage becomes engaged by a shoulder on a latch '60, pivoted vto 'an ear 6| rising from the arm and pressed toward the arm by a spring 62.

It will be seen that the raising'of the platen arm to a substantially vertical position not only forces the carriage forwardly but cocks it; .that is to say, restrans it in that position under the action of the extended springs 51, and the carriage remains in that position when the arm is lowered for use into position as shown in' Fig. 1.

A trigger for releasing the cocked carriage comprises a rocking bar 65 pivoted to a `stud 66 rising from the head 32 of the platen arm. This platen has in itsrear a notch .which receives a forward extension 63 of, the latch 60. The other end of the rocking bar carries a knob 61 for manual use.` Beneath theY knob the rocking bar rests in a vertical plunger 68, slidably mounted in the head 32 and pressed upwardly by a spring 69 (Fig. 5).

AIt will be understood from the descriptionA given that when the platen arm. is raised into the vertical position, the carriage is forced forwardly and is latched by the latch 60, and that' when the arm: is thereafter lowered, as it may be by giving its upper end a slight jerk, causing the catch 52 to come free from'the spring 55, .the parts assume the positionshown in Fig. l1 with the carriage cocked. Thereafter ay manual blow or downward pressure on the knob 61 rocks the bar 65 to force upwardly the latch 60, releasing the carriage, and thereupon the springs 51 pull the carriage rearwardly so that the plxaten 46 rolls over the surface beneath it. lAs about to be explained,

such surface may include the'embossed portion of the token whereby printingmay be eiected on a sales slip' or other paper overlying the token.

Coming now to the means for carrying the token inthe machine, it will be seen from Fig. 5 that the horizontal bed plate 2| `of the machine is recessed with a shallowundercutV groove to form a'slideway for a slide 10. This slide isl formed ink its` top surface with a shallow Igroove adapted to receive the printingA member of. the token. The top of this shallow groove is formed by, horizontal plate-like ribs 12` and 13 'on the slide, which overhang' the depressedY margins 4 and 3, respectively, of 'the token. The token may therefore be readily shoved into placer lengthwise of the slide, the hinged cover 2 of the token extending idly beyond` ity and being supported in substantially horizontal position by the slide as illustrated invFigs. 6 and '7. Y

'I'he Yslide l1li preferably has another shallow groove 15 parallel with the groove 1| and bounded by fthe overhanging portion of the rib 13 and another rib 16. This s'lideway may accordingly receive any Acharacters intended for continuous printing on 'successive'slips as, for instance, a small embossed plate carrying numbers to indicate thedate and other small embossed plates to yS'llffand thus push; the rearportion of Vthezarm 911|*` Y indicate the departmenth ,1115s, ,t such characters Wrelgembly'ed the dlietmetridicaien WQuld remain. permanently lathe machine S0 long. `as.'

f l itIwa's associated witlithat,department,,whereasl p thedatewo ldbechangledevery day.y The adf ditional,` printing matten is printed `at the, same haveshown theplaten as havingan intermediate annular" .grovelV betweenutwo larger-,Portions V .1'0 which coact withftlf'ie-tokenand the .,addil-ionall `A` r`matter respectively.. 5.5,( i f The s .slide `1|J may project beyond ,the beds. 2l| 'l asillustrated inllig. 7, butin its innerrnostposi` ytion ritisQentirely sovergthat,.bed,asillustratedf 1"15in Figs. 8 and 9A.,s1iitab1espring-,80 Within f therhollowbase (see Egfiiind 10 )is anchored 1 1 at oneend to'afpin'8|;:carried-bythe,topplate f 2|of the'bedand at'f,its,oth1end by.a pin A82. dependingirom; the `slide V1H), andlgaccord ing1ythis spring'tends'tofpulhthegslide into; its? outermost position, indicatedinlig.L fjoThle vslide .'Hl4 s normally restrained'in itsinnermostl position by thej engagement. of fa tooth" i .8.5i inf@ netch- 8.5 .ir1r,; 'v1`1.' *...Slide-vv `254,..s` h`o\lm` as .'exte Adingmupv'vardly from;av rocking.l

bar 81.', pivotedltoa rod 8, .extendingwcrosswise o`f-theljbase, the.i other'` eundolofl the Ybar being-5 presseddownwardly. byfa,` leaf springv 89.y `lThe tooth4 55 uis. inclinedgupwardly..from lthe ifront of `the fmachine so lthat when VtheQslide'L-is manually y y ao` and the returning toothfentering the` notchv 85l holds 1 the slide normallyuin itsrearmost position, and `that iswthe .position Af orvprinting from `the token, Y Vllivoted tothe underside rof the bed plate 2|' s cnaru ertical pivot 9| is aiiat horizontal bar f90,-

the rear end of which is turned' upwardly at` 92vt i. through an` opening-93 `inglthe1b ed fp1ate. A `4:0spring 95'attache'd tothe underside'of thebed' andto.l the ann-9|)` rtendsto-fswingdt in a rdirection to cause that portionof the" arm fin-front of, the pivot 9|,.to movetoward ,the4 token..` I.

s" tendingfpin` 9 1 .which is .in `registration with the` notch ||l of` a. properly positionedftoken apper- `shown in Fig. 8, whereas if thetoken is'lun-v "`notched.or if .the n'otchis located insome` other region the `edge o f the rib z.3wi1l l-.formian abutment to the .non shown that token, as about to be-described.ai.

s arm 30 `is a.-.comparatively" stiff1eaf 'springgr I, That Aspring is sopositioned that 'whenthe con end; as `illustrated in Fig'..f1, and hence such spring 99.... Y, f .v f. Now, if,'-due' to `tlfieabsence of @a properly' positioned notch, the token plate l has-'swung'.the

overhang' the latch-bar 8.1 in frontfof the pivot which rplyi'ngithe@pigment to makeythex imprint,v For This toothf'is shovedA inwardly -it v'cams `the f tooth ,downwardly l` Such-portion-fofthe arm.carriesfanfupwardly ex 1 i pin 91;,jand `the ,spring Willbeunable tolmove the arm-andfit willremainin thevposif y in'Fig`.a9 Now the positionv of the i upper projection \92'..of= cthe.. arm; 90.: determines whether or notthe printing maybe effected'irorn sanremo/the tubular hub; alsof meenten z trollngpin 91 engagesthe `notch lll ofthe token?4v as shownin Fig; 8, the springzis out'of registration ,with the-end 92 of the.arm`l Slwhen the platen arm is` lowered-and `movesy idlypast` such thereis no. operation of :the 4con rolling mechanism by with'ethe armV raised and the printing carriage bar, 90 aside, .asa-showninFig, ,9;1 the bar will u thereof andutheend `5l2z`of the bar'. SU-"will'be bei .j j neath the spring 99:: Then When'fthe arm 30 is L lowered, thefspring 99 willengagefthe abutment downwardly into the position shown-inFig. 10,

v rocksthe bar 'lwtofwithdraw-the tooth fromthe `,slide 10. Thereupon the spring. `8|! moves the slidelinto ,the outermost` positionwas ,illustratedkin Fig. 7;; `:Thisejects the ,token -and,

showsfx once thatl 'such token is :notsuitable for A thatmachine@` Any suitablel meansgmaybe employed` for supexamp1 eI `may useJ sales slips i interleaved with carbon strips to effecttheprintingin that'ma'nner.. fI prefer, however, to vmount an inking ribbon Jinlthe base of the; machine,;:sueh ribbon ex-f tending intermediately. across the region-of the 15 jtoken-,andacross theiother matter to be printedf.

I have shown in4 Fig. 5 afpairiof.slottedispools` lllfand s |0 mounted in the base,l terminatingy rat the. outer: ,ends inaknurle'd heads y1| 02 by'` which eithertjspooltmay be turned. .Anpinking ribbon |03; ,woundlonyone spool,';ma'y 'pass 4.upwardly through-.av sloty |05 rin'thel bedkplate 2|, `thencel 'acrss-theslide 'lfdownwardly'f through theicor.-

respondingslot |06ito the other;spool\'|0|. Such inking.. ribbon may conveniently beiacedv on lits underside with anon-inkingprotection tokeep from `soiling'.I they token.-: ',l/When: any particular. region of the. ribbon becomes worn the rotation s of thelcorresp'ondingknob '|02 a-short distance` would bring a fresh portion of the lribbonffintoposition.forwuse...mxif., i f y The bed may car f suitable `.guides for Athe sales slips.` For 1'nstancetherey may'fbe 'afside guide |||y secured to vone side of the bed;- as shown in -|Fig. 5, andfthin-metaltshields; I2 may' overhang! the rear portion of the slide, andother thinsheet metal lshields employed,asf desired, to" restrict the actioniof 'the' platento merely the embossed matterf on "the .token and on the` addi# tional. printing tmembers; so that theifefwould ybe noltendency to smudge thelrnarginalfportions-.of the sales slip.` These' are `details which maybe? employed asvdesired. In changing the dates orother additional mat-yv ter on fthe slide',:,it is a convenienee'jto have .the slide .project4 from under theribbon, Van'difrorn` under anyfshield which may be employed benesagthf;l

the .ribbon f conveniently.. and-oto. enable this yto Ibe F. "accomplished `withoutlregard to the. actionof the platen. arm; '.[fsecure` a1 iiat spring leaf'l .|20 to the underside .ofthebed plate 2|, this leafl have carries the slide latch-*185, andi having an upward `v projctionu |22 by whichffitimay'be manually de-2 v connection with a purchase.. Suchstoken is,vl very easily inserted in themachine whichl may stand.

cockedthen immediately uponinsertion` the operatorj simplyf'placesfvthe sales slipfover the inking'ribbiLbrings down the arm, pressing jorjv striking down upon'the'knobs` fl'heireleased cary riage thereupon "rollsr ftheplate'nquickly across the V'printing members to effect ythe printing,`

The printing action bythe springs '51," when" fied by the., :.userQ in 4,his pocket Gr-l time.;and.;y j readilyunfolded rforense. whenever presented `inr` A vbefore printing can releasedby the operator pressing down on vthe knob- 65takes place before the operator can remove hisv manual pressure on the knob", which hasbeen holding vthe arm stud 35 against the bed. Accordingly, the guide'for the platen carriage is held in a definite horizontal position-over the bed during the stroke of the-platen, resulting vin an accurate, well-formed imprint;

.As soon 'as the token is printed, the salesman withdraws the token from the machine, vusing the extended cover as a-handle tov drawv it out, closes the token and returns it to the owner with vthe sales slip, and throws back-the platen arm to vertical position to cock the carriage ready for the next imprint. The operation ofthe cooking and printing continues successivelyv so long as the proper tokens are presented.

As soon as` an improper token is Apresented the mere'loweringxof the platen before there is any printing action causes the slideto move outwardly carrying the token beyond the inking ribbon and platen, and showing at once that' print--l ing from that token is impossible." Thereupon y the salesman removes the token and no-sale is made. 'Ihe salesman may return the token to the customer with the Vstatement that thelmachine shows it is not available at that store.=

1. In a printing device the combinatiomwith a platenand meansto support a token `with which the platen may cooperate to print, of means to shift said supporting means in a manner to prevent printing from a token notcorrelated with the machine. A

2. In ar printing device, the combination of a bed adapted to support a ltoken having vprinting characters, a platen adapted to. coactv with such 4characters to effect printing, and control mechanism on the machine adapted to beset by a token to automatically move said token in'its own principal plane and thereby discharge such token, said mechanism being non-eiective vif an` indication on the` token properlyv corresponds with said control mechanism.v f

3; The combination with a plurality of 'cus-U tomers tokens, one of which has a selective indication in one position and another of 4which has no'such indicationrin that position,a printing machine adapted to print from atoken of the first-mentioned character, a holder to. carry a token, and a discarding device on the machinev operating automatically to shift said holder to a predetermined position *and therebyv eJect a token of the last-mentioned character before printing can beveifected. 1 f 4. The combination with a plurality of cus-y tomers tokens, one of which has a notohzinits edge in one position and the other of whichhas no notch insuch position, a printing machine adapted to print fromtokens, a holder carried by said machine for a token and a discarding device on the machine under the. controlv of a member adapted to enter the notch of a proper token, said discarding device operating automatically to shift said holder t'o a predetermined positionV and thereby eject an improper token before printing can be effected.

5. In a printing device ofthe character de? scribed, the combination, with a platen and meansl to support a token with which Pthe platenmay cooperate to print, of means operating automatically consequent upon a movement of the platen` to eject a token not correlated with the machine be effected.

6.111 a printing machine, the combination of .bed'for holding a token in, position to be engaged'by the roller platen as it'moves along the lowered platen arm, and mechanism coacting with 4theltoken and operative consequent upon the lowering of the platen arm to effect the dischargeof' an improper "token before the platen comes into position to print from the token.

8; In a printing machine; the combination of a bed adapted to carry a form, a raisable platen arm carried thereby, a'roller platen on the arm, means `for constraining the platen and latching it under constraint when the arm is raised, vand mechanism adapted to release the latch at a time when the arm is lowered, whereby the platen mayautomatically travel across the form.

9.',In a printing-machine,- the combination of aibed adaptedy to carry a printing form, a raisable platenarmcarriedby the bed, a roller platen'l on the arm, spring means adapted to move the platen along the arm, means for latching" the platen with 4thespring, means, and a manually operable devicecarried by the platen arm and serving `under pressure "of the operator-s hand to hold the-platen arm in its depressed position and to Vrelease `the latch, whereby the spring means" may cause the platen to roll over the form.

10. In a printing machine, thecombination of a bed adapted to carry a` printing form, a platen arm carried'by the bed `'and Vadapted `toraise therefrom, a roller: platen slidably mounted on the arm, spring means tending to move the platen bodily along Ithe arm, mechanism operating automatically consequent upon the raising of the arm to move the platen bodily in opposition to the spring means, means for latching the platen in its constrained position when the armv is raised and retaining the platen in this position while the `arm is being lowered, and a manually operable devicecarried by the platen arm and serving under pressure of the operators hand to hold the platen arm-in its depressed position and to release the latch.Y V

V11. In a` printingl machine, the combination of a bed, a movable platen arm, a bodily movable a bed, a movable platen arm, a shiftable slide on the bed adapted for carrying a customers token in position to be engaged by the platen,'

means acting consequent the platen arm to `release is not properly correlated with the machine, and spring means operating to move the released slide.

13. In a printing machine, the combination of a bed, a slide mounted thereon havingA means upon the lowering of for movably carrying a customers token, a spring l tending to move the slide in: a direction away from the-',bed, a latch to hold the slide in an active position,A a pivoted platenV arm carried by the bed, a platencarried by the ar under the control of the customers token on the slide to effect the release of 'the slide latch consequent upon the lowering of the platen arm.

coA

the slide if the token and mechanism `let. In a; printing Qmachine, the combination of a bed, a movable platen arm, A,a bodily movable,A rollerplaten on. thev arm, a shiitableslide on the v,

rliecLmeansfon thefslide for carrying a .custom er's' i.

iok

- almanac token in position to` be engaged by 'the roller,

platen while the ,platen'arm is lowered, and d ymechanismpn the machine controlled bythe f y token to automatically release they slide, said mechanism beingv non-'effectiveif the indication o rrthe` token-properly corresponds with vsaid mechanism.

d c, 15. Inga ,printing machine, i the combination y otra plurality of seats,means for holdingprint* ing matter in one :of the seats* indefinitely for', successive" impressions, ,meansfior holding la i customers tokeny o n the .other'seat for oneiinf4 pression, aplatenv adapted` to coact Simultaneousfv ly with .printing matterk onboth seats, and means i for lpreventing such` coaction if l'the 1' customer's token -does not correspondfto' that,machine. Y l llu'lhe'combination of a Al, 1ed,a, slide mounted,l thereonhaving a ,pluralityof seats, one forrelatively permanent matter and thevothermfor Aa.. .customers token changeable for eachimpresfsion, a platen adapted to coact withbothj' the ,token and the Lrelativelypermanent form, control mechanism for the slide adaptedto'coact l with the token to movetheslide automatically when the token does not correspond withthe con trol mechanism such movement beingadapted to carry the customers token beyond the region4 of the platen.

17. In a'v printingl machine, the combination of `a bed, `a platen arm carried thereby, a slidable ycarriage on the arm, arollerplaten` onvthe cari riage; a spring acting on thecarriage tending to move itvinone direction, mechanism connected withthe carriage operating to move. it in the `other direction consequent uponthe elevation of the arm, automatic means for latching the carriage in the position in which the elevation of the arm has brought it and retaining such position during the lowering of the arm, and mechanism to release the latch toenable the spring to carry "the roller across the printing form on the bed.

18. In a printingmachine, the combination of f a bedadapted to carry a printing form,`a pivoted platen arm,

a slidable carriage on the arm, a

roller platen on the carriage, a spring attached to the'ca'rriage and tending to move it along the arm, link mechanism connected with the carriage 1 'tending to move it along the arm in opposition to the spring when the arm is raised, alatchcarried 3 d by the arm and operating automatically to retain the carriage in the position inwhich the link mechanism has moved it,1a manually depressible knob mounted on the platen arm, and means whereby .the depression of such knob when the arm has been lowered may operatethe latch to" release the carriage, .whereby the spring may cause. the platen to roll over the form.

19. In a printing machine, ythe combination of I a bed adapted to carry a printing form, a raisable platen arm, a carriage slidably guided on the arm, a' roller platen mounted in the carriage, a spring secured to the carriage and tending to move the carriage 'along lthe arm, mechanism connected to the carriage and operating when the i arm is raised to lmove the carriage alongthearm in opposition to the spring, means'to hold the carriage'in such constrained position, a latch to hold thearm temporarily elevated while allowing the arm yto be'readily lowered without releasr ing the carriage holding means. d 20. In a printingmachine, the combinationconstrained of a bed adaptedto carry a printing forma platen arm pivotally mounted thereon and having t ahead adjacent the free end, a carriageysiidably' l guidedonthe head, a roller platen mounted in? the carriage, a tension springsecured to the car-,-

' age-end nchored'adiwentthe pivot of the `arm ,1 tending tomove the carriage rearwardly :along y the arm, linkage,mechanism connected to the carriage andoperatingwhen thel arm is raised to d vl0.v latch on .the arm-.to `hold thecarriage in such v position.l a secondlatch to .holdthe move the carriage forwardly alongfthevarm`,a

arm temporarily elevated whileallowingthe arm to ybe readily .lowered riage flatch,` adepressiblelknobearried by the head, Yand mech without releasing ,the caf '15 nismr operated by said f9.1,

release the .carriagelatcnf wherebythe operator j f a notches in their edges, a movable pin'. adaptedto `5 bearagainst thev edgey of the tokenasinserted and enter the notch if properly positioned rela.- u l tive to the pina latch for the slide,-a spring tending to move the slide into positionk to carry the token beyond the region oi.' the platen. and

f means whereby the lowering oi' the arm may re# lease the slide latch'or leave it yactive according z Y to the position of -the control pin.`

22. In a machine for printing customers tokens, the combination of a bed, a slidemounted thereon and adapted `to carry a token, spring means tending to move the slide and carrythe token to an idle position, a latch for holding the slide in its active position, a platen arm carried by the bed and having a platen adaptedftocoact with the token on the positioned slide, a movable abutment carried by the bed. control mechanism on the bed having a pin adaptedto enter a properly-positionednotchin the edge of the token or engage the edge ofthe token if there is no notch in this location to vary the position oi' the abutment accordingly, means on the .arm adapted to engage or miss the .abutment upon lowering of the arm consequent upon the action` of the control mechanism,and meansv whereby the engagement of the abutment Vcauses a movement of the retaining latch forthe slide,

whereby the slide is released and its'` spring causes thel movement `of the token to idle posivvtion. y 23. In a machine for printing customers tok-` f ens, the combination of a bed, a slide thereon,`

means on the slide for removably4 carrying the token, an inking ribbon extending across the slide, a spring tending to move the slide into position to carry a token on the slide beyond the.

region of the ribbon, a platen adapted to coact with the tokenl on the slide positioned beneath the ribbon to effect printing from the token, dif` ferent tokens having differently positioned control characteristics thereon, and `mechanism onv the machine including means coacting with the.

control characteristic of the token to cause movement of ,the slide when an improperly char-` acterized token is on the slidewhereby such token is carried out from'under the inking ribl atv machine for printing customers tok.- d

token exposed according to the position of theV slide, a spring tending to move the slide into' position to carry the token beyond the region of the ribbon, a latch for restraining the slide against such spring action, a movable platen arm carrying a platen adapted to coact with the token on the slide positioned beneath the ribbon to effect Vprinting from the token, diierent tokens having diierently positioned control characteristics thereon,v and mechanism on the machine coacting with the control characteristic of the token and adapted to cause the platen arm when lowered torelease the slide -latch before the platen can coact with the token, whereby the 'token-is carried out'f'rom under the inking ribbon.

25. A printing machine havinga bed carrying an open ended shallow groove into which -a-cusstomers token may be slid by longitudinal movement, and a platenk adapted to coact with the token when so held, combined with a customers token composed of an embossed printing plate, a cover hinged to the end of the plate on an axis extending along such end, said cover serving to protect the plate when not in the machine a bed, a slidefcarried thereby said slide having a shallow channel with overhangingledges at its edges, theV intermediate region of the slide being adapted to support a customers token while the ledges overhang the edges of the token, a token adapted to be mounted on the slide and comprising a printing plate slidable beneath the ledges and aA cover plate hinged tothe end of the printing plate and adaptedto engage andbe supported by the slide near the hinge axis when the plateis inserted, whereby the cover acts as a handle'for the insertion or removal of the plate, platen mechanism operating to print from the inserted token, and mechanism to release. the slide when an improper token is mounted thereon,there being machanism'to move the released slide outwardly to carry such token to a nonprinting position.

GEORGE W. SCHAEFER.

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