US2386551A - Synchronized conveyer mechanism and printing press - Google Patents

Description

v 0a; 9, 1945. F. w, HILL 2,386,551

SYNCHRCSNIZED CONVEYER MECHANISM AND PRINTING PRESS Filed Oct. 50, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 ,HIH Q g 3 INVENTOR i I u FREDERICK w. mu.

ATTO EY Oct. 9, 1945. F. w. HILL SYNCHRONIZED QO'NVEYER MECHANISM AND PRINTING PRES S 7 Shets-Sheer. 2

Filed pct. 50, 1940 m. 0 M .5 E m W w .l

E ZA 0 Oct. 9, 1945. F. w. HILL 2,386,551

V SYNCHRONIZED CONVEYER-MECHANISM AND PRINTING PRESS Filed 051. so, 1940 v Sheets-Sheet s F. w. HILL CONVE YER MECHANISM AND PRINTING PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 9, 1945. v

SYNCHRONIZED Filed oct. 30, 1940 INVENTOR FREDERICK W. HILL" ATTORNEY;

0a; 9,1 945'.f A w. HILL 2,386,551

SYNCi-IRONIZED CONVEYER MECHANISM AND PRINTING PRESS V I ATTOR EYSY F. w. HILL 2,386,551

SYNCHRONIZED CONVEYER MECHANISM AND PRINTING PRESS Oct. 9, 1945.

Filed not so, 1940 7 Sheets- Sheet s r 5?; INVENTOR FREDERICK W HILL ,QQQIZQM ATTOR EYs Oct..9, 1945. F. w. HILL SYNCHRONIZED CONVEYER MECHANISM AND PRINTING PRESS Fil ed Oct 50, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR FREDERICK w. mu.

Patented Oct. 9, 1945 SYNCHRONIZED AND asses'sr converse MECHANISM PRINTING PRESS Frederick W. Hill, Rutherford, N. J., assignorto General Printing Ink Corporation, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 30, 1940, Serial No. 363,539

19 Claims.

My invention relates to a printing press having synchronized therewith a conveyer mechanism serving to move articles toward and from the printing zone.

My invention, in a broad aspect thereof, relates to an arrangement of the character stated Fig. 8a isa vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing a feature of the invention;

Fig. 9 is an elevational 'view, partly in section,

showing a pawl and ratchet mechanism;

wherein means is provided for transporting articles in succession along paths angularly' related to each other, one of said paths extending through the printing zone.

My invention has more detailed reference to a printing press comprising means for moving strip-like articles endwise along a path extending through a printing zone, said articles being moved sidewise into and from said path by conveyers synchronized with the printing press.

Various other objects, advantages and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the synchronized conveyer mechanism and printing press, features and combinations. of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 10 is a, perspective view showing part of a sprocket chain serving to deliver strip-like articles into the path taken thereby while travelling through the printing press;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, showing the actuating means for the mechanism which removes the strip-like articles from the path taken thereby-while travelling through the printing. press;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line l3-i3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In general, my invention relates to an arrangement for printing on strip-like articles any desired representations, characters, marks or the like. With the form of the invention herein illustrated, although not necessarily, the striplike articles are steel blanks which are passed endwise through the printing zone in order to print thereon numerals, transverse lines of dif- --ferent length, etc. whereby the blanks, after Figure 1 is a front elevational] view, with parts omitted, showing the apparatus of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away, showing the mechanism for delivering strip-like articles to the printing press;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing part of a sprocket chain serving to remove strip-like articles from the path taken thereby while travelling through the printing press;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the mechanism for removing strip-like articles from the path taken thereby while travelling through the printing press; I

Fig. 5 is an elevational shown in Fig. 4;

- Fig. 6 is a detailed elevational view showing the actuating mechanism for the arrangement View of the mechanism which feeds strip-like articles directly to the printing press;

. sion fl.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevational view, with parts omitted, showing the mechanism for delivering strip-like articles into the path taken thereby while travelling through the printing press;

Fig.8is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of thearrows;

completion of the. printing operation, are rulers of the character known to the art as steel rulers.

Referring to Fig. 1, B represents a suitable base on which is supported a vertical main frame F having an upper extension I and a side extension ii. The base B also supports an electric motor I receiving energy from any suitable source, not shown. The armature ofthe motor I carries a gear wheel 2 which meshes with and drives a gear wheel 3 of a suitable gear box 4, power from which is delivered by an endless belt 5 to a pulley 6 mounted on a shaft 1 horizontally mounted in suitable manner in the frame exten- The shaft 1 has secured thereto for rotatable movement therewith a gear wheel 8 which .meshes with and drives a train of gear wheels Further, the gear wheel 9 meshes with and drives a gearwheel 14 secured to and rotatable with a shaft l5 horizontally mounted in the main frame F, the shaft I5 serving as the support for the impression or supporting .cylinder 16. The gar wheel I 4 meshes with and drives a gear wheel I! secured to and rotatable with a shaft l8 mounted in the upper frame extension suitable manner from an inking drum 24 to which ink is supplied periodically by an oscillatory ductor roll 25 in turn receiving ink intermittently from a fountain roller 28.

As shown in Fig. 1, the hereinbefore described base '3 has secured thereto a lower horizontal supporting member 38 which, by the vertical struts 3!, is adapted to support an angle mem= her 82. As shown in Fig. 2, the member 32 has suitably secured'thereto, as by the angles 33, a pluralit of horizontal supporting members 34 which. at their ends toward the front of the machine, have suitably secured thereto a pair of spaced parallel members 35 each of which is disposed in .a vertical plane. Suitably secured to the upper surfaces of the members 35 is a horizontal plate 38 which serves as a table as hereinafter described. Suitably secured to the of is loosely received within. a passage formed in a tubular member 58 suitably secured to the frame extension II, as by the bolts 88, said frame extension fl preferably being provided with a recess disposed in alineme'nt' with the passage in the member 58. The member 51 carries a fixed collar 8| engaged by one end of a helical spring 82 encircling said member 51, the other end of the spring 82 engaging the member 58 so as to bias the lever 5l in a counterclockwise direction,

Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 2, 7 and 8, the shaft 45, adjacent each of the plate brackets 4|, 43 and 43, is shown as having sprocket wheels 84 suitably secured thereto for rotatable movement therewith. Each of the plate brackets 4|, 43 and 43, at the rear end thereof, .carries a sprocket wheel 85, pairs of the sprocket wheels 84, 85 being trans versely alined as indicated in Fig. 2 for the reception of the respective endless sprocket chains 88, 81 and 88 of duplicate character.

s shown in Fig. 10, each transversely extending sleeve '88 of the aforesaid sprocket chains has a screw 18 threaded thereinto, the screw head 18a confining a roller loosely on the screw shank and all Of the rollers 'H being disposed in longitudinal alinement.

members 34 toward the rear of the machine is a horizontal plate 31 occupying a lower level than the plate 38. The upper surface of the plate 31 carries a plurality of supporting members 38 extending rearwardly in parallel relation from the table 38, the members 38 being half-round when viewed endwise and the rounded surfaces facing upwardly.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the hereinbefore described frame extension ,f| has suitably secured thereto, as by the bolts 38, one end of a bracket 48 which, at its other end, is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the hereinbefore described angle member 32.

As shown in Figs. 1. 2 and 7, the forwardly facing vertical surface of the angle member 32 has a horizontal plate bracket 4| suitably secured thereto, as by one or more bolts 42. At the same level, the hereinbefore described frame extension II has a. pair of horizontally extending plate brackets 43 suitably secured thereto as by the bolts 44., The plate brackets 4| and 43, at their The plate 31, in the zone of the sprocket chain 88, is provided with a slot 31a, Fig. 2. In operation, the upper span of the chain 88 travels toward the rear of the machine or upwardly as the parts are positioned in Fig. 2, said upper -in groups of three at right angles to the path of chain movement. As shown in Fig. 8, one of the platebrackets 43 has secured thereto a pair of spaced bracket members 12 having horizontally alined upper surfaces to which a horizontal supporting member I3 is secured by screws 14. As will be obvious, the member I3 serves as a 1 support upon which the upper span of the sprockforward ends, have a horizontal shaft 45 jour-.

nalled therein. As shown in Fig. 7, the shaft 45, adjacent that plate bracket 43 toward the right, has secured thereto a ratchet wheel 48 with which is coactable a pawl 41 pivoted on a plate 48 freely oscillatory on said shaft 45, Fig. 9. Connected to the plate 48 by a pin-and-slot connection 49 is one end of a link 58 which extends horizontally from left to right, Fig. 8, freely through an opening provided therefor in the frame extension'jl, the link 58, at its end removed from the plate 48 having one end of a lever 5| pivoted thereto. The lever 5|, intermediate its ends, is pivoted at 52 to a U-shaped bracket 83 secured by bolts 54 to said frame extension fl. The end of the lever 5| removed from the link 58 carries a cam roller 55 coactable'with a cam member 58 suitably secured to the rear end surface of the hereinbefore described blanket cylinder I8. I I The lever 5| should be biased in a counteret chain 81 rests whereby the latter is maintained constantly in a: horizontal position. It will beiinderstood that the upper spans of each of the sprocket chains 88 and 88 are supported by an arrangement corresponding with the one described above.

Referring to Figs. '7 and 8, the hereinbefore described frame extension fl, on the exterior surface thereof, is shown as having a block 18 secured thereto by screws 11. The block 18 is provided with a passage 18a in which is freely received a guide structure 18 comprising a p of members 19 and 88 secured together by screws 8|. The members I9 and 88, in the area thereof toward the left, Fig. 8, are spaced apart to form a horizontal channel or passage 82 and, as shown, the bottommember 18 extends to greater extent toward the left than does the upper member 88. Adjacent the end of the passage 82 toward the right, Fig. 8, the guide structure is provided with a recess in which is freely received a roller 83 mounted on a vertical screw 84. Up-- standing from the upper surface of the guide structure I8 is a lug 85 through which freely extends the shank of a horizontal screw 88 which is prevented from moving with respect to said guide structure 18 by the head of the screw and printing zone.

' sons, the roller as is "idle and, at this time,

said roller 95 is spaced from the roller 99 a disa collar 91 secured to said screw, the screw head and the collar engaging opposite respective sides of the lug 95. The threaded end of the screw 99 is received in a horizontal threaded passage provided therefor in the block 19.

As shown in Fig. 7, the frame extension II, in-the area thereof toward the printing cylinders, is provided with a recess having seated therein a block 99 carrying' a guide structure 19a which is a duplicate of the guide structure 19 described above. characters have been applied to corresponding parts of the two guide structures 18 and 18a.

The guide structures 18 and 1811 serve in the manner hereinafter described, to guide the strip like articles endwise toward and between the printing cylinders.

Referring further to Figs. 2 and '7, the guide structure 19a is shown as having secured thereto the members 89 which extend horizontally toward the printing cylinders. Secured to the lower surface of each of themembers 89 by 'a screw head 90 is afr'eely rotatable roller 9|, one of the rollers 9| being disposed in alinement with the rollers 99 .of the guide structures 18 and 1.8a,

roller 9i a distance corresponding withthewidth In view of this fact, the same reference As indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, a rectangular frame formed by four side members I02 is supported by a bracket I02a carried by the frame F,

Fig. 11, and by standards I09 upstanding from asuitable supporting surface. The'frame formed by said members 902 carries a plurality of spaced supports I04 the upper surfaces of which are disposed in a. horizontal plane and said supports I04 having secured thereto a plurality of spaced supporting members I05, the members I05 being half-round when viewed endwise and the rounded and the other roller 9i being spaced from the of the strip-like article to be fed through the .As shown in- Fig. 7, the plate brackets 99 have I secured to the upper surfaces thereof a plate 89a,

the upper surface of which is in horizontal alinement with the top' surfaces of the members 38.

hereinafter described,.said frame last mentioned has attached thereto a plurality of brackets, which form bearings for the shaft I01.

At the end thereof toward the left, Fig. '7, the

plate 99a comprises-an upwardly extending sec- .tion 89b.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 8a,,the" herein-'- before described gear wheel I3 is shown as secured to a shaft 92 which extends through and is journalled'in a unitary structure comprising the disks 99 and 99, said'shaft 92 being secured eccentrlcally to. a circular disk 94 'iournalled in a As shown in Fig.4, the front shaft I05 has secured thereto a. plurality of spacedsprocket wheels H0 and, similarly, the rear shaft I01 has secured thereto a plurality of spaced sprocket wheels III the sprocket wheels H0 and III being alined in pairs transversely of the machine. Further, as shown in Fig. 4, the pairs of sprocket wheels H0 and III carry'the respective endless sprocket chains I l2, l1 3 and I I4 of duplicate charcircular recess formed in one side of the frame extension fl, the shaft 92 extending frmn right to left, Fig. 8a, through an enlarged passage formed in said frame'extension fl and, at its end, having a roller 95 secured thereto. The disk 99 comprises a laterally extending arm 99a to which is pivoted one end of a link 99 which,

at its other end, is of fork-shaped construction -with a roller 99 mounted on a horizontal shaft I99 journalled in saidframeextension II. the

' shaft I90 supporting the hereinbefore described gear wheel I2. I

Inview-of the foregoing, it ,will become apparent that the shaft 92, under the control of the cam disk" and the spring 98b is adapted to occupy two positions as imposed thereon by movement of the structure comprising the disks 93 and 94, such movement being produced by, the link 95. In one of these positions;the roller 95 occuacter. As indicated in Fig. 5, the upper spans of the sprocket chains H2, H3 and H4 rest upon suitably supported members I I5a to thereby support said upper spans for movement along horizontal paths, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 3, each of the sprocket chains last noted has the usual side links I I5 at one side of the chain replaced by side links II5 each-of which comprises an upwardly extending arm I I1. Referring to Fig. 4, pairs of the supporting members I05 are disposed relatively close to each other so as to form narrow paths along which travel the upper spans of the respective sprocket chains H2, H3 and III. These upper spans move horizontally toward the front of the machine and, while thus moving, the arms II1 extend upwardly in vertical relation. As will be understood, the

arms II1 are alined in groups of three at right angles to the path of chain movement.

Referring to Fig. 11, the aforesaid shaft I01 is shown as having a ratchet wheel II8 secured thereto for rotatable movement therewith. Freely H9 is one end of an actuating link I2I the other end-of which is pivoted to one end of alever I22 pivoted to a bracket I23 carried by and pr'oiecting from the frame F, the lever I22 being biased in, a clockwise direction, Figalljby a suitably pies its feeding position wherein it is spaced from the roller 99 .a distance corresponding with thethickness of the article which is to be fed through. the printing zone. In the other of these posiplate cylinder 22. The frame formed by the members I02 has seanchored spring ma. The other end of the; lever I22 carries a cam roller I24coactable witha cam member I25 securedto and rotatable with the encircles the member III and biases the lever III- in a clockwise direction, Fig. 18.

spaced longitudinally thereof, these slots forming open paths through which travel the respective sets of chain arms I ll.

The horizontal section of the angle member l2? has secured thereto a-plurality of upwardly 'extending brackets I28, Fig. 12, in which is Journalleda horizontal shaft I28 having secured thereto a plurality of arms I30, Fig. 13. Each of the arms 530 terminates in a downwardly directed section and secured thereto is a gate meme ber I3I- corresponding in length and height with the vertical section of the angle member I21.

Secured to the shaft I28 for oscillatory movement therewith is anarm I32, Fig. 13, which terminates in a section I33 formed with an arcuate slot I33a. Secured to the arm section III by a.

bolt I34 extending through the slot IIIa is one end of a. link I35 which, at its lower end, isconnected by a member I38 with one end of a lever 631 and with the upper end of a member III.

The lever II'I is pivoted at III to the lowermost bracket IIi2a and, on a horizontal axle formed by a bolt extending through the lever III, there is 1 supported a roller I40 having a peripheral groove Ilda which receives the peripheral edge of adisk MI secured to the shaft I01, said disk I 'having a plurality of spaced notches IQIa formed in the outer edge surface thereof.

The member I38, at its lower end, extends loosely through a passage formed in a bracket I42 extending transversely from the frame F.

I53 is secured to the upper end of the member (138 and, between this collar MI. and the bracket I42, there is confined a helical spring I, which The operation is as follows: With the electric motor I operating at a constant speed, the supporting cylinder II is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. l, by themechanical connection comprising the belt 5, the gear wheel 9 and the gear wheel 14. of the rotative movement thus imparted to the supporting cylinder II, the blanket cylinder I9 is rotated in a clockwise direction, Fig. l, and, resultantly, the plate'cyllnder 22 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 1. As well understood in the art, the blanket cylinder II carries an arcuate rubber blanket Ila which, once for each cycle of rotative movement of said blanket cylinder I9, engages and receives an impression from the printing plate, not shown, on

the plate cylinder 22, this printing plate, as well understood in the art, receiving ink from the ink- "-,ing rollers 23 as said plate cylinder 22 rotates during operation of the printing press.

A collar and 6 8, simultaneously, have a step of movement imparted thereto from the rear of the machine toward the front thereof or from left to right as the sprocket chain 61 is shown in Fig. 8. After the cam member 56 passes beyond the cam roller 55, the lever BI and the associated parts return, under the influence of the spring 52, to the respective positions thereof shown in Fig. 8. Thereafter, the sprocket chains 66, 5'! and t8 remain stationary until the blanket cylinder It), on its next cycle ofrotative movement, again brings the cam member 56 into engagement with the cam roller 55.

As the gear wheel 9 rotates under the, control of the electric motor I as described above, rotative movement, through the gear wheels III and II, is transmitted to the gear wheel I2, the shaft ously in a clockwise direction, Fig. '1.

into feeding position Once during each cycle of rotat'ive movement of the blanket cylinder II, the cam section 9M of the disk 91, Fig. 6, engages the cam roller 86 to thereby move the arm lId'of the disk 93 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. In so doing, the disk 94 is moved rotatably in its seat in the frame extension fl and, as a result, the roller 95 is moved bodily so as to bring the same closely adjacent the roller 99. I

Once during. each cycle of rotative movement of the plate cylinder 22, the cam member I125 thereon engages the cam roller I2l'and moves the lever I22 in a counter-Eclockwise direction, Fig. 11.

As a result, the link I2I is moved from left to right, Fig. 11, whereby the pawl 'I2l imparts a As a result step of rotative movement to the shaft I01. As a result of this action, the upper spans of the sprocket chains III, III and III have a step of .rotative movement applied thereto from the rear the spring I22a returns the lever I22 and asso- 'ciated parts to the respective positions thereof I shown in Fig. 11.

' Once during each cycle of rotative movement.

ing,- causes the pawl 41 to. impart a step of rota-' tive movement to the shaft id. As a result, the

upper spans of the three sprocket chains SE. 33

While the sprocket chains II2, III and EM are stationary, the gate member III occupies the position shown in Fig. 13. However, when the shaft I0! is actuated as described above, it moves in a clockwise direction, Fig. 13, and carries the disk Ill therewith. As soon as the disk III starts to move, a high surface thereof (the surface between an adjacent pair of notches IlIa) enages the roller III'I to thereby cause the lever II! to move in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 13. As a result, through the-link I35 and arm I32, the shaft I28 is moved :rotat'ivel in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 13, to t 'ereby elevate the arms III! and thegate member IFZI carried thereby.' As the described step of rotative movement of the shaft IO'I ceases, the next succeeding notch Illa of the disk III comes into registering relation with the roller I whereby, under the influence of the spring I, the parts assume the various respective positions shown in Fig. 13 wherein the gate member III is closed with the lower surface thereof resting upon the supporting members N5.

As indicated in Fig. 2, a plurality of thestriplike articles or. blanks A may be supported on the table 36. By an operator, these blanks are deposited one-by-one on the supporting members 38 in such manner that each blank takes a posi- I tion between adjacent rows of the rollers 1I,'the

' blanks A, therefore, being disposed at right angles to the path of movement of the sprocket chains es, in and ea.

As the sprocket chains 66, 61 and 68 move stepby-step toward the rear 'of the machine under the control of the cam member '56, the blanks A move therewith, the-angular section 88b. of the plate 89a, Fig. 7, being utilized as a register or guide surface into engagement with which the adjacent end surface of each of the blanks A is moved. Eventually, the foremost blank A passes between the guide members 19, 80 of the respective guide structures I8 and comes to rest against J the rollers 83. At this time, the foremost blank A is in the path leading through the printing zone and, obviously, by adjustment of the screws 86,

the guide structures may be adjusted in a direcface 91a, in the'manner hereinbefore described,

causes the roller 95 to move into its feeding position whereby the blank is seized between the constantly rotating rollers 95 and 99 and fed endwise toward and into the printing zone, 1. e., the zone between the cylinders I8 and III which move the blank therebetween and apply. the desired printed impressions thereto. As shown in Fig. 6, the area of the cam surface 91a is small compared with the area of the disk 91 and, therefore, the rollers 85, 89 retain theirfeeding relation only momentarily or for sufiicient time to cause the blank to be fed between the cylinders "and I9. During such movement, the rollers II adjacent the blank A, the rollers 83 and the rollers 8| cooperate'with the respective edges of the blank A to guide the same while reducing friction to a minimum.

While the gate member I3I and the sprocket chains H2, H3 and Ill were being actuated as described above, the sprocket chains i8, i1 and 68 were again moved a step toward the rear of the machine to feed the next succeeding blank A into the path leading through the printing zone.

.Thus, in the manner described above, the blanks A are deposited on the supporting members v38 so as to be moved step-by-step by the sprocket chains 88, 61 and SI into the path leading through the printing zone. In succession, the blanks are removed from the zone of said sprocket chains 66, 61, 68 and passed endwise through the printing zone. Thereafter, under the control of the sprocket chains 2, H3 and Ill, the printed blanks are moved step-by-step toward the front of the machine, the printed blanks A being removed from said sprocket chains last noted when desired by an operator stationed at that side of the machine.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and vmodifications may be made wlthoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is'claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: I

1..The combination with a printingv press, of roller means for moving strip-like articles endwise and in succession along a path extending into and through the printing'zone, and conveyer chain means for transporting said strip-like ar- 'ticles sidewise and in succession from said path, said roller means and said conveyer chain means being operated in timed relation by cyclic mechanism of said printing press.

2. The combination with a printing press, of roller means for moving strip-like articles endwise and in succession along a path extending into and through the printing zone, conveyer chain means for transporting said strip-like articles sidewiseintosaid path, and conveyer chain means for transporting said strip-like articles sidewise from said path, said roller means and -As the blank A is thus fed through the printing zone, the sets of sprocket chains, 81, 68 and I I2, IIS, Ill are stationary, and the gate member I3l is in its lower position, Fig. 13. As stated, the

sprocket chains H2, H3 and Ill are stationary as the blank A is thus fed through the printing zone and, while thus stationary, adjacent rows of the fingers I II are disposed on the respective op- 'posite sidesof the path of the blank A as it is fed through and from the printing zone, Flg. 13,

under the vcontrol of the cylinders I6 and I9.

After the printed blank A passes from the printing zone, it assumes a stationary position on the supporting members I05. Immediately after the printed blank A thus assumes its stationary position as stated, the cam member I25 imparts a step of rotative movement to the shaft I01 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 13,- whereby the gate member Ill is elevated and the sprocket chains H2, H3 and Ill are moved a step from the rear of the machine toward the front thereof whereby said printed blank A is moved beyond the gate member III. As soon as this operation is completed. the cam member I25 moves beyond the roller I24 whereupon the sprocketchalns III,

both of said conveyer chain means being operated in timed relation. by cyclic mechanism of said printing press.

3. The combination with a printing press, of roller means for feeding articles directly into the printing zone, conveyer means for feeding the articles to said roller means, conveyer means for moving the articles from the path taken thereby while travelling through the printing zone, and means for operating all of said means in timed relation, said last named means imparting intermittent step by-step movement to both of said conveyer means.

4. The combination with a printing press having plate and blanket cylinders, oi rollermeans for -feeding articles directly into the printing zone, conveyer means for feeding the articles to said roller means, conveyer means for moving the articles from the path taken thereby while I It and I I4 become stationary and the gate member I3I returns to the position shown in'Flg. 13.

' means comprising travelling through the printing-zone, and means responsive to rotationof said plate and blanket cylinders for operating all of said means in timed relation. 3 r

5. The combinati n with a printing press, of e printing press cylinders for moving articles in succession along a path extending through the printing zone, and means for transporting said articles from said path, said transporting means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, said transporting means conveying the articles along spaced relation with respectto each other, said transporting means conveying the articles along a. path angularly related to said first named path, and means for transporting said articles irom said path, said last named transporting means comprising mechanism for retaining a pluralityof said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, said last named transporting means conveying the articles along a path 'angularly related to said first named path.

=7. Thecombination with a printing press, 01 means comprising the printing press cylinders for moving articles in succession along a path extending through the printing zone, means .tor transporting said articles into said path, said transporting means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, said transporting means conveying the articles along a path related at right angles to said first named path, and means for transporting said articles from said path, said last named transporting means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said articles thereon in spaced rela-.

tion with respect to each other, said last named transporting means conveying the articles along a path related at right angles to said first named path.

8. The combination with a-printing press, of

means comprising the printing press cylinders for moving articles in succession along a path extending through the printing zone, means for transporting said articles into said path, said transporting means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, said transporting means conveying the articles along a path related at right angles to i said first named path, and means for transporting said articles from said path, said last named transporting means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, said last named transporting means conveying the articles along a. path related at right angles to said first named path, said first named and said second named transportingmeans conveying said articles in opposite directions, respectively.

9. The combination with a' printing .press, of means for feeding articles directly into the print- .ing zone, transporting means for conveying'the articles to said feeding means, said transporting means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each, other, transporting means for moving the articles from the path taken thereby while travelling through the print- 10. The combination with a printing press, of means comprising the printin'g press cylinders for moving articles in succession alOng a path extending through the printing zone, means for feeding articles directly into the printing zone, transporting means for conveying the articles to said feeding means, said transporting means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, transporting means for moving the articles from the path taken thereby while travelling through the printing zone, said last named transporting means comprising mechanism for retainingia plurality of said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, and means for operating all of said means in timed relation.

11. The combination with a printing press, of means comprising the printing press cylinders for moving articles in succession along a path extending through the printing zone, means for feeding articles directly into the printing zone, transporting means for conveying the articles to said feeding means, said transporting means comprising a plurality of endless sprocket chains disposed in parallel relation, mechanism associated with said sprocket chains for retaining a plurality of said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, transporting means for moving the articles from the path taken thereby while travelling through the printing zone, said last named transporting means comprising a plurality of sprocket chains disposed in parallel relation, mechanism associated with said last named sprocket chains ior retaining a plurality of said articles thereonin spaced relation with respect to each other, and means for operating all of said means in timed relation. 12, The combination with a printing press, of means for moving strip-like articles sidewise and in succession into a path extendingthrough the printing zone, said moving means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said striplike articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, means for moving each striplike article, after it reaches said path, lengthwise between the printing'press cyl nders, the latter thereafter moving each strip-like article through and from the printingzone, and means for moving said strip-like. articles sidewise and in succession from said path, said last named moving means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said strip-like articles thereon in spaced relation with-respect to each other.

13, Th combination with a printing press, of

'roller means for moving strip-like articles endwise and in succession along a' path extending into and through the printing zone whereby said strip-like articles are engaged successively with the printing press cylinders, the latter thereafter moving each strip-like article through and from the printing zone, conveyer chain means for transporting said strip-like articles sidewise ing zone, said last named transporting means.

comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality into said path, and conveyor chain means for transporting said strip-like articles sidewise from said path, said roller. means and both'of'said conveyer chain means being operated in timed relation bycyclic mechanism of said printing press.

14. The combination with a printing press, of roller means for moving strip-like articles endwise and in succession along a path extending into and through the printing zone whereby said strip-like'articles are engaged successively with the printing press cylinders, the latter thereafter l5.-The combination with the supporting'cylconveyer chain means for transporting said strip-dike articles sidewise from saidpath, said roller meansand both or said coninder and blanket cylinder of a printing press,

of a pair of rollers spacedirom said cylinders. and operable to engage opposite respective sides oi! individual articles to move them in succession along a path extending intoand through the printing zone, conveyer means for moving said articles in succession into said path, said conveyer means comprising a plurality of endless sprocket chains disposed in parallel relation, and means for imparting intermittent step-b'y-step movement to said sprocket chains whereby each article is moved step-by-step toward said path.

16. The combination with a printing press, of conveyer means for moving strip-like articles sidewise and in succession into a path extending through the printing zone of said printing press, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of endless sprocket chains disposed in parallel relation, means for imparting intermittent step-bystep movement to said sprocket chains to thereby movethe upper spans thereof step-by-step toward said path, means projecting upwardly irom the sprocket chain upper spans for engaging a side of each strip-like article, means for moving said strip-like articleslengthwise and in succession along said path through the printing 'zone, and means for operating said means for imparting intermittent movement and said last named means in timed relation with said printing press.

1'7. The combination with-a printing press, of conveyer means for moving 'strip-like articles sidewise and in succession into a path extending through the printing zone, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of endless sprocket chains disposed in parallel relation, means timed with said printing press for actuating said sprocket chainsin'unison to move the upper spans thereof step-by-step toward said path, means proiecting upwardly from the sprocket chain upper spans for engaging a side of each strip-like article, and means for moving said strip-like articles lengthwise and in succession along said path through the printing zone.

18. The combination witha printing press, of conveyer means for moving strip-like articles sidewise and in succession into a path extending through the printing zone of said printing press, said conveyer means comprising a plurality of endless sprocket chains disposed in parallel relation, means for imparting intermittent step-bystep movement to said move the upper spans thereof step-by-step toward said path, means projecting upwardly from the sprocket chain upper spans for engaging a side or each strip-like article, spaced supporting members disposed substantially in a horizontal plane and upon which the strip-like articles rest during movement thereof by said sprocket chains. means for moving said strip-like articles lengthwise and in succession along said path through the printing zone, and means for operating said means for imparting intermittent movement and said last named means in timed relation with said printing press. 1

19. The combination with a printing press, 0!

I means comprising the printing press cylinders for moving articles in succession along a path extending through the printing zone, means for transporting said articles from said path, said transporting means comprising mechanism for retaining a plurality of said articles thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, said transporting means conveying the articles along a path angularly related to said first named path, a gate member disposed between said paths, and means timed with said printing press tor opening and closing said gate member.

' FREDERICK W. HILL.

sprocket chains to thereby

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