July 30, 1946. G_ N; KROUSE 2,404,912 CONSECUTIVE NUMBER-PRINTING APPARATUS Filed 001;. ll, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l

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1.9 ,20 Patented July 30, 1946 2,404,912 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,404,912 CON SECUTIVE-NUMBER -PRINTING APPARATUS Glen N. Krouse, Columbus, Ohio Application October 11, 1944, Serial No. 558,150 5 Claims. (01. 101--88) 1 2 This invention relates to printing and, more lating cylinder type in which consecutive num particularly, to the art of printing consecutive bers may be applied to consecutive sheets passed numbers or the like on a succession of paper therethrough simultaneously with the printing of sheets, or other impression-receiving materials, text matter on the sheets. advanced through a press having a reciprocating It is another object of theinvention to provide type-holding bed and a rotary or oscillating im~ a consecutive number printer for printing presses pression-producing cylinder. wherein the printer is provided with a depressible Hitherto, in printing consecutive numbers, for operating plunger and has combined therewith an example, on paper sheets, as on various types of automatically movable frisket adapted for oper negotiable instruments, tickets and the like, it 10 ation in such manner as to prevent the exposed has been necessary, when reciprocating press bed-3 operating end of the plunger from receiving ink of the type indicated are employed, to ?rst print impressions from the inking rolls of the press. the text matter on the sheets and thereafter, For a further understanding of the invention, usually on another press, or as a separate opera reference is to be had to the following description tion, to print the numerals. These separate op and the accompanying drawings, wherein: erations have been necessary in order to protect Fig. l is a side elevational view, partly in ver the sheets from receiving undesired ink impres» tical section, disclosing a press of the reciprocat sions from the exposed end of the depres'sible mg bed-oscillating cylinder type provided with plunger used in effecting step by step turning of the numeral printer and frisket means forming the numeral-bearing type wheels of the consecu- ~ the present invention; tive number printer. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the numeral printer, Such a number printer, it will be understood, frisket and the actuating means therefor removed involves a casing in which is mounted the nu from the bed of the press; meralebearing wheels, the latter engaging the Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view paper sheets to be printed by projecting for a 25 on the line 3—3 of Fig. 2 disclosing the frisket and limited distance through an opening provided in its actuating means and showing the frisket in its the top wall of the casing. To turn the numeral elevated position protecting the upper end of the wheels, the printer is provided with a spring actuating plunger of the numeral printer; pressed plunger which, during the printing op Fig. 4 is a similar view disclosing the frisket in eration, is adapted to engage the cylinder or 30 its lowered position and removed from associa platen of a press so that the plunger will be moved tion with the plunger of the number printer so a suf?cient distance to produce the required step that the plunger may be actuated by the press by step turning movement of the number-print cylinder; lng type wheels. In a reciprocating press, the Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view type is advanced under inking rolls before regis 35 taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 with the number tration with the cylinder and, if used, the plunger printer omitted; of the number printer would contact the inking Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the frisket and rolls; hence a ?lm or deposit of such ink would its operating means; be applied to the plunger which would be subse Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view showing the op quently deposited on the paper sheets undergoing 40 erating positions of the frisket at different stages printing. during a single printing cycle. In accordance with the present invention, this Referring more particularly to the drawings, condition is corrected or prevented by associat the numeral ID designates the top of the main ing with the plunger of the number printer a frame of the printing press, on which the bed II movable frisket which is automatically actuated 45 that carries the chase or type form I2 is mounted by the reciprocation of the type bed, whereby . for reciprocal movement. Carried as usual by the when the plunger is in registration with the ink frame of the press, above the bed I l, is the oscil ing roll or rolls of the press, the frisket is located lating impression cylinder 13. Also, carried by to cover the upper end of the plunger in order to the frame If! for engagement with the ink-receiv receive the ink impression from said roll or rolls 50 ing surfaces of the type contained in the chase and prevent it being applied to the plunger, and or form 12 is a, plurality of inking rolls I4 and whereby when the bed is advanced to bring the the usual vibrator roll l5. Between the rolls i4 type into impression-imparting engagement with. and I5 and the cylinder l3, the frame effects the the paper sheets and the associated cylinder, the support of one or more cross rods 16 on which is plunger will present an ink free surface which 55 clamped the head blocks ll of a paper'feeding permits of its actuation by the press cylinder frame I 3. Paper is fed to the press between the without imparting an ink impression on the paper frame !8 and the cylinder l3 and into impression~ sheets. receiving engagement with the type contained in It is, therefore, an object of the present inven the chase or form 42 as the latter is reciprocated tion to provide number-printing mechanism for forwardly. printing presses of the reciprocating bed-oscil Using a standard press of this kind, the present 2,404,912 3 4 invention provides a consecutive number print the spring 34 is to positively maintain the frisket ing mechanism which operates simultaneously in its position of registration with the top sur with each printing operation of the press. This face of the printing plunger or in its inactive or mechanism comprises a standard consecutive lowered position out of registration with the number printer of the nature used in the print plunger. ing industry. These printers each embody a cas Such movement of the frisket between active ing I9 in which is rotatably supported on a com~ - and inactive positions is effected by providing the mon shaft a plurality of numeral-bearing wheels diverging arms at the upper end of the lever 27 20, which function after the manner of an odom with lateral extensions or actuating heads 38 and eter. The upper peripheral edges of the wheels 10 36a having angled edge surfaces 31, which sur project through an opening 2! [in the top wall faces upon reciprocation of the bed I I are adapt of the casing so that the numerals on said wheels ed to be brought into engagement with an angu may be brought into direct engagement with the larly positioned fly plate 38 stationarily carried inking rolls and the paper to be printed as the by the lower end. of a rod 259, the upper end of wheels areadvanced under, the cylinder I3. - Step said rod being adjustably positioned in-one vof the by step turning movement of the wheels is effected supporting blocks H of the paper-feeding frame. by a vertically depressible spring actuated plung By this adjustment, the operating registration er 22, The upper or operating end of this plunger between the ?y plate 33 and the-lever heads 36 projects ‘through the top of the casing is in order and 36a may be readily controlled. ~ - that it may be engaged by the cylinder [3 and 20 depressed to mechanically turn the type wheels ' Operation 20 to the required printing positions. In the use of this mechanism, when the bed I I In accordance with the present invention, such is positioned so that the numeral wheels 20 of the astandard consecutive number printer is placed number printer are in registration with the ink directly in the chase or form I2 in its pro-per posi ing roll or rolls M, as shown at A in Fig. '7, the tion with relation to the text-printing type and frisket will occupy its active position covering locked in the chase with the type. Also, placed the upper end surface of the plunger 2, as indi in the chase and locked therein adjacent to the cated in Fig. 3, so that the plunger will not come number printer is an open-topped frisket hous~ into contact with the inking roll or rolls and ing 23. The vertical side walls of the housing 23 ."._" therefore will not receive an ink deposit thereon, effect the pivotal support, as at 24, of a yoke such deposit being applied to the upper surface shaped frisket 25. When the frisket is elevated, of the frisket and not to the plunger. as shown in Fig. 3, the same is positioned over When the bed I I has been reciprocated so that the upper end surface of the plunger 22 to pre the type carried by the chase or form is in print vent the plunger from contacting the ink rolls :-;.-‘ ing registration with the cylinder l3, as indicated I4 during reciprocation of the bed II. However, at B in Fig. '7, the head 36 of the lever 21, dur it is necessary that the plunger, in order to actu ing movement of the bed from position A to posi ate the number printer, must be brought into tion B of Fig. 7, contacts the angularly disposed direct registering relationship with the cylinder ?y plate 38. Such contact causes the operating l3 so that forces may be applied to the plunger lever to swing about its fulcrum on the depressi— to depress the same, against spring resistance, to ible bar 29, rocking the lever to the position dis actuate the wheels 28 and, therefore, when such closed in Fig. 4. The head 35 engages the fly registration is effected, the frisket must be moved plate during this operation, producing the re— out of registration with the plunger so that the quired lever oscillation. This rocking movement force of the cylinder may be used to depress the I‘; of the lever through the yoke 21 imparts similar plunger. rocking movement to the frisket, causing the lat Therefore, the frisket is pivotally mounted as ter to assume its lowered position out of registra at 24 and actuating means of an automatic nature tion with the plunger 22 and in contact with the is provided to oscillate the frisket at the required stop rod 33, the frisket being held in engagement printing stages,‘ so that the frisket will either with the stop rod by the toggle-like action of the cover'the plunger or will be removed from con spring 34. The frisket, having thus been removed tact therewith. from engagement with the plunger, is then ex In a preferred exemplary embodiment of such posed for actuating registration with the cylin actuating means, the side ‘legs of the frisket, der I 3. ' above the pivotal connections 26, are connected 55 As the bed is reciprocated forwardly, the with the forward ends of a wire yoke 25, the plunger upon registering with the cylinder is transverse connecting leg of this yoke being re depressed by the latter, thereby imparting step ceived in an opening provided in the shank of by step turning movement to the numbering a Y-shaped actuating lever 21. The lower end of wheels 29]. This registration, however, of the the shank of the lever 2'! is pivotally mounted plunger with the printing cylinder does not re on a rod 28 carried by the free end of a support sult in imparting any ink impression to the pa ing bar 29, the opposite end of said bar being per passed between the chase type and the cyl fulcrumed as at 39 for vertical swinging move inder I 3, since the plunger has been protected ment in the side plates of the friskct housing 23. by the frisket and does not contain an ink de A wire spring ."II engages with theflat face 32 posit. In this manner, the paper is concurrent of the bar 29 contiguous to its pivotal axis, the ly printed with required text matter and at the normal tendency of the spring 3| being to main same time the numbering impressions are ap tain the bar in an elevated position in contact plied thereto. ' with a stationary stop rod 33 carried by the side Upon the return stroke, with the frisket down, walls of the housing 23. Also positioned in the as shown at C in Fig. 7, the elevated head 36a is housing 23 is a U—shaped toggle spring 34, the depressed by the cylinder as permitted by the latter being con?ned between the rear wall of the spring pressed bar 29, so that the head 36a passes frisket housing and having its forward free ends under the cylinder without changing the posi pivotally joined as at 35 in offset relation to the tion of the frisket. After being removed from the pivotal axis 24 of the frisket. The function of in?uence of the cylinder, the head 36a is ele 2,404,912 5 6 vated by the spring 3| and engages the fly plate of said devices to e?ect frisket-moving actua 30a which results in swinging the frisket up tion thereof. wardly to its plunger protecting position as at 2. In printing apparatus, the combination with D in Fig. 7, so that the plunger may pass under a consecutive number printer of the type having the inking rolls without receiving a deposit of ink. a resiliently depressible operating plunger and a therefrom. plurality of numeral-bearing wheels actuated in In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that step by step order by said plunger, a housing ar the present invention provides improved appa ranged adiacent to said number printer, a frisket ratus for printing consecutive numbers on suc pivotally mounted on said housing movable be cessive sheets or Web of paper fed to a printing 16 tween active and inactive positions, said frisket press of the type having a reciprocating bed and when actively positioned being disposed over the an oscillatory or rotating impression cylinder. operating end of said plunger and when inactively The consecutive numbers are printed simultane positioned within the con?nes of said housing ously with the printing of text matter, thus and spaced from said plunger, spring means dispensing with the usual practice of separately ' serving to maintain positively said frisket in its printing the numbers on the sheet after the active and inactive positions, an operating lever printing of the text has been completed, thus for said frisket mounted for pivotal movement saving time and reducing the cost of such oper within said housing and having spaced operat ations. The frisket and its operating means are ing heads arranged to project above the top of strongly constructed and are capable of inde? said housing, and a link connection uniting said nite use without becoming out of order or neces lever with said frisket. sitating repairs. The operation of the appara 3. In printing apparatus, frisket mechanism tus is entirely automatic and does not in any adapted for insertion in a type form contiguous way reduce the operational speed of presses of to a consecutive number printer, said apparatus the character indicated. 25 embodying a housing having an open top. a frisket If for any reason, at the outset of a given element pivotally supported by said housing for printing operation, the position of the heads 36 movement between active and inactive positions, and 35a should be wrongly positioned for en said frisket when actively positioned projecting gagement with the fly plate, and the operation above said housing to cover the operating end of the press started, a safety feature is provided 30 of the actuating plunger of the associated num in the resilient mounting for the supporting bar ber printer, spring means located in said housing 29, since the latter allows the lever to be resilient for positively maintaining said frisket element ly depressed so that the head engaged with the in its active and inactive positions, a supporting ?y plate will pass under the lower edge of said bar pivotally mounted at one end within said plate without injury to the apparatus. 85 housing, a stop, spring means tending to turn While I have illustrated and described a pre said supporting bar into a position of engage ferred form of my present invention, neverthe ment with said stop, an operating lever for said less, it will be understood that the same is frisket element pivotally carried by the free end subject to certain modi?cation or variation in of said bar, a link uniting said lever with said mechanical design without departing from the 40 frisket element, the lever at its upper end termi spirit and scope of the following claims. nating in diverging arms adapted to project above Iclaim: said housing, and a head carried by each of said 1. The combination with a printing press hav arms at its upper end, each of said heads hav ing a reciprocable form-supporting bed, an im ing angled surfaces adapted for engagement with pression cylinder and an ink-applying roll, a ‘ a stationary deflector when the type form con consecutive number printer adapted to occupy taining the frisket is reciprocated, the engage a type-receiving form positioned on the recipro ment of said heads with said de?ector serving to cable press bed, said printer having a resiliently oscillate said lever and frisket element. depressible plunger and a plurality of numeral 4. A printer’s frisket comprising a supporting bearing wheels rotatable in step by step order frame, a frisket element pivotally mounted in by the movement of said plunger, the plane of said frame for swinging movement between an the operating end of said plunger when normally elevated active position and a lowered inactive positioned being such as to contact said inking position, a pivoted operating lever mounted in roll, of means automatically operative upon said frame, said lever having a pair of spaced movement of said press bed to prevent the oper— heads engageable with a press-carried stationary ating end of said plunger from directly engag member for oscillating said lever, link means ing with said inking roll when the plunger is uniting said lever with said frisket element, and in registration with the latter and uncovering the spring means for positively maintaining said operating end of said plunger when the latter frisket element in its active and inactive posi is in registration with said operating cylinder, 60 tions. said means employing a housing adapted to be 5. A printer’s frisket comprising a supporting positioned in the type form contiguous to said frame, a frisket element pivotally mounted in number printer, a pivotally mounted frisket sup said frame for swinging movement between an ported by said housing for movement into and elevated active position and a lowered inactive out of registration with the operating end of 65 position, a pivoted operating lever mounted in said plunger during reciprocation of said bed, said frame, said lever having a pair of spaced spring means for positively maintaining said heads engageable with a press-carried station frisket in its active position of registration with ary member for oscillating said lever, link means said plunger and in its inactive position out of uniting said lever with said frisket element. spring registration with said plunger, pivotally movable 70 means for positively maintaining said frisket ele motion-imparting devices connected with said ment in its active and inactive positions, and a frisket, and a stationary contact element sup resiliently yieldable support upon which said oper ported by said press above said bed, said ele ating lever is fulcrumed for rocking movement. ment being disposed in the path of movement GLEN N. KROUSE.