GB2309008A - Printing Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A printing apparatus for printing onto the reverse side 20 of a photograph 22, to convert the latter to a postcard, comprises a first section 10 having an inking stamp 16 and for folding over onto a second section 12 which has projecting elements 18 defining the features to be printed: the apparatus further comprises a third section 14 which supports the photograph 22, so that the second section 12, prints its inked features onto the reverse side 20 of the photograph.

Description

Printing Apparatus This invention relates to an apparatus for printing, and more particularly to an apparatus for printing onto the reverse of photographs.

A great number of messages and greetings are sent by means of pre-printed postcards having upon one surface an image, such as a local landscape scene, and upon the opposite surface a number of printed features such as demarcation boundaries for address, message and postage stamp regions.

It is by no means necessary to use pre-printed cards, such as the type described above, for the sending of messages.

Indeed, it is possible to send a message written upon the reverse of a standard photograph which may depict a more pleasing image or scene.

It is therefore desirable to provide means for printing, upon the reverse of a photograph, features corresponding to those typically found upon the reverse of ordinary postcards. Such means should ideally be compact, robust, simple to use, and should be straight-forward and cheap to manufacture.

We have now devised an arrangement for printing upon the reverse of photographs, which has all of the desirable features listed above.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a printing apparatus comprising a first section which includes an inking device, a second section comprising a printing stamp having projecting elements defining features to be printed, and a third section comprising a support for a photograph upon which print is to be applied, the first, second and third sections being interconnected, in use of the apparatus, and the apparatus being arranged to transfer, by means of successive impressions, firstly a quantity of ink from the inking device of said first section to the projecting elements of said second section, and secondly that same quantity of ink from said projecting elements to the reverse surface of a photograph supported on said third section.

Preferably the three sections are arranged side by side, with said second section forming the centre section, and adjacent sections are hinged together along their adjoining sides.

Preferably the three sections are separable and may be stacked one upon the other so as to contain the ink bearing surfaces of both said first and said second sections within the main body of the resulting, stacked structure.

Preferably the upper section of the stacked structure is said third section which is oriented so as to allow a removable sheet, e.g. of product information, to be visible.

In a preferred embodiment, the three sections are of incremental dimensions and have cut-outs in peripheral side walls thereof to accommodate projecting hinges, when the sections are stacked. As such, the three sections may be stacked more compactly. however, such nesting features may be omitted in order to simplify manufacture.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus of FIGURE 1 illustrating an 'inking' operation; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus of FIGURE 1 illustrating a 'printing' operation; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the three sections of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, separated and arranged to be stacked one upon the other; and FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the three sections of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, having been stacked one upon the other.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a printing apparatus is shown comprising a first section 10, a second section 12 and a third section 14. Each of these sections is in the form of a generally rectangular tray, having a peripheral side wall, and is formed of plastics material.

First section 10 comprises an ink pad, ink block or other such device permanently secured to its upper surface and having an exposed face 16.

Second section 12 comprises a number of projecting elements 18 over its upper surface 19, these elements defining features to be printed upon the reverse surface 20 of a photograph 22. Such features may, for example, include lines demarcating address, message and postage stamp regions.

Third section 14 comprises a frame or support upon which a photograph 22 may be mounted. The photograph may be secured by inserting opposite edges 24 and 26 into slots provided in the frame at 28 and 30 respectively, the photograph being oriented so as to leave its reverse side 20 exposed.

The three sections 10, 12 and 14 are arranged side by side, and are hinged at points 32 and 34 upon their respective interfaces, allowing relative motion between the respective sections as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.

FIGURE 2 illustrates how, as the first part of a printing process, first section 10 is rotated about its hinges 32 so as to bring its upper surface 16 into contact with upper surface 19 of second section 12. In such a manner, a quantity of ink is transferred to the projecting elements 18 of the surface of second section 12.

In a similar, subsequent operation as illustrated in FIGURE 3, third section 14 is rotated about its hinges 34 so as to bring the reverse surface 20 of a photograph mounted upon it into contact with the upper surface 19 of second section 12, thereby imprinting upon the reverse surface of the photograph the features defined by the ink carrying, projecting elements 18 of the surface of second section 12.

In the embodiment illustrated, the hinge mechanisms 32 and 34 are of a design, well known in the art, that allows the two component sections of the hinge, and thereby the individual sections 10, 12 and 14, to be separated and re-joined. FIGURE 4 illustrates how, having separated the three sections 10, 12 and 14, they may be arranged one upon the other so as to be stacked.

Stacking the sections 10, 12 and 14 in such a manner allows the printing apparatus to be more compactly stored.

Also, by making third section 14 the uppermost section, and first section 10 the lowermost section of this arrangement, as illustrated, all ink-bearing surfaces of the printing apparatus are completely contained within the body of the stack, and the upper surface of the third section 14 may be used, for example, to temporarily display product information.

Returning to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that a number of cut-outs 36 are formed in the peripheral side walls of sections 12 and 14. The purpose of these cut-outs becomes apparent from a consideration of FIGURE 5. Thus, the three sections 10,12,14 have incremental length and width dimensions, such that they may be nested, as illustrated, with the cut-outs 36 accommodating the projecting hinge portions 38. However, these features, although providing a more compact stacked arrangement, may be omitted in order to simplify manufacture.

Claims (6)

Claims

1) A printing apparatus, comprising a first section which includes an inking device, a second section which comprises a printing stamp having projecting elements defining features to be printed, and a third section which comprises a support for a photograph upon which print is to be applied, said first, second and third sections being interconnected, in use of the apparatus, and the apparatus being arranged to transfer, by means of successive impressions, firstly a quantity of ink from the inking device of said first section to said projecting elements of said second section, and secondly that same quantity of ink from said projecting elements to the reverse surface of a photograph supported on said third section.

2) A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said first, second and third sections are arranged side-byside, with said second section forming a centre section and adjacent sections hinged together along their adjoining sides.

3) A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said first, second and third sections are separable for stacking one upon another such that the ink-bearing surfaces of said first and second sections are contained within the resulting stack.

4) A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said sections are of incremental dimensions so as to nest together.

5) A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said sections are formed with cut-outs in peripheral side walls thereof to accommodate projecting hinges for interconnecting said sections in use of the apparatus.

6) A printing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.