US1958048A - Numbering head - Google Patents

Description

M. H. KERN NUMBERING HEAD May 8, 1934.

Filed June 9, 1933 INVENTOR ii- A 5 W EEFIEEZ ii a n Or.

Patented May 8, 1934 STATES FATE T N UMBERING HEAD York Application June 9, 1933, Serial No. 674,980

5 Claims.

My invention relates to numbering heads, and more particularly to a numbering head embodying therein a digit wheel stop mechanism, which will prevent overrunning of any wheel due to the 5 rapid movement of the main actuating mechanism, and will also prevent possible slight displacement of any wheel resulting in loss of alinement following the actuating of any wheel or group of wheels.

Numbering heads of the type to which the invention relates, are frequently used upon high speed numbering or other printing machines and the actuating mechanism is set preparatory to the turning of any wheel or group of wheels as a result of the depression of a plunger by contact with an impression cylinder or surface during the making of an impression. The turning of the wheels result from the expansion of a spring or springs acting upon the plunger and this movement is so rapid that at times there is a tendency for a wheel being turned to slightly overrun, notwithstanding the use of a spring pressed detent pawl acting thereon. There is also a possibility in the event of the failure of the light spring acting upon a detent pawl, and a slight lack of accuracy in the inking mechanism, of a wheel to be moved slightly out of alinement during inking.

Numbering heads have heretofore been devised which have been provided with means supplementing the action of the detent pawls for preventing such overthrow, or accidental movement, of a wheel, but the construction of such devices and their mode of operation has been such as to make the manual turning of wheels, when setting the heads preparatory to a run of a numbering or other machine, extremely difiicult because of the necessity for depressing the plunger against heavy spring tension to make the wheel stop mechanism inoperative during the hand setting of the wheels.

A numbering head embodying the invention is to be distinguished from that type of numbering head in which means are provided for positively locking the digit wheels of the head at all times excepting during a transfer operation to prevent what is known as skipping, since the wheel stop mechanism is made inoperative as to all of the wheels with each depression of the plunger of the main actuating mechanism.

With the above conditions in mind, I have pro vided a numbering head embodying therein, in combination with the usual detent pawls operative upon each wheel, actuating comb pawl and plunger operative thereon through a swing frame, a wheel stop mechanism embodying therein a plurality of connected and simultaneously movable pawls co-operating respectively with a ratchet wheel upon each of the digit wheels, which pawls will be actuated to disengage them from the ratchet wheels carried by the several digit wheels upon the depression of the actuating plunger and will be permitted to assume the operative position prior to the completion of the turning movement of any digit wheel so as to positively arrest rotary movement of any wheel when it has attained a full one-tenth revolution, necessary to secure a proper alinement of the digits upon all of the wheels. The member carrying said pawls is so positioned as to be readily accessible at all times and is spring pressed toward the digit wheels to cause the engagement of the pawls carried thereby with the ratchets carried by the digit wheels, thus permitting the manual operation of the wheel stop pawls to facilitate the hand setting of the digit wheels.

To secure the desired positive stop movement by means of the pawls forming part of the wheel stop mechanism, I have found it desirable to use a ratchet wheel, each tooth of which is provided with oppositely presented stop shoulders, one of which is adapted to co-operate with the ordinary detent pawl and the other of which is adapted to co-operate with a wheel stop pawl. This construction is permissible because when setting the actuating comb'pawl, the pivotal movement of 7 this pawl permits any operative pawl to ride over an abrupt tooth, and the mechanical displacement of the wheel stop pawls prior to any turning movement of the wheel, lifts them out of engagement with an abrupt ratchet tooth.

The invention consists primarily in a numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, a plurality of digit wheels, each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mounted upon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted upon said swing frame and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, spring pressed detent pawls, a pivotal member spring pressed toward said digit wheels and carrying a plurality of wheel stop pawls of heights to simultaneously engage all ratchet wheels, a'cam carried by said swing frame, and means carried by said member and engageable by said cam, whereby with movement of said swing frame in one direction, all of the stop pawls are disengaged from said ratchet wheels, and with movement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of said stop pawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and said member may be manually moved to disengage said stop pawls from said ratchet wheels to permit hand setting of the digit wheels: and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a numbering head embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the wheel stop pawl shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the invention applied to a small type-high numbering head;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the wheel stop pawl shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Numbering heads of the type to which the invention relates are old and well known in the printing art. Such heads are sometimes set in the chases with the printing forms, and at other times constitute the only printing surfaces by which impressions are made. They vary in size according to the conditions of use, those num bering heads which are set in a chase with other printing surfaces being generally known as typehigh numbering heads. Heads of greater or less length may be used according to the space available for the setting of these heads in a special numbering machine, and the construction of heads of greater length permits the use of digit wheels of larger diameter than in type-high heads, and permits a difierent arrangement of the actuating means for the digit wheels.

In the different embodiments of the invention shown, the mode of operation is the same as to each, but the arrangement of parts is different due to the necessity for taking advantage of the available space permitted by the over-all dimensions of the head. Irrespective of the length, width or height of the numbering heads, the general construction is the same and therefore, in the several views, corresponding numbers are used to designate corresponding parts of the old and well known numbering head.

In the drawing, the main frame 10 of the machine has mountedtherein a fixed shaft 11, upon which is mounted a plurality of similar digit wheels 12 each of which carries a ratchet wheel 13 having ten teeth, one of which is recessed as indicated at 14, in the usual manner.

Mounted upon the shaft 11 is swing frame 15 having pivotally mounted thereon an actuating pawl 16 having a plurality of teeth of graduated heights in order to effect what is known as a transfer operation when the position of any wheel is such as to require the actuation of the wheel or wheels of higher denomination. This comb pawl is usually operative upon the wheels of lower denomination only, although this is immaterial, and the comb pawl may be so formed to operate upon all wheels. The comb pawl is spring pressed toward the digit wheels.

The swing frame is actuated by means of a plunger 17 carried by one arm of the U-frame 10. which plunger, by engagement with the impression surface, is depressed to impart oscillatory movement of the swing frame 15 in one direction.

Acting upon the plunger are springs, not shown, which are of fairly heavy tension since their function is to store up the energy resulting from the depression of the plunger until the disengagement of the plunger from the impression surface permits outward movement of said plunger by said springs. -t is during this outward movement that the digit wheels are turned. The depression of the plunger merely sets the comb pawl preparatory to the next actuation of the digit wheel or wheels.

(Jo-operating with each ratchet wheel 13 is a detent pawl 18, spring pressed into engagement with the ratchet wheel for the two-fold purpose of developing a braking action during the turning of the wheel and ensuring a proper alinement of the digit upon adjacent digit wheels.

All of the parts heretofore referred to are 01 and well known in the numbering head art, and have been described in detail merely to identify the type of head embodying my invention and affording a clear understanding of the operation thereof, as well as the purposes of, and benefits resulting from, the invention. V

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing upon an enlarge scale, the actual height or" each numbering head being approximately seven-eighties of an inch or type high. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, digit wheels 12 of large diameter are shown. thus necessitating the positioning of the swing frame 15 at one side of the digit wheels. When smaller wheels are used as in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, smaller digit wheels are used, thus permitting the'movemen't of the swing frame below the digit wheels. These, however, are merely structural details well known in the art.

Referring more particularly to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, I provide a member 19 pivotally mounted in the sides of the frame 10, this member having a plurality of pawls 20 all of the same height and so spaced from each other as to engage different ratchet wheels 12 respectively and to simultaneously engage such ratchet wheels. When the swing frame 15 is located as shown in Fig. 2, space for the mounting of this member 19 is not available toward the side of the machine adjacent the comb pawl 16 so that it is necessary to mount it directly above the detent pawls 18 as shown in the drawing. Acting upon a projecting arm 21 of the member 19 is a spring 22 pressing said member and the pawl 20 carried thereby toward the digit wheels 12 in a manner to normally engage said pawls with their co-operating ratchet wheels respectively. With this arrangement except during the turning of the ratchet wheel, movement of all wheels in one direction is prevented by the pawls 20 and their movement in the other direction is prevented by the detent pawls 18. Hence, all wheels will be held against movement at all times except by the comb pawl 16. This control of the Wheels continues during the inking operation but all of the wheels are released during and immediately following the printing operation. The construction resulting in this condition will more fully appear hereinafter.

Carried by the member 19 is an arm 23 which projects into the path of a cam ortappet 24 formed upon or carried by the swing frame 15. I is immaterial whether said arm is in engagement with the cam or tappet 24 when the setting of the actuating mechanism is not such as to result in a subsequent turning'of the digit wheels, since the engagement of the pawls 20 with the various ratchet wheels by the action of the spring 22 will limit the movement of the member 19 by said spring. The relation of the arm 23 to the tappet or cam 24 must however be such that when the plunger is fully depressed, rocking movement will have been imparted to the member 19 to an extent to disengage the various pawls carried thereby from their co-operating ratchet wheels so as to permit the free turning of any of the digit wheels by the comb pawl as determined by the particular number indicated by the digits upon said wheels. The relation of said cam or tappet 24 and said arm must also be such that the springs 21 will have been permitted to impart movement to the member 19 sufficient to engage the various pawls 20 with their co-operating ratchet wheels prior to the completion of the turning movement of the digit wheels by the comb pawl.

The member 19 is located adjacent the top of the frame 10, and is provided with a recess 25 facilitating the movement of said member to disengage the wheel stop pawls 20 from their cooperating ratchet wheels.

The general construction and arrangement of parts, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, is the same as that heretofore described, with the exception that the available space adjacent the digit wheels necessitates the mounting of a member 26 at the side of the machine above the comb pawl 16, there being no space available above the detent pawls 18. This member 26 is provided with a plurality of wheel stop pawls 27 corresponding in arrangement and function with the pawls 20. The member 26 is acted upon by a torsion spring 28 imparting rotative movement to said member in a manner to engage the pawls 27 with their co-operating ratchet wheels.

Carried by the member 26 is an arm 29 corresponding with the arm 23, and the swing frame 15 is provided with a cam or tappet 30 adapted by engagement with the arm 29 to impart such movement to the member 26, against the tension of the spring 28 as will disengage the pawls 27 from their co-operating ratchet wheels upon movement of the swing frame resulting from the depression of the plunger 17.

In both forms of the invention there is a member carrying a plurality of pawls of the same height adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheels upon the several digit wheels in a manner to prevent rotation of said wheels in one direction, at all times except when the plunger 17 is depressed, and to be so acted upon by a cam or tappet carried by the swing frame as to permit the movement of said member by said spring in a manner to engage said pawls with said ratchet wheels prior to the completion of the turning movement of any wheel by the comb pawl 16.

In each embodiment of the invention. the wheel stop pawls are spring pressed into engagement with the various ratchet wheels until movement of the swing frame overcomes the tension of the spring operative upon said pawls and moves them out of engagement with said ratchet wheels.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the disengagement of the wheel stop pawls with their cooperating ratchet wheels. results from a lifting movement'of the pawls either by a cam or tappet or by hand causing movement of the portion of the member 19 carrying the pawls 20 away from the digit wheels. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the disengagement of said pawls results from a horizontal rocking movement of the member 26.

If, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the ordinary form of ratchet tooth were employed, the bevel of the tooth would have a lifting action upon the wheel stop pawls with the turning of any digit wheel. To obviate this instead of using the old type of ratchet tooth, I employ a ratchet tooth having two abrupt rises or shoulders presented toward each other, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, one of which is adapted to be engaged by the comb pawl 16, and the other of which is adapted to engage a wheel stop pawl. This presents no difficulties, because with the movement of the swing frame 15, in setting the comb pawl prior to the actuation of the digit wheels, the pivotal mounting of this pawl will permit it to turn freely so as to ride over the abrupt rise or shoulder adapted to engage the wheel stop pawl.

The physical disengagement of the wheel stop pawl from its co-operating ratchet wheel avoids interference with the free movement of the wheel due to the presence of the abrupt rise or shoulder.

The abrupt rise or shoulder with which the comb pawl is adapted to co-operate is indicated in Fig. 2 at 31, while the abrupt rise or shoulder with which the wheel stop pawl is adapted to co-operate is indicated at 32.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6 the wheel stop pawls are directed substantially radially of the ratchet wheels with which they co-operate, and are of a length which prevents their passing through an are which will permit their movement by the teeth of the ratchet wheels to an extent to allow the wheels to pass under the pawl. In fact, the incline of the ratchet tooth will develop a wedging action which tends to more firmly seat the pawl upon the ratchet. Furthermore, movement of the pawl, sufficient to permit the ratchet teeth to pass thereunder, is prevented by the co-operating arm 29 and cam or tappet 30.

The variation in structure between the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 respectively is due entirely to the change in the location of the wheel stop pawls in relation to the comb pawl.

The operation of the herein described number ing head is substantially as follows:

In the normal operation of a numbering head embodying the invention, during the making of an impression the plunger 1'? is depressed. With downward movement of the plunger, the swing frame 15 is oscillated, as indicated by the arrow, moving the comb pawl 16 carried thereby out of engagement with one ratchet tooth, and bringing' it into the operative relation to the adjacent tooth. During this movement of the swing frame, the cam or tappet 24 or 30, by engagement with the arm 23 or 29, imparts rocking movement to the member 19 or 26 to an extent to simultaneously disengage all of the wheel stop pawls 20 or 2'7 from the ratchet wheels with which each 00- operates.

Immediately that the numbering head passes the printing line, the plunger 1'7 is moved outwardly by its springs imparting a return reciprocatory movement to the swing frame. During the major portion of this return movement the cam or tappet 24 or 30 will maintain the wheel stop pawls out of engaging relation with their the direct oscillatory movement of the members 19 or 26, to be moved by the cam into engaging position with relation to the next tooth before the wheel has completed its full one-tenth revolution.

If, by reason of the breakage or weakness of the spring of a detent pav l, or for any other reason, there is a tendency of any wheel to overrun, the wheel stop pawls will prevent such excess movement as would cause a loss of alinement of the digits upon the various digit wheels.

The various wheel stop pawls are disengaged from their co-operating ratchet wheels during the major portion of the turning movement of a digit wheel or wheels by the comb pawl, so that if the conditions are such as to cause skipping, this is not prevented by the wheel stop pawls.

When the plunger is in its elevated position, all of the digit wheels are firmly held against rotative movement in either direction either by hand or accidentally because of the oppositely acting pawls co-operating with the same ratchet wheel.

It is necessary to set the various digit wheels y hand to indicate a desired number, preparatory to the making of a run of a numbering machine or printing press in which the heads are used, and the main purpose of the invention is to provide a wheel stop mechanism which will control the wheel movements in the manner above described and yet permit the release of the digit wheels without depressing the plunger, so that said wheels may be rotated by hand to an extent desired to set up a certain number.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, this actuation of the wheel stop mechanism to permit hand setting of the digit wheels, is accomplished by merely drawing member 19 away from the digit wheels, the

j recess being provided to afford a suitable grip upon said member. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, this release is accom plished by merely pressing the upper edge of the member 26 toward the digit wheel.

The lightness of the springs 21 and 28 permits the free movement of the members 19 and 26 by hand, and the maintenance of these members in a position to ensure a continued disengagement of the wheel stop pawls from their co-operl ating ratchet wheels without any material effort,

thus greatly facilitating the hand setting of the digit wheels.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the wheel stop pawls are positioned at the same side of the axis of rotation of the member 19 as the portion of this member against which pressure is exerted to manually disengage the wheel stop pawls from their co-operating ratchet wheels. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4; to 6, the wheel stop pawls are located upon the opposite s des of the axis of rotation of the member from that against which pressure is exerted to manually disengage the wheel stop pawls from their co-operating ratchet wheels. In each form of the invention, the con struction and the manner of mounting the wheel stop pawl member is such as to afford a leverage facilitating the manual disengagment of the wheel. stop pawls against the tension of the ing acting upon said member to normally engage said pawls with their co-operating ratchet wheels.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawing, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from'the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is: V

l. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, a plurality of digit wheels, each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mounted upon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted upon said swing frame and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, spring pressed detent pawls, a pivotal member spring pressed toward said digit wheels and carrying a plurality of wheel stop pawls of heights to simultaneously engage all ratchet wheels, a cam. carried by said swing frame, and means carried by said member and engageable by said cam, whereby with movement of said swing frame in one direction, all of the stop pawls are disengaged from said ratchet wheels, and with movement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of said stop pawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and said member may be manually moved to disengage said stop pawls from said ratchet wheels to permit hand setting of the digit wheels.

2. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, a plurality of digit wheels, each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mounted upon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted upon said swing frame and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, spring pressed detent pawls, a pivotal member spring pressed toward said digit wheels and carrying a plurality of wheel stop pawls of heights to simultaneously engage all ratchet wheels, a cam carried by said swing frame, and an arm carried by said member and projecting into the path of movement of said cam, whereby with movement of said swing frame in one direction, all of the stop pawls are disengaged from said ratchet wheels, and with movement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of said stop pawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and said member may be manually moved to disengage said stop pawls from said ratchet wheels to permit hand setting of the digit wheels.

3. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, a plurality of digit wheels, each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mounted upon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted upon said swing frame and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, spring pressed detent pawls, a cam carried by said swing frame, a member pivotally mounted adjacent the top of frame,

having a downwardly projected arm, a plurality of wheel stop pawls of uniform height so as to simultaneously engage all ratchet wheels, and an arm projecting into the path of movement of said cam, and a spring acting upon said first named arm, said wheel stop pawls and said other arm being positioned at the same side of the axis of rotation of said member, whereby with move ment of said swing frame in one direction, all of the stop pawls are disengaged from saidratchet wheels, and with movement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of s stop pawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and said member be manually moved away from said digit wheels to disengage said stop pawls from said ratchet wheels to permit hand setting of the digit wheels.

4. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, a plurality of digit wheels, each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mounted upon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted ill) upon said swing frame and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, spring pressed detent pawls, a cam carried by said swing frame, a member pivotally mounted adjacent the top of said frame, having a plurality of wheel stop pawls of uniform height so as to simultaneously engage all said ratchet wheels, and an arm projecting into the path of movement of said cam, and a spring acting upon said member, said wheel stop pawls and said arm being positioned at the same side of the axis of rotation of said member, whereby with movement of said swing frame in one direction, all of the stop pawls are disengaged from said ratchet wheels, and with movement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of said stop pawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and pressure applied to said member, upon the side of the axis of rotation opposite to that from which said pawls and said arm project, will disengage said stop pawls from said ratchet wheels to permit hand setting of the digit wheels.

5. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, a plurality of digit wheels,

each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mounted upon said shaft, each of the teeth of each ratchet wheel having oppositely presented abrupt rises, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted upon said swing frame and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, said comb pawl being adapted to operatively engage one of said abrupt rises of a tooth, spring pressed detent pawls, a pivotal member spring pressed toward said digit wheels and carrying a plurality of wheel stop pawls of heights to simultaneously engage an oppositely presented abrupt rise of a tooth of all ratchet wheels, a cam carried by said swing frame, and means carried by said member and engageable by said cam, whereby with movement of said swing frame in one direction, all of the stop pawls are disengaged from said ratchet wheels, and with movement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of said stop pawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and said member may be manually moved to disengage said stop pawls from said ratchet wheels to permit hand setting of the digit wheels.

MAXIMILIAN H. KERN.

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