Abstract: A vacuum frame for holding at least one negative and a plate for exposure to intense light to transfer the negative image to the plate to fashion a printing plate. The frame has a base with a flat upper surface to support the plate and negative. A plurality of apertures are disposed about the periphery of the upper surface, the apertures communicating with a vacuum source. Overlying the upper surface and the apertures is a mesh material which defines a multiplicity of small air passages over the upper surface. The plate and negatives are supported on the mesh material and upper surface and are aligned by suitable aligning means. A flexible transparent cover is positioned over the upper surface to cover the negative, plate and mesh material. The evacuation of air through the apertures and air passages causes the cover, negative and plate to be held closely together and to the base for exposure of the plate.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus such as a spray dampener sprays fluid on the rollers of a printing press. The spray is regulated by an automatic controller which pulses the spray at time intervals related to the signal of a press speed sensor. Fluid pressure controls and orifice configuration controls are eliminated; fluid pressure and orifice size are fixed.

Abstract: A cross hammer type dot printer comprises a rotary drum having an outer peripheral surface formed with a plurality of projections extending along its longitudinal axis, and a printer head disposed in front of the drum and movable in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which a recording medium is fed. The printer head faces the drum in a way in which it substantially crosses the projections on the drum, and includes an electromagnetically operable printing hammer. The projections are displaceable vertically relative to the printing hammer upon rotation of the drum, while the printing hammer is horizontally displaceable relative to the projections upon movement of the printer head, so that when the hammer strikes against the projections, dots are printed where they cross each other. The printer head of this invention is suitable for use in such a cross hammer type dot printer. It can be made of a small number of parts, and is small.

Abstract: A keyboard has a space bar centrally mounted on a plunger and supported at its ends by a torsion rod. The torsion rod has crank arms at its ends which are connected to the space bar and serve to distribute the actuating force on the space bar so that the plunger will move smoothly up and down and not bind. An attachment element in the nature of a yoke is provided for connecting the crank arms of the torsion rod to the space bar. A spring connected to the space bar flexibly engages the crank arm. The attachment element accommodates the natural, arcuate motion of the crank arm while simultaneously maintaining engagement with the crank arm to secure the space bar to the torsion rod and prevent the space bar from rattling or vibrating.

Abstract: A fluid supply system for a lithographic printing press in which a fountain roller journalled in the frame of the press and driven at a slow speed is partially submerged so that a film of fluid is formed on its surface. A distributor roller is journalled in the frame parallel to the fountain roller and spaced therefrom to form a gap. A ductor roller movable broadwise in the gap is supported by a pair of arms which are, in turn, rigidly supported by a shaft journalled in the frame. A driving arm having a thrust rod connected thereto is rigidly secured to the shaft. The driving arm is coupled to a cam follower which engages a rotary cam so that upon rotation of the cam the shaft oscillates to swing the ductor roller back and forth for successive engagement of the fountain roller and the distributor roller to convey fluid therebetween. Opposed way surfaces are provided at the ends of the arms oriented generally perpendicular to the plane of the arms.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge comprises a cartridge housing, an endless length of ink ribbon received in the housing, and a take-up roller and a pinch roller for transporting the ribbon and guiding the ribbon in a repetitively folded manner, characterized in that at least one of said take-up and pinch rollers consists of a compressed body of flexible or semi-rigid polyurethane foam. The use of compressed flexible or semi-rigid polyurethane foam results in improved rollers which have the good ribbon driving performance and driving stability.

Abstract: An improved dry lettering printing machine of the type having a printing station, a rotatable disc or type font having embossed characters on the disc and a means for causing the machine to execute a print cycle which includes providing a color carrying ribbon and image carrying tape at the print station, precisely aligning a selected raised character on the disc for printing, exerting a printing force at the printing station, and reciprocating the tape cartridge to advance the tape and ribbon to print the next character at the printing station. The improvement includes an input keyboard for typing the information which is to appear on the tape interfaced with the printing machine with a programmed microcomputer which stores the input data and, with control signals, sequentially causes the printing machine to print a tape according to the information typed on the keyboard.

Abstract: A data recorder is provided comprising an anvil for supporting an embossed card and a form to be imprinted, a print head supported on a pivot means for movement between an open position and a closed position, and a roller platen movable across the anvil to perform a printing stroke. The anvil is mounted on a resilient pad and the pivot means is mounted in resilient bushing. In response to printing pressure applied by the roller platen in its movement through a printing stroke, the resilient mountings allow for movement of the anvil and the roller platen to adjust the pressure and compensate for the combined variations in the thicknesses of the form and the embossed card.

Abstract: A rail is designed to form a frame to which a stencil shall be secured in position. The frame complete with stencil secured in position is then being used in a screen printing machine. The rail is made from hollow-section profile. One of the walls of the profile is formed with a projection. The projection exhibits surfaces which face away from each other and which are designed to operate in conjunction with a holding device for the frame.The frame is also designed in such a way that it can operate in conjunction with a second holding device.

Abstract: A master sheet carrier which has a bar capable of holding the master sheet by clamping an end thereof, the bar being mounted on a mounting beam which is movable angularly and transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the master carrier, without requiring removal of the clamped master end, by manual operation of thumb nuts located to one side of the surface of the carrier over which the master is laid.

Abstract: A print hammer mechanism 10 includes a plurality of parallel print hammers positioned for sliding movement within slots 20a-i, 22a-i in the walls 16, 18 of a frame 12. The selective energization of one of a plurality of magnets 61a-i draws the corresponding hammer 30a-i against a rotating roller 52. The roller 52 drives the print hammer from a rest position to a print position. At the print position, a head 40a-i on the selected hammer 30a-i forces a paper medium against a type die 64 with an ink ribbon 62 interposed. Return movement is provided by a coil spring 38a-i attached to the rearward end of the hammer 30a-i.

Abstract: A type holder for imprinters having a heated type receiving print head utilizes a permanent magnet to hold the type in place. The magnet is mounted in a frame which is easily removed from and installed on the print head of the imprinter and is interposed between the heated print head and the type with the type directly seated or bottomed thereon to accommodate very short type blocks and provide good heat transfer from the print head to the type face. The holders are useful in both reciprocating and rotating imprinter print heads.

Abstract: Device for drying printed sheets on an offset printing machine, including infrared radiators disposed above a delivery pile of the sheets and between an upper and a lower run of an endless delivery chain, the infrared radiators being displaceable from a rest position into a working position thereof directly above the sheets, and means for replacing the infrared radiators with blowers for changing the mode of operation of the device.

Abstract: A multiple position recorder having mechanisms for rocking a check lever for preventing a dot print wheel or dot and figure print wheels from lowering which is mechanically constructed while the recorders other mechanisms, such as mechanisms for setting the gap of dot printing and figure printing, mechanisms for synchronization with a driving shaft and the like are constructed by electric circuits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing wheel for a rotary printer comprising a plurality of type rings (6) positioned side by side on a cylindrical support (3). On their outer periphery said type rings (6) carry printing types (9), while on their inner periphery they are provided with internal toothing (10) capable of meshing with a pinion (11) which, by means of an adjusting spindle (14) connected for co-rotation therewith, is axially slidable into the planes of the individual type rings (6). By means of the pinion (11) the type rings (6) can be rotated relative to one another on the support (3) to bring selected printing types (9) into a predetermined position of adjustment. In order to avoid that during adjustment of a type ring (6) the adjacent type rings (6) are carried along a locking member (16, 17) is provided on the adjusting spindle (14), on either side of the pinion (11), for rotation relative to the adjusting spindle (14), and is secured against - axial shifting.

Abstract: A paper guide arrangement for printing apparatus, includes a platen, a paper supply guide, a paper discharge guide, and a paper supply drive roller disposed at the paper supply guide for rotation by a motor. A paper supply contact roller is movably supported into and out of contact with the paper supply drive roller. A paper discharge drive roller is disposed at the paper discharge guide for rotation by the motor, and a paper discharge contact roller is movably supported into and out of contact with the drive roller. A support member for the paper supply contact roller serves to activate the motor to rotate the supply drive roller when the supply contact roller is brought into rolling contact with the supply drive roller, and to stop the drive of the motor to stop rotation of the supply drive roller when the supply contact roller is removed from the supply drive roller.

Abstract: An improved pushrod for an impact printer or the like wherein the pushrod wire has a tip member at each end thereof, the outer ends of the tip members having a seat-forming, preferably conical, recess therein communicating with an underlying undercut cavity, a molded impact button being seated in the recess and filling the undercut cavity, the impact button having an outwardly projecting surface which is preferably flat. In a preferred embodiment the axial bore in the shank of the tip member communicates with the annular cavity and the undersurface of the impact button has a centrally disposed recess therein. The shanks of the tip members are preferably swaged to the pushrod wires at three or more angularly equal locations about the periphery of the shanks, the ends of the pushrod wires being roughened by grit blasting.

Abstract: In the preparation of screen process stencils a stencil frame is enclosed tightly by a pneumatically operated frame. Once the stencil frame is enclosed the pneumatic tensioning frame is inflated pulling a screen fabric outwardly to stretch the same with a concomitant vertical movement of the frame member and frame supporting portion of the tensioning frame so that the top wall of the frame member is pushed tightly and intimately against the underside of the screen fabric thereby promoting the desired adhesion between the fabric and the frame. This is achieved inexpensively in the present invention by providing a support means which supports the screen tensioning device at a predetermined angle to the horizontal so that with movement of the fabric carrying portion outwardly away from the stencil frame, the frame support portion is being raised and is lifting the side frame member upwardly against the underside of the screen fabric.

Abstract: There is disclosed printing apparatus composed essentially of molded plastics material which has relatively few parts, is easy to manufacture and maintain, and is lightweight and portable. The apparatus is illustrated as being of the table top type which can print both standard type tags and labels, string tags and pin tickets. The apparatus has a print head operable in conjunction with an impression control device, a feed finger assembly with a registration adjustment, a simple drive arrangement operated by a cam with a single cam path, and a reel positionable at different attitudes, and the construction of the apparatus is readily adaptable to both manually operated and motorized versions.

Abstract: A stencil printer for printing the underside of a web including a vertically reciprocable upwardly opening printing head or receptacle mounted beneath a web to be printed, a reservoir for ink in a lower region of the receptacle, a printing pad in an upper region of the receptacle in fluid communication with the reservoir and presented upwardly through the reservoir opening for printing through a stencil on the printing pad.