Reciprocating platen printer with spring biased platen control arms

Claim 1

In a printing device having a framework including frame members supported on a base, a stationary printing die plate having a planar surface mounted on said frame members, a platen reciprocative relative to said planar surface of said printing die and normally spaced below said die for receiving a workpiece thereon, a pair of spaced parallel arms rockable about a fixed horizontal axis and having a pivotal support for said platen to control reciprocative movement of said platen relative to said printing die, a lever supported for rocking movement about said horizontal axis, said horizontal axis being common to said arms and said lever, a roller mounted on said lever, a compression spring connecting said arms and said lever adapted for compression therebetween to effect a rocking movement of said arms by said lever, a cam engaging said roller and rockable a predetermined angular extent to rock said lever thereby moving said platen in a reciprocative path, a manipulatable member for controlling an angular rotation of said cam, and means for guiding said platen in said reciprocative path to maintain a parallel relationship between the surfaces of said platen and said die, the combination comprising, a bracket secured on said base having an arm extended perpendicular to said base, and a vertically disposed slot in said bracket arm having the upper end open and the lower end portion thereon formed at an angle to the vertical to conform with the arcuate path of the pivotal support for said platen on said parallel arms upon rocking of said parallel arms, said platen including a horizontally disposed pin for engagement in said vertical slot in said bracket arm to guide said platen in its path of movement upon operation of said manipulable member whereby the surface of said platen is maintained parallel to the surface of said printing die as the workpiece is moved by said platen into printing contact with said printing die.