Traveling cylinder imprinter including flexible band cylinder support means

Claim 2

Imprinting apparatus comprising a print bed; a roller platen; a carriage having at least two rollers disposed at opposite sides thereof and cooperating with opposite sides of said printing apparatus for movement of said carriage over said print bed; means connected between said carriage and said roller platen for moving said roller platen whenever said carriage is moved; first and second channels respectively disposed at two sides of said printing apparatus, the bottoms of said first and second channels are disposed above the upper surface of said print bed; first and second roller pairs respectively disposed and connected to opposite ends of said roller platen and respectively disposed within said first and second channels, one of said rollers of said first roller pair being connected to one of the rollers of said second roller pair and the other roller of said first roller pair being connected to the other roller of said second roller pair; first and second flexible bands respectively disposed within said first and second channels, each band being connected at one end of said imprinting apparatus at the top of its associated channel and at the other end thereof at the bottom of its associated channel and each band passing from its connection at said one end of the imprinting apparatus over and around one of its associated roller pairs and then around and under the second roller of its associated roller pair and thence to said connection at the other end of said imprinting apparatus; elongated apertures respectively extending along opposite sides of said imprinting apparatus for respectively receiving a printing plate and a document; whereby said plate and said document may be respectively inserted through said apertures and positioned over said print bed preparatory to an imprinting operation.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 where said elongated apertures are respectively disposed between said bottoms of the channelS and the upper surface of said print bed whereby insertion of said printing plate and said document is facilitated.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 2 including a first recess in said print bed for receiving said printing plate after it has been inserted through its associated elongated aperture.

Claim 5

Imprinting apparatus as in claim 1 where said roller platen is a sleeve and said means for moving said roller platen includes a shaft loosely disposed within said sleeve, said shaft engaging the inner surface of said sleeve whenever motion is imparted to said carriage.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 1 where the said first and second bands are movably respectively connected at said one end of said imprinting apparatus whereby variations in thicknesses of documents, printing plates, and embossings may be compensated.

Claim 7

Imprinting apparatus as in claim 1 including a second roller platen; means connected between said carriage and said second roller platen for moving said second roller platen whenever said carriage is moved; third and fourth roller pairs respectively disposed and connected to opposite ends of said roller platen and respectively disposed within said first and second channels, one of said rollers of said third roller pair being connected to one of the rollers of said fourth roller pair and the other roller of said third roller pair being connected to the other roller of said fourth roller pair; third and fourth flexible bands respectively disposed within said first and second channels and respectively associated with said third and fourth roller pairs, each band being connected at one end of said printing apparatus at the top of its associated channel and at the other end thereof at the bottom of its associated channel and each band passing from its connection at said one end of the imprinting apparatus over and around one roller of its associated roller pair and then around and under the other roller of its associated roller pair and thence to said connection at the other end of said printing apparatus; whereby imprints are respectively created in a first print field associated with the first roller platen and in a second print field associated with the second roller platen, the coaction of said first roller platen with said first print field being substantially independent of the coaction of said second roller platen with said second print field.

Claim 8

Imprinting apparatus as in claim 6 where said second roller platen is a second sleeve and said means for moving said second roller platen includes a second shaft disposed within said second sleeve, and second shaft engaging the inner surface of said second sleeve whenever motion is imparted to said carriage.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 6 including a first portion of said first print field, said first portion being recessed for receiving a first fixed data source and a second portion of said first print field including digit wheels comprising a first variable data source.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 8 including a first portion of said second print field, said last-mentioned first portion being recessed for receiving a second fixed data source and a second portion of said second print field including second digit wheels comprising a second variable data source; and means for independently adjusting the height of said print fields with respect to one another.

Claim 11

Imprinting apparatus comprising a print bed; a carriage having at least two rollers disposed at opposite sides thereof and cooperating with opposite sides of said imprinting apparatus for movement of said carriage over said print bed; a roller platen; means loosely connected between said carriage and said roller platen for moving said roller platen whenever said carriage is moved; first and second channels respectively disposed at two sides of said printing apparatus; first and second roller pairs respectively disposed at opposite ends of said roller platen and respectively disposed within said First and second channels, one of said rollers of said first roller pair being connected to one of the rollers of said second roller pair, the other roller of said first roller pair being connected to the other roller of said second roller pair, and both of said other rollers being connected to said opposite ends of said roller platen; first and second flexible bands respectively disposed within said first and second channels, each band being connected at one end of said imprinting apparatus at the top of its associated channel and at the other end thereof at the bottom of its associated channel and each band passing from its connection at said one end of the imprinting apparatus over and around one roller of its associated roller pair and then around and under the other roller of its associated roller pair and thence to said connection at the other end of said imprinting apparatus; a second roller platen; means connected between said carriage and said second roller platen for moving said second roller platen whenever said carriage is moved; third and fourth roller pairs respectively disposed and connected to opposite ends of said roller platen and respectively disposed within said first and second channels, one of said rollers of said third roller pair being connected to one of the rollers of said fourth roller pair and the other roller of said third roller pair being connected to the other roller of said fourth roller pair; third and fourth flexible bands respectively disposed within said first and second channels and respectively associated with said third and fourth roller pairs, each band being connected at one end of said imprinting apparatus at the top of its associated channel and at the other end thereof at the bottom of its associated channel and each band passing from its connection at said one end of the imprinting apparatus over and around one roller of its associated roller pair and then around and under the other roller of its associated roller pair and thence to said connection at the other end of said imprinting apparatus; whereby imprints are respectively created in a first print field associated with the first roller platen and in a second print field associated with the second roller platen, the coaction of said first roller platen with said first print field being substantially independent of the coaction of said second roller platen with said second print field.

Claim 12

Imprinting apparatus comprising a print bed; a carriage having at least two rollers disposed at opposite sides thereof and cooperating with opposite sides of said imprinting apparatus for movement of said carriage over said print bed; a roller platen; means loosely connected between said carriage and said roller platen for moving said roller platen whenever said carriage is moved; first and second channels respectively disposed at two sides of said printing apparatus; first and second roller pairs respectively disposed at opposite ends of said roller platen and respectively disposed within said First and second channels, one of said rollers of said first roller pair being connected to one of the rollers of said second roller pair, the other roller of said first roller pair being connected to the other roller of said second roller pair, and both of said other rollers being connected to said opposite ends of said roller platen; first and second flexible bands respectively disposed within said first and second channels, each band being connected at one end of said imprinting apparatus at the top of its associated channel and at the other end thereof at the bottom of its associated channel and each band passing from its connection at said one end of the imprinting apparatus over and around one roller of its associated roller pair and then around and under the other roller of its associated roller pair and thence to said connection at the other end of said imprinting apparatus; a second roller platen; means connected between said carriage and said second roller platen for moving said second roller platen whenever said carriage is moved; third and fourth roller pairs respectively disposed and connected to opposite ends of said roller platen and respectively disposed within said first and second channels, one of said rollers of said third roller pair being connected to one of the rollers of said fourth roller pair and the other roller of said third roller pair being connected to the other roller of said fourth roller pair; third and fourth flexible bands respectively disposed within said first and second channels and respectively associated with said third and fourth roller pairs, each band being connected at one end of said imprinting apparatus at the top of its associated channel and at the other end thereof at the bottom of its associated channel and each band passing from its connection at said one end of the imprinting apparatus over and around one roller of its associated roller pair and then around and under the other roller of its associated roller pair and thence to said connection at the other end of said imprinting apparatus; whereby imprints are respectively created in a first print field associated with the first roller platen and in a second print field associated with the second roller platen, the coaction of said first roller platen with said first print field being substantially independent of the coaction of said second roller platen with said second print field.

Claim 13

Imprinting apparatus as in claim 10 where said second roller platen is a second sleeve and said means for moving said second roller platen includes a second shaft disposed within said second sleeve, and second shaft engaging the inner surface of said second sleeve whenever motion is imparted to said carriage.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 10 including a first portion of said first print field, said first portion being recessed for receiving a first fixed data source and a second portion of said first print field including digit wheels comprising a first variable data source.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 12 including a first portion of said second print field, said last-mentioned first portion being recessed for receiving a second fixed data source and a second portion of said second print field including second digit wheels comprising a second variable data source; and means for independently adjusting the height of said print fields with respect to one another.

Claim 16

Imprinting apparatus comprising a print bed; a carriage having at least two rollers disposed at opposite sides thereof and cooperating with opposite sides of said imprinting apparatus for movement of said carriage over said print bed; a cylindrical roller platen having an aperture extending axially therethrough; first connecting means connected between said opposite sides of said carriage for moving said roller platen whenever said carriage is moved; first and second channels respectively disposed at two sides of said printing apparatus; first and second roller pairs respectively disposed at opposite ends of said roller platen and respectively disposed within said first and second channels, second connecting means for connecting one of said rollers of said first roller pair to one of the rollers of said second roller pair, third connecting means for connecting the other roller of said first roller pair to the other roller of said second roller pair, and said roller platen being mounted with clearance on said third connecting means, said third connecting means having an aperture extending axially therethrough, said first connecting means being axially disposed with clearance in the aperture of said third connecting means; first and second flexible bands respectively disposed within said first and second channels, each band being connected at one end of said imprinting apparatus at the top of its associated channel and at the other end thereof at the bottom of its associated channel and each band passing from its connection at said one end of the imprinting apparatus over and around one roller of its associated roller pair and then around and under the other roller of its associated roller pair and thence to said connection at the other end of said imprinting apparatus whereby an imprint is created whenever said roller platen is moved across said print bed.

Claim 17

Imprinting apparatus comprising a print bed; a carriage having at least two rollers disposed at opposite sides thereof and cooperating with opposite sides of said imprinting apparatus for movement of said carriage over said print bed; a cylindrical roller platen having an aperture extending axially therethrough; first connecting means connected between said opposite sides of said carriage for moving said roller platen whenever said carriage is moved; first and second channels respectively disposed at two sides of said printing apparatus; first and second roller pairs respectively disposed at opposite ends of said roller platen and respectively disposed within said first and second channels, second connecting means for connecting one of said rollers of said first roller pair to one of the rollers of said second roller pair, third connecting means for connecting the other roller of said first roller pair to the other roller of said second roller pair, and said roller platen being mounted with clearance on said third connecting means, said third connecting means having an aperture extending axially therethrough, said first connecting means being axially disposed with clearance in the aperture of said third connecting means; first and second flexible bands respectively disposed within said first and second channels, each band being connected at one end of said imprinting apparatus at the top of its associated channel and at the other end thereof at the bottom of its associated channel and each band passing from its connection at said one end of the imprinting apparatus over and around one roller of its associated roller pair and then around and under the other roller of its associated roller pair and thence to said connection at the other end of said imprinting apparatus whereby an imprint is created whenever said roller platen is moved across said print bed.

Claim 18

Imprinting apparatus as in claim 14 where said third connecting means comprises a sleeve and said other rollers comprise respective integral end portions of said sleeve and said first connecting means for moving said roller platen comprises a shaft disposed in said sleeve.

Claim 19

Imprinting apparatus as in claim 15 where the diameter of said shaft is approximately one-half the internal diameter of said sleeve.

Claim 20

Imprinting apparatus as in claim 16 where the clearance between said roller platen and said sleeve is approximately 0.0075 inch.