US1209415A - Machine for preparing printing-plates. - Google Patents

Description

J. S. DUNCAN.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1915.

1,269,41 5. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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J. S. DUNCAN.

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R. B 1915- 1,2U9A1 5. Patented Dec. 19,1916.

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JOSEPH S. DUNCAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ADDRESSOGRAPH COMPANY,

' OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MACHINE ron PREPARING PRINTING-PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed March 8, 1915. Serial No. 12,755.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Preparing Printing-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for curving, flanging and otherwise preparing sheet metal printing plates so that they Wlll conform to the curvature of a cylindrical bed, with the fastening flanges in proper relation thereto, and present a type surface of uniform height when mounted thereon.

It is an object of my invention to provide a strong and durable machine of light and simple construction, which may be readily operated and will easily curve a printing plate uniformly throughout its length at a single operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means for reducing the struckup characters on the printing plate to a uniform height simultaneously with the curving operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device which will automatically produce a flange of desired form at the end of the plate during the operation of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device with a printing plat in position .to begin the curving operation; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the device and the printing plate thereon near the close of the operation; Fig. 3 is a plan view of thedevice; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the device with the curving roller disposed approximately midway of its travel, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a support of any suitable construction, preferably a hollow casting, and 2 a curved base secured thereto by a bolt 3. Pivotally mounted on the shaft 4 concentrically with the base 2 is a bifurcated member 5 having an operating handle 6. A roller 7, having a plurality of flanges 8 on the face thereof,

is mounted on the shaft 9, secured in the oppositely disposed arms of the bifurcated member 5, and is adapted to move concentrically about the curved base 2 and to press the printing plate 10 into engagement therewith as the member 5 is turned about its pivot.

The printing plate 10 is provided with a hook-shaped portion 11 at one end, and a slot 12, having an undercut portion 13, is disposed transversely of the base 2 and adapted to receive the hooked-shaped portion 11 to secure one end of the printing plate 10 to the base 2. A slot 14 is disposed in the base 2 circumferentially thereof and adapted to receive the longitudinal flange 15 on the printing plate 10 to insure proper alinement of the printing plate with refercure to the base 2.

The operative face of the base 2, measured from the slOt 12 is substantially equal to the length of a finished printing plate and ends in an abutment 16. Pivoted at 17 on the base 2, adjacent the abutment 16, is a clamping member 18, having an end 19 adapted to coiiperate with the abutment 16 and to bend the end of the printing plate inwardly against the abutment 16 when the roller 7 nears the end of its travel and passes onto the clamping member 18. A spring 20, secured to the inner face of the clamping member 18 at 21 and to the base 2 at 22, normally holds the clamping member 18 in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. It is necessary, however, to move the clamping member 18 into engagement with the end of the printing plate 10 as the roller 7 approaches the end of its travel and for this purpose I provide a pair of dogs 23 pivotally mounted at 24 on .the arms of the bifurcated member 5 and having tooth-shaped ends 25 adapted to coiiperate with the depressions 26 in the tails 27 of the clamping member 18. The dogs 23 are normally held in proper position by the springs 28, secured thereto at 29, and to the arms of the bifurcated member 5 at 30.

It is believed that the operation of my device will be readily apparent without further description of the structure thereof. It is to be understood that the printing plates 10 are prepared by striking lines of print- .ing characters upward from the surface thereof, the plates being provided with the hook-shaped end portions 11 and'the longitudinal flanges 15. A plate 10 is inserted in the machine, aS indicated in Fig. 1, with the flange 15 engaging the slot 14, and the bi furcated member 5 is actuated to move the roller 7 concentrically about the base 2, whereby the plate is bent to conform tothe curvature of the base 2. The flanges 8 enheight simultaneously with the bending operation.

As the roller 7 approaches the end of its travel the teeth 25 of the dogs 23 enter the depressions 26 in the tails 27 of the clamping member 18 and move the clamping memher to a position in which the end 19 engages the printing plate and is disposed in the path of the roller 7. As the roller 7 passes onto the clamping member 18, the latter is forced inwardly and cooperating with the abutment 16 bends the plate 10 inwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2, to form a flange thereon, which is subsequently utilized in fastening the printing plate upon the bed of a printing machine. The springs 28 allow the continued movement of the bifurcated member 5 after the teeth 25 engage the clamping member 18 and at the end of the operation the teeth 25 slip past the tails 27 of the clamping member 18 and the end 19 is moved outwardly by the spring 20 to free the printing plate so that it may be readily removed from the machine and the roller 7 returned to its first position to commence a new operation.

It will be readily understood that I have devised a simple and inexpensive machine which combines, in a single operation, the steps of curving a printing plate, reducing the printing characters thereon to a uniform height and fproducing a fastening flange at the end the plate. By the use of my device I am enabled to produce printing plates of a more uniform character than has heretofore been possible, while at the same time reducing the number of necessary operations and the consequent cost of preparing the plates.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore disclosed being merely one preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, and a member mounted to move concentrically about said base and provided with a plurality of spaced flanges to engage a printing plate between the lines of printing characters thereon and bend it about said base as said member is moved.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, and a roller mounted to move concentrically about said base and provided with a plurality of spaced flanges to en age a printing plate between the lines o printmg characters thereon and bend it about said base as said roller is moved.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, a roller having a plurality of spaced flanges adapted to engage between the lines of printing characters on a printing plate disposed on said base, and means for moving said roller concentrically about said base to bend said printing plate to conform with said base.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support, a curved base fixedly mounted thereon, a roller having a plurality of spaced flanges adapted to engage between the lines of printing characters on a printing plate disposed on said base, and means for moving said roller concentrically about said base to bend said printing plate to conform with said base.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, means for securing one. end of a printing plate to said base, and a member mounted to move concentrically about said base and provided with a plurality of spaced flanges to engage said printing plate between the lines of printing characters and bend it about said base as said member is moved.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, a slot therein adapted to receive a hook, provided at one end of a printing plate, whereby the end of said printing plate is secured to said base, and a roller mounted to move concentrically about said base and provided with a plurality of spaced flanges to engage said printing plate between the lines of printing characters thereon and bend it about said base as said member is moved.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, an undercut slot therein adapted to .receive a hook, provided at one end of a printing plate, whereby the end of said printing plate is secured to said base, a roller provided with a plurality of spaced flanges to engage said printing plate between the lines o printing characters thereon, and means for moving said roller concentrically about said base to bend said printing plate to conform with said base.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, a member pivotally mounted concentrically with said base, and means carried thereby and provided with a plurality of spaced flanges to engage between the lines of printing characters on a printing plate dlsposed on said thereby and provided with a plurality of the combination of a 0111 spaced flanges to engage said printing plate between the lines of printing. characters thereon and bend it thereabout as said member is moved about its pivot.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, means for securing one end of a printing plate to said base, a member pivotally mounted concentrically with said base, a roller 'carried thereby and provided with a plurality of spaced flanges to engage said printing plate between the lines of printing characters thereon and bend it thereabout as said mem her is moved about its pivot, and means for insuring the proper alinement of said plate with respect to said base.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support, a curved base mounted thereon, means on said base for securing one end of a printing plate thereto, a bifurcated -member pivotally mounted concentrically with said base, a roller mounted in said bifurcated member and provided with a plurality of spaced flanges to engage said printing plate between the lines of printing characters thereon and bend it about said member as said bifurcated mem: her is moved about its pivot 12. In a device of the chara ter described, (1 base for a printing plate, having p nting characters struck up therefrom, and means movable concentrically about said base and adapted to reduce said characters to a uniform height.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base and a member mounted to move concentrically about said base and adapted to engage a printing plate, disposedthe'reon and having printing characters struck up therefrom, to bend it about said base and to simultaneously and automatically reduce said characters to a uniform height.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, a member pivotally mounted concentrically with said base, and a roller carried thereby and adapted to engage a printing plate, disposed thereon and having printing charac ters struck up therefrom, to bend said plate about said base and to simultaneously and automatically reduce said characters to a uniform height.

. i 15. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a curved base, a member pivotally mounted concentrically with said base, and a roller carried thereby and adapted to engage a printing plate, disposed thereon and having lines of printing characters struck up therefrom, to bend it about said base andto simultaneously and automatically reduce said characters to a uniform height, said roller being provided with means to engage said plate between said lines of characters.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, means for securing one end of a printing plate, having printing characters struck up therefrom, to said base, and a member mounted to move concentrically about said base and adapted to engage said printing plate, to bend said plate about said base and to simultaneously and automatically reduce said characters to a uniform height.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, means for securing one end of a printing plate, having printing characters struck up therefrom, to said base, a member mounted to move concentrically about said base and adapted to engage said printing plate to bend said plate about said base and to simultaneously and automatically reduce said characters to a uniform height, and means for insuring the proper alinement of said plate with respect to said base.

18, In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, means for bending a printing plate about said base, and means actuated by said bending means to automatically produce a flange on said late. p 19. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, a.member movable concentrically about said base and adapted to engage with and bend a printing plate about said base, means for moving said member, and means actuated by said member to automatically produce a flange on said plate.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, a roller movable concentrically about said base and adapted to engage with and bend a printing plate about said base, means for moving said roller, and means actuated by said roller to automatically produce a flange on said plate.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, a member pivotally mounted concentrically with said base, a roller carried thereby and adapted to engage with and bend a printin plate about said base, and means for clampmg the end of said plate and adapted to depress a portion thereof to form a flange under the actuation of said roller.

22. In a'device of the character described,

the combination of a curved base, means for securing one end of a printing plate thereto,

a member pivotally mounted concentrically with said base, a roller carried thereby and adapted to engage with and bend said printing plate about said base, a clamping member pivotally mounted adjacent the end of said base, and means carried b said first-mentioned member to automatically move said clamping member into engagement with said plate and into the path of said roller, whereby a ortion of said plate is depressed at the comp etion of the bending operation to form a flange.

23. In a device of the character described, the combination of a curved base, means for securing one end of a printing plate thereto,

a member pivotally mounted concentrically with said base, a roller carried thereby and adapted to engage with and bend said printing plate about said base, a clamping member pivotally mounted adjacent the end 01' said base, pivotally mounted dogs carried by said first-mentioned member, and springs normally holding said dogs in position to move said clamping member into engagement with said plate and into the path of said roller, whereby a portion of said plate is depressed at the completion of the bending operation to form a flange.

JOSEPH S. DUNCAN. Witnesses:

WM. 0. BELT, M. A. KIDDIE.

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