US2021894A - Device for attaching printing members on drums - Google Patents

Description

1.. H. MORSE DEVICE FOR ATTACHING PRINTING MEMBERS ON DRUMS Nov. 26, 1935.

Filed Nov. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WK &

I I l l l l I II Nov. 26, 1935. 1.. H. MORSE 9 DEVICE FOR ATTACHING PRINTING MEMBERS ON DRUMS Filed Nov. 24, 1934v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 26, 1935 DEVICE FOR ATTACHING PRINTING; MEMBERS N DRUMS I Lawrence H. Morse, Cleveland, Ohio, asslg'nor to Multigraph Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Applicatlon November 24, 1934, Serial No. 754,557 1 i In Germany December 28, 1933 16 Claims.

This invention relates to a rotary printing machine, and more particularly to that type of rotary printing machine which uses a flexible blanket or plate. The invention is especially concerned with the method and apparatus for interchangeably placing the printing form or plate on the form roll, and for placing a rubber offset blanket or sheet on a transfer cylinder. These, therefore, are the general objects of this invention.

A more specific object is the provision of a manually operative mechanism for removing and positioning a flexible blanket, such as a printing form of the blank on a printing cylinder in such a man ner that it will facilitate operating of the printing mechanism by unskilled workers.

A further object is the provision ofa printing blanket. tension mechanism for a rotary printing cylinder, which mechanism is mounted on the cylinder, and is arranged to retain the printing plate on either side of. the attaching holes thereof into recesses on either sides of attaching hooks of a plate retaining device carried by the printing mechanism.

Other objects of. the invention will become apparent from the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary fron elevation of the invention incorporated in a printing machine, certain parts thereof being broken away to more clearly illustrate the internal construction thereof Fig. 2 is a vertical section, taken substantially along the lines 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section, similar to Fig. 2, certaln of the parts being in a different position; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of. the printing mechanism, looking toward the left-hand end of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an elevation similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating certain parts in a diflerent position; Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective; Fig. 7 is a plan of a printing form, used in connection with the mechanism illustrated, partially broken away for ease of illustration.

As shown in the drawings, the printing mechanism with which the invention is illustrated, comprises in general a pair of oppositely facing (Cl. 101-4151) I J I side frame members It and H, spaced apart by any suitable means, not shown. Mounted between the frame members IO and 'l I, on a shaft I2, is a suitable rotatable form cylinder or roller '20. Beneaththe form cylinder and rotatably 5 mounted on a suitable shaft (not shown) is a coacting drum or roller 30. A .printing plate 40, which may be a planographic plate or other flexible image-carrying-member, is held on the drum 2| by means hereinafter more fully described. 10

rollers 20 and 30, or the roller 30 maybe a transfer roller and the paper being fed betweenit and a suitable platen roller, not shown. Ink may be supplied to the plate 40 by any inking system, the form roller of which is generally indicated at i50, as contacting withthe plate 20. (me of the rollers of the press is driven as, for instance, the plate roller 20, by means of a gear thereon, which is engaged by a suitable driving means, (not shown). The other parts of the press may rotate by frictional engagement with. the plate roller or bedrivingly geared thereto, as will be well understood. In the plate drum 20 is shown a gap or opening of approximately a quarter circumference,

bounded by radial surfaces 26 and 21. In this gap is mounted the plate holdingdevice. As shown, theholding device comprises a fixed arcuate member 6! secured to the drum, as by suitable screws 63, and a movable arcuate member 62 mounted to slide circumferentially on the arcuate surfaces of the drum formed by. the end members thereof. The two arcuate plates GI and 62 each have projecting faces especially arranged, the fingers of one member projecting into the spaces of the other, so that the members telescope with i 7 each other.

' The member 62 is suitably retained in its position by a spring .64, (Fig. 2) connected to an car 65 depending inwardly from the member 62 and at the other end to one arm. of a bell crank 5 5t, hereinafter to be more fully described. This member 62 is given a tendency to move toward the member 6i, as, for instance, by springs 6?, anchored at one end to a rod 68 carried by the end members of the drum and at the other end to one arm of the bell crank 50, which is rigidly secured to a rock shaft 5i rotatabl'y journalled in the end walls 53 of the drum. The other end of the bell crank is provided with a slot 64, which engages a pin or bar carried by the lug 5 2 65 in the member 62, he'reinbefore mentioned, the

arrangement being such that the springs 64 and 51 act to normally retain the member 62 in contact with the drum and move it circumferentially ingly, the movement of the fastening member 62,

under the influence of the spring 61, draws the plate snugly about the printing'press and retains it in position thereon.

According to the present invention, the movable member 62 is shiftab'leaway from the stationary member 6|, against the action-of the spring 67, which engages the arms of the bell crank 50, by a reversal ofv the rotation of the printing drum. that is, by rotating the printing drum in a non-printing direction. A manually settable member 80 is provided to control this operation. A

As shown in Fig. l, the member 80 comprises a plunger 8|, slidably mounted in the end frame member I0 and movable towards and away from the end wall 53 of the cylinder 28. When the plunger 8| is moved to an innermost position, that is, in the extreme position toward the printing cylinder 2,9, an enlarged head 82 thereof projects into the pass of a lever 83, which is rigidly secured to the rock shaft 5|, carrying the bell crank 50, heretofore mentioned. When the cylinder is rotated in a clockwise or non-printing direction,

that is, opposite the direction indicated in the arrow in Fig. 2, the edge 84 of the lever 83, (Figs.

1 and 6) will strike the head 82 of the plunger, causing the shaft 5| to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction, thereby moving the plateretaining member 62 away fromthe stationary member 6|, against the action of the spring 61. This relieves the tension on the printing plate 40, enabling it to be readily removed from the pins or lugs I4 on the movable retaining member 62. The drum is rotated further in anon-printing direction, until the printing plate is entirely stripped or removed from the cylinder. The rotation and rocking of the lever 8! permits it to pass the plunger 8 I without damage to the parts.

When the printing drum is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, following the depression of the plunger 8|, a bevelled surface 85 of the lever 84 will strike the head 82 of the plunger and cause it to be cammed outwardly, away from the printing drum, .into a suitable recess 86 in the side frame member In, thereby preventing any damage to the parts, should for any reason the printing cylinder be turned in a counterclockwise or printing direction before manually withdrawing the'plunger 88.

When anew plate is to-be mounted,,the openings 4| at the upper end of the plate are first placed over the pins 13 of the stationary. retaining member 8| and the printing drum rotated in the printing direction, until the pins 14 in the movable member 62 have reached the level of the openings 4| at the other end of the printing plate. The printing cylinder is now rotated a slight distance in a non-printing or clockwise direction, moving the movable retaining member 62 into registration with the openings 4 l, which are then placed ,over the pins 14 of such spring-actuated member and are there pressed into the depression "surrounding the base of the pins.

. To facilitate the positioning of the printing plates on the pins or hooks 14, there is provided a swingable tined comb plate 98. This comb plate 98 is secured to a rock shaft 9|, which is swingably mounted in the frame members i8 and II in 5 front of the cylinder 20 and slightly above the axis thereof. The lowermost end of the plate 98 is provided with'a series of notches which form tines 83 arranged in pairs, as shown in Fig. 1, to

coact with the printing plate at either side of each 10 retaining pin or lug 14. The rock shaft 9| extends through the left-hand wall or frame member l8, and is provided on its outer end with a lever 94. A suitable spring 95 acts between the lower end of the lever and the stationary frame 15 member ID, to normally swing the tines of the plate away from the drum 28, and its associated parts.

' When the operator has aligned the opening 4| of the plate with the lugs 14 of the movable se- 20 curing member 62, asheretofore explained, he grasps the upper end of the lever 94 and rocks it together with the comb plate against the action of the spring 95, forcing the tines 93 thereof against the printing plate, thereby forcing the 25 ends in the recesses 12 of the seeming member It will be noted from Figs. 1 and 6 that the printing plate is especially adapted for use in the present invention, and is provided with a serpen- 80 tine end, comprising a series of outwardly projecting tongues separated by correspondingly formed recesses 46, the arrangement of the tongues 45 being such that they readily seat in respective recesses II and '12 in correspondingly 85' shaped portions of the plate members 5| and 62. The tines 93 are so shaped and spaced that a pair of tines coact with each' tongue of the printing plate, between the opening 4| therein and the sides of the tongue. This readily facilitatesthe 40 positioning of the plate on the lugs 74. It will be noted that the openings 4| are for the most part in the tongues of the plate. Hence, the positioning of the plate on the drum is facilitated to a the extent that each tongue is independently flex- 4 ible. Therefore, when the plate is being positioned on the drum, the tendency of the plate to warp is practically eliminated.

The fork plate 98 is interlocked with the plunger 88, which controls the tensioning of the r movable retaining member 62. This interlock is so arranged as to prevent'the operator from swinging the comb plate 80 to inadventently cause the tines thereof to coact with the printing plate. To this end, the outermost end of the I plunger 8| has rigidly secured thereto a lever 85, the other end of which carries a pin I85. When the link 85 is in its normal posit-ion, that is, in the position shown in Fig. 4, the nose 82 of the plunger 8| is drawn into the recess 88 into the frame and out of the path of travel of the lever 83 of the printing plate tensioning mechaor any part thereof.

When the printing blanket or plate is being positioned on the drum, the link 85 is first moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the end of the plunger 8| cooperates with the lever 83 to relieve the tension on the securing member 62, as hereto-' fore described. When in this position, the end 88 of the link has been moved to such an extent that the operator may readily rock the lever 84 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which latter position theson of the fact that as soon as the machine is the drum in much the same manner.

rotated in a printing direction, the plunger ti will be forced outwardly, carrying the pin mo out of contact with the recess NH, and permitting the member 85 to-rock by gravity into contact with a pin 99 carried by the frame member it, in which position the pin Hi coacts with the arm 95 of the lever 9a to prevent its movement.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that this invention provides a mechanism for facilitating the positioning of a flexible printing blanket or form on a cylinder of a printing press and enables such blankets to be readily changed by unskilled operators, without liability ofdamage to either the printing blanket, the printing mechanism or the person of the operator. I have described the invention as adapted for use in applying a printing plate to its drum. However, in some instances the offset surface 3i comprises a comparatively thin rubber or composition blanket shaped similarly to the plate heretofore described and retained. in position on In such instances, I may conveniently use my invention to apply the offset blanket to its drum.

I claim:

1. In a rotary printing or duplicating chine, a roll having means for anchoring thereon a printingplate or blanket, and a. pressure device independent of the roll for forcing the end of such plate or blanket into cooperation with the anchoring device in position to receive it.

2. In a rotary printing or duplicating machine, a roll having means for anchoring thereon a printing plate or blanket, an external manually operable pressure device for forcing the end of such plate or blanket into cooperation with the anchoring device in position to receive it.

3. In a rotary printing or duplicating machine, a roll having means for anchoring thereon a printing plate or blanket, a device for forcing the end of such plate or blanket into cooperation with the anchoring device in position to receive it, and means to prevent the operation of the pressure device when the machine is in normal printing operation.

4. In a rotary printing or duplicating machine,

a roller having means for anchoring thereon a printing plate or blanket, and a movable comb having tines to engage and force the end of such plate or blanket into cooperation with the anchoring device in position to receive it.

5. In a rotary printing machine, the combination of a frame, a. drum mounted in the frame and having projections adapted to engage openings in a plate embracing the drum, and a device pivotally mounted on the frame andadapted to be moved to bear against the plate to force it into engagement with said projections.

6. In a rotary printing machine, a frame, a removable'printing plate provided with projece tions at the ends thereof, a rotary drum mounted n the frame provided with guiding depressions substantially corresponding with the projections on the printing plate, and a movable member carried by said frame and adapted to engage the projections of the printing plate to facilitate the mounting of the plate on the drum. 5'

7. In a rotary printing machine, a frame, a

removableprinting plate provided'with projections at the ends thereof, a rotary drum mounted in the frame with guiding depressions. substantially corresponding with the projections on the printing plate, and ,a movable comb plate mounted on said frame and adapted to engage the projections of the printing plate to facilitate the mounting of the plate on the drum.

8. In a rotary printing machine, a removable metallic printing plate provided with perforated serpentine projections at the ends thereof, a rotary drum having hooks to engage said perforations, said drum alsobeing provided with guiding depressions substantially corresponding with the projections on the printing plate, and a movable comb plate having tines' adapted to engage the projections of the printing plate between the edges of the perforations and the edges of the projections to facilitate the mounting of the plate on the drum.

9. In a rotary printing machine, a frame, a

drum rotatably mounted in the frame, means on the drum for anchoring a printing plate or blanket by engaging perforated projections at 80 the end of theplate or blanket, said means including hooks on the drum for entering the perforations in the plate or blanket, said drum having guiding recesses corresponding to the projections on the plate or blanket, and rockable 85 means mounted on said frame to engage the projections of the plate or blanket and force them into the recesses in the drum.

10. In a rotary printing machine, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted in the frame, means on go the drum for anchoring a printing plate or blanket by engaging perforated projections at the end of the blanket, said means including hooks on the drum for entering the perforations in the blanket, sa.id drum having a guiding means n5 for the end of the blanket or plate, and rockable means mounted on said frame to engage the projections of the plate and f0rce,them into the recess in the drum, and means to prevent the operation of said last-named means during the normal operation of the printing machine.

11. In a rotary printing machine including a frame, a drum rotatably mounted therein, a device for anchoring one end of a printing plate or blanket to the drum, said device comprising a member mounted for sliding movement in an arcuate path on the drum, -said member having means to engage one end of a printing plate or blanket, a lever pivotally connected to said member, a movable stop carried by the frame and adapted to be positioned in the path of said lever to cause a shifting of said member, and means to automatically move the stop to an inactive position consequent upon the rotation of the drum in a. printing direction. 85

12. In a rotary printing machine including a frame, a drum rotatably mounted therein, a device for anchoring one end of a printing plate to the drum, said device comprising a member mounted for sliding movement in an arcuate path on the drum, said member having means to engage one end of a printing plate, a rock shaft carried by the drum, a lever carried by said shaft and pivotally connected to said member, a second lever carried by said shaft exterior of the drum, a movable stop carried by the frame adapted to be positioned in the path of said secondnamed lever to cause a shifting'of said member, and means to automatically move the stop to an inactive position consequent upon 'the rotation of the drum in a printing direction.

13. In a rotary printing machine includinga frame having a drum rotatably mounted therein,

an anchoring device for one end'of aprint-ing plate, said device comprising a member mounted for sliding movement in an arcuate path on the drum, said member having means to engage one end of a printing plate, a lever pivotally connected to said member, a movable stop carried by the frame and positioned in the path of said lever to cause a shifting ofrsaid member, and means to automatically move the stop to an inactive position consequent upon the rotation "of the drum in a printing direction, said means including a cam operatively connected tosaid lever.

14. A rotary printing or duplicating machine, comprising a form roll having means for anchoring thereon a printing plate, said means comprising an anchorage device carried by the roll, a device for forcing the end of the plate into cooperation with the anchoring device when the anchoring device is in a position to receive it, said anchoring device comprising a member movably mounted on the form roll, tension 'means to shift said member to tension the plate on the drum, a movable stop to shift the anchoring device against the action of the tensioning device.

15. A rotary printing or duplicating machine, comprising a form roll having means foranchoring thereon a printing plate, said means comprising an anchoring device carried by the roll, a movable device for forcing the end of the plate into cooperation with the anchoring device when the anchoring device is in a position to receive it, said anchoring device comprising a member movably mounted onthe form roll, tension means to shift said member-to tension the plate, a movable 10 stop to shift the anchoring device against the action of the tensioning device, and wherein said movable device is retained inoperative by said stop during the normal operation of the printing machine. 1'5 16. A rotary printing or duplicating machine, comprising a form roll having means for anchoring thereon a printing plate, said means comprising an anchoring device carried by the roll, a manually operable device for forcing the end 20 of the plate into cooperation with the anchoring device when the anchoring device is in a position to receive it, said anchoring device comprising a member mounted on the form roll for movement in an arcuate path, tension means to shift 25 said member to tension the plate, a movable stop to shift the anchoring device against the action of the tensioning device, and wherein said manually operable device is retained inoperative by said stop during the normal opera- 80 LAWRENCE H. MORSE.

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