USRE21212E - Rotary intaglio printing - Google Patents

Description

ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING Original Filed July 22. 1953 9 Shee'ts-Sheet l i El,

ATTORNEY s Sept. 19, 1939. A. wElss ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING Original Filed July 22, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 19, 1939. A. wElss ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING original Filed July 22, m53

9 Shee 11s-Sheet 3 Sept. 19, 1939. A. WEISS Ronny Immun PRINTING Original Filed July 22, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 www@ ma.

mimllnll n@ INVENTOR @4J la@ BY M L6 nuff.. ATroRNEY S Sept. 19, 1939. A. wElss ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING Original Filed July 22, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 wx; S ////I yf A. wExss Re. 21,212

Sept. 19, 1939.

ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING Original Filed July 22. 1953 9 SheetS-Shee 6 ATTO NEY.:

Sept. 19, 1939. A WE|55 Re. 21,212

ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING Original Filed July 22, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet T l UO UU O? O U a N INVENTQR Sept. 19, 1939. A. wErss ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 EUA, L: 6 mi A ArToRNEY S SeptE 19, 1939. A.wE1ss ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING Original Filed July 22, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Ressued Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BDTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING Adolph Weiss, Brooklyn, N. Y.

B9 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to printing and more particularly to rotary intaglio printing.

As to certain of its features the invention is an improvement over that of my prior patent Reissue No. 18,856, dated June 6, 1933, for Rotary intaglio printing machine (original No. 1,631,169, dated .lu-ne 7, 1927) and the present invention is also an improvement over certain features forming the subject matter of mv copending application Ser. No. 646,032, for Rotary intaglio printing, filed December "i, 1932.

An object of the present invention is to provide a greatly improved method of and apparatus for supplying ink to the printing surface and 13 for controlling the circulation of ink so supplied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wiping mechanism for removing the surplus ink from the printing surface; and which mechanism not only provides for greatly increased eiiiciency in wiping but other operating and maintenance advantages of great importance.

Another object of the invention is to provide means facilitating the use of printing rollers of varying diameters while maintaining the inking and wiping mechanism in proper adjusted relation thereto and at the same time permitting ready access for the removal of the cylinders o varying sizes and of the adjustment of the operating parts.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specication.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing segments of the supporting structure for the cylinder and certain general features of an ink housing means therefor and related mechanism; the inking side of the cylinder being positioned at the upper side of the drawings and the wiping side at the lower side;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken through the axis of the printing cylinder at 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the left hand side of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with the inking side of the cylinder indicated at the left of the ligure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken transversely of the axis of the cylinder approximately at l-I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 looking towards the right hand side of Fig. 4 and having certain parts broken away to more clearly show certain features of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken at 6-6 of Fig. 4 illustrating certain features of the mechanism lor vertically adjusting the portion o one side wail 5 of the ink housing;

Fig. 7 is a section taken at 1-1 of Fig. 4 iilustrating certain details of mechanism for reciprocating the doctor Fig. 8 is a segmental perspective view showing 10 certain features of the wiping mechanism including the doctor structure and associated parts;

Fig. 9 is a section at 9 9 of Fig. 4 showing certain details of mechanism forregulating the pressure of the doctor; l5

Fig. 10 is a sectional view at iit-IU of Fig. 4 showing certain details of mechanism for lockingxa part of the structure in position;

Fig. il is a sectional view taken transverse to the axis of the printing cylinder of Fig. 4 show- 20 ing the adjustability and various positions of the wiping mechanism and related parts;

Fig. 12 (Sheet 1) is a sectional view taken at l2-l2 of Fig. 4 illustrating mechanism foradjusting a portion of the side wall of the hous- 25 ing at the inking side of the mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a partially diagrammatic view showing certain parts of the structure and illustrating the method of circulating and supplying ink to the printing cylinder; a0

Fig. 14 (Sheet 2) is an end elevation of a modied structure adapted to permit the removal o! the printing cylinder from the doctor or wiping side of the mechanism, and corresponds in general to Fig. 3; 35

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 14 and illustrates certain features of a modifled mechanism for reciprocating the doctor;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the structure shown ln Fig. 15; 40

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken at l'I-ll of Fig. 16 illustrating certain adjustment features of the modified wiping mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken at IB-IB of Fig. 16 showing further details and various posi- 46 tions of said wiping mechanism;

Fig. 19 (Sheet 7) is a partially diagrammatic view illustrating a modification of the ink circulating system;

Fig. 20 (Sheet 2) is an elevation partly in sec- 50 tion taken axially of the printing cylinder and illustrating a modication of the ink housing in general;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view of a part of the structure of Fig. 20 taken at 2|-2l of Fig. 20; and 5s Fig. 22 ls a sectional view taken at 22-22 of Fig. 20 showing further details of the structure there illustrated.

Before describing the invention in detail, it might be pointed out that in order not to unnecessarily lengthen the specication and increase the number of drawings, only such parts of the apparatus have been shown and described in detail as are necessary to clearly disclose and permit an adequate understanding of the invention by those skilled in the art, and other features of the machine will only be referred to and described in general. For example, the art of building a structural press framework for a rotary intaglio printing machine, such as is well known in the art, the means oi' mounting the feed supply rolls and other general features of this nature, are too well understood to warrant a detailed description of the same; it being understood that a comprehension of the details of the invention herein specifically illustrated and described will be suilicient to permit `one skilled in the art to practice the invention. Furthermore, it is within the contemplation of the present invention that if desired it might be utilized in conjunction with certain features of the subject matter of my said copending application.

As an introduction to the detailed description to follow, a brief general description will now be given.

The invention contemplates the use of a highly volatile ink or printing fluid, and to that end there is provided a housing which together with the printing cylinder provides an enclosure which is adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from the printing fluid. In producing the preferred form of such housing, it is desirable that certain parts going to make up the housing should perform other useful functions, and to this end it will be found that I have utilized numerous parts which serve other functions as component parts of said housing. In one embodiment of the invention, this housing comprises. as its end walls, portions of the side frames of the press structure which serve also as supporting means for the printing cylinder; while in an alternative embodiment, the end walls of the housing are formed separately from the said side frames. These alternative structures are deemed of importance in order to adapt the invention to be incorporated not only in a machine designed specifically therefor, but also permit its adaptation to already existing machines; and I have further found that in certain embodiments the invention may be preferable in one or the other of these embodiments.

In one embodiment of the invention I have disclosed provision for removing the printing cylinder from the wiping or doctor side of the mechanism, while in another embodiment I have disclosed means for removing the said cylinder from the opposite side: these alternative structures being of great utility in permitting the design of a machine to meet the requirements of floor space. arrangement of printing units and facility of removing and replacing cylinders to the greatest advantage depending upon the conditions met.

In one embodiment oi' the invention I have illustrated means for carrying the main supply of ink within the housing from where it is withdrawn and circulated to the ink applying station, the excess ink returning to the supply reservoir within the housing; while in another embodiment I have illustrated what might be termed a dry sump type, in which as fast as the excess ink from the cylinder is collected in the sump of the housing, it is withdrawn and returned to the supply reservoir means remote from the housing and which also serves to hold the main supply of ink, said ink being supplied from said reservoir to the ink applying station.

The invention further comprises as a chief feature of importance a novel means of flowing the ink on to the printing cylinder closely adjacent to but, in the direction of rotation of the printing cylinder. beyond the printing zone (i. e. that zone on the upper portion of the periphery of the printing cylinder at which position the design carried on the cylinder is printed on the paper web) and so positioning the printing cylinder and so circulating the ink that at no time is there an ink level in the housing into which the periphery of the cylinder dips or is immersed. The ink thus flowed on to the periphery of the cylinder at what wiill be termed the inking side (which has a peculiar significance in my invention) remains in contact with the cylinder in its rotation throughout the major portion of its periphery and is wiped of! by a suitable scraping wiper or doctor closely adjacent to and, in the direction of rotation of said cylinder, in advance of said printing zone. The reasons for this radical departure from prior practice and the great benets derived therefrom will be more fully discussed hereinafter.

The invention further contemplates a highly ecient and unique means of applying the ink in the manner heretofore described, wherein a maxmum degree of uniformity in flow is provided in a ribbon-like stream extending throughout the length of the cylinder. so that at each and every point in a'line extending parallel to the axis of the cylinder ink will be applied without any break in flow. Further, in conjunction with withdrawing the ink from the sump of the housing I have provided a means for effecting such withdrawal substantially uniformly throughout the length of the sump in a direction axially of the cylinder; thus preventing the collection at localized points or regions of ink pigments or any foreign matter which may be present. This is deemed of importance particularly in conjunction with t. .e use of rapidly drying or highly volatile inks.

Features shown and described but not claimed herein are claimed in my said issued patent and copending application.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. l and 2: i and 2 are side frames forming a part of the press supporting structure, and which are respectively provided with bearing housings 3 and l removably seated in theside frames. The housing l comprises ball bearings 5 and 6 seated therein, and into these extend an end 1 of an axis or shaft rigidly secured to a rotary intaglio printing cylinder l. The shaft end 1 is reduced adjacent its outer end forming a shoulder engaging the inner face of the inner race of the ball bearing B, and the said inner race is clamped thereagainst by means of a thrust sleeve 9 which is secured in position by suitable means such as the nut lli engaging a threaded extremity of said shaft end.

The outer race of the ball bearing 6 is clamped against the housing 3 by means of 'a collar Il interiorly threaded into the outer end of the housing 3. The outer end of said housing is also exterlorly threaded and said threads are engaged by cooperating threads formed interiorly on-the adjusting gear I2, which is held against axial movement by means of a thrust housing I3 secured to the outer face of the side frame I. The gear I2 is in driven mesh with the spur gear Il positioned within the housing I3 and being secured to a stub shaft I5 sultably rotatably supported in the adjacent frame and housing and having an end i6 projecting beyond said housing and adapted to be engaged by a wrench or crank handle for rotation. It will be seen that such rotation of the shaft I5 will in turn cause the rotation of the gear I2, which being held against axial movement will cause axial movement of the casing 3 (the casing 3 being prevented from rotating by a suitable keynot shown) to thereby eifect the axial adjustment of the printing cylinder 8 between the frames I and 2. The opposite end of the cylinder is' provided with a shaft end I1 which extends through suitable roller bearings rigidly held in operative position Within the bearing casing I by suitable means. and the shaft projects outwardly beyond its bearing support and the outer face of the frame 2 and carries secured to the outwardly projecting end a driving gear IB which is connected to a suitable power train (not shown) for rotating the rotary intaglio cylinder. A pressure roller I9 is suitably supported from the press structure for cooperative engagement with the upper portion of the periphery of the cylinder 2 in a manner well understood in the art.

Provision will now be described for facilitating the ready removal of the printing cylinder I together with its integrally formed drive and supporting shaft and the bearing means assof ciated therewith in assembled relation. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3: it will be seen that the side frames I and 2 are provided respectively with movable segments ia and 2a which each (Fig. 3) join the main portion of the frame along a vertical line extending through the axis of the cylinder 8 and along a horizontal line positioned somewhat below the lower periphery of the bearing housing, such as 3; this line being designated in Fig. 3 as 20. The frame segment la is constructed and adapted to function in the following manner, referring to Figs. 2 and 3. A slot, such as 2|, is formed in each of the frames and extends somewhat below the line 20, and seated in this slot is the lower stem of a T bar 22 which carries secured thereto a stud 23 extending downwardly through a web in the said frame and being provided with a nut on its outwardly extending portion. The upper legs of the T bar are horizontally slidably seated in a cooperating T recess 24 formed in the lower portion of the frame segment such as Ia. It will therefore be seen that, the frame segment la in normal position may be clamped rigidly downwardly by tensioning the stud 23 and that the part may be released for removal by unscrewing the nut on the stud 23. 'Ihe frame segment Ia is rigidly clamped against the main frame portion along its vertical juncture by means of a suitable stub and nut 25. In order to permit the ready removal of the parts as indicated, the housing I3 is divided into two parts along a line extending vertically through the axis of the cylinder 8. It is also pointed out that the T bar 22 is so positioned that its top face is slightly above the lowermost point of the bearing housing il and has its inner end contiguous to said housing formed `on the arc of a circle coinciding with the outer periphery of the casing 3, thereby providing means for holding the cylinder and assembled parts in normal position while the frame segments Ia and 2a and cooperating parts are being removed. whereupon the cylinder and assembled parts may be removed with ease. It will be understoodjof course, from the foregoing that a similar structure is provided and similar adjustments and removals of the parts may be made with respect to the frame segment 2a on the opposite side of the machine, which being in large measure identical with those just referred to will not be described in detail.

Ink housing Referring to Figs. 2 and 4: There is positioned between the frames I and 2 a member 23 in the form of and providing a bottom or sump for the housing, and which is suitably attached to the said frames in sealed engagement therewith. The sides of the sump or bottom portion 26 extend upwardly as indicated in Fig. 4. It will therefore he seen that the receptacle portion 26 forms in conjunction with portions of the frames I and 2 the major body of the ink housing, and in this connection it is pointed out that the bearings for the cylinder ends are in sealed engagement with their respective carrying frames and with the respectively cooperating ends of the shafts of the cylinder 8. The main body portion of the housing is provided with upwardly extending side walls in sealed continuity therewith and (Fig. 1) adjacent the upper portion of said side walls is mounted on one side the wiping mechanism, which will be designated in its entirety for the present purpose as 21, and at the other side the ink applying head, which will be designated in its entirety for the present purpose as 28; these two means serving the additional function of carrying the seal from the respective side walls to the periphery of the cylinder on respective sides thereof, and being positioned in a direction toward each other closely adjacent to the printing zone; and a seal being also effected between said means and cooperating wall portions of the housing body with the frame members I and 2. This only leaves to be sealed or enclosed the spaces between the respective ends of the cylinder and adjacent inner faces of the side frames I and 2. This is accomplished by means of end sealers designated in their entirety as 29 and 30. Each of these members comprises (Figs. 2 and 4) an arcuate rigid bracket or supporting member such as 3| and a thin iexible member 32 resting on and supported on the upper flange 2| with one end clamped rigidly against said supporting member by means of the clamping plate and screw 33 with the opposite end clamped in an adjustable bracket 34 which is pivoted to the bracket 3l and adjustable relative ,thereto by means of the set screw 35; whereby the resilient strip 32 may be pulled out over the rigid member and thus be made to conform to the arcuate shape thereof. This exible member 32 (Figs. l and 2) extends inwardly and over the end of said cylinder on the upper surface thereof and in sealing engagement therewith; it being understood that the underlying peripheral ends of the cylinder underneath these strips are without the portion of the cylinder which carries the design to be printed. A positive and efiiclent seal is thereby effected between the inner faces of the respective end walls of the housing and the surface of the printing cylinder in the region lying between the wiping and ink applying means heretofore referred to.

'Ihis also prevents splashing of ink from the ends of the printing cylinder when the printing cylinder is rotated at high speed. As will be seen (Fig. 2) the brackets 29-30 are spaced axially from the respective ends of the cylinder B to provide clearance for the maximum axial adjustment of the printing cylinder 8. On the doctor side of the cylinder the wiping mechanism TI overlies these flexible sealing strips, and likewise on the ink applying side of the cylinder provision is made by the means 28 for overlying and sealing with these exible strips; the extreme thinneSs of these flexible strips permitting the last said members which thus seal with them of also sealing with the surface of the cylinder. From the foregoing it will be readily understood how the ink housing means cooperates with the printing cylinder to provide an enclosure for preventing any substantial evaporation from the ink of the volatile ingredients thereof, while at the same time permitting a portion of the periphery of the printing cylinder to be positioned within the said enclosure for the application of ink to said cylinder.

wiping mechanism and supporting housing structure Referring more particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and '1: An adjustable side wall 36 is vertically slidably mounted adjacent to and in sealing engagement with the side wall of the housing bottom 26 and is held in such position by suitable means, such as the gear racks 31 which are rigidly attached to respectively adjacent side frames I and 2. 'Ihe vertically adjustable wall portion 36 carries journal housings 38 positioned adjacent respective frame members i and 2 and a central journal housing 39; said housing serving to support a shaft 40 carrying at respectively opposite ends spur gears 4l in mesh with racks 31, and at its mediari portion said shaft 40 carries a worm gear 42 in mesh with a worm 43 secured to and adapted to be operated by its shaft 44, the outer end of which is formed for engaging the same with a wrench or crank handle, and the rotation of which serves as a means of moving the side wall portion 3B in an upward and downward direction through the gear train previously described.

Adjacent the upper edge of the wall portion 36, which as will be seen is inclined inwardly, are carried a plurality of hinge brackets 45, spaced apart and positioned as will be more clearly seen with reference to Figs. 5 and 11. These hinge brackets serve to support the shaft 46 which serves the dual function of a hinge pin and as a drive shaft in the mechanism for reciprocating the doctor, one end extending through frame l to drive means (not shown). The shaft 46 is engaged adjacent its respective ends by hinge journals 41. and intermediate its ends by a hinge bracket 40, which are carried by an upwardly and inwardly extending wall portion or bracket 49, which bracket as will be seen is provided with a recess to accommodate a pair of barrel cams such as 50 which are pinned to the drive shaft 46 and adapted to be rotated thereby. These barrel cams are engaged respectively by cam rollers such as 5| carried on the lower end of cam arms such as 52 pivotallymounted as at 53, and having formed on their upper ends gear segments such as 54 in driving mesh with gear racks such as 55 rigidly secured to a longitudinally slidable member 56 (see also Fig. li), which is provided with bevel edges in the form of a dovetail which is seated in a cooperating groove formed in the bracket 49. Also rigidly attached to the slide 56 is a doctor holding bracket 51 having an inwardly extending flange between the upper face of which and a cooperating clamping bar Bl a doctor blade is adapted to be held (see also Fig. 8). The doctor blade is deelsnated as 50. The doctor blade comprises two laminations of thin flexible metal designated respectively as 59a and 59h, each lamination supplementing the other to produce the unitary function of the doctor in the present preferred embodiment of the invention. The lamination 59a is positioned on the bottom and extending outwardly beyond the lamination 59h for approximately 1/3", thereby providing the wiping edge per se. This lower lamination 59a is made of extremely thin material, i. e. in the present preferred embodiment which I have found in actual practice to give most satisfactory and efficient results 0.004" in thickness. The chief function of the upper lamination is to reinforce and supplement the lower lamination throughout the maior portion of the body thereof, which construction permits the use of the wiping edge of extremely thin thickness; this extremely thin edge in turn providing a means of most eiliciently and effectively wiping the printing surface without marring. scratching or unduly wearing the same, and also provides an eihcient means of sealing against the surface of the cylinder between the two end sealers 32 (Fig. i). The thickness of the respective laminations 69a and 58h is thinner than is practical in the usual operation and this is made possible by the unique manner in which the unitary doctor is mounted, which will be more particularly pointed out following.

In its normal inoperative position the outer edge of the doctor is rigidly clamped in xed position between the head 51 and the clamping strip 5B, no pivotal means of adjusting the doctor into engagement with the printing cylinder being provided as a usual practice. The freely overhanging inner edge of the doctor 59 is adapted to be flexed downwardly by means of the doctor pressure blade 00 and (by means to be pointed out following) upon being so flexed downwardly the under surface of the doctor engages with the flexible sealing strip 6I, whose outer edge is rigidly clamped on the upper edge of the bracket 49; the inner edge of the flexible seal 6I engaging the doctor somewhat to the rear of its oper-` ative wiping edge. The sealing strip 6i, in addition to serving as a lower resilient support and stiffening member for the doctor. serves to carry the seal from the doctor to the bracket`49 and thence downwardly to the main body of the housing. It will be noted that this manner of mounting the doctor serves to form the free overhanging portion of the doctor into an arched surface supported closely adjacent to its wiping edge between the members B0 and El and permitting the extremely thin flexible edge of the doctor to ensage the surface in a direction approximately extending in the radial direction of the cylinder, or in what might be termed a concave wiping position, when viewed in the direction of rotation of the printing surface toward the doctor; instead of the usual wiping position of the doctor where the wiping edge is directed more nearly tangential than radial, or in what might be termed a convex wiping position, when similarly viewed. At this point it is also well to note that the upper member 60 engaging and deflecting the doctor downwardly against the member Bi is reciprocable with the doctor relative to the stationarily held sealing member Bl.

The member I0 is mounted and supported on the upper edge of the pressure apron 02 which also serves the dual purpose of a cover for the mechanism located underneath the same. The member il is pivotaily supported at 83 (see also Fig. ll) to a pivot link Il whose lower end ls pivotaily supported as at Il from the slide block E6. The lower end of the pressure apron 82 carries a plurality of rollers 6l which in normal operation are adapted to roll on a track formed on an adjustable bracket 61, which is pivotally supported at Il on the upper edge of the side wall portion Il. The adjusting bracket 6l has secured to its lower end a bifurcated bracket $9 (see also Pig. 9) and each of its bifurcations is provided with a T pin 1li whose stem is plvotally journaled in such bifurcation and whose head is slidably engaged by a collar li which is axially held by an adjusting screw 12 whose lower end is in threaded engagement with a boss i3 formed integral with the wall portion 3B. From the foregoing it will be seen that in order to adjust the operative pressure of the wiping blade against the cylinder, and with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 4, the knurled head of the screw l2 is rotated thereby moving the lower end of the adjusting bracket I1, varying the position oi' the track portion of the upper end thereof, which through the roller li serves to adjust the pressure apron 62 about its pivot point B3. to thereby suitably adjust the position of the doctor pressure blade il and thereby the pressure exerted by the doctor upon the cylinder.

When it is desired to gain access to the doctor, either with the bracket portion I! in the position shown in Fig. 4 or in Fig. 1l, the pressure apron G! (Fig. ll) may be swung downwardly about the combined pivot points B3 and 65. The means for locking and unlocking the pressure apron Il, in order to permit the movement just described. comprises (Figs. 10 and 11) a handle I4 which is pivotally supported on the member l2 and which is provided with an opening l5 in which extends a crank arm i6 pivoted to a stub shaft Il iournaied in a boss 18 formed integral with the pivot link 84. The shaft il has integrally formed on the lower end thereof a gear I! in mesh with a rack 80 formed integral with a locking bolt 8i slidably supported in said boss 1l for movement transverse the axis of the shaft 11, and the bolt 1s adapted to be inserted in a cooperating hole formed in the bolt bracket l! which is rigidly attached to the slide bar I8. Accordingly, with the parts as shown in Figs. 4 and 10 by rotating the pair of handles 14, the crank arm 'ii transmits this motion to the mechanism previously described to withdraw the bolt Il from its cooperating latch 82, and by still holding the handles the bracket cover 82 vmay be pulled outwardly and allowed to move downwardly into the position indicated in Fig. l1, during which time the crank arm 'I6 will of course withdraw from the recess I and the slot formed in the cover 62 in register therewith. Similarly, when the cover is moved back into the closed position, the turning of the handles serves to lock the cover in closed position and place the previously determined pressure on the doctor. It will therefore be seen that the mechanism just described fullls the following functions: It serves to maintain and provide for the correct adjusted pressure on the doctor at all times during the reciprocation thereof, the screw 12 providing for operative adjustment of this pressure, and the latch handle 'Il and associated mechanism serving to entirely release the doctor from operative wiping position and also permitting the removal of the cover 82 to provide ready access to the parts positioned therebeneath-the cover normally serving the dual purpose of a bracket and adequate protection of the working parts. It will be understood that this movement just described has been with reference to the wall bracket 49 being positioned as indicated in Fig. 4 and is in no way concerned with the pivotal movement of the bracket 49, which will now be described.

In this embodiment of the invention the cylinder is adapted to be removed from the inking side of the housing, but at theisame time it is desirable to swing the wall bracket 49 outwardly in order to remove it from close proximity to the cylinder for the purpose of having access thereto in this region. For this purpose, the wall bracket I9, as has been previously described, pivots about the shaft IB, which also being the drive shaft for the doctor reciprocation permits the drive train of the doctor to remain undisturbed at all times. This is a feature of great usefulness since it obviates the necessity of adjusting the driving train of the doctor each time the doctor is removed or swung away from the cylinder. In its normal operative position as indicated in Fig. 4 the wall bracket I8 is locked securely in position by means of cam quadrant I3 which engages the lower extension of the said bracket and clamps it firmly against the upper marginal edge of the wall portion 36 so as also to provide a sealed contact therebetween. The cam lock 83 is carried by a shaft rotatably mounted in a boss formed integral with the wall portion Il. and on its outwardly projecting end is fastened a handle Il to provide meansdor rotating the said cam. In order to lock the cam in this position, the shank of the cam stem is threaded and is engaged by a knurled locking nut ll. 'I'here are preferably two of these locking mechanisms, one adjacent each end of the housing, as illustrated in Fig. 5. When it is desired to swing the bracket 4l and doctor operating mechanism carried thereby outwardly, the latch handles 1I are released. the knurled nut 85 is moved outwardly to release the cam stem, the handle Bl is moved to rotate the cam segment 83 and thereby release it from engagement with the lower extension of the wall bracket I9 and by grasping the two handles Il and pulling them outwardly and downwardly the cover B2 is moved outwardly and downwardly and through the means of interconnecting hinge link 64 the wall bracket 49 may be swung outwardly as indicated in Fig. 11. Ii desired the bracket l! with the pressure apron 62 in the relative position of Fig. 4 may be swung open to a limited extent in assembled relation.

Where the shaft Il (Fig. 5) passes through the frame 2 a vertical slot a is provided to accommodate vertical movement of the shaft during adjustment of the wall bracket 49, and in order to keep this slot closed a dependent flange (Figs. 4 and 5) 49a is provided and formed integral with bracket Il. Referring to the left hand portion of Fig. 11: The dotted positions of the doctor and cooperating blades are shown to illustrate the vertical adiustment for adapting the mechanism to the use of printing cylinders of various sizes; this vertical adjustment being eilected by the vertical adjustment of the wall portion 3i (Fig. 4) in the manner previously described.

Inking head and supporting housing structure therefor Referring to Fig. 4: 'I'he left hand side wall of the housing bottom 26 carries secured to the upper portion 86 thereof one side of a suitable hinge mechanism 81, the other side of which is secured to an upwardly extending housing side wall portion 88. This side wall portion extends upwardly to a reinforcing flange B9 and when in its normal operative position its lower end is in sealed engagement with the marginal edge 8G of the bottom portion 26. The wall portion B8 (Fig. IZ-Sheet 1) also is in sealed engagement at its ends respectively with side frames I and 2. The wall portion is provided with an offset portion providing an inner recess for the reception of a shaft 88 suitably journaled at its ends in portions rigidly secured to the housing portion 88 and also supported at its central points in journals formed in the cover 9| which cover is secured to the housing portion 88. At its central point and positioned within said cover, the shaft 90 carries secured thereto a worm gear 92 which is in driven engagement with a cooperating worm 93 mounted on the shaft journaled in bearings in the cover 9| and having an outwardly extending end 94 adapted to be engaged by a crank handle for rotating the worm and worm wheel and shaft 81|. The shaft SII carries adjacent its journal ends a. spur gear such as 95 each of which is in driving engagement with a gear rack 96. The gear racks 98 are slidably positioned within covers 91 serving to restrict the racks to a vertical movement, the covers being rigidly attached to the housing portion 88. The racks are rigidly secured at their respective upper ends to a housing upper wall portion 8B, which also carries secured thereto guide plates 99 which engage flanges on the rack cover 91, thereby permitting a vertical sliding movement of the wall portion 98, the gear racks 98 and the guides 99 relative to the stationary cover 91. From the foregoing it will be understood that upon rotating the shaft 94 vertical adjustment is provided for the Wall portion 98. The upper portion of the wall portion 88 provides a shelf or bracket for supporting the inking head 28. This 'bracket is provided with a dovetail which is engaged by a dovetail groove in the lower frame of the inkinghead, the outer wall of the said groove being rigid and the inner wall of the groove being formed by a plurality of locking members |88 which are secured to a. common shaft supported on the inking head structure and adapted to be rotated with respect thereto. A Worm gear quadrant IGI is carried by and secured to the said shaft and is in mesh with cooperating form |82 which is carried by a shaft journaled in the bearing portion |83 rigidly secured to the inking head structure, and the shaft extends outwardly and carries on its outwardly projecting end a knurled wheel |84. This means provides ready removal of the entire inking head, for purposes of this assembly or necessary servicing. Further details of construction of the inking head 28 will be more particularly described following in conjunction with the inking system. It will be understood that the wall portion 98 and the inking head 28 provide a. sealed continuity extending upwardly from the wall portion 88 and housing bottom 28; also that the side edges of the wall portion 98 and head 28 are adapted for sealed engagement respectively with the side frames I and 2, when the parts are in operative position. It will also be understood that when it in desired to have complete access" to the printing roller, as for example when it is desired to be removed, the intermediate wall portion 88, the upper wall portion 98 and the head 28 may be swung outwardly as a unit about the pivotal point of the hinge 81, so that the parts assume such position as to give free access for the removal and replacement of the printing cylinder. Suitable means (not shown) is provided for moving and supporting these portions of the housing while being swung outwardly and lifted inwardly to assume their closed position; and suitable means (not shown) is also provided for locking the parts in their closed operative position.

inking system In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the housing bottom 26 is constructed so as to provide a self-contained reservoir for the ink whose normal operating level is indicated therein. The inl; is withdrawn from this reservoir and circulated up to the inking head 2B in the manner to be presently described. In order to provide against any possibility of the ink in the reservoir being contaminated with lint particles, etc., I have provided a removable screen N5 (Figs. 2 and 4) which is provided with a relatively rigid frame adapted to rest on suitably formed portions of the housing so as to support the screen at a point above the ink level and spaced downwardly from the lowermost point of the largest cylinder to be utilized. The ink reservoir is provided with a sump which is divided axially of the cylinder in a plurality of transversely extending valleys, each of which is inclined downwardly on one side of the sump to the opposite side, and adjacent the lowermost point of these valleys they are provided with outlet openings or ports such as IBB which are in communication with a common manifold lll'l (Figs. 4 and 13), being interconnected therewith from a plurality of divisional manifolds |88, each of which communicates with a plurality of said outlet ports; whereby the flow of ink from the sump is assured being uniformly distributed axially of the printing cylinder, which feature I have found to be highly desirable in practical operation and to be highly beneficial, with improved results. The header IIII is in communication with a main conduit |08 which (Fig. 13) passes through a suitable valve H8 having one opening Ill, to provide for introducing new fluid into the system when desired, and with another opening in communication with a circulating pump H2, which is also in communication with a suitable valve H3 having one opening III for the purpose of draining the system when desired and another opening connected through a main conduit H5 to the inking head, which serves as a uid distributing means.

'I'his manner of ink removal from the sump at a plurality of points spaced apart axially of the cylinder has been found of particular importance in machines employing relatively long cylinders. and in which therefore the housings are relatively long; and this feature has been found to present a material improvement in the operation of the apparatus. For example, in a machine having a printing roller say of 72" length a housing with a single outlet, such as has been always employed heretofore in ink fountains, only the fluid in the vicinity of the outlet port will be actively moved to discharge; and accordingly the body of fluid more remote will be sluggish, and stagnation will result, bringing about undesirable localization of ink or such foreign matter as may be present. It will be understood that ink comprises as its constituents ingredients or elements of varying specific gravity; and therefore such localization will result in separation and/or stratification of these constituents of differing specific gravities, which result is detrimental to eficient operation and highly undesirable. With the multiple outlet withdrawal herein provided, this difiiculty is overcome and uniform flow of the ink along the entire length of the housing has been achieved.

The inking head is provided with a main arterial inlet in communication with the main conduit Iii and the said inlet branches outwardly to the right and left into a plurality of secondary passages, each of which is in communication with further divisional branches as clearly illustrated in Fig. 13, i. e. one of the secondary passages such as IIB is ln communication with successive branches such as Ill, each of which again branches outwardly into a plurality of branches such as IIB, each of which branches outwardly into a plurality of branches such as H9, each of which again in turn branches outwardly into a. plurality of final branches such as |20, the last of said branches terminating in a series of passages arranged in a direction axially of the printing cylinder and lying closely adjacent to each other: said passages being in communication along said line with a header or equalizer chamber (Fig. 4) |2| which serves to bring the uid into a homogeneous body possessing uniformity of movement throughout its length in an extent substantially coincident with the extent of the design on the printing surface of the cylinder axially thereof. The chamber |2| is provided with an outlet orifice |22 in the form of a long narrow slot lying, in normal operative condition, closely adjacent to the surface of the printing cylinder; thereby providing a ribbon-like stream extending in a continuous line axially of the printing surface and having a uniform rate of flow throughout its length. It will be noted that the suc-l cessively subdividing passages and the chamber I2I formed in the inking head 28 lie in general in the same plane which is inclined substantially downwardly. This provision, in addition to providing for complete drainage of the inking head, provides for depositing the ink on the printing surface by gravity.

In order to eifect an emcient seal between the nozzle end of the inking head and the cylinder 8 I provide a felt or other suitable sealing strip |23 which is provided at its upper edge with a U shaped metal clamp |24 in which the upper edge of the strip is rigidly fastened. This metal strip is attached to a carrying plate |25 by means of machine screws preferably passing through slots in the plate |25 and in threaded engagement with the U strip |24 to provide for adjustment of the sealing strip. The plate |25 is rigidly secured to the inverted U channel |26, the outer leg of which rests in a longitudinal groove formed in the top of the ink housing 2B and the upper face of the channel adjacent its inner edge is engaged by arms |21 loosely supported from the inking head 28 as at |28, and these arms are permitted a certain vertical movement by means of the adjusting nuts |29 (see also Figs. 1 and An inverted L angle member |30 is positioned within the inverted U channel |26 and is pivotally attached thereto as at |3|. This channel angle member carries a flexible strip |32 which extends downwardly behind the sealing strip |23 and between the same and the upper face of the inking nomle. It will therefore be seen that suitable adjustment is provided for positioning and clamping the felt strip so that it effects an eillcient seal between the inner end of the inking head 28 and the surface of the cylinder; it being noted that the strip also is adapted to engage the inner faces oi the side walls I and 2 on its respective ends. It is further particularly pointed out that the positioning of the edge of the felt strip which contacts the printing surface in such close proximity to the nozzle orifice serves to maintain the sealing edge of the felt strip lubricated by the printing fluid at all times, thereby preventing injurious scratching of the printing surface while at the same time maintaining a main effective seal.

As has been previously pointed out, and as will now be clearly understood from the foregoing, and with particular reference to Fig. 4, the relative positions of the inking head and the doctor are such that the ink remains in contact with the cylinder throughout an extensive portion of the periphery of the cylinder, and the importance of this feature should be clearly understood. In intaglio printing there is a tendency for the ink remaining in the engraved or etched (undercut) portions of the printing surface, after the impression has been delivered from the printing surface to the web, to solidify or harden in these cavities, to the extent of a small increased increment or lm ai'ter4 each impression. This tendency of course is greatly increased in degree according to the increased volatility of the ink. In order to entirely eliminate this condition, which would bring about deleterious results by decreasing the sharpness of the prints produced, I have provided a means of dissolving any film which might tend to form in these engravings or cavities by keeping a fresh flow of ink applied to the cylinder during the major portion of its circumferential travel. To this end it will be noted that (Fig. 4) the ink is applied beyond the printing zone, in the direction of rotation of the cylinder, in what might be termed the first quadrant and the doctor is positioned around the opposite side of the cylinder in advance of the printing zone in what might be termed the fourth quadrant. In these respective relative positions it is preferable that the inking head and the doctor lie in close proximity to the printing zone, since according to the features of the present invention the more proximate to the printing zone, the longer will be the path of travel during which the printing surface is subjected to the fresh supply of ink, and correspondingly the greater will be the portion of the printing cylinder enclosed within the housing.

Modified doctor mounting and supporting housing structure Referring to Figs. 14 to 18, inclusive: A modied structure is illustrated, wherein provision is made for removing the printing cylinder from the doctor side of the apparatus. Only such features of the structure as depart from the embodiment previously described will be referred to in detail and parts of the mechanism associated therewith are understood to be similar to the structure previously described. For example, in the modification now to be described the full showing of the bottom housing portion 2B (Fig. 4) has been omitted and it will be understood that a similar portion is employed in the modified structure only differing therefrom in such respects as will be understood by those skilled in the art to be necessary to adapt it for use with the modified details to be described; also the left hand portion of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 4 will be identical in the modied structure except that since the modification contemplates the removal of the cylinder from the doctor side of the mechanism the hinged connection l1 may be omitted and the portion 88 may be made rigid with and as a continuation of the portion 88. It is of course obvious that the hinged connection such as 81 may be utilized in conjunction with the modiiication and in that event provision will be made for removing the printing cylinder from either the doctor side or the inking side.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 14: The means of supporting the cylinder from the frame structure and the provision for ready removal by providing the side frames with removable portions is similar in all respects to that described in detail in connection with Fig. 3 and accordingly the detailed structure and cooperated relationship of such parts will not be again repeated, but the corresponding parts oi' Fig. 14 will bear similar reference characters to the corresponding parts of Fig. 3 with the prime sumx added. The hinged housing structure and doctor mechanism supported thereby will be designated in general as |83, and further details of this structure will now be described with reference to Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive.

The bottom housing portion (Figs. 17 and 18) is designated as 28 and is provided with an outwardly extending iiange portion III which has rigidly secured thereto suitable bracket collar means |85 through which passes a shaft |88 supported adjacent its oppositely extending ends from the side frames 1 and 2'. This shaft carries hinge bracket means |l1|ll mounted for rotation thereabout and held in axial position by the said collar means |88, and each of said hinge brackets carries upwardly extending guide bars such as |38 (Figs. 15 and 16) rigidly secured thereto, and said guide bars are slidably engaged by a pair of blocks or guide brackets |l8|l| positioned adjacent the inner laces of the respective side frames and 2. These blocks are held in adjusted vertical position by means of jack screws Ill-III (Fig. 17). each of which is provided with a lower bearing portion such as i journaled in a corresponding hinge bracket such as |81 and is provided with a thrust collar such as |45 resting on the upper face oi the cooperating bearing. On the lower end of each oi the jack screws such as |82 is secured a worm wheel |48 in driven mesh with a respectively cooperating worm |81 which is secured to and adapted to be rotated by the shaft |85. 'I'he left hand end (Figs. 15 and 16) of the shaft |88 extends outwardly beyond the side frame I' and is provided with a hand wheel |48 which is secured thereto and adapted to provide means for rotating the shaft |88 to thereby cause rotation of the worms such as |41 which efi'ect the rotation of the jack screws |42|48 and the vertical raising or lowering of the blocks INI-ill. These blocks carry secured rigidly thereto a side wall bracket |48 (Figs. 17 and 18) which serves as an upwardly extending continuation of the lower housing portion 28 and whose lower edge is in adjustable sealed engagement with the said lower housing portion 28'; the outer edges of said wall bracket |88 being in sealed engagement with the inner faces of the respective side fran-ies I' and'l'. Accordingly. it will be seen that provision has been made for the vertical upward and downward adjustment of this side wall portion. Also, it will be understood that this side wall portion may be swung outwardly as indicated in Fig. 18 about the shaft |88 as a pivotal axis.

The wall portion |48 is held in its upper position (Figs. l5 and 16) by suitable latch mechanisrn as follows. Suitable wedge projections |58. |5| are formed rigid with the side wall bracket portion and extend outwardly so as to come into engagement with suitable abutments provided by the frame structure and are engageable by wedge plates |52 and |58 which are slidably supported on the frame structure and are moved into and out of operative position by suitable handles |54, |55.

The wall portion bracket |88 is provided with a slide groove in which is slidably positioned a reciprocable slide bar |58 which is held in position within the slide groove by means of the members |l8|l| and a suitable intermediate plate |51 secured to the wall bracket |48. A pair of hinge brackets |58 and |59 are rigidly secured to the slide bar |58. These hinge brackets provide shelf supports such as (Fig. 18) |58' for supporting suitable doctor knife holder l8| carried thereby and between which is clamped the doctor 58', and the said clamping bars and doctor are held in position by plates such as |82. The construction and manner of mounting the doctor |58' is in all respects similar to the construction and manner of mounting of the doctor 58 previously described. A pair of downwardly extending arms |88. |88 are formed integral with the brackets |58, |58 respectively. and carry interposed between them and pivotally supported from their lower ends a cam roller |85.

Mounted on the pivot shaft |88 and interposed between the bifurcated ribs of the hinge brackets |58 and |58 respectively are hinge plates |88, |81 which carry rigidly secured thereto an apron |88 provided with suitable bosses engaging the face of said hinge plates as best illustrated in Figs. 17 and 16; thereby serving to support said apron |88 'pivotally about the shaft |88. This apron is substantially coextensive in length with the doctor, and being supported from the doctor slide reciprocates therewith. Between the top portion of the hinge plates |85 and |81 and the uppermost point of the apron |88 is provided a recess and suitable seat for the doctor pressure blade carrier I88a which carries the doctor pressure blade 88 rigidly clamped thereto and arranged in position with respect to the doctor 58' in the manner similar to that heretofore described in conjunction with Figs. 4 and 8. The member I88a is in effect an upward continuati .n of the apron |88, being rigidly clamped therein by suitable thumb screws to provide a means for readily removing the doctor knife holder for purposes of replacement or adjustment.

The apron carries slidably supported therein intermediate its ends a slide plate |88 which carries a pair of lugs |'||l from which is pivotally supported a downwardly extending cam wedge |1| which is adapted to engage the cam roller |85.. A suitable adjusting lock means |12 is provided ior adjusting the desired position of the cam wedge |1|; which as will be understood serves to furnish the desired operating adjustment of the pressure blade on the doctor. For the purposes of providing a quick release of the pressure blade from its adjusted position, while leaving the operative adjustment undisturbed. the following provision is made. The slide plate |88 carries pivotally connected adjacent its upper end a link |18 whose upper end is pivotally mounted on the inner crank end of an eccentric crank |14 which is rigidly secured in the hub of a crank handle |18 which is suitably Journaled in a boss |18 formed integral with the apron |88 (Fig. 18). The outer end of the crank handle |18 carries detent means |11 providing locking engagement with cooperating bosses |18 and |18 for holding the crank handle in the desired position. The parts as shown in Figs. 15 and i6 and in solid line position in Fig. 18 serve to hold the doctor pressure blade in operative position; while if the detent is released from the lug |18 (Fig. 15) and the handle |18 rotatedin a clockwise direction until the detent is made to engage the boss |18, the slide plate |88 is raised and the cam wedge |1| lifted to thereby permit the apron |88 and the integrally connected doctor pressure blade portion i88a to move about the pivot point |88 in a clockwise direction as indicated in the dotted position in Fig. 18, which position it will be understood is assumed when the entire wall bracket portion is swiveled about its hinge portion |88.

Doctor reciprocation As will be seen from Figs. 15, 16 and 17, the blocks |88 and |8| are provided with suitable bearings in which is rotatably supported a shaft |88. This shaft carries a pair of cam plates IBI, |82 secured thereto and rotatable therewith; and these cams are in cooperative engagement with respective cam rollers |88, |88 which are mounted on the doctor slides |58 and through the means of which the slide is caused to reciprocate. it being understood that the cams are so formed and positioned as to cause the reciprocation of the doctor slide throughout the desired travel. It is also noted that in the reciprocation in one direction one oi the cams only is active, while in the reciprocation in the opposite direction the other cam only is active, this providing a very desirable means of getting a direct positive drive and of eliminating lost motion, since the positions of the respective cams may be adjusted independently to control the extent of travel of the side in one or the other of its two positions.

The right hand end of the shaft |88 projects beyond the block lli and carries secured thereto a bevel gear |88 which is in driven mesh with a cooperating bevel gear |88 journaled in a supporting bracket |81 which is formed integral with the block |4| and is held thrust-wise therein by means oi a suitable collar |88. The hub of the gear |88 is in splined engagement with a vertical shaft |88, which is suitably journaled in a bracket |88 which is pivoted on shaft |38 and which carries fixed on its lower end bevel gear 18| in mesh with a cooperating bevel gear |82 provided with a hub portion |93 suitably journaled in the supporting structure such as the side frame 2 and carrying secured to its outer end a worm wheel |84 in driven engagement with a worm |88 carried on shaft |88, which is rotated by suitable means not shown). It might be mentioned here in passing that the hub |88 is hollow and serves as a bearing for the shaft |28. From the foregoing it will be seen that the driving train for eii'ecting the doctor reciprocation is so arranged and positioned that it is uninterrupted at all times while permitting the hinged movement back and forth of the side wall brackets and doctor mechanism carried thereby and also permits the vertical adjustment of the wiping mechanism as indicated in Fig. 17; and as has been previously pointed out in connection with the previously described embodiment of the invention this feature is of 'great importance.

. Modtlcatn of inlttny system Under certain conditions, it is desirable to provide independent iluid reservoirs situated remotely from the ink housing. and provision for this is illustrated in Fig. 19. This system may be referred to as a dry sump system.

The distributor head designated in its entirety as 28 is connected with a main conduit line |81 through which ink is forced by means of a feed supply pump |88, which hasits inlet side connected by a. pipe |88 to a suitable valve 288, which serves to connect the pipe |88 selectively with either the pipe 28| or the pipe 282; the pipe 28| being in fluid communication with the lower portion of the ink reservoir compartment 288, and the pipe 282 being in uid communication with the lower portion of the solvent reservoir compartment 284. The lower portion 28 of the ink housing is diagrammatically illustrated and the outlet pipe 288 is in iluid communication therewith and at its opposite end is in fluid communication with the withdrawal pump 288 whose outlet side is connected by a pipe 281 to a suitable valve 288, which serves selectively to place the pipe 281 in communication with a scavenging pipe 288 or with the reservoir pipe 2|8, which is connected to a suitable valve 2|I which serves selectively to place the pipe 2|8 into communication with an ink return pipe 2|2 or a solvent return pipe 2I3; the pipe 2|2 returning the uid to the upper portion of the ink reservoir 288 and the pipe 2li Serving to return the uid to the upper portion of the solvent reservoir 284. The pumps operate in such a manner that the ink is withdrawn from the sump 28 at such a rate as to prevent accumuiation oi ink therein and thereby effect a dry sump. The ink so withdrawn is returned to the reservoir means from where it is withdrawn by the pump |88 and forced through the pipe |81 into the distributor head 28.

Housing modification-ends independent of press frames In certain instances it is desirable or necessary. particularly as where already designed or built machines are to be adapted to my invention, to have main supporting frames independent of the ink housing. or at least not to depend on these structural members for the additional function of the ink housing. Provision for this is illustrated in Figs. 28, 21 and 22. Referring more particularly to Fig. 20: The printing cylinder is supported from the side frames of the machine in suitable journals formed therein. one of the side frames being indicated as 2 I 4, and the cylinder shaft end 2|5 adjacent this side of the machine projects outwardly beyond the frame and carries on its outer end a grooved collar 2|8, which is engaged by an adjusting lug 2 1 slidably mounted on suitable guide bar means designated as 2|8 and en- 'gaged by an adjusting screw 2|8 suitably journaled in the frame 2H and provided at its outer end for engagement with a suitable crank or wrench. By rotation of the screw 2|8, the block 2|1 is moved inwardly or outwardly to thereby adjust the printing cylinder in desired axial position, for purposes well understood in the art. I'he lower portion of the ink housing is designated as 228 and may be formed and constructed in the manner previously described. However, instead of the lower housing portion being in sealed engagement with the side frames as heretofore described, it is in sealed engagement with end wall portions, one oi' which is designated as 22|. This ink housing is supported from the iioor by means of pedestal iianges or legs, which in the present embodiment are formed integral with the lower portion 220 and end wall portions 22| (Fig. 20); thereby supporting the ink housing with its bottom spaced from the floor as clearly illustrated. These end wall portions are formed with removable panels such as 22h: comparable to the removable panel such as la in the frame I as shown in Fig. 3, and in like manner providing for ready removability of the printing cylinder in its assembled condition; it being noted that the frame 2H is cut away to permit the removal of the cylinder and its shaft, as will be more clearly described following. The details of construction of the removable panels of the housing ends will now be described more fully.

Referring to Fig. 21: The main member is provided with a dovetail guide 222 on which is slidably seated a cooperating dove tail formed integra] with the panel 22 la, and suitable clamping means such as 223 is provided for clamping the parts in adjusted position when once assembled; and in order to assure the parts being retained in this position of adjustment lock means, such as 224, is provided, it being pivotally attached to the main portion 22i so as to swing out of the way during the removal of the panel. The main body and the panel of the end wall are provided with half portions of a suitable housing 225 which carries a sealing ring 226 made of felt or other suitable material for effecting a seal between the shaft 2li and the housing end. Referring to Fig. 22: The side frame portion 2M is cut out and the journal bearing of the shaft 2I5, designated as 221, is provided with a peripheral flange seated in a cooperating recess formed in the side frame 2M and this bearing is provided with an opening 228 which in normal operative position is positioned upwardly as shown in Fig. 22, and which is adapted to be rotated to a horizontal position when it is desired to remove the cylinder, as by means of a handle 229.

With reference to the wiping mechanism lFigs. 11, i7 and 18), it is to be particularly noted that the doctor such as 59 (or 59') and its cooperating pressure blade such as 60 (or 50') are rigidly held by their respective supporting means in parallelism with respect to an axially extending line on the printing cylinder surface. Also, that these supporting means such as the wall bracket 49 (or |49) and parts cooperating therewith are so positioned, arranged and constructed that the doctor will be held and maintained in said parallelism at all operative positions `of adjustment of the doctor and cooperating parts.

Having thus described my invention with particularity with reference to the preferred method of carrying out the same and in connection with the preferred apparatus for carrying out the same, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that other changes and modiiications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover such changes and modifications as are within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a press supporting structure comprising side frames, a rotary intaglio printing cylinder having a drive shaft. said shaft being journaled in and said cylinder supported by said side frames, ink housing means comprising portions of said frames contiguous said journals and additional members cooperating therewith, said cylinder having a portion otite periphery within said housing means for the application of ink to said cylinder, and said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink.

2. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a press stipporting structure comprising side frames, a r tary intaglio printing cylinder having a drive shaft, said shaft being journaled in and said cylinder supported by said side frames, ink housing means formed as a unit and comprising end walls formed separately from said side frames and in sealing relationship with the cylinder shaft, said housing including additional means cooperating with said end walls and the respective end portions of the cylinder, said cylinder having a portion of its periphery within said housing means for the application of ink to said cylinder, and said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink.

3. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a press supporting structure comprising side frames, a rotary intaglio printing cylinder having a drive shaft, bearing means removably supported in said side frames, said drive shaft being positioned in said bearing means for supporting said cylinder from said side frames, said bearing means being in sealed engagement with said side frames and with said drive shaft, ink housing means comprising said bearing means and contiguous portions of said side frames and additional members in cooperative sealed engagement therewith, said cylinder having a portion of its periphery within said housing means for the application of ink to said cylinder, and said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink.

4. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a main frame supporting structure comprising side frames. a rotary printing cylinderhaving a drive shaft, bearing means removably supported respectively in said side frames, oppositely extending portions of said drive shaft being positioned respectively in said journal means for supporting said cylinder from said side frames and said cylinder, drive shaft and bearing means being removable bodily from said supporting structure, said bearing means being in sealed engagement with respective side frames and with contiguous portions of said drive shaft, ink housing means comprising said bearing means and contiguous portions oi said side frames and additional members in cooperative sealed engagement therewith, said cylinder having a portion of its periphery within said housing means for the application of ink to the printing surface of said cylinder, and said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink.

5. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a main frame supporting structure comprising side frames having respective bearings, a rotary intaglio printing cylinder having a drive shaft supported in said bearings, said side frames having removable panels in sealed communication with said side frames and with said drive shaft and adapted to permit ready removal of said cylinder and drive shaft bodily, ink housing means comprising said removable panels and contiguous portions of said side frames and additional members in cooperative sealed engagement therewith, said cylinder having a portion of its periphery within said housing means for the application of ink to said cylinder, and said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink.

6. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a main frame supporting structure comprising side frames, a rotary intaglio printing cylinder having a drive shaft, bearing means removably supported respectively in said side frames, said drive shaft being positioned ln said journal means for supporting said cylinder from said side frames, said side frames respectively having removable panels to provide for said cylinder said drive shaft and said bearing means being removable bodily from said supporting structure. said bearing means being in sealed engagement with said panels and contiguous side frame portions and with contiguous portions of said drive shaft, ink housing means comprising said bearing means and contiguous portions of said side frames and additional members in cooperative sealed engagement therewith, said cylinder having a portion of its periphery within said housing means for the application of ink to said cylinder, and said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink.

'1. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a press supporting structure comprising side frames, a rotary intaglio printing cylinder having a drive shaft, said shaft being journaled in and said cylinder supported by said side frames with opposite ends of said shaft projecting respectively beyond the outer faces of said frames and opposite ends of said cylinder respectively spaced from the inner faces of said frames, ink housing means comprising portions of said frames contiguous said journals and additional members cooperating therewith, said cylinder having a portion of its periphery within said housing means for the application of ink to said cylinder, said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink, means for adjusting the lateral position of said cylinder, said means being supported from one of said frames adjacent the outer face thereof and being operatively connected to one of said outwardly projecting shaft ends.

8. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a press supporting structure comprising side frames, a rotary intaglio printing cylinder having a drive shaft and being supported by said side frames, an axially adjustable bearing box carried in one of said frames and serving as a journal for one end of said shaft, said cylinder having its opposite ends respectively spaced from the inner faces of said frames, ink housing means comprising said box and portions of said frames adjacent said cylinder ends and additional members cooperating therewith, said cylinder having a portion of its periphery within said housing means for the application of ink to said cylinder, said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink, thrust lock means between said bearing box and drive shaft, and means associated therewith to adjust the axial position of said bearing box to thereby vary the lateral position oi said cylinder.

9. In a rotary intaglio printing press. the combination o1' a main frame supporting structure comprising side frames, a rotary intaglio printing cylinder supported by said trames, a pair of end Sealers in respective sealing contiguity with said frames and with the outer periphery of said cylinder, ink housing means comprising portions of said frames contiguous said journals and said end Sealers and additional members in cooperative sealed engagement therewith, said cylinder having a portion of its periphery within said housing means for the application of ink to said cylinder, and said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink.

10. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a rotary intaglio printing cylinder, ink housing means within which is positioned a portion of the periphery of said cylinder for the application of ink thereto, said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink, said housing means comprising arcuate extensions between respective end walls of said housing and respectively adjacent ends of said printing cylinder and being in overlapping sealing contiguity with the peripheral surface of said printing cylinder, whereby the printing cylinder may be adjusted axially with respect to the housing to provide for registration while maintaining the closure of the housing.

11. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a rotary intaglio printing cylinder. ink housing means within which is positioned a portion of the periphery of said cylinder for the application of ink thereto, said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink, said housing means comprising a reciprocable doctor and also comprising two relatively thin arcuate members extending inwardly from respective end walls of said housing and being in sealing engagement with the peripheral surface of said printing cylinder adjacent respective ends thereof and lying between said surface and said doctor.

l2. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a rotary intaglio printing cylinder, ink housing means within which is positioned a portion of the periphery of said cylinder for the application of ink thereto, said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure adapted to prevent substantial evaporation of the volatile ingredients from said ink, said housing means comprising a reciprocable doctor and also comprising two end sealers each having a rigid supporting bracket and a relatively thin flexible arcuate member, said brackets being removably attached to the inner faces of respective end walls of said housing and Said relatively thin arcuate members extending inwardly from respective end walls of said housing and being in sealing engagement with the peripheral surface of said printing cylinder adjacent respective ends thereof and lying between said surface and said doctor.

13. In a rotary intaglio printing press, the combination of a rotary intaglio printing cylinder, ink housing means within which is positioned a portion of the periphery of said cylinder for the application of ink thereto, said housing means and said cylinder providing an enclosure

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