US2292344A - Rotary intaglio printing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1942. F. HELLER ET AL ROTARY INTAGLI O PRINTING MACHI NE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 28, 1941 m w Y r WdKF O A H m Mm 9 2 FHELLER ET'AL 2,292,344

ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINE Filed-Aug. 28, 1 941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN'VENTORS Franz Heller.

' RzclzardAKr I I Patented Aug 11, 1942 ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINE Franz Heller, Mount Vernon, and Richard A. Krahmer, Yonkers, N. Y., assignors to B. Hoe a 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August as, 1941, Serial Not 408,616

a Claims. (01. 101-157) i This invention relates to rotary intaglio printing machines and more particularly to an improved doctor blade mechanism for such machines.

Each printing cylinder of an intaglio printing machine is commonly provided with a flexible metal doctor blade arranged to have an edge thereof in engagement with the surface of the printing cylinder which rotates in an ink fountain, and to be pressed thereagainst with the proper amount of tension to insure removal of surplus ink from the cylinder surface. It is desirable that the pressure of the doctor blade be readily and delicately adjustable, and it is also desirable that the blade be arranged to be swung away from the printing cylinder to pit acces- .sibility to adjacent machine parts, and to be again disposed and locked in operative position without disturbing its adjustment in respect to the surface of the cylinder.

' One object of this invention is to provide an improved form of doctor blade mechanism for intaglio printing machines whereby the pressure of the doctor blade upon the surface of the printing cylinder may be readily and delicately ad- Justed, and the doctor blade may be moved to and from operating position without disturbing.

the adjustment.

Another object is to provide a doctor blade mechanism wherein provision'is made to swin the doctor blade away from the cylinder and adjacent machine parts and mechanisms a relatively large amount whereby such parts and mechanisms will be conveniently and readily accessible. v

A further object is to improve the form of doctor blade mechanism shown in Patent No. 2,097,791 by providing a blade locking means which will not require axial movement to permit the swinging of the blade supporting arms away from the cylinder, and wherein features are provided which increase its eiflciency.

Other objects are to provide a cushioning means to prevent the blade abruptly striking the cylinder when it is swung into engagement therewith, an adjustable stop means to limit its movement in that direction. and combinations of these features in a doctor blade mechanism whereby each one may assist the operation and enhance advantages of the others.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a-doctor blade mechanismiior an intaglio printing machine, of generally improved construction, whereby the same will be simple, durable and in expensive in construction, as well as convenient,

practical. serviceable and eflicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view. which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combticn and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and in The preferred embodiment oi the inventiis illustrated in the accompanying dinwinS, where- Figure l is a sectional View ci a pcrtion of an intaglio printing machine and which shows an end view of a doctor blade mechanism embcdg the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the doctor blade mechanism looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a side'view of the doctor blade mechanism looking in the direction of arrow 3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the mechanism taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line d5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line tt of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, a doctor blade mechanism embodying the features of the invention is shown in Figure l, in association with a print-= ing cylinder ii of an intaglio printing me. An impression cylinder I2 cooperates with the printing cylinder ii to print on a web it r 1-. betweenthese cylinders. The printing cylinder H is provided with the usual engraved printingsurface it and. is mounted to be'rotated in an ink well or fountain i5 where ink adheres to its peripheral surface I4 and is subsequently transferred to the web it. A doctor blade 56. made of comparatively thin and flexible metal, is supported by the mechanism of this invention and is disposed in engagement with the surface I4 of the cylinder H to remove surplus ink therefrom.

The doctor blade it extends axially along the cylinder I and is securely clamped by means of screws I'I between bars l8 and IS. The upper bar I8 is provided with a flange 2| along its rear edge and is secured in grooves 22 provided in corresponding ends of each of a pair of arms 24 and 25 (Figure 2), and abuts against an end surface 26 provided on an intermediate arm 21. Ateach of the arms 24 and 25, the flange 2! is arm 21 by an adjusting screw 29. The arms 2|.

25 and 21 are mounted upon a shaft 3|. the arms 24 and 25 being freely rotatable on the shaft 3|, and the arm 21 being releasably clamped thereto by screws 33, whereby it may be rotatably ad- .iust'ed about the shaft 3|.

The shaft 3| is journaled at each end in bearing supports 33 and 34, and intermediate its ends, in a bearing support 35. The bearing supports 33, 35 and 35 are each suitably mounted upon a reciprocable base plate 35, which in turn is supported upon a stationary machine frame member 31. Means is herein shown whereby the bearing supports 33, 36 and 35 may be adjusted transversely of the base plate 35, these being hand screws 38 (Figure 1). The adjusting mechanism controlled by the hand screws 35 is not used during ordinary operation of the machine unless it is desired to change the angle of contact of the doctor blade on the cylinder, or to position the blade to suit a printing cylinder having a different diameter, and ,hence on. machines where the same size cylinder is always used, the adjusting means controlled by the hand screw 33, may be omitted. The base plate 35 may be reciprocated axially in respect to the cyl-= inder ii along ways 39, provided on the stationary machine frame member 31, by known means not shown. The shaft 3| is adapted to be turned manually by a handle 4| (Figure 2), keyed to the shaft 3|, preferably adjacent the intermediate bearing support 35.

The end arms 24 and 25 which carry the bars l5 and I9 are'connected to rocker arms 42 and 43 respectively by means of adjusting screws 43 (Figures 2 and 6). The screws 45 are rotatable freely in posts 45 carried by the arms 42 and 43 and have handles 45 secured to them by pins 41. Thrust collars 45 are pinned or otherwise secured to the screws 44, and with the handles 45 prevent axial motion ofthe screws 44 with respect to the posts 45. .The screws 44 are screw threaded into studs 45 carried by the'arms 24 and 25. Rotation of the screws 44 by the handles 45 will adjust the arms 24 and 25 with respect to the rocker arms 42 and 43. The arms 42 and 43 are releasably clamped, by means of screws 43 (Figure 5) to the shaft 3|, and thus may be rotatively adjusted thereon.

Movement of the rocker arms 42 and 43 to swing the arms 24 and 25, and the doctor blade i5 toward the cylinder II is limited by adjusting screws 55 having lock nuts 5| associated therewith. The screws 55 are screw threaded through lugs 52 provided on the rocker arms 42 and 43, and their inner ends 53 engage pins 54 extending from the adjacent sides of the respective bearing supports 33 and 34. The doctor blade |5 may thus be accurately adjusted with respect to the cylinder II by manipulating the adjusting screws 44, and the limit screws 55 are set in engagement with the pins 54 while the arms 42 and 43 are locked in operating position by means to be hereinafter described. Coiled springs 55 are disposed about each screw 55 and in counterbpres 55 formed in the rocker arms 42 and.43, and act to bias the respective arms away from the pins 54. The springs 55 act as operating position while the printing cylinder is removed from the fountain.

Means including a handle 55 (Figures 3, 4 and 5), a short shaft 51, and a slotted sleeve 551s provided at each standard 33 and 34. The shafts "51 are journaled in the adjacent and associated standards 33 and 34, and have handles 55 secured at one end, and sleeves 58 secured to the other end. The sleeves 55 are provided with deep slots 59 forming rocking latches 5| adapted to engage pins or latch engaging members 52, mounted in and extending from adjacent sides of the rocker arms 42 and 43 to lock the blade IS in its cylinder engaging position. The axes of the shafts 51 and the axes of the pins 52 are located equidistant from the axis of the shaft 3| so that, as the rocker arms 42 and 43 are swung about with the shaft 3|, the pins 52 enter the slots 53 in the sleeves 58. By manipulation of the handles 55 to rotate the shafts 51, the sleeves are rotated causing the' pins 52 to be engaged by the latches 5|, and drawing the arms 42 and 43 toward the cylinder ll, thus securely locking the blade |6 in engagement therewith. A pin 53 extending from each of the standards 33 and 34 limits the movement of the handles 55 in looking direction. Rotation of the shafts 51 in the opposite direction, by moving the handles 55 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, will cause the latches 5| to free the pins 52 and permit the rocker arms- 42 and 43 with the blade carrying before the blade |5 has been swung away. .An

ink deflector 55 (Figurel) shown in association with the doctor blade l5 and the cylinder II, has an edge 55 disposed closely adjacent the periphery of the cylinder II to remove a portion cushioning means to prevent harsh engagement of theexcess ink therefrom, and thus reduce the amount of ink which the blade i5 is required to handle. This deflector 55 extends the entire length of the blade i5 and is provided with openings 51 which allow the ink renioved by the blade I5 to return to the fountain i5. The deflector 55 also has a flange 55 depending therefrom to direct the ink which it removes from the cylinder back intothe fountain. I

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that in moving the doctor knife mechanism from the full line position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in dotted lines, the handles 55 are first swung clockwise as seen in Figure 1 into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. This results in turning the latches 5| through approximatel so that the openings of the slots 59 are turned directly opposite to the position shown in Figure 5, and the pins 52 are then free to move clockwise and out of the slots 59 when the handle 4| is swung clockwise to rotate the shaft 3 I and swing the entire doctor blade mechanism to the dotted position of Figure 1. In the operation of moving the doctor blade from inoperative to operative position, the reverse sequence of operation is followed, by flrst turning encased and the handles as are then manipulated to t the bushings so through approximately no in a counter=clochwise direction, to theFloch-up position shown in Figure 5, this motion of the bush= ings rting in a camming action oi one side oi the slots be against the pins 62, which results in producing the desired operating pressure of the doctor blade against the cylinder.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

What is claimed is:

1. In a doctor blade supporting mechanism for a printing machine, the combination of a doctor blade holder, a pivotally mounted arm for supporting the doctor blade holder and to move the blade into and out of engagement with the surface of a printing cylinder, and a latch engaging member connected to the pivotally mounted arm, with means to lock the pivotally mounted supported to rock on a, relatively fixed axis and in a single plane and adapted to engage the latch engaging member, the said latch being movable in one direction to press the bladeagainst the cylinder and lock it in operating position, and movable in the opposite direction to release the blade and permit passage of the latch engaging member and the pivotally mounted arm, so the blade may be swung away from the cylinder.

2. In a doctor blade supporting mechanism for a printing machine, the combination of a doctor blade holder carrying a doctor blade, a pivotally mounted arm for supportingthe doctor blade holder and to move the blade into and out of engagement with the surface of a printing cylinder, and a latch engaging member connected to the pivotally mounted arm, with means to lock the pivotally mounted arm in position to hold the.

blade in engagement with the surface of the cylinder, including a latch supported to rock on a relatively fixed axis and in a single plane and adapted to engage the latch engaging member, the said latch being movable in one direction to press the blade against the cylinder and lock it in operating position, and movable in the opposite direction to release the blade and permit passage of the latch engaging member and the pivotally mounted arm so the blade may be swung away from the cylinder, and resilient means movable with the r plvotally mounted arm to cushion the engagement of the blade with the cylinder surface when the blade is swung into contact therewith.

3. In a doctor blade supporting mechanism for a printing machine, the combination of a doctor blade holder, pivotally mounted arms for supporting the doctor blade holder and to move the blade into and out of engagement with the surface of a printing cylinder, rocker arms each having a latch engaging member, and adjustable means to connect the rocker arms to the pivotally mounted arms to vary the pressure of the blade on the cylinder, with means to lock each rocker arm and pivotally mounted arm in position to hold the blade in engagement with the surface of the cylinder, including a rotary latch adapted to engage a said latch engaging member and rotatable in one direction to engage and exert pressure on the latch engaging member thus engaged and thereby press the blade against the cylinder and lock it in position, and rotatable in blade holder, pivotally mounted arms tor sup porting the doctor blade holder and to move the blade into and out of engagement with the sur face of a printing cylinder, rocker arms each having a latch engaging member, and adjustable means to connect the rocker arms to the pivot= ally mounted arms to vary the pressure or the blade on the cylinder, with means to lock each rocker arm and pivotally mounted arm'in posi tion to hold the blade in' operating engagement with the surface of the cylinder, inclllg a rotary latch adapted to engage a said latch engaging member and rotatable in one direction to engage and exert pressure on the latch engagi member thus engaged and thereby press the blade against the cylinder and lock it in position, and rotatable in the opposite direction to relieve pressure from and disengage the latch engaging member, to release the blade and permit it to be swung away from the cylinder, and resilient means movable with the pivotally mounted arm to cushion the engagement of th blade with the cylinder surface when the blade is swung into contact therewith.

5. In a doctor'blade supporting mechanism, a blade holder, a first arm for supporting the blade holder, a shaft upon which the first arm is mounted, a second arm fixed to the shaft, means torock the shaft, adjustable connecting means between the arms whereby relative movement between them may be obtained to vary the pressure of the blade on the cylinder, means to cushion the movement of the arms toward the cylinder, adjustable means to limit the movement of the arms toward the cylinder, and locking means to draw th arms toward the cylinder against the action of the cushioning means and to a position as limited by the limiting means.

6. In a doctor blade mechanism, a blade, a first arm for supporting the blade, a rock shaft upon which the first arm is rotatably mounted, a second arm fixed to the shaft to rock therewith, adjustable connecting means between the arms whereby relative movement therebetween may be eflected to vary the pressure of the blade on the cylinder, means carried by the second arm and reacting against a. stationary part to bias the arms and with them the blade away from the cylinder, and means to draw the arms toward the cylinder to engage it by the blade, against the action of the biasing means and to lock the arms in such position.

'7. In a doctor blade mechanism, a blade, a first arm for supporting the blade, a rock shaft upon which the first arm swings, at second arm fixed to the shaft to rock therewith, adjustable connecting means between the arms whereby relative movement between them may be effected to vary the pressure of th blade on the cylinder,

' biasing .means and to lock the arms in such position, and adjustable means to limit the-movement of the arms toward the cylinder by the arm locking means.

8. In a doctor blade mechanism for a printing machine having a cylinder, a doctor blade, a first arm for supporting the blade, a shaft upon which the first arm is freely rotatable}; second arm to'move the blade toward and away from the cylinder adjustably connected to the first arm for relative movement therebetween, the second arm being connected to the shaft, a stationary standard in which the shaft is journaled, a latch engaging member carried by and extending from the second arm, a latch member journaled in the standard and rotatable on an axis disposed on the arc of travel of the latch engaging member as it rotates with the shaft, means to rock the member in one direction to engage the latch engaging member to-draw the arms toward the cylinder, an adjustable stop member 10 with the part extending from the standard.

' FRANZ HELLER.

RICHARD A. mun/ma.

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