US2397053A - Printing press - Google Patents

Description

D. W. SCHNEIDER 2,397,053

PRINTING PRESS -Mau-ch 159, 1946.

Filed Aug. 27, i941 1o sheets-sheet 1 arch 19, i946. D. w. SCHNEIDERv 2,397,053

PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 27, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 March E9, 1946- D. w. SCHNEIDER PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 27, 1941 1o sheets-sheet 5 U JM March i9, 1946. p, W SCHNElDER 2,397,053

PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 27, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 w Q Q arch 19, 1946.. D. w. SCHNEIDER 2,397,053

PRINTING PRES S Filed Aug. 27, 1941 lO Sheets-Sheet 5 March 19, 1946n D W, SCHNElDER 2,397,053

PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 27, 1941 1o sheets-sheet 6 19,1946. D. w. SCHNEIDER PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug.

27,1941 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 D. w. SCHNEIDER 2,397,053

PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 27, 1941 1o sheets-sheet s March 19, 1946. D W, 'SCHNEIDER 2,397,053

PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 27', 1941 1o sheets-sheet 1o atented an lg, 394

2l Claims.

This invention relates to a printing press, and more particularly to an improved press for multicolor work,

One feature of this invention is that it provides a plurality of impression sections and a paperreceiving .section on a single cylinder; another feature of this invention is that it provides a dierent offset roll for transferring ink from each impression section of the cylinder to the sheet of paper; yet another feature is that separate inking sets and separate dampening sets, where appropriate, are used for each impression section of the cylinder; still another feature is the provision of a high-speed multi-color press which insures perfect registry of the different imprints at all times, and which prevents undesired mixing of inks or discoloration of dampening water; a. further feature of this invention is the provision of improved mechanism for moving the dampening and inking sets and the offset rolls toward and away from the main cylinder, together with means for rendering these operative and inoperative as desired; yet a-i`ur ther feature of this invention is the provision of feed mechanism with sheet-gripping elements which oscillate in an arc intersecting the circumference of the main cylinder,V and which are synchronized with movement of the cylinder periphery; still another feature is the provision of improved sheet delivery mechanism adapted to remove a sheet from the main cylinder in approximately a horizontal plane through the axis of the cylinder, such a delivery mechanism being particularly adapted to deliver sheets from the cylinder of one such. press as is here disclosed to the cylinder of another similar press; other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and the drawings, in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of a side of the press herein termed the front; Figure 2 is a top plan View or" the press; Figure 3 is a rear elevational view or the press from the opposite side oi that shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 isv an elevational view of the press from the delivery end; Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View along the line 5 5 of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view Just below the delivery table, along the line Ei-t of Figure 5; Figure 'l is a detail vertical View, principally in elevation,r

along the line ll-l of Figure 2, this view particularly showing the mechanism for moving the dampening and inking sets and the offset rolls toward and away from the main cylinder; Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the main cylinder and associated parts showing a cylinder plate covering both impression and Figure ll is a' detail view of one of the inl:-

ing sets, in vertical section. A

Present commercial multicolor presses have many defects and objections, particularly in the necessity of many careful adjustments to insure registry of impressions by dierent inks, in occasional mixture of inks, in undesirable sharp curvature bends in the handling of freshly printed sheets.- in the delivery of sheets from one press to another where more colors areto be printed than can be handled by a single press, and the like. Mypress overcomes these and a number oi 4other objections inpresent presses, and enables rapid automatic multi-color printing at high speed. In view oi the complexity of such a press as that here' disclosed, I will rst give a brief general description of its arrangement and operation, and then describe various particular portions and arrangements ci the'press separately.-

General description Referring now more particularly to Figure .'5,l

it will be seen that a base 2li provides a unitary bed supporting pedestals and frame members which in turn support the various operating elements of the press, these supporting members not being hereafter described.

A main cylinder here indicated in general as il is here shown as having its periphery divided -into three equa-l sections here identiiiedas 22,

23 and 2li. The section 22 is adapted to receive and support the sheet of paper being printed; and the sections 23 and 2li are impression sections adapted to support printing plates which may be separate, or formed in a single plate,

ing the rolls 2l on the one hand and 2t on the other hand, and duplicate inking sets comprising the rolls 2ten the one hand and 3@ on the other hand. A plurality of cams and associated followers (better seen on Figure. '7) move these gaged by the offset roll to transfer its inlr thereto. The plate on the section 23, on the other hand, is dampened by the rolls 28, inked' by the rolls 30, and transfers its ink to the offset roll 2E, not touching any of the elements which engaged the plate on the section 24.

A feed table 3I-is approximately parallel to but slightly above a horizontal plane through the axis of thev shaft 32 on which the main cyl-v inder 2l rotates. This table is adapted to -receive sheets to be printed, feed mechanism here indicated in general as 33 removing one sheet at atime. from this table and delivering it to -the sheet-carrying section 22 of the main cylinder as this section of the cylinder reaches a certain position in its rotation. The sheet of paper is then carried on up over the top' of the 'main cylinder and is engaged by both offset rolls 25 and 26 to transfer the different inks thereto.

Delivery mechanism, here indicated in general as 34, movingv approximately in a horizontal plane through the axis of the main cylinder, is

adapted to remove the printed sheet from the cylinder and deliver it to a sheet-receiving table 35. By placing both offset rolls above a horizontal plane through the axis of the main cylinder thesheet may be fed to and removed from such cylinder with the same (the printed) side always up, without any sharp bends in its travel, and with its delivery in such a way that it can readily be fed to the cylinder of another similar press if three or four color work is desired. That is, as is represented in Figure 3, thedelivery from the press here being described can be directly to the cylinder of a succeeding press, the cylinder of such succeeding press .being shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and indicated as 36.

The main cylinder Referring now more particularly' to Figure 8,k

it will be seen that the main cylinder 2l has` These grippers move below the assauts '43 and 44 are inactive, the depression 38 being bridged by a removably inserted plate 46 providing a continuation of the periphery of the cylinder over this depression. A single metal plate 41 overlies the sections 23 and 2li of the cylinder and the intermediate bridging plate 46, the plate 4l being held in position by having its ends gripped by the elements l2 and 45. These may be conveniently operated by manual means. The elements 62 and 45 may be tightened on the ends of the plate by appropriate means, as a. screw driver, and then the desired tension put in the plate bymanually rotatable means, as the knobs 38. The single plate will be understood to comprise two different impression sections appropriately located with respect to each other, the spacing between registering points on the two sections of the plate being exactly onethird of the circumference of the outer surface of the plate as it lies along the periphery of the cylinder. .By having the separate impressions on the two portions of the plate all of the advantages of this press in two-color work are secured; yet by the use of a single plate proper registry of the impressions can be obtained in the manufacture of the plate and this proper registry cannot be lostl during the printing operation. Any slight shifting of the sheets of paper between successive feeding operations'does not affect the registry of the two colors, but merely their position with respect to the margin; and if the plate has been properly made it may be fastened in place on the cylinder quickly and easily, the two impression sections being als ready in proper registry with respect to each line of the periphery, through a depression different from the one associated with their feeding movement, in returning to their initial position. The depressions also provide space for movement of the dampening, inking, and offset rolls toward and away from the impression sections, without mixing the inks.

The depression 3l has mounted therein on a rotatable shaft 40 a. plurality of sheet-gripping fingers 4|, these fingers being adapted to be lifted up from the cooperating surface of the cylinder before they come adjacent the feeding mechanism 33 and to close down upon the forward edge of a sheet of paper as it is delivered to the cylinder by the feeding means. These fingers hold the sheet of paper on the paper section 22 as it rotates under the offset rolls 25 and 25, nd

other.

My cylinder is adapted, however, to use two separate plates for the two separate impression sections if desired, as shown in Figure 9. In the arrangement shown in this view the bridging plate has been removed, and'ayplate 49 lies over the section 23 of the cylinder, its ends being gripped by the elements 42 and 43; while a separate plate 50 o'verlies thesection 24, its ends being gripped by the elements 44 and 45. In this arrangement the two plates must, of course, be carefully registered when they are brought in position on the cylinder; but once this registry has been attained the operation and advantages.

are similar to those previously discussed.

Sheet feeding mechanism Referring now more particularly to Figures 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10, the sheet-feeding mechanism,

` which has heretofore merely been generally ideni a aseaoss `be best seen in Figure 2. These brackets td rotatably support a: shaft 55, this shaft in turn carrying spaced gripping fingers 56.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that the shaft tl carries a sector gear El engaging another sector 58 having integral therewith or fastened thereto an arm 59', these last mentioned two parts being rotatable together about the axis t0.. The outer end of the arm te carries a roller Si received by a groove 82 in a wheel-like member 63 mounted on and rotatable with the main shaft 32 (this wheel member and cam groove being shown in section on the right side of Figure 10). The shape of this cam groove is such that the feeding mechanism stands still in the position shown in Figure 8, gripping the forward edge of a sheet, until the forward end of the paper receiving portion of the main cylinder approaches, then the shaft bi is rotated to cause the fingers to move to the left and upwardly at a rate preferably accelerating to the peripheral speed of rotation of the cylinder to bring the forward edge of thesh'eet under the gripping fingers il on the cylinder, which thereupon closes upon it. The feeding fingers et thereupon continue on upwardly, releasing their grip upon the paper. It will be noted that the distance of the gripping ends of the fingers E@ from the shaft I is such that their arc of movement intersects `the periphery of the cylinder to bring the edge of the sheet down into the proper position to be gripped by the fingers di, the upward movement of the feeding fingers taking place in the depression 3l in the periphery of the cylinder so that there is no interference between the fingers and the cylinder.

The feeding fingers are held in the upward end of their movement just long enough to allow the depression 39 to approach, whereupon the cam groove 62 operates through the *linkage previously describedl to cause the ngers to move back a down to their initial position shown in Figure 8,

Vthis backward swing taking place through the depression 39 so that interference with the cylinder is again avoided.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that a cam 6b is concentric with and rotatable about the shaft 6i, its movement being independent of that-of the shaft and being controlled by a cam surface et through its eect upon a cam following roller t'i (which parts may be seen in section in Figure 10). A bell-crank @t pivotally mounted about the axis Se carries the roller tl at one end and has its other end connected by a rod l@ to thecam'tt. As may be their downward return swing. This desired sequence of movements is readily eected by having the cam @t in one position during upward movement of the nge'rs, rotating it slightly and keeping it in such rotated position until the feeding fingers have returned to and stopped in the position shown in Figure 8, and then rotating it back to its initial position to close the fingers.

It will be apparent that this feed mechanism will deliver sheets of substantially any size to a cylinder in proper registry with the forward end of the printing section. The sheets may be fed into proper position adjacent the forward' edge of the feed table ti by hand,by any appropriate conventional automatic feed mechanism, or by the delivery mechanism of another similar press; or the sheets may pass directly from the delivery means of one press to the feed fingers of a succeeding press.

Sheet delivery mechanism e As has been mentioned before in the brief initial general description of the press, the sheet delivery mechanism is adapted to take a sheet from the paper-carrying section of the main cylinder and deliver it to a sheet-receiving table, or to the feeding fingers of a succeeding press where two. presses are operating on the same sheets. In describing the delivery mechanism reference will be had particularly to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Referring first tothe rear view' of the press (Figure 3), it will be seen that an upwardly extending arm 'it is mounted to oscillate abouta shaft it parallel to the axis of rotation of the main cylinder, this shaft being located low enough that the upper end of the arm 13, and more particularly the shaft lb rotatably carried thereby,

moves substantially in a horizontal plane through the axis of the cylinder, one terminal position of this shaft being as shown in full lines in Figure 3 and the other terminal position of the arm best seen in Figure 2, a follower ii carried by the shaft 55 engages the cam 6b, so that movement of this cam effects opening and closing movement of the fingers to grip and release a sheet. The cam te has two arcuate surfaces of different radius, so that one surface opens the feeding ngers and the other closes them. The arrangement of these surfaces and the movement effected by the cam surface tt is such that when the feeding fingers return to the position shown in Figure A 8 they are open, andl then after they have reached such position and stopped in it movement of the cam @t causes them to close upon a sheet in proper position on the feed table. They remain closed during the upward portion of their swing until the forward edge of the paper has been brought `:rider and gripped by the cylinder fingers lli whereupon they open and stay open duringthe remainder of their upward swing and iii) and shaft being as shown in dotted'lines in that view. The arm is oscillated back and forth between these positions in synchronism with the rotation of the main cylinder by a connecting rod lit.

As may be better 'seen in Figures 4 and 5, the shaft 'it extends across the face of the main cylinder 2|, parallel and fairly close to it when the arm is at the inner end of its swing. The' shaft l@ has mounted on it and rotatable with it sheet gripping elements arranged in general like those of the feeding mechanism, so that they will not be described in excessive detail. It is believed suiicient to say that brackets il carry a shaft iii on which are mounted for rotation therewith gripping ngers i9 adapted to cooperate with a gripping edge. The shaft l5 and the gripping means carried thereby rotate clockwise (speaking with respect to the position shown in Figure 5), traveling somewhat slower` than the peripheral speed of the cylinder as they approach the position shown in Figure 5, and then accelerating somewhat to preferably just equal the speed of the cylinder. Cam means for opening and closing the gripping fingers is provided, this being similar in operation to that described in connection with the feeding mechanism, except that the cam is always stationary. The arrangement is such that the ngers i9 are just closing onto the sheet in the position shown in Figure 5,

and retain their grip as the gripping elements swing on down and the arm'l swings across to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, where connecting rod drive of-the arm 13 causes it to slow up and be standing stationary at the ends of its movement where the sheet is gripped and released; and the drive arrangement which effects rotation of the gripping fingers and associated elements on the shaft 15 -is so arranged that these parts are traveling at high speed at what may be,

i an oscillating motion, enables them to be traveling at substantially the same rate-of speed as the peripheral speed of the cylinder, yet by slowing them up keeps the fingers well below the shaft as the sheet is being carried across, so that the delivery action is practically a straight line.

'I'his particular motion may be achieved in any desired manner, here being edected by a star wheel drive. As may be best seen in Figure 3, a star wheel rotatably mounted on the arm 'i3 by the stub shaft 8| is adapted to be driven by a drive wheel 82 having thereon a'sector 83 and pins 86 and 85 of the type usually associatecl with star wheels. The motion of' the star wheel 80 is transmitted to the shaft I by any appropriate means, here shown as the gears 85, 8l', 88 and 89. By the use of a slotted star wheel with a pin and sector drive rapid rotation is effected when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3, with a very much reduced rate of rotation as the pins are moving into or out of the s lots and an even slower rotation (due only to the movement of the arm 13) when the sector is in engagement with any particular arcuate portion of 'the star wheel;

It will be understood that the delivery mechanism here shown and described by me is particularly advantageous in removing sheets from a rotating cylinder and delivering them flat upon a delivery table or to the feed table or feeding fingers of a succeeding cylinder. That is, this delivery mechanism is an improvement over present conventional chain delivery mechanisms and is adapted for use with cylinder presses of any type, not merely the particular multicolor press which I am here disclosing.

Apparatus for jogging a pile of sheets to keep the sheets properly aligned is also included in my press, and in describing it I have reference particularly to Figures 2 and 5. It will be noted that ,a square barl 200 extends across the delivery side of the press, this bar serving as a mounting rail on which blocks 20| and 202 are slideably splined so that they can be adjusted toward or away from each other depending upon the width of the sheet of paper being printed. Each block carries a pair of jogging arms, as 203 and 204, carried by an angularly disposed rack 205 engaging a long pinion 206. The fact that this pinion extends parallel to the square mounting bar 200 and for its entire length enables the blocks and racks to be moved to any desired position while maintaining operative relation between the racks and this pinion. The pinion is operated by appropriate drive means synchronized with the main cylinder of the press, so that the jogging arms move back away from the paper pile as The delivery mechanism also includes means,

supported at a desired level by a rod 201 threadably engaged in an internally threaded rotatable member 200, this latter being rotated at a slow speed in synchronism with the printing by apeach sheet is being printed and delivered to the propriate means including the gears 209 and-the shaft 2|.0 connecting to the drive means of the press. By the use ofthis arrangement the table is slowly dropped as the sheets are delivered thereto, so that the top of the pile of sheets is always approximately at the same level.

Offset rolls In describing the construction and operation of the offset rolls 25 and 26 reference will be had particularly to Figures 3, 7, 8 and 10. Referring first to'Figure 8, it will be seen that the oifset rolls, heretofore merely indicated in general as 25 and 2B, are duplicates of each other, and therefore only one will be described in detail.

Describing the roll 25 as representative, it will be seen to comprise a substantially cylindrical lmetal portion 9| provided with clamping and adjusting means 92, 93 and Sii lying within the arc of its circumference, the whole being rotatable on the shaft 95, The clamping means 92 and 93 are adapted to grip the edges of a blanket 96 of rubber or similarmaterial adapted to transfer the ink from the plates to the paper, manual actuation of the means 0d enabling tightening of the blanket on the operating face of the roll. The outer diameter of the roll and its associated blanket are arranged to'be exactly one-third of the outer or effective diameter of the main cylinder with the impression plate or plates in place thereon; and the rolls are geared to rotate in synchronism with and at the same peripheral speed as the main cylinder. The means here shown for accomplishing this comprise a main gear' 9T on the main cylinder 3| and a gear 98 attached to the roll 25.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 7, it will be seen that means is provided for'moving the rolls 25 and 26 toward and away from the cylinder 2| at desired periods during its revolution. Inasmuch as the means for supporting and moving the rolls duplicate each other only one will be described in detail, that associated with the roll 26 being this time described. The roll is mounted for rotation about the shaft |00, this shaft being supported in a circular end plate |0| rotatable in an annular bearing portion ...|02 of `the frame, the centers of-rotationvof the shaft |00 and of the plate |0| being eccentric. A lever arm |03 is movable to a limited extent with respect to the circular plate |0| which is adapted to be locked in position with respect thereto by movement of the studs |04 and |05. It will be seen that with a given 'position of the arm |03 movement of the studs enables initial adjustment of the position of the end of the shaft |00, and thus of that end of the roll 26v with respect to the main cylinder; and-that movement of the arm |03 by cam means to be described, by rotation of the plate |0| in its annular bearing |02 of the frame causes movement of the shaft |00. and thus of the roll, toward and away from thc cylinder.

' The lbearing plate IBI is connectedto a similar plate |06 in the frame at the other end of the roll, as may be seen in Figure 3, this serving to support the shaft of the roll 26 at its other end and having agences j associated therewith an ann |01 and adiustinent lstuds itt and ltd. Adjustment ofthese studs enables adjustment of this other end of the roll, so that it may be properly lined up with respect to the cylinder; and movement of the arm itt rotates both end members itl and lot `to edect movement of the roll toward and away from the cylinder. It will be understoodthat this movement is relatively small, never more than a very few hundredths of an inch, so that it can be aceccentric bearings connecting thepreviously decomplished with great precision by the eccentric means just described.

Mounted on the main shaft 53d at one end of the cylinder are a plurality of cams shown in,

outline in Figure '7 and in cross section at the left side of the shaft in Figure 10. These cams are four in number and are here identified as lit, iii, H2 and ile, although not all of them are associated with the odset. rolls, one (iid)y serving to reset safety mechanism.

A bell-crank lid is pivoted about a shaft HE in the frame, carrying a cam following roller Ht at one end and making connection at its other end with a link iii, this link and one arm of the bell-crank iid operating as a toggle. That is, these two toggle elements are pivotally connected together in their center and the element ill is pivotally connected at llt to the arm it, so

.that downward movement of the roller llt (toscribed toggle including the elements dit and iii. The arrangement is such that inward movement of the roller |28 (toward the shaftiz) straightens `the secondary toggle which then operates and tends to rotate the arm i22 clockwise, this movm the eccentric in such a way as to move the upper end of the arm los counterclockwise, and thus bring the odset roll' 26 down toward the main cylinder.

The roll to is provided with a similar secondary toggle arrangement operat through an eccentric to change the *position between the main toggle lio and iti, this secondary toggle` being operatedby the roller |29, both the rollers itt and |29 operating on the cam iiii. This cam has its depressed portion corresponding to the paper carrying section of the main cylinder. so that es this passes under the odset rolls they are both dropped to transfer their ink to the sheet of paper. That is, the main toggles operate from separate cam surfaces to drop their respective odset rolls into engagement with the impression sections from which they pick up ink; and both of the secondary toggles operate from the same cam surface to drop both rolls into engagement with the sheet on the paper-carrying section oi' section 23 is beneath the oiset roll 26 inward movement of the roller HS to the lower portion oi' the cam (the roller always being urged toward the cam surface by a spring) causes the onset rol1 2t to move down to pick up ink from this impression section; and whenever the impression section 2t is not under the odset roll 26 the raised portion of the cam iii holds the roller llt and the toggie elements in the position shown in Figure '7.

The arrangement in connection with offset roll I sheet of paper on the paper section of the cylinder to deliver to it the ink which it has picked carrying section of the cylinder.

up from the impression sections, this arrange- I sition in a guideway in the upwardly extending the cylinder. Y

Rotation of the worm gear element i2@ by a worm adapted to be manually rotated by the knob ist serves to vary the position of the eccentric arm |22. and thus to-vary the terminal positions of the odset roll in inner and outer positions. When the main toggle operates to move the oifset roll into engagement with the plate it is brought down until it is resting tightly against the cylinder; but where the paper is being printed some provision as to the terminus of the inward movement must be made, since adjustments must be made for dierent thicknesses of paper. This, arramement enables adjustment, in the particular press I am describing, of about twenty thousandths of an inch with respect to the inner position oi the onset roll when it is operated by the secondary toggle. Adjustments ior greater thicmiesses of paper can be made by removing a mat or thin plate normally underneath thepaper on the surface of the paper- 1n order not to throw the relative distances of the secondary toggle parts out of propel` relation with respect to each other the adjustment by means of themovable plate iid is provided, and this plate must be moved whenever the worm gear element |24 is rotated.

Manual and automatic latch means are provided in conjunction with the odset roll operating mechanism to enable the printer to latch these rolls out of action manually if desired, and to automatically keep them from Corning down upon the paper section of the cylinder if a sheet of paper is not present thereon Movementk of the small handles |3| and 52 (still referring to Figure 7) clockwise operates through springs (as the spring |35) to move latches itt and |35 in to engage cooperating shoulders, as |36, on the main toggle arms. The spring connection is used so that if the handle is moved at atime when the latch element will not engage the latch shoulder the force will merely be stored in the spring until the cam operation has moved the parts into yproper iatching position; and similarly, if the,

handle is moved back in the other direction when the offset rolls would otherwise fall into engagement with the cylinder, the pressure between the latch and its shoulder keeps; this from taking place until the cam has again assumed the Weight of the offset rolls, the spring then moving the latch element to inoperative position.

Automatic means for latching the offset rolls away from the paper'section of the main cylinder are provided in the form of a solenoid |31 adapted to be energized by contacts on the feed gripping fingers, so that if no sheet is present When these close a circuit is completed through the solenoid which acts through the lever |38 to trip the bell-crank |99. and rotate it counterclockwise about its shaft |40, the associated linkage being such as to cause it to remain inysuch position until reset, and to operate through the rods |4| and |42 to rotate the latch elements |43 and |44v into engagement with the cooperacuosa position of the parts shown in Figure I the lowered section of the cam is beneath the roller |58.. this roller having moved toward the shaft 32 and the dampening rolls 29 having thereby been brought into engagement with the impression section 29 of the cylinder beneath them.

As in connection with the mechanism :for operating the offset rolls, manual means for latching the dampening rolls out of action is provided in the form of the two small hand levers |59 and |90. These operate through springs and rods,

, when desired, to move the latch elements |B| and ating latch surfaces, as the shoulders |45 and |46. These latchthe secondary -toggles in such position that the rollers |28 and |29 do notdrop down, and thus the oifset rolls do not drop into Dampening and nking mechanismV In describingv the dampening and inking mechanism referenceI will be had particularly to Figures 5,17 and 11. It will be recalled from the general description given at the beginning of .this specification that the dampening mechanism comprises two sets of rolls idented as 21 and 29 (see Figure 5), and the inking mechanism comprises two sets of rolls identified as 29 and 30. The rolls 21 are in engagement with a supply roll |50, the rolls 21 being mounted on levers pivotal about the same shaft |5| on which the supply roll is mounted. Appropriate supply means are arranged to transfer water, where such is desired, from a trough |52 to the dampening rolls 21 through intermediate rolls; and the dampening rolls are moved toward and away from the main cylinder by rotation of their sup- |62 into engagement with the cooperating shoulders |63 and |54. These dampening rolls are provided to enable use of plates of the lithographic type; and Where such plates are not used the dampening rolls are latched out of -action and only the inking sets operate.

Now referring back to Figure 5, it will be seen that there are two duplicate inking sets comprising the rolls 29 on the one hand and the rolls 90 on the other hand. The set comprising the inking rolls 301s shown in more detail in Figure 11, and its parts will be described as representative of both sets. In this Figure 11 the cylinder has been rotated somewhat to bring the lower portion of the cam beneath the roller |95, so that the rolls 30 are shown in their operative position inking the impression section 23 of the main cylinder. The inking rolls 30 and distributing rolls |99 are all mounted in an inking set frame |91 slideable toward and away from the main cylinder in the 'guide |98 mounted on the frame of the press. Toggle elements |69 and |10 pivotally connect the inking roll frame (at |1|) to a shaft |12 carried by the main frame of the press. When the toggle elements |99 and |10 are in straight or aligned position, as shownin Figure 1l, the inking set frame is in its innermost position in the guide member |69 and the rolls 30 are in engagement with the appropriate impression section of the main cylinder; Whereas when the toggle elements vare bent, as shown' in Figure '1, the inking set frame is moved to the right and the rolls 30 are out of engagement with the main cylinder. The roller |55 is carried on one end of a bellcrank |13 pivotally mounted on the shaft |14 and connected by adjustable linkage |15 to the center connection of the toggleelements |69 and |10. A spring |19 tends to urge these elements straight and to keep the roller in contact with its cooperating cam surface.

Now referring more particularly to Figure '1,

the other inking set is similarly arranged and is porting arms about the shaft |50, such rotation being accomplished through rotation of the control shaft |53 connected to these supporting arms by appropriate linkage.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 7, the control shaft |53 will be seen to be connected by a link and a rod |54 to one end of a rigid bent arm |55 pivoted about the shaft |59 carried in the frame of the press, and carrying the roller v|51 adapted to operate in engagement with the cam i |2,inward movement of the roller |51 when moved toward and away from the main cylinder by the action of the roller |11 in its engagement with the cam surface ||2. There is also provided in conjunction with these inking mechanisms hand levers |18 and |19 operating through springs and rods to move latch elements and |9| into a position engaging cooperating shoulders and latching the inking sets out of operation when desired.l If it is desired to do dry offset single color printing with this press it will be apparent that both'dampening rolls, one offset roll and one inking set could be latcheol out, and the press would then operate with one impression section, one inking set, and one offset roll, or if single color lithographing were to be done, one set of dampening rolls, one inking set, and one offset roll would be latched out'and the press woul operate with the others.

Now referring-back to Figure 5, it will be seen that ink is supplied from a fountain |92 in conventional manner by a 'fountain roll its, and` is transferred from the fountain roll to the distributing roll by a roll ld which is moved back and forth between the fountain roll 33 and the ilrst distributing roll its by the action of the connecting rod it. Adjustment of the rate of rotation of the fountain roll it, or of the dwell of the roll itil in contact therewith enables regulation of the amount 'of ink supplied to the first or the distributing rollsy it@ and thus to the inking rolls im, conventional mechanism for shown in Figure 11.

The drive arrangement Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that a main drive motor iloperates through appropriate reduction gearing, drive chains, and the like, to drive all of the various parts of the press in the desired synchronism. The shaft i3@ is driven by the motor le? through reduction gearing, this shalt operating through the belt It@ to drive the shaft lil. It will be noted that this shaft i9@ has hand wheel iti geared to one end of it, so that hand movement of the press may be eilected when it is being set up or cleaned. It is not believed necessary to follow all of the drive connections in detail, it being apparent that dierent arrangements could be used so long as the same relative motions were obtained. It is believed sufficient to call attention particularly to Figure 3, land to State that the shaft iet, through appropriate connections, effects rotation of the main bylinder, which in turn effects rotation of the ose't rolls and, through rotation of the cam element et, effects movement of the delivery arm lt and of the sheet-feeding mechanism; that the shaft i90 drives the inking rolls at a desired rate of speed and through appropriate linkage, such as the arm itt, and a similararm IM for the other inking set, eects transfer of ink from the ,fountain to the distributing rolls; and that it effects rotation, through the principal gears 82` and itt, of the gripping elements of the -sheet delivery mechanism, and through' other gears, of the sheet jogging mechanism on the delivery side.

In conclusion, it may be stated that I have devised and am here disclosing and claiming a multicolor press having many improvements over those now known and used. My press is very flexible, and may be used for a number of different types of printing, in either single or double color setups; and it is adapted to feed directly into a succeeding similar press where work is desired having more than two different applications of ink thereto.

While I have described and shown certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications.4

Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope oi the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

1. Sheet handling apparatus of the character described, including: a member pivotally mounted at one end; means for oscillating the member; a sheet gripping element rotatably mounted at the other end of the member; and means for continuously rotating the element and 1for causing it to grip a sheet and release it at predetermined positions.

2. Apparatus of the character describedfor delivering sheets from the rotating cylinder` of a assistons this purpose being parallel to that of the cylinder-f ineensY for escil-VY end toward and away from the cylinder; a shaft carried by thelast mentioned end of the arm, said shaft being parallel to the axis of movement of the arm; av plurality of sheet gripping elements rotatably carried by the shaft; and means for continuously rotating the elements and for causing them to grip a sheet and release it, this Alast mentioned means being synchronized with the means for oscillating the arm and with the rotation of the cylinder.

4. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 2, wherein the said other end of the arm moves substantially in a horizontal plane through the axis of the cylinder, whereby a sheet may be readily delivered from one printing cylinder to another.

5. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 19,wherein the peripheral speed of rotation of the gripping elements is about equal to that of the cylinder when the sheet is gripped, but is substantially slower immediately thereafter,

6. In a press of the character described having a rotatable printing cylinder, sheet feeding and delivery meansr enabling one such press to work directly into another such press for multicolor Iprinting, this means including: a feeding table on one side of the cylinder and lying approximately in a horizontal plane through the axis -of the cylinder; means for feeding sheets on said table to the cylinder; an arm on the other side of the cylinder pivotal about an axis parallel to that of the cylinder, the other end` of the arm moving substantially in a horizontal plane through the axis of the cylinder; means for oscillating the arm to move said other end toward and away from the cylinder; and sheet gripping means l on said other end adapted to grip asheet on 'the cylinder' and. to release it when the arm is a substantial distance from the cylinder, whereby a sheet may be readily delivered from the press to the feed table of an adjacent similar press.

7. In a press of the character described having a rotatable cylinder having a paper carrying section and at least two circurnferentially spaced d'e pressions in its periphery, at least one of said depressions being at the front of said paper ca rrying section, sheet feeding means including: a source of sheets adjacent the cylinder; a shaft parallel to that of the cylinder; sheet gripping means rotatably mounted on said shaft, the arc of movement intersecting that of the periphery of the cylinder; and means for rotating the cylinder, oscillating said gripping means, and causing it to grip and release a sheet, these movements being synchronized to cause the gripping means to grip a sheet, swing upwardly through one of saiddev pressions to return to initial position,

8. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim press, including: an ann pivotal about an axis 76 7. wherein said cylinder carries, in said depres- 8` ascaoss sions, means for gripping the endoi a plate adapted to lie along a portion of said periphery.

9. In a press oi the character described having a rotatable cylinder having at least one impression section and a section adapted to receive the sheet to'be printed and an oiset roll for transferring ink to the sheet being printed, throw-oi! means for the offset roll including: toggle means for cyclically moving the roll toward and away from the impression section; andseparate means for cyclically moving the roll 'into and out of engagement with the sheet. g I

10. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 9, wherein the last mentioned means comprises an eccentric.

11. In a press ofthe character described having a rotatable cylinder having at least one impression section and a section adapted to receive the sheet to be printed and an otlset roll for transferring ink to the sheet being printed, throw-ofi means for the ofl's'et roll including: toggle means for cyclically moving the roll toward and away from the impression section; movable eccentric means connecting one of the toggle elements to the roll; and means for cyclically moving the roll into and out of engagement with the sheet.

12. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 11, including means for adjusting the terminals of the movements of each of said means.

13. A press of the character described, including: single plate meansmounted on the cylinder and providing two printing sections with registering points adapted to receive different inks and spaced a predetermined portion oi the circumference of the cylinder; means for inking one of said sections; and means for inking the other of said sections with a ditlerent ink. f

14. A press of the character described, including: single plate means mounted on the cylinder and providing two printing sections with registering points adapted to receive diierent inks and means for inking the other of said sections with a different ink.

15. In a press having a rotatable cylinder having at least two impression sections and a section adapted to receive the sheet to be printed, separate means for inking each of the impression sections, and separate offset rolls for transferring the ink from each of said sections to the sheet being printed, throw-oil means including: a cam for bringing one inking means and one roll into engagement with one impression section; another cam for bringing another inking means and roll into engagement with another impression impression to its cooperating offset roll; and sepsheet to be printed, each section comprising an equal-portion of the circumference ofthe cylinder; offset rolls for transferring the ink from said impression section to the sheet being printed, the number of offset rolls being the same as the number of impression sections, means individual to each of said impression sections for inking such sections, and means individual to each ci said impression sections for dampening such sections, actuating means including: a cam individual to each of said impression sections for effecting operation of the cooperating dampening and inking means and transfer of the impression to the cooperating offset roll; and a separate means for causing all of said rolls to deliver the impressions to the sheet being printed, this means including a separate cam, a cam follower, and a motion reducing connection between the cam follower and the rolls.

18. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 17, wherein each of said cams has an operative section subtending the same angle as the section with which it is associated.

19. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said cams has an operative section subtending the same angle as the' section with which it is associated, the cams are all concentric with and rotatable with said cyland spaced 120 apart circumierentallyof the A cylinder; means for inking one of said sections:

inder, and the operative sections of the cams are all spaced similarly with `respect to their respective cylinder sections.

20. In a press of the character described having arotatable cylinder having two impression sections adapted to be supplied with diierent inks and a'sectionadapted to receive the sheet to be printed,` each section comprising an equal portion of the circumference of the cylinder, two oiiset rolls, one for transferring the ink from each o! said impression sections to the sheet being printed, and means for'rotating thecylinder and rolls,v

throw-01T means including: three concentric cams rotatable together with said cylinder; motion reducing means actuated by the first of said cams for moving one roll toward and away from one of the impression sections; motion reducing means actuated by the second oi said cams for moving the other roll toward and away from the other impression section; and motion reducing means actuated by the third of said cams, and distinct from both of the two last-mentioned means, for moving both rolls toward and away i from the sheet receiving section.

21. Apparatus or the character claimed in claim 20, wherein each roll has toggle means and eccentric means associated therewith and operable to move it toward and away from the cylinder, one of these moving means being operated i by one of the rst two cams and the other by the third cam.

DAVID W. SCHNEIDER.

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