US2597932A - Rotary printing machine with reversible printing unit - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1952 w. F. HUCK ET AL ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Feb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1- n I x INVE TORS William I? Huck Anton .Stahb WWW V/ BN5 y 1952 w. F. HUCK r:r AL 2,597,932

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Feb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wflb'am F Huck Anton .SZabb y 1952 w. F. HUCK ET AL 2,597,932

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Feb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Shed; 3

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INVENTORS g I In/FJJ/am E Hunk 45 Ammz 5102711 1 I A can Y5 y 1952 w. F. HUCK El AL 2,597,932.

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Feb. 15, 1945 G'Sheets-Sheet 4 Q3 K M) y 27, 1952 w. F. HUCK El AL 2,597,932

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Feb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 II I Y INVENTORS' /7 Tnfillz'am 1"? Huck /7; Azmm 5101111 2,597,932 'RoTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT "May 27, 1952 w. F. HUCK El AL 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Feb. 15, 1945 INVENTORS Wdliazzz E Huck .Anfun 5101111 TORNEY S and holes 34 in the top portion of the columns 26, and the spacers 28 receive bolts 35 which engage nuts 35 in the slots 33 to fasten the frames 44a and 44b to the substructure. Due to the longitudinally extending slots 33, the printing units [1, I8 and I9 can be positioned at any desired location, lengthwise of the printing machine, and with respect to the columns 25. Cap members Ala and 41b, forming the top of the side frames 44a and 44?: respectively, are formed with posts 29 on which rest the web forwarding units 2I and other superstructure members 38 and 39. The outward-facing sides of the frames 44a and 46b are closed by a plurality of removable covers 52, 53 and 54. Some of the covers, as for example the cover 52, are provided with cover plates such as 56 that can be removed to give access to certain portions of the internal mechanism. Adjacent printing units are spaced lengthwise of the printing machine by box-type front and rear spacers 37a and 31?) (Figure 4), which rest on the front and rear columns 26 and spacers 28. The lower portion 49 of the front frame 46a is formed with a plurality of vertical ribs 59 which support bearings for the horizontal drive shaft 22.

The lower portions of the frame Illa and of the frame 44b of each printing units are preferably connected by flanged tubular members 57 attached to the frame members by bolts 58. Between the front and rear spacers 31a and 37b, a motor 59 is supported by brackets SI secured to the adjacent tubular members 51. The front end of the motor 59 is provided with a flange B2, and secured to the front spacer 37a. A ventilating hood 63 and an air duct 64 extend from the rear of the motor and through the rear spacer 31b as shown in Figure 4. Preferably the air ducts for each motor 59 will be connected to a supply of cool air from a blower, not shown.

The main line shaft 22, composed of a plurality of shaft sections 66 (Figure 4), joined by couplings 61, extends the complete length of the printing machine and is journaled in parts of the lower portion of each front frame 44a and in the front spacers 31a. The shaft 22 is driven by each motor 59 through bevel gears 68 and 89 secured to the motor shaft 'II and a shaft 22 section respectively. The main line shaft 22 drives the various printing units 1?, I8 and I9 through bevel gears I2, I3, I4, and 18. The shaft 22 also by a pair of bevel gears I6, drives a horizontal cross shaft (not shown). The horizontal shaft, by a pair of bevel gears drives a vertical shaft ll which in turn, drives rollers carried by the superstructure. The bevel gears 13 and "for driving the reversible unit I9 are rotatably mounted on the main line shaft 22 and are both in mesh with a large bevel gear 18 (Figures 1 and 4). The gears '13 and M each have a coupling face 81 and 19 respectively which is engaged alternatively by a double ended coupling member 82 that may move lengthwise of the shaft 22 but is keyed against rotation thereon. When the coupling member 82 is moved lengthwise of the shaft to engage the coupling face I9, the cylinders of the printing unit I9 will be driven in one direction, and when the coupling member is moved to engage the coupling face 8!, the printing unit cylinders will be driven in the opposite direction. As herein shown, the double ended coupling member 82 of the reversible printing unit I9 is operated by mechanism including a shaft 83 (Figure 2), carried by the cover plate 54 and having a wrench engaging portion 84. Secured to the lower end of the shaft 83 is a lever 86 that pivotally supports a yoke 81 engaging the coupling member 82. Turning the shaft 83 by a wrench (not shown), moves the coupling member 82 lengthwise of the main shaft 22 and connects it to either the gear 33 or gear i l, and thereby drives the reversible printing unit in either direction desired. The units If and I3 are driven by the gear '52, permanently secured to the shaft 22 and in mesh with gears 18. Each bevel gear 13 is secured to a cross shaft 88 (Figures 2 and 4) that carries a web guiding roller 89. The shaft 88 is journaled in bearings 9| and 92 that are secured to the front and rear frames. A driving sprocket wheel 93 secured near the rear end of the shaft 88 cooperates with a chain 94 (Figures l, 2 and 3), to drive each printing unit through a driven sprocket wheel 9'6 supported on an impression cylinder shaft 91. Sprocket wheels E38 and It)! are supported from the rear frame and are equipped with an eccentric type tightening means We operated by a wrench 99 for tightening or loosening the chain as desired. The chain 94 is carried from the driving sprocket wheel 93 to the sprocket wheel 98, then to the driven sprocket wheel 96, then to the sprocket wheel Ifil, and then back to the sprocket wheel 93 in such a manner that all the parts are contained within the frame enclosure. This permits the opening 4| in the center of the frame entirely free of operating mechanism.

The shaft 88 also carries a bevel gear I92 (Figures 2 and 4) on its extreme rear portion. The gear I02 cooperates with a bevel gear I63 secured to one end of a diagonally extending shaft Ififi (Figure 1), the other end of which is connected to drive belts If)? of the web tensioning mechanism It, through a pair of bevel gears in a gear box I96.

Each printing unit Ii, I8 and I9 has two printing couples composed of cylinders HEB-I23 and II3I22 respectively. The shaft 91 (Figure 3), which is journaled in the main front and rear frame members Ma and 44b in addition to carrying the driven sprocket 96, and the impression cylinder IE8, has a helical gear I99 slidable axially on the shaft 97 (Figure 7), but secured against rotation thereon. The gear [09, when in the position shown in Figure 3, meshes with a second helical gear III mounted on the back end of a shaft 2 of the second impression cylinder H3. Helical gears H4 and H6, secured to the front ends of the impression cylinder shafts H2 and 91, are each in mesh with helical gears H9 and I2I secured to the front ends of shafts I24 and I26 for driving the form cylinders I22 and I23 respectively. The shafts I21 and I26, that are journaled in the front and rear frame mem-: bers 44a and 4% each carry at their rear end, a helicalgear I21 for driving inking cylinders I28 and I22 of the printing unit in a well known manner. For example, each gear I2? is in mesh I32, I33 and I32. The shafts I35 and I36 of the.

inki'ng cylinders are provided with a reciprocat ing 'meehanism-- I=3-1 preferablyconstructed accordzrncewith Patent 'No. 2,282,655 issuedMa-y 12, 1942. The driving mechanism is all f-ully-'en'-- closed by the frames, and it is lubricated b'yan 5 oil circulating system (not shown) having a gauge-I46 (Figure'z) for'indicatingthe oilpres surezr The inking rollers I68 and I39 (Figure-2) are preferably= supported from aplurality creambrackets: I more= f-ull'y 'shown and described in: a.- pending application, Serial Number 441091,- filed: June 15, 1942; which has become. Patent New 2338-39-70,- issued -September 4-, 1945';

An ink pump- I42, preferably of the type shown a pending application; Serial No. 513,038; filed Jannary 16;.1945i; which has b'ecome Patent Nor.2.46.9;79fi, 1ssued'May 10', 19249, is employed theresheingone for each printingrcouple: The;v

I42 driventhroughza pinion; I 41 which:

meshes; withithe gear: H9; (Figure- 2);. Avclutch I56, having:ansoperating;handle I256. connects a. shaft; I:4.3,.. which; carries. a. bevel-1 gear, I44. and has as wrench:v engaging portion. I46, withv the pinion I141". A bevel. gear, I48: in meshwith' gearv I,44;-;is;. carried: on. a: shaft; I149; which. drives; the. ink pump I42;.. The ink pump-is. supportedton-la, bracket. I 5| having. lugs: I52 slidablyntted to; they frontaunit,framemember-Mot.v An. ink; rail I53;

through-vwhich:inkissupplied. to the inkcyli'nder I 2,9,, is;.secured to, thebracket-r I51," and apair of: fluidpressure' cylinders; I 54are: provided for rais ingand loweringgtheiink rail I 5,9;with; the bracket I51; and. the, pump I42 attachedlthereto.

To. reverse the direction: of; rotation of the impression cylinder I:I-3: andtheform cylinderv I22. Qfthe-printingunit I9, with respect to the; rotation" of: cylinders I68 and: I23 respectively, the-helical-gear I09 (Figures .3, and-,7?) is;slip.pedvv outiof; engagement withtheyimpressiorr cylinder cludes a sleeve I66 (Figure'l), having a flange I59 and-secured to the end of the shaft 91 bya.-.- key I66; and the sprocket wheel 96 has an internal. bore I61 which-is fitted to the outside of the. sleeve- I66. Anend plate I63 is" secured to-theend of the shaft91- by a plurality of bolts 5 I64;- and' a shear pin I66 drives the plate I63 and causesthe shaftS-L to-rotate'with the driven sprocket wheel 96. A collar I69 carried within the recess I51, on a hub I12 of the sprocket 96, has an outside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the flange I59 and the collar I69 has a flange I1I.

The collar I69 is secured to the sleeve I66 by a plurality of bolts I13 screw threaded into the flange I59, and the periphery of the flange I1! has notches I14 each acting as a bearing for a shaft I16. Small sprocket wheels I11 are secured to the shafts I16, and a bicycle type chain I8I (Figure 8) is led about the sprockets. Each shaft I16 is provided with collars I82 and I83 positioned to engage opposite sides of the flange HI, and also has a threaded stem I84 that is screwed into a threaded hole in the gear I69. One of the shafts I14 is formed with a squared end I86 for receiving a wrench I81 (Figure '1), 7

which after removing-a h nd 'hole cover I? be-passedthrougha holed 88 in thelarge sprocketi wheel 96; when thesprocket wheelie-turned to bring-the holeopposite-the-hand holes When: the sprockets I11 arerotated in-,.one' direct-lam. the gear wheel I0'9 ismoved out of engagement with the gear wheel M I and .ispulled into .thee recess I51 in the-"sprocket. wheel-9'6. Rotating-the sprockets I1 1 theaopposite direction: causes-j the gear I0 9tomove 'ou't of the recess}. I51 ancl r into engagement with the gear: III a The mechanism-by. which the gear Ifili is-slipped into and out-of meshwith the -gears-I- I4 and- I I6 of the two impression cylinders II 3 and 1 06;: in? cludes (Figures 3, S and: 69 a fianged' stud" Isle secured: to thef-ront frame 440:. bY-bOltsr I 92? The stud I91 at its unflanged end; is" bifurcated toe form two seml-cylindricar fork members I 93 and I94 eachofiwhich near-its outer 'end is provided with aninternalshoulder- I 96 and 'an externally; threaded portion I91. A sleeve I96; longitudi nally slidable; on the stud- I 92; carries the-inner race of" two ball bearings I99, theouter races ofwhiclrcarry the slip gear I58; Thelett hand end ofthe-collar I98, as seenin Figure 5; is secured by screws 291 to aspecially formed nut=-262 "post-- tioned' in the slot formed by-the fork-members 693* and I94. The nut 262 is engaged-bya'screwifle having: awren'ch engaging portion204 and a collar 2665' The serew fli-ii -is -preventedfromlongi tud-inal'movement in-one direction'by a cap 'nut; 208, that is screwed to---the-- threaded-portion I911 and held from movement inthe opposite-dime tion-by a sleeve 261} that abuts the shoulder I963 Turn-ing-= the screw- 263- causes the; sleeve: I98'-"and-" the-gear I56 00- move axially alongthe stud" F91 andthus engage ordisengage the slip gear with: thetwo gear Htand, H6.

Figure 9 shows-a perspective view oftheoutsidev ofoneof the printing-units, Withthe cover-broken away; thedri-ving mechanisms removed andpsome of-the cylinder shafts cut ofi to'better show the; construction-of'th'efront-box-type sideframe 44a.- in the lower portion of which the line shaft .22

45 andits-associatedmembers is carried. Thisvie'w also showsthe'coverof, the inkpump ['42 through which the regulating screws project, and shows. hinged outside cylinder-guard panels 228.}. 2219... and 236; and similar inside panel 231i and 2.32,.

These panels extend between the front and back, frames and areiarrangedi'to be swung out of. the.

way to: give access to. the, cylinders and. inking; mechanism for minor adjustments, and, are; readily removable.

As each; Web. 2,6,.- leaves. the web: supply 111661134? nism, it is carriedby, thefusual. guide rollers; to

the printing cylinders, and, aseach. printed-,-web-;= 20' leaves.v its printing unit' it is: led. about. guide rollers 2 II to one of the web forwarding units 2I, each of which may include a web propelling roller 2I2, one or more slitters 2I3, turning bars 2I1, and guide rollers, as required. The web forwarding units 2| are similar in construction and are stacked one upon another. In each unit 2I the web propelling roller 2| 2 cooperates with the slitting knife 2I3 to drive the Web and to slit it into two ribbons 2I4 and 2|6. The ribbon 2I4 from each web, passes over turning bars 2H and thereby is aligned with the ribbon 2 I6.

The ribbons then pass over guide rollers and about other web propelling rollers 2l8 and are carried to the folder 23. Other ribbons 2 I 9, from printing units not shown, also pass over rollers 22I and web propelling rollers 222 and then are carried to the folder 23. The web propelling roll-- ers are driven by means of the vertical shaft 11, from the main drive shaft by the bevel gears 16. The shaft H is geared to a pair of horizontal shafts 223 and 224, which in turn drive the several web propelling rollers 2 Ill and 222, and the horizontal shaft 224 is also connected by a pair of bevel gears 226, to a vertical shaft 221for driving the web propelling rollers 212,

From the foregoing description it is evident that a printing machine for simultaneously printing any desired number of webs can be assembled, using the required number of printing units, folders andother unit parts herein disclosed. The substructure can be assembled using front and back columns 26, for supporting the web roll reels I5, each below its printing unit, and front and back horizontal spacers 28, used where necessary for spacing the web roll reels, and below the folders. The reels require more space longitudinally of the machine than the printing units, and hence the reels and units are not vertically aligned, but the tension controlling mechanism for each reel is driven by its associated printing unit by using a connecting shaft we of suitable length. Also any member of web forwarding rails 2| as required may be stacked in order to associate all of the webs to be printed and forwarded to the adjacent folder. I

It is also evident that with printing units having the box-type of frame herein disclosed, in which the driving mechanism is all within the frame structure, a wide opening is left through the center of the frame on both sides of the machine, making all of the rollers and cylinders of each unit far more accessible than in conventional printing units, and making it much easier to thread a web through the machine. Furthermore, the location of the controls for the ink pumps and the mechanism for reversing the cylinders, and for adjusting the chain, all being accessible from the outside of the frame, contribute to making the printing unit herein disclosed much more convenient to operate than any heretofore known.

It is also evident that the printing machine disclosed can be operated with covers removed to expose any or all of the gearing and drive shafts. This is possible, because all of the shafts, gearing, and other moving parts are supported from main frame members and not by the covers. The arrangement is especially advantageous when the machine is being assembled, and when it is desirable to observe the mechanism in operation.

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, reference being made to the claims rather than to the foregoing of individual printing units, one of the printing.

units comprising a first impression cylinder have ing a shaft, a sprocket wheel carried by the shaft fordriving the same and having a recess, a first gear on the shaft and secured against rotation relative thereto, a second gear fixed on the shaft, a second impression cylinder having a shaft and a first and second gear fixed on the shaft of the second impression cylinder; reversing mechanism comprising a means for slidably moving the first gear of the first impression cylinder out of mesh with the first gear of the second impression cylinder and into the recess in the sprocket wheel, and a slip gear slidably mounted for movement into engagement with the second gear of each of the impression cylinders.

2. In a printing machine having a plurality of individual printing units each having a pair of box-type side frames, at least one of the printing units having a first impression cylinder shaft, a sprocket wheel carried by the shaft for driving thesame and having a recess, a first gear on the shaft and secured against relative rotation thereto, a second gear fixed on the shaft, 2. second impression cylinder shaft and a first and a second gear fixed on the second impression cylinder shaft; reversing mechanism comprising means for slidably moving the first gear on the first impression cylinder shaft out of mesh with the first gear on the second impression cylinder shaft and into the recess in the sprocket wheel, and a slip gear slidably mounted for movement into engagement with the second gears of the first and second impression cylinders, all of the said gears and sprockets being positioned within the box-type side frames.

WILLIAM F. I-IUCK. ANTON STOBB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Worthington Aug. 24,

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