US3701183A

US3701183A - Finishing unit for stereo plates

Info

Publication number: US3701183A
Application number: US826831A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roland Von Angerer; Witmar Gillig
Original assignee: Schnellpressenfabrik Koenig and Bauer AG
Current assignee: Schnellpressenfabrik Koenig and Bauer AG
Priority date: 1968-06-20
Filing date: 1969-05-22
Publication date: 1972-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-31

Abstract

A finishing unit for stereo plates is provided. In one form, the curved stereo plate or plates are stationary and they are of such large radius that within the curvature there is not only mounted the plate feeding and delivery mechanism, the scraping knives, the severing tools, but also the milling cutters and their drives for producing internal lock-up grooves running in circumferential direction. The other form is the mounting of the curved stereo plates within a large radius cylinder that has rotating means while all the tools are mounted therewithin in a stationary manner.

Description

United States Patent von Angerer et al.

11.51 3,701,183 [451 Oct. 31, 1972 June 20, 1968 FINISHING UNIT FOR STEREO PLATES inventors: Roland von Angerer, D-8702 Veitshochheim bei Wurzburg; Witmar Gillig, D-8702 l-lettstadt bei Wurzburg, both of Germany Assignee: 'Schnellpressenfabrik Koenig 8;

Bauer Aktiengesellschait, Wurzburg, Germany Filed: May 22, 1969 Appl. NO.2 826,831

Foreign Application Priority Data Germany ..P 17 61 648.7

US. Cl ..29/21, 29/33 H, 29/40, 90/15 Int. Cl. ..B23p 17/00 Field of Search ..29/21, 21.02, 21.03, 33.15, 29/355, 40, 41; 90/15, 171

[56] v References Citedv UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,067,190 1/1937 Huck ..90/1s 3,172,172 3/1965 T011i50n et al. ..29/21 x 3,279,027 10/ l 966 Meier ..29/21 Primary Examiner-Gil Weidenfeld Attorney-J ones and Lockwood ABSTRACT I A finishing unit for stereo plates is provided. In one form, the curved stereoplate or plates are stationary and they are of such large radius that within the curvature there is not only mounted the plate feeding and delivery mechanism, the scraping knives, the severing tools, but also the milling cutters and their drives for producing internal lock-up grooves running in circumferential direction. The other form is the mounting of the curved stereo plates within a large radius cylinder that has rotating means while all the tools are mounted therewithin in a stationary manner.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED new 1912 SHEET ll [1F 5 PRIOR ART A machine of this type has already become known.

The German Pat. specification No. 876,410 shows a scraping apparatus on a rotating'knife bar on which are also arranged roughening and finishing cutters. This apparatus serves merely for smoothening the supporting areas of loose stereo plates.

However, if it is additionally intended to sever also simultaneously the two tails or ends of the plates and to mill additionally several lock-up grooves into the concave supporting surface of the plates, it is necessary to arrange several finishing units one after the other, because due to the small radius of curvature of normal stereo plates, itis impossible to accommodate several tools of different design in one finishing unit. Owing to this the machine has an unnecessary length, occupies valuable space in the pressroom and becomes expensive in acquisition. It is also known to incorporate highspeed groove-milling cutters in such finishing units. Owing to difficulties in space, it is, however, not possible to mount these on'the shafts of the driving motors within the path of work to be covered by the tool, but for this purpose complicated transfer means have been developed which are very susceptible to obstructions.

The prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,172, issued Mar. 9, 1965, entitled Stereotype Plate Casting Machine, shows in FIGS. 8 and 9 a stereo plate casting P within a shaving arch or tunnel 301 having means for severing a tail portion T. In FIG. 22 the stereo plate after having the tail cut off is clamped up onto the underside of the milling arch 604 where recesses or notches are milled into the bottom side of the plate as explained in column 9, lines 61-67, of the patent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide a finishing machine which makes it possible to accommodate all finishing tools on one tool holder of a unit so that only this finishing unit is necessary.

This object is achieved by providing such a large radius of curvature of the stereo plate that not only the plate-feeding and delivery device, scraping knives and severing tools are rotating below the clamped plate as is already wellknown, but in addition all milling cutters and drives of the same for producing internal lock-up grooves running in circumferential direction can be attached in the inside circle of the plate. The radius of curvature can be selected in such a way that four or even more stereo plates form a closed circle.

According'to the further development of the invention the high-speed groove-milling cutters are keyed directly to the shaft of their driving motor. Two motors are mounted on a common plane surface with the shafts positioned parallel to eachother but at an angle of about 45 in oblique direction to the axis of the stereo plate.

Owing to this large radius of curvature it is thus possible to accommodate all necessary finishing tools so that the overall length of the machine is surprisingly short'and compact and considerably lower in price. Due to the fact that the plate is clamped only once, the tolerances of the finished surfaces to each other can be very exactly adhered to, because in this way the errors of positioning arising when the plate is clamped several times are avoided.

- FIG. 2. The plate 6 which is cast with ribs 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings but it is to be clearly understood that the invention is by no means restricted to the details of this embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a stereo transfer and finishing machine,

FIG. 2 shows a cross section along the line ll II in FIG. 1 through the finishing unit on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section along the line III III in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale illustrating the position of the groove-milling cutters and,

FIG. 4 shows a sectional viewof FIG. 1 along line IV- IV on an enlarged scale further showing the holder of the tools and its drive; and

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view along line V--V in FIG. 2 showing a longitudinal side view of the plate transfer chains and their drive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a stereo plate casting and finishing machine 1 in side view. The plate metal is melted in furnace 2. The plate is cast in the casting unit 3 and finished in the finishing unit 4 by severing the tail, shaving the ribs for exact height and milling the annular lock-up grooves. The finished stereo plate is cooled in the cooling unit 5.

The cross section of the finishing unit 4 is shown in 6 is firmly clamped in the tunnel-shaped housing or arch 9 by the parts 7 and 8 between which it extends. The tools are mounted on the holder 10 which is pivoted for driven rotation and the axis of which coincides with the center of curvature of the stereo plate 6. In FIG. 4 the holder 10 is shown having a conventional worm wheel 10.1 which is driven by a worm 10.2 on a drive shaft leading from gear box 10.3 that is powered by a motor 10.4.

The tools consist of the scraping tool 11 which scrapes or shaves the rib surfaces 6a to provide a smooth mounting surface for the plate, the groovemilling cutters 12 which are individually driven by the motors 13 for milling in the annular lock up grooves 12a and the cutter 14 for severing the tails from the ends of stereo plate 6. This later cutter is driven by the motor 15 and the V-belts 16. Furthermore, on the tool holder 10 is also mounted the plate transfer 21 which consists of the chains 17 which are moved by the gear motor 18 by means of the V-belts 19, see FIGS. 2 and 5. The V-belts l9 drive chain sprockets 17.1. On chains 17 are mounted driving dogs 17.2 for plate 6 which strikes a retractable stop 17.3 to stop the gear motor 18. After securing the plate 6 between the clamps 7 and 8 the holder 10 is rotated, see FIGS. 2 and 4, around its axis and in so doing the surfaces 6a are shaved or scraped. After this the holder 10 is rotated to bring the groove-milling cutters 12 into position under the plate 6 to mill in its concave inner surface circumferential tensioning grooves 12a. Then the holder 10 is further rotated to bring the cutter 14 into position to sever any tail on the plate 6.

FIG. 3 shows how the groove-milling cutters 12 are positioned toward the stereo plate 6. They are directly keyed to the shaft of their driving motor 13. Two moplate castin g,

an angle of about 45 in oblique direction to the axis of the stereo plate 6. In FIG. 3 the milling cutters shown in broken line are an alternative cutting position into which they may be swung with their driving motors 13.

The scraping tool 11 is adjusted radially by adjusting screw 11.1 and clamped in adjusted position by clamp.

screws 11.2. The severing tool 14 is adjusted in the axial direction on the holder by shifting the support 14.2 of'the milling cutter 14 on its mounting seat 14.1

as by conventional screw adjusting means. Each milling cutter 12 is adjusted by shifting its drive motor 13 on its support base means 20.1 which includes pivotal adjusting means 20.2 as by conventional screw means similar to that shown for scraper 11. However, the plate 6 can also be clamped into a rotating housing and guided past a number of stationary tools when this housing is rotating.

Owing to this disclosure it becomes evident which advantages are entailed by the invention, i.e., the plates can be handled in one single finishing unit, even if a large number of operations is necessary.

What is claimed is:

l. A finishing unit for curved stereo plates formed with a relatively large radius and having on the inside curved surface spaced apart circumferentially extending ribs and grooves milled in the circumferentially extending spaces therebetween for securing the plates, comprising in combination, a tunnel-shaped housing with curved means for mounting one of said relatively large radius stereo plates and clamp means thereon for securing said plate for finishing, a rotating mounting means at the center of curvature of said tunnel-shaped housing curved mounting means; said rotating mounting means mounting a plate feeding and delivery device for delivering said plate to the clamping means of the housing, scraping knife means for truing the top surface of said ribs in the plate, and severing cutter means for cutting off any tail ends of said plate; the improvement therewith comprising unitary milling cutter means and self-contained drive means also mounted on said rotating mounting means all within a circle formed by the radius of curvature of said curved stereo plate and plate mounting means of the tunnel-shaped housing for producing in said spaces between the ribs internal lockup grooves running in a circumferential direction on the inside surface of curvature of said stereo plate.

2. A finishing unit according to claim 1 wherein the drive means for each milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and wherein each of said milling cutter means is directly mounted on the shaft of its drive means.

3. A finishing unit according to claim 1 wherein the drive means for each milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and the rotating mounting means has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutter means with their drive means shafts extending parallel to each other and lying in a common plane yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of the stereo plate at an angle of about 45 and said last-mentioned mounting means lies in a plane transverse to the axis of said curved plate.

. A fims mg unit according to claim 3 wherein the drive means of each milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and wherein each of said milling cutter means is directly mounted on the shaft of its drive means.

5. A finishing unit according to claim 2 wherein the rotating mounting means has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutter means with their drive means shafts extending parallel to each other yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of the stereo plate at an angle-of about 45 and said last-mentioned mounting means lies in a plane transverse to the axis of said curved plate.

6. A finishing unit for curved stereo plates formed with a relatively large radius of curvature and having spaced apart circumferentially extending ribs on the inside curved surface and grooves milled in the circumferentially extending spaces therebetween for securing the plates, and having means for holding the plate stationary, ing means at the center of curvature of said stationarily held plate; said mounting means having mounted thereon all within a circle formed by the relatively large radius of curvature of said plate, a plate feeding and delivery device to feed and deliver said plate from its holding means, scraping knife means for truing the top surface of said ribs on the plate, and severing cutter means for cutting off any tail ends of said plate; the improvement therewith comprising a unitary milling cutter means and self-contained drive means also mounted on said rotating mounting means all within the circle formed by the relatively large radius of curvature of said plate for producing-in said spaces between the ribs internal lock-up grooves running in a circumferential direction on the inside surface of curvature of said stereo plate.

7. A finishing unit according to claim 6 wherein the drive means for each milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and the rotating mounting means has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutters with their self-contained drive means shafts extending parallel to each other and lying in a common plane yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of the stereo plate at an angle of about 45 and said last-mentioned mounting means lies in a plate transverse to the axis of said curved stereo plate.

comprising in combination, a rotating mount-.

Claims

1. A finishing unit for curved stereo plates formed with a relatively large radius and having on the inside curved surface spaced apart circumferentially extending ribs and grooves milled in the circumferentially extending spaces therebetween for securing the plates, comprising in combination, a tunnel-shaped housing with curved means for mounting one of said relatively large radius stereo plates and clamp means thereon for securing said plate for finishing, a rotating mounting means at the center of curvature of said tunnel-shaped housing curved mounting means; said rotating mounting means mounting a plate feeding and delivery device for delivering said plate to the clamping means of the housing, scraping knife means for truing the top surface of said ribs in the plate, and severing cutter means for cutting off any tail ends of said plate; the improvement therewith comprising unitary milling cutter means and self-contained drive means also mounted on said rotating mounting means all within a circle formed by the radius of curvature of said curved stereo plate and plate mounting means of the tunnel-shaped housing for producing in said spaces between the ribs internal lock-up grooves running in a circumferential direction on the inside surface of curvature of said stereo plate.

3. A finishing unit according to claim 1 wherein the drive means for each milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and the rotating mounting means has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutter means with their drive means shafts extending parallel to each other and lying in a common plane yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of the stereo plate at an angle of about 45* and said last-mentioned mounting means lies in a plane transverse to the axis of said curved plate.

4. A finishing unit according to claim 3 wherein the drive means of each milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and wherein each of said milling cutter means is directly mounted on the shaft of its drive means.

5. A finishing unit according to claim 2 wherein the rotating mounting means has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutter means with their drive means shafts extending parallel to each other yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of the stereo plate at an angle of about 45* and said last-mentioned mounting means lies in a plane transverse to the axis of said curved plate.

6. A finishing unit for curved stereo plates formed with a relatively large radius of curvature and having spaced apart circumferentially extending ribs on the inside curVed surface and grooves milled in the circumferentially extending spaces therebetween for securing the plates, and having means for holding the plate stationary, comprising in combination, a rotating mounting means at the center of curvature of said stationarily held plate; said mounting means having mounted thereon all within a circle formed by the relatively large radius of curvature of said plate, a plate feeding and delivery device to feed and deliver said plate from its holding means, scraping knife means for truing the top surface of said ribs on the plate, and severing cutter means for cutting off any tail ends of said plate; the improvement therewith comprising a unitary milling cutter means and self-contained drive means also mounted on said rotating mounting means all within the circle formed by the relatively large radius of curvature of said plate for producing in said spaces between the ribs internal lock-up grooves running in a circumferential direction on the inside surface of curvature of said stereo plate.

7. A finishing unit according to claim 6 wherein the drive means for each milling cutter means includes a drive shaft and the rotating mounting means has means mounting two of the groove-milling cutters with their self-contained drive means shafts extending parallel to each other and lying in a common plane yet are mounted obliquely to the axis of the stereo plate at an angle of about 45* and said last-mentioned mounting means lies in a plate transverse to the axis of said curved stereo plate.