US2460504A

US2460504A - Printing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2460504A
Application number: US560136A
Authority: US
Inventors: William C Huebner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-10-24
Filing date: 1944-10-24
Publication date: 1949-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1966-02-01
Also published as: GB600973A

Description

Feb. 1, 1949.

W. C. HUEBNER PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24. 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 ENTOR. 16657267) Feb. 1, 1-949. w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24. 1944 Feb. 1, 1949. w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 24. 1944 I M INVENTOR.

dfiC'wZ/Wy 7 -iw w 5 OM 3w 5 2 z 1949- w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING APPARATUS v '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 24. 1944 INVENTOR.

Feb. 1, 1949. w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed ()Ct. 24. 1944 I v il' fi INVENTOR. BY fi 5 5 1 w. c. HUEBNER 2,460,504

'PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24. 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 1, 1949. w. c. HUEBNER 2,460,504

PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Oct; 24. 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 (I iforrreys' Patented Feb.- 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING APPARATUS William ,0. Huebner, New York, N. Y.

Application October 24, 1944, Serial No. 560,136

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in printing presses or apparatus employing printing cylinders carrying printing surfaces or images from which ink impressions or prints are made on print-receiving elements or materials, and more particularly to improvements in printing presses or apparatus of the nature disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos. 1,820,194 and 2,224,391, granted to me respectively August 25, 1931, and December '10, 1940, in which the ink is transferred from the printing surface or image to the print-receiving element, as by electrostatic or electromagnetic force or action.

In the practical application of printing apparatus of this nature, development work has demonstrated that it is highly desirable and greatly facilitates the operation of the apparatus and makes it possible to increase its speed of produc directly on the peripheral surface of the cylinder tube itself by the well known photographic process, or separate curved plates on which the printing images or surfaces are provided by photographic or other processes may be made and mounted uponthe periphery of the cylinder tube. In either case the peripheral printing surfaces or images of difierent cylinders must register one with the other and the surface speeds of different printing cylinders. must be in unison, particularly in multicolor work, to obtain the best printed results.

It is important to practical and efiicient operation of such apparatus that the cylinders should be mounted in such a manner as to enable quick and easy removal and replacement of the same cylinder or its replacement by another cylinder in the same predetermined or registered position. In this way a set of similar printing cylinders carrying-the necessary different images for the difierent color prints of a multicolor job. can be prepared and made ready for work outside of the press andplaced in operative position or interchanged one with another, as required, for making different colored prints.

One object of my invention therefore is, to providepractical and desirable means whereby the from and replaced in the same predetermined position or interchanged with another printing cylinder in the apparatus.

It is to be understood that any removable cylinder inserted in the press is arranged to function in coordination with position-determining or locating means on the cylinder drive device or mechanism, whereby when the cylinder is operatively connected with a rotatable end support located at the operators side of the press, the cylinder will be located in the intended, predetermined position in proper alinement and registration for printing. Similar functions and operative procedure apply either in single or multicolor work in a multicolor press having two or more printing units, thus making it possible to provide a set of cylinders for producing a given multicolor design to be printed, which cylinders are quickly interchangeable one for another,

thereby reducing the idle or waiting time of the press to a minimum, since no make-ready is needed because all of the printing cylinders comprising a set of color printing images will register one with the other simply by inserting them in the press, so thatwhen the press is started and a sheet or web fed through the press, the printed images will fall over each other in exact register on the print-receiving element or material.

. Another object of my invention is to provide simple and practical means enabling the accomplishment of these results.

Other objects of the invention are to provide means constructed and arranged to enable the removable cylinder to be removed and replaced in a direction lengthwise of itself from the oper ators side of the press or apparatus; to arrangetion opposite the end of the cylinder so as to provide an open space or clearance through which the cylinder is removable endwise or in the direc- 1 tion of its length from the press.

It is also desirable to provide means which function, when inserting a cylinder into or removing' it from its operative position in the press, to support and guide the inner end of the cylinder in such a way as to prevent contact of the printfinking unit is being cleaned and reset.

ingsuri'ace or image with nearby parts of the press or apparatus, and'thereby preclude possible damage to the printing surface or image; and so as also to facilitate the introduction and removal of the cylinder into and from the press and reduce straining or lifting effort on the part of the operator in removing and replacing the cylinder.

Another object of my invention is to provide convenient means for this purpose, preferably in the form of a sliding rest, for engaging and supporting the inner end of the cylinder while it is-being inserted or removed.

Still another object of the invention is to arrange or mount the inking means or system of the press, whether comprised of orthodox rollers and vibrators or special rollers or instrumentalities of whatever assembly orrelation, so that the inking means can be raised as a unit clear the press, and provides a cleaning or wash-up device for the inking unit. This cleaning device, which forms the subject matter'of another application for U. S. patent, may. be provided with a complete roller wash-up system so that all ink can be removed from the inking rollers or unit be inserted into the press while the first in a single or multicolor press, the operating or productive time of the press is increased definitely because the customary wash-up and make-ready time is entirely eliminated.

Further'objects and advantages of the invenf tion will'appear from the following specification of the? preferred embodiments of the invention shown-in the accompanying drawings, and the novel features of the invention are set forth in 'theappended claims.

'of a single unit press or apparatus embodying the invention, showing the printing cylinder and Thus,

its cooperating impression or supporting cylinder for the printreceiving material or element in normal, operative position, and the inking unit in it's'lowered oroperative relation to the printing cylinder Fig. 2 isia fragmentary elevation of the operraised position ready for removal from the press onto the wash-up carriage or device in which the inking unit is cleaned and its elements preset ready for use in the press.

Fig. 6 is a transverse, sectional elevation of the printing cylinder and its end supports, the retractable support being withdrawn to free the cylinder for removal.

Fig. 7 is a broken, sectional elevation of the printing cylinder removed from the press.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the driving end of the cylinder.

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view showing the sliding rest for supporting and guiding the printing cylinder when inserting it into and removing it from the press.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse section thereof on line lil--it,Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a schematic side elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention showing how two or more color units can be employed, and alternative meansfor shifting the mounting cylinder supports and the inking units.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the apparatus as shown inFig. 11, showing the printing and cooperating cylinder and inking unit in position ready for printing.

Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view on line iii-43,

Fig. 12, showing the retracting and elevating means for the cylinder end support, and indicating by broken lines the position of the printing cylinder relative to the end support when retracted.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12, partially broken away, but showing the inking unit in its elevated position and partially removed from the press, and also showing the printing cylinder removed, its position being indicated .by broken lines. This figure also shows cylinder end supports at the operator's side of the press, one released from and raised out of the way of the printing cylinder to permit the latters removal, and the end support for the lower cylinder being lowered to permit the removal of the lower cylinder.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-10, I indicates the base of a press frame and 2 side standards rising from the base at opposite sides of the press. 3 represents the printing cylinder and 4 a cooperating impression cylinder, or cylinder for supporting the print-receiving element or material while receiving the print from the printing cylinder, these cylinders, as shown, being arranged parallel, one above the other, with the peripheral printing surface or image of the printing cylinder slightly aboveor out of contact with the print-receiving ators sideofthe press showing by solid lines the parts in-normal position, and by brokenlines indicating the upper portionof the inking unit in the position the inking unit occupies when I it is raised and ready for removal from the press.

Fig. 3 is. a fragmentary end elevation of the mitted through a transverse shaft I geared to the parts shown in Fig. 2, showing bysolid lines the "normal position of 'the parts, and by broken lines the raised position of the inking unit.

motor and connected with the drive mechanism or gearing 5.

The printing cylinder, as shown (see Figs. 6-8), preferably comprises a light-weight, thin, cylindrical shell or tube 8 provided at one end with an annular end piece 9 to which the tube 8 is flxed and which, with the cylinder tube, is adapted to be sleeved over a stationary, hollow shaft In which is suitably supported stationarily in the press at the driving side thereof and, in this apparatus, functions to support parts of the electric printing the cylinder is arranged to rotate about the the stationary shaft I on a suitable bearing Hm, andis suitably connected with the drive gearing of the press so as to be rotated thereby, and the cylinder tube 8 is interengaged or interlocked with the end support ll so as to be rotated thereby, as for instance, by a lug I3 on the periphery of the support ll, adapted to fit closely in a notch l4, Figs. 7 and 8, in the adjacent end of the cylinder tube. The opposite end support 12 is retractable from its related end of the cylinder tube, in which it fits so as to provide proper support for this end of the tube, as presently explained, thus leaving the tube, 8 free to be disengaged from the driving end support ii and removed from the press, but due to the engagement of the lug I 3 of the driving support in the end notch of the tube, the cylinder tube, when placed in the press in supporting engagement with the driving sup-' port, will always occupy the same predetermined positional relation to the driving support ii, so that the printing surface or image, however formed or provided on the periphery of the cylinder tube, will always be registered in the same position relatively to the cylinder driving mechanism or moving parts of the press or apparatus when the tube is placed in position therein.

As shown (see Figs. 1 and 6), the retractable end support i2 is mounted by means of a suitable bearing, preferably a double end thrust roller bearing IS, on a supporting journal or member i6 which is movable endwise in a bearing block ill in which it may be held from turning, as by a key iix. The bearing block il is mounted for vertical movement in an opening is, see Fig. 2, in the adjacent frame s de standard 2, which opening has opposite, vertical guide edges with which the front and rear faces of the bearing block are slidably engaged so as to enable the bearing block to he. slid up and down from and to its normal cylinder-supporting position. As shown in Fig. 6, the journal it has a screw threaded, outer end portion 39 on which turns a threaded nut 20 that is rotatably mounted, as by means of an annular retaining cap 2|, suitably secured on the outer end of the bearing block. The outwardly projecting end of this nut may-be toothed or otherwise fashioned for the removable engagement of a crank or device 22 (shown by broken lines in Fig. 6) for turning the nut. Thus, the nut may be elevated for this purpose as presently explained.

In this embodiment of the invention, the inking instrumentalities for the printing cylinder are in their normal or operative position, disposed above the printing cylinder, and motor driven elevating means are provided for raising the inking unit, comprising th inking instrumentalities, from their normal position to anelevated, inoperative position. and these elevating means for the inking unit are utilized for shifting the bear- 4 ing block I! to permit removal of the printing cylinder, by releasably coupling the bearing block to the inking unit so as to move therewith.

As shown, the inking unit comprises a shiftable frame or housing 25 in which instrumentalities 28, 2l for applying the ink to the printing cylinder,

be turned and move the journal i6 for engaging its rotatable and support i 2 in or retracting it from the adjacent end of the cylinder tube 8.

After the end support i2 has been retracted from the cylinder tube, the bearing block ii carrying it is adapted to be raised in its guide opening it in the side frame until the bearing block and end support are positioned above the top of the cylinder tube, thereby permitting the cylinder tube to be disengaged from the other end support ii and withdrawn endwise through the guideway or opening i 8 for the bearing block, this opening being large enough to permit ready withdrawal of the cylinder tube through the same from the press, and its insertion through the opening into the press. The bearing block may are mounted. This unit frame 25 is arranged for vertical movement between pairs of upright, hollow guide posts 28 rising from the opposite side standards of the press frame. My invention is not concerned with the type, character or arrangement of the ink-applying instrumentalities of this unit, and they may be of any orthodox or suitable character, but the carrying frame 25 therefor is arranged to be guided, in its up and down movements from and toward the position of the unit for inking the printing cylinder, between the frame guide posts 28, the unit being movable from its inking position, shown in Fig. 2, to the elevated position shown in Fig. 5. The inking unit frame shown comprises opposite side members 29 rigidly tied together by cross tie bars 30 and a tie rod 3!, see Figs. 4 and 5.

The motor-driven elevating mechanism shown for raising and lowering the inking unit comprises horizontal supporting rails 32 extending across the press in front and in rear of the inking unit and suitably guided for vertical movement in posts 28, and rollers 33 journalled on the unit frame 25 and bearing upon said rails 32, so as to support the inking unit from the rails and permit the unit to roll along these rails for removal from the machine when the unit is in the elevated position shown in Fig. 5. Each rail 32 rests at its opposite ends on nuts 38 having screw threaded engagement with a pair of vertical screws 35 which are suitably journalled in the guide posts 28 at the opposite ends of the rails. Nuts 3d may be held from turning in vertical holes in the rails 32, in which the nuts may have a limited vertical play, to allow a limited lift of the rails and inking unit independently of the screwoperated nuts, when necessary to lift the inking rollers out of contact with the printing cylinder during printing operation of the press. By appropriate rotation of screws 35, the cross rails 32 are raised and lowered, carrying with them the inking unit. The motor driven mechanism for rotating the elevating screws 35 may be of any suitable construction, that shown comprising a motor 36 mounted on the pressframe and operatively connected by a transverse shaft 31, and suitable gears 38 to the two screws 35 'for The pair of elevating screws 35 for the second rail may be rotated in unison and in like direction with the screws 35 for the first rail, as by a longitudinal shaft 39 at one side of the press, which is operatively connected, as by spiral gears it with the two screws 35 at the same end of the two rails, and by a second transverse shaft M which is geared, as by spiral gears 42, to the two screws for the second cross rail.

By causing forward or reverse operation of the motor 86 by means of a suitable control switch mal position shown in Fig. 2 to the elevated position shown in Fig. 5, or to return the unit to its normal position.

This elevating means is utilized for raising the bearing block I! to enable removal of the printing cylinder from the press, as before explained, by coupling the bearing block I! to the frame 25 of the inking unit when thelatter is in its normal position. Forthus coupling the bearing block to the frame of the inking unit, latches 43, see Fig. 2, are shown, pivoted on the face of the bearing block I! and adapted to be engaged with pins or keepers 44 on the ends of the inking unit frame 25. When it is desired to elevate the bearing block for removing the printing cylinder, the latches '63 are engaged with their keepers M, and the elevating mechanism for the inking unit operated, thereby raising the bearing block. After the return of the cylinder to the press or its replacement by another cylinder, the bearing block can be again lowered to its normal position and the rotatable end support l2 engaged with the cylinder, to support it in operative position, by operation of the crank 22.

When it is desired to remove the inking unit from thepress for cleaning it or replacing it with an inking unit with ink of a different color, the latches 43 are disengaged from the inking unit and the latter is raised by its elevating mechanism, as explained, to the position shown in Fig. 5. In this position of the inking unit, the elevating rails 32 will be located at the tops ofthe guide posts 28 and will permit the inking unit to be rolled transversely out of the press onto rails 45 (see Figs. 3 and 4) of .a portable cleaning carriage or device adapted to support the inking unit out of the press while cleaning it. This cleaning or wash-up device forms the subject matter of a separate application, and it is not necessary to disclose it herein further than to indicate the position of the rails 45 thereof which support the inking unit. This device is adapted 'alinement with the rails 32 of the press while removing an inking unit from or returning it to the press. The means shown for this purpose may comprise pivoted bolts or members 45 with holding nuts engageable in slots 4? in lugs 4d projecting from the two guide posts 28 at the operator's side of the press, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The press or apparatus is preferably equipped with means for supporting and guiding the far end of the printing cylinder when removing it from and replacing it in the press in order to prevent damaging the printing surface or image by contact with nearby parts of the press, and also to relieve the strain on, and ease the effort of, the operator in removing and replacing the cylinder. This means, as illustrated, comprises a pair of parallel, tubular slotted supporting bars 50, see Figs. 1, 9 and 10, which extend transversely in the press below the printing cylinder 8 and are attached at their ends to cross supporting bars which may be suitably fixed to the side standards of the press frame. Slidable lengthwise on these bars is a saddle or carrier 52 which normally is located at the driving side of the press beyond the inner end of the printing cylinder. Telescoping in the supporting bars '50 are operating rods 53 having at their inner ends laterally projecting fingers 54 whichv extend through longitudinal slots 55 in tubular bars 50 and through transverse slots 56 in the saddle 52 so that the saddle can be slid outwardly and inwardly along bars 50 by means of the operating rods 53, which preferably are connected by a cross head or handle 533:.at their outer ends. and at their inner portion bear .rotatably in central holes inbearing blocks 51' slidable in the tubular bars 50. The rods may be attached to said bearing blocks by set screws 58 which project into peripheral grooves in the operating rods that permit the rods 52 to turn a quarter revolution in their bearings. printing cylinder tube is provided in its periphery at its under side with transverse slots (Figs. 7 and 10) into which the carrier fingers 54 are adapted to be engaged for holding the cylinder 1 end in place on the saddle, by pulling the saddle outwardly toward the inner end of the cylinder by the rods 53 and turning the rods a quarter turn in the tubular bars .50 to throw the fingers 54 from their positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10, into their full line position, Fig. l0, in which the fingers will engage inthe cylinder slots 60 and hold the cylinder to the saddle. The longitudinal slots 55 of the tubular bars 50 have oifset'outer and inner portions, see Fig. 9, connected by transverse portions 6| opposite the inner end of the printing cylinder which allow the turning of the fingers 54 for engaging them with and disengaging them from the cylinder. By pulling the saddle toward and engaging it with the adjacent or inner end of the printing cylinder tube, this end will be supported on the saddle 52, and when the cylinder end support I2 is retracted to release the opposite or outer end of the cylinder, the operator can support the outer end of the cylinder by hand, while pulling the cylinder out of the press; and at the same time by pulling the saddle outwardly with the cylinder by means of its operating rods 53, the inner end of the cylinder will vbe supported and guided during the removal of the cylinder. In replacing the cylinder, its inner end is engaged with the saddle and the latter is moved inwardly in pushing the cylinder into the press, thereby supporting and guiding its inner end during the insertion of the cylinder.

Referring now to the alternative construction illustratedin Figs. 11-14, these figures show schematically a two-unit multicolor printing press or apparatus in which the cooperating cylinders of each unit and the inking means thereof are removable from the press for the stated purposes. Except as hereinafter described, this construction may be substantially asalready described in connection with the Figs. 1' to 10 embodiment.

In each color unit. 311 and to represent the printing and cooperating or impression cylinders, each of which has a removable cylinder tube 8a removably mounted in the press to rotate about stationary central electrical insulating shafts The inner or driving end of the which may be suitably driven from a motor driven shaitla. The retractable end-support G for each cylinder is rotatable about a Journal I60, which may be mounted, as before explained, for axial movement out of supporting engagement with its cylinder tube, in a bearing block l'ia. 20a indicates the rotatable nut for shifting the Journal la axially in the bearing block, and 22a the crank for turning the nut. The two bearing blocks lid for the upper and lower cylineders 3a and 4a of each color unit are arranged for vertical movement respectively upwardly and downwardly from their normal positions Opposite the ends of the cylinder, to enable removal of the cylinders, in an open vertical guideway 18a in a side standard 2aof the main frame, there being two such standards, one for each color unit, at the operator's side of the press. A pinion is shown rotatably mounted in each bearing block Ila, by a shaft H iournalledin the block, and meshing with a vertical toothed rack 12 in the guideway Ilia for raising and lowering the bearing block in its guideway. The pinion may be turned for this purpose by a removable crank applied to the outer end of the pinion shaft, as indicated by broken lines at I3 in Fig. 14. In Fig. 11, the bearing blocks i'ia for the cylinders of the right hand color unit are shown in their normal supporting position opposite the ends of the cylinders, in which position the blocks may be releasably secured, as by a locking bolt 14, while the bearing block Ha for the upper cylinder 3a of the other color unit is shown raised above the cylinder, and the hearing block for the lower cylinder to is shown as shifted below its cylinder, thereby leaving the cylinders unobstructed for endwise removal through the guideway i811 for the bearing blocks. Fig. 14 also shows the raised and lowered positions for these bearing blocks and this figure indicates by broken lines that the upper cylinder tube do has been removed from the press.

a represents the vertically movable carrying frame or housing of the inking unit 26a for each color unit. Each inking unit, as in the first embodiment described, is supported by rollers 330: on horizontal cross rails 32a of an elevating mechanism comprising vertical screws 35a, turning in nuts supporting the cross rails, and adapted to be rotated in unison by suitable shaft and gear mechanism did, such as before described,

driven by a motor; 36a. The inking unit of the right-hand color unit, shown in Fig. 11, is in normal operative position, and the inking unit of the other color unit is shown raised in this figure to enable lifting of the bearing block Ha for the removal of the cylinders of this unit. When the inking unit is raised by this elevating mechanism to the position shown in Fig. 14, it can be rolled out of the press through the guideway opening of its related standard 2a onto the alined rails 35a of a portable wash-up device. Fig. 14 shows the inking unit for the left-hand color unit of the press partially so removed. I

In this multicolor press is shown a conveyor belt 86 passing around supporting and guide rollsv axially of said cylinder for releasing said second support from the cylinder, said bearing block being shiitable in said guideway with said second support away from its supporting position opposite the end of the cylinder when the support is released from the cylinder, said guideway being or greater dimensions than the diameter of the cylinder, and said cylinder being freed for disconnection from said driving support and removable endwise of itself from the press through said guideway when the bearing block is shifted out of its cylinder supporting position.

2. In a printing press having a rotary cylinder, a main frame, and cylinder supports on said frame at opposite ends of the cylinder one of which drives the cylinder, the improved construction comprising means detachably connecting said cylinder at one end with said driving support, a bearing block shiftable in a guideway in said frame from a-supporting position axially opposite the other end of said cylinder and rotatably mounting said second cylinder support, said second support being movable on said bearing block out of supporting engagement with said cylinder, and means for moving said bearing block with said second support in said guideway away from its-supporting position opposite the end of the cylinder when said second support is disconnected from the cylinder, said guideway when said bearing block is thus moved away from its supporting position providing an unobstructed opening opposite the end of the cylinder through which the cylinder is removable endwise thereof from the press.

3. In a printing press having a rotary printing cylinder with a peripheral printing surface, a main frame, cylinder supports on said frame at opposite ends of the cylinder one of which drives the cylinder, and an inking unit for said cylinder, the improved construction comprising means detachably connecting said cylinder at one end with said driving support in a predetermined position relative thereto, a bearing block vertically shiftable in a guideway in said frame from a supporting position opposite the other end of said cylinder and rotatably mounting said second cylinder support, said second cylinder support being movable on said bearing block out of supporting engagement with said cylinder, means for elevating said inking unit from its operative position relative .to the cylinder,- means for attaching said bearin lock to said inking or drums 8i for carrying the sheets or elements 1. In a printing press having a rotary cylin der, a main frame, and cylinder supports on said frame at opposite ends of the cylinder one of which drives the cylinder, the improved conunit for elevation therewith, said guideway when said bearing block is thus shifted away from its supporting position providing an opening opposite the end of the cylinder through which the cylinder is removable endwise thereof from the press.

4. In a printing press having a main frame, a

printing cylinder therein and supports rotatably rests when removing it from and replacing it in the press, operating rods movable lengthwise and rotatable in said tubular rails and having at their inner ends fingers extending through slots in said tubular rails and connected with said saddle for moving the saddle along said rails, said fingers being releasably. engageable with the inner endof the cylinder when resting on said saddle for retaining the inner end of the cylinder in place on the saddle during the removal of the cylinder from and its replacement in the press.

5. In a printing press, the improved construction according to claim 4, in which said fingers are engaged with and disengaged from peripheral slots in the cylinder by turning said operating rods, for retaining the cylinder in connection with and releasing it from said saddle.

6. In a printing press having a frame, and a rotary cylinder, bearing supports for the cylinder on said frame and operatively and detachably associated with said cylinder for rotation therewith adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and means mounting one of said supports for movement axially of said cylinder for detachment therefrom, said means being movable on said frame with the detached support transversely to the axis of said cylinder away from its cylinder supporting position opposite the end of the cylinder thereby leaving a space opposite the end of the cylinder through which said cylinder may be axially inserted into or removed from position in said frame.

7. In a printing press having a frame, and a rotary cylinder, bearing supports operatively and detachably associated with said cylinder for rotation therewith adjacent the opposite ends thereof, said frame being provided with a guide opening extending transversely to the axis of said cylinder, and means rotatably mounting one of said supports and movable in said guide opening away from its cylinder supporting position, whereby said one support is movable to leave said guide opening unobstructed opposite the end of the cylinder and enable the cylinder to be inserted into or removed from operative position in said frame through said opening.

8. In a printing press having a rotary printing cylinder with a peripheral printing surface, a main frame, cylinder supports on said frame at the opposite ends of the cylinder and one of which supports drives the cylinder, and an inking unit for said cylinder, the improved construction comprising means detachably connecting said cylinder at one end with said driving support, a bearing block shiftable in a guideway in said frame from a supporting position opposite the other end of said cylinder and rotatably mounting said second cylinder support, said second cylinder support being shif-table on said bearing block out of supporting engagement with said cylinder, means for moving said inking unit from its operative position relative to the cylinder, means for operatively connecting said bearing block with said inking unit for movement therewith, said guideway when said bearing block is thus shifted away from its supporting position providing an opening opposite the end of the cylinder through which the cylinder is removable endwise thereof from the press.

9, In a printing press having a frame, and a rotary printing cylinder, the improved construction comprising a printing cylinder having a cylindrical body and rotary supporting'ends there- 1 for releasably connected to the oppostie ends of said body, means rotatably mounting said ends one of said ends for driving the cylinder, said mounting means for said other end movably supporting the end for movement to release it from said body and said mounting means being movable on said frame with said released end transversely to the axis of said cylinder away from its body-supporting position, thereby freeing said body for release from said driving end and leaving an unobstructed space axially opposite the cylinder through which said body is removable lengthwise of itself from and ing'e'rtable into operative position in the press.

. 10. In a printing press having a frame, and a rotary cylinder, the improved construction comprising a cylinder having a tubular body, and rotary supporting heads therefor releasably connected to opposite ends of said body, and means rotatably mounting said heads on said frame, said mounting means for one head movably supporting the head for movement to release it from said body and said mounting means being movable on said frame with said released head transversely to the axis of the cylinder awayfrom its body-supporting position, thereby freeing said body for release from said other head and leaving an unobstructed space axiallyopposite the cylinder through which said body is removable lengthwise of itself from and insertable into oper-ative position in the press.

11. In a printing press having a frame, and a rotary cylinder, the improved construction comprising a cylinder having a tubular body, and rotary supporting heads therefor releasably connected to opposite ends of said body, means rotatably mounting said heads on said frame, driving means associated with one of said heads for driving said cylinder, said mounting means for said other head movably supporting the head for movement to release it from said body and said mounting means being movable on said frame with said released-head transversely to the axis of the cylinder away from its body-supporting position, thereby freeing said body for release from said driving head and leaving an unobstructed space axially opposite the cylinder through which said body is removable lengthwise of itself from and insertable into operative position in the press. I

12. In a printing press having a frame, and a rotary printing cylinder, the improved construction comprising a printing cylinder having a tubuiar body carrying a peripheral printing surface, and rotary supporting heads therefor releasably connected to opposite ends of said body, means rotatably mounting said heads on said frame, driving means associated with one of said heads for driving said cylinder, said mounting means for said other head movably supporting the head for movement to release it from said body and said mounting means being movable on said frame with said released head transversely to the axis of said cylinder away from its bodysupporting position, thereby freeing said body for release from said driving head and leaving an unobstructed space axially opposite the cylinder through which said body is removable lengthwise of itself from and insertable into operative position in the press, and parts on said body and driving head cooperating tolocate the body always in the same predetermined axial and circumferential relation to said driving head.

13. In a printing press having a main frame, a tubular cylinder, rotatable supports axially alined with and rotatably mounting the cylinder atopposite-ends, said cylinderheing disconnect- .able' from said support and one or said supports axial alinement with the cylinderand thereby leaving an unobstructed opening in the main frame axially opposite the cylinder through" whlch the cylinder is removable lengthwise of itself iron .the press, and a .device mounted in said frame to movein the direction or the length of said cylinder and comprising means shiita-ble into supporting engagement withithelnnerend of said tubular cylinder and beingmovableendwise with the cylinder tor supporting and guiding it when removing the cylinder from and replacing 15 it in the pm.

WILLIAM 0. mm.

REFERENCES CITED 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number .Name Date 1,329,325 Mascord Jan-27, 1920 1,677,931 Seymour July 24, 1928 1,782,608 Full: Nov; 25, 1930 1,783,766 Barber Dec, 2, 1930 r 2,057,360 Barber Oct. 13, 1936 2,090,939 [Crafts Aug; 24, 1937 2,129,699 Luehrs Sept. 13, 1938 Stafford June 17, 1941