EP0658425B1

EP0658425B1 - Sheet transferring apparatus for printing machine

Info

Publication number: EP0658425B1
Application number: EP19940109204
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masaharu Okuda; Haruki Umemura
Original assignee: Sakurai Graphic Systems Corp
Current assignee: Sakurai Graphic Systems Corp
Priority date: 1993-12-02
Filing date: 1994-06-15
Publication date: 1999-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-15
Also published as: JP2898529B2; EP0658425A1; DE69416961T2; JPH07156367A; DE69416961D1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sheet transferring apparatus employed for an offset press, and more particularly to a sheet transferring apparatus for transferring a sheet between a plurality of printing units so as to perform a multiple color press on a single surface of this sheet or a single color press on both surfaces of this sheet.

Description of the Related Art

Printed matters such as pamphlets and catalogs are mostly printed using offset presses. An offset press is capable of multi-color printing and also well suited for mass printing. Sheet-fed printers, to which printing paper sheets of the same size are fed one by one to carry out printing, are widely employed in such offset press. In a mode where printing is to be applied on both surfaces of the sheet (double-side printing) is to be carried out in such type of sheet-fed printer, the sheet must be reversed and transferred.

As shown in Figs. 13 (a) and (b), the offset press is provided with a feed cylinder 100 and a transfer cylinder 101, with a supply cylinder 102 being disposed between and adjacent to these

cylinders

100 and 101. The supply cylinder 102 has a diameter twice as great as those of the other cylinders 100,101. The printing sheet Pa subjected to a first printing is forwarded from the impression cylinder (not shown) to the feed cylinder 100 with the printed surface facing toward the cylinder 100.

Subsequently, the sheet Pa retained on the transfer cylinder 100 is grasped at its front edge by the grippers of the supply cylinder 102 and shifted to the outer surface thereof. The sheet Pa is retained on the supply cylinder 102 with the printing surface facing outward.

In a mode where printing is to be applied on a single surface with two colors (single-side printing) is to be carried out, as shown in Fig. 13(a), the front edge of the printing sheet Pa retained on the supply cylinder 102 is grasped by a plurality of holders 103 arranged in the axial direction of the transfer cylinder 101. The sheet is reversed and then fed to the transfer cylinder 101 with the printed surface facing inward. Meanwhile, when the printing sheet Pa is to be printed on both sides thereof, the rear edge of the printing sheet Pa retained on the supply cylinder 102 with the printed surface facing outward is grasped by the holders 103 and fed to the transfer cylinder 101 in the same posture, as shown in Fig. 13(b).

Accordingly, when the printing mode is switched from single-side printing to the double-side printing, the holders 103 of the transfer cylinder 101 must grasp the rear edge of the printing sheet Pa. Thus, when another printing sheet Pa having a different size is used, the phase of the transfer cylinder 101 relative to the supply cylinder 102 must be adjusted so as to allow the holders 103 to securely grasp the sheet Pa.

The phase adjustment of the reversing mechanism at switching between single-side printing and double-side printing has conventionally been carried out by changing the phase of the input gear 104 and that of the output gear 105, which transmit the driving force of the main motor, as shown in Fig. 14. Namely, the bolts 106 fastening the input gear 104 are loosened to turn the input gear 104 according to the scale. The phase of the input gear 104 is adjusted such that the holders 103 of the transfer cylinder 101 may securely grasp the rear edge of the printing sheet Pa.

Since the phase adjustment of the reversing mechanism used to be carried out manually as described above, the mode switching from the single-side printing to the double-side printing or vice versa incurs a considerable loss of time, and further a number of defective prints are liable to occur due to mishandling in the switching operation.

In order to solve these problems, the present applicant proposed in a prior application (EP-A-0,658,425) a reversing mechanism for an offset press, in which switching between single-side printing and double-side printing is automatically carried out with the aid of a control unit.

The press of this prior application has a shaft penetrating a transfer cylinder, with an output gear being fitted on the shaft. An input gear is connected to the output gear via a decelerator, and the driving force of a main motor is transmitted from the input gear through the decelerator to the output gear. The decelerator has a rotary shaft at the center, and the relative positions of the input gear and output gear are designed to be adjusted by turning the rotary shaft. Namely, the phase of the input gear and that of the output gear are decided depending on the number of turning of the rotary shaft. When the printing mode is switched from double-side printing to single-side printing, the input gear is reset to the reference position in single-side printing based on the detection signal of a reference position detecting sensor provided on the frame.

However, the detection signal of the sensor contains detection errors attributable to the resolving power or temperature characteristics of the sensor. Accordingly, it might happen that such detection errors bring about dislocation of the reference position in single-side printing, when the printing mode is switched from double-side printing to single-side printing. In multi-color printing, two or more printing processes are to be carried out based on the reference position. Accordingly, discrepancies may occur in the printed matter due to such misregistration.

GB-A-1,214,436 discloses a sheet transferring apparatus for transferring a sheet between a plurality of printing units including a transfer cylinder which is rotatably provided between adjacent units, a power source for actuating the transfer cylinder, a first rotating member mechanically connected with the power source and a second rotating member mechanically connected with the transfer cylinder. In this known sheet transferring apparatus the second rotating member is arranged to be driven by the first rotating member and printing operations on a single surface as well as on both surfaces of the sheet can selectively be performed. A phase between the first rotating member and the second rotating member can be adjusted by means of a phase adjusting mechanism. Both rotating members are formed as gears which are detachably connected with each other by means of a clamping ring and clamping screws. For setting the machine to accommodate sheets of different lengths to be printed, it is necessary to release the clamping screws and thus enable the second gear to rotate freely relative to the first gear. If a rotation of the second rotating member relative to the first rotating member is desired for adjustment of this known machine, the clamping screws must be released to allow a relative rotation between both gears. After the machine has been appropriately adjusted, the second gear is clamped by tightening the clamping screws engaging the clamping ring, to the first rotating gear so as to rotate therewith.

In the known machine also bolts and stop members are provided, but not to stop a relative rotation between both rotating members during operation. The purpose of these elements is to provide for a locating means which ensures an accurate and quick adjustment for multi-color printing and which ensures that both gears are located in contact without play. Therefore any setting of the known machine to accommodate sheets of a different length requires to release the clamping screws connecting both rotating members and to clamp together both rotating members by tightening the clamping screws after the desired adjustment was effected. This mechanism does not allow to carry out a quick and automatic adjustment of this known machine to accommodate sheets of a different length, if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished in view of these problems inherent in the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a sheet transferring apparatus for printing machines, having an improved mechanism for registration of sheet reference position wherein the registration of the reference position in single-side printing can automatically and accurately be carried out to give printed matters with improved quality.

In order to attain the intended objects described above, the invention provides for a sheet transferring apparatus for transferring a sheet between a plurality of at least two printing units, including a transfer cylinder rotatably provided between the adjacent units, a power source for actuating the transfer cylinder, a first rotating member mechanically connected with the power source, a second rotating member mechanically connected to the transfer cylinder, said second rotating member being arranged to be driven by the first rotating member, wherein printing operations on a single surface and on both surfaces of the sheet are selectively performed, and a phase between the first rotating member and the second rotating member is adjusted by a phase adjusting mechanism, and said sheet transferring apparatus further comprising stopping means formed with the first and the second rotating members, respectively, for stopping a relative rotation between the first and the second rotating members, detecting means for detecting a relative position of said first rotating member and said second rotating member, and halting means for halting the turning movement of said first rotating member before said stopping means abut against each other and restarts the turning movement of said first rotating member at a low speed to allow said stopping means to abut against each other.

Preferably, the first rotating member includes a drive gear and the second rotating member includes a driven gear mating with the drive gear. In one preferred embodiment the drive gear is set at a reference position corresponding to a predetermined phase between the drive gear and the driven gear. In a preferred embodiment the stopping means includes a first stopper formed with the drive gear and a second stopper formed with the driven gear, the first stopper and the second stopper being arranged to abut against each other to stop relative rotation between the drive gear and the driven gear. This has the advantage to arrange the first stopper and the second stopper to abut against each other when the drive gear rotates to the reference position.

The sheet transferring apparatus according to the present invention is preferably provided with a main shaft rotatably supporting the transfer cylinder, a first gear secured to the main shaft for transmitting a driving force to the main shaft, a second gear engaged with the first gear so as to be able to undergo a phase change, means for controlling the phase of the second gear relative to the first gear in accordance with computed phases of the first and the second gears in accordance with the size of the sheet, means for braking rotation of the transfer cylinder under actuation of the control means, and stoppers disposed to the first gear and the second gear, respectively, said stoppers being to be abutted against each other so as to stop relative turning of the first gear and the second gear.

The sheet transferring apparatus according to this invention allows the reference position registering mechanism to be constructed compactly and, thereby, to be disposed in a press without interfering with other members. By provision of the stopping means to abut against each other at the end of the respective relative turning movement of the rotating members the registration accuracy of the respective reference position can be improved. The slow turning movement of the first rotating member before abutment against the second rotating member weakens the impact when the stoppers abut against each other and, thereby, prevents reduction in the formation of the stoppers and assures accurate adjustment of the respective reference position. Also an automatic adjustment is possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a front view showing the sheet reversing mechanism according to a single embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view showing the supply cylinder and its environment;

Figs. 3(a) through 3(b) sequentially show how a sheet is fed in the offset press of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the gear phase adjusting section of the transfer cylinder;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the phase adjusting section;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the drive gear and the driven gear illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing the scale of the drive gear illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of a part in the electric system used in the offset press;

Fig. 9 is a flow chart explaining the beginning part of the mode switching program;

Fig. 10 is a flow chart explaining the program for switching "single-side printing" mode to "double-side printing" mode;

Fig. 11 is a flow chart explaining the program for changing the printing sheet size;

Fig. 12 is a flow chart explaining the program for switching "double-side printing" mode to "single-side printing" mode;

Fig. 13 is a front view showing the conventional sheet transferring apparatus for the offset press; and

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the major part of the gear phase adjusting section according to the conventional sheet transferring apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter referring to the drawings.

The offset press shown in Fig. 1 is provided with first and second printing units 1, 2. A feeder 3 is disposed adjacent to the first printing unit 1, while a delivery device 4 is disposed beside the second printing unit 2.

In each printing unit 1, 2, an ink is fed to a plate cylinder 6 via ink distribution rollers 5, and water is also fed to the plate cylinder 6 via water distribution rollers 7. The ink and water are mixed on the plate cylinder 6. The mixture is transferred to a

blanket cylinder

8a or 8b. A printing sheet Pa is fed from the feeder 3 via a sheet feeder 9 to an impression cylinder 10a.

Motions of the respective cylinders in single-side two-color printing are shown in Fig. 2. A printing sheet Pa, which is retained on the circumference of a right impression cylinder 10a, is brought into contact with the circumference of the right blanket cylinder 8a to be subjected to a first color printing. The blanket cylinder 8a is revolved as the impression cylinder 10a revolves to apply printing on the entire surface of the sheet Pa. The thus printed sheet Pa is fed via a feed cylinder 11 to a supply cylinder 12 with the printed surface facing outward. The sheet Pa is then grasped at the front edge thereof by a plurality of holders 14 arranged in the axial direction of the transfer cylinder 13. The sheet Pa is fed to the transfer cylinder 13 with the printed surface facing inward. The sheet Pa is then retained on the left impression cylinder 10b with the printed surface facing outward again to be subjected to a second color printing by a left blanket cylinder 8b. These cylinders are revolved by a main motor 15.

Meanwhile, in the case of double-side single-color printing, the printing sheet Pa is likewise printed on one surface thereof by the blanket cylinder 8a and then forwarded to the supply cylinder 12 via the feed cylinder 11 with the printed surface facing outward, as shown in Fig. 3(a). In this process, the front edge of the sheet Pa is grasped by grippers 16 of the supply cylinder 12 and retained on the circumference of the supply cylinder 12. After the supply cylinder 12 assuming such state is turned by a predetermined amount, the holders 14 grasp the rear edge of the sheet Pa. Subsequently, the holders 14 of the transfer cylinder 13 pivot counterclockwise so as not to crease the sheet Pa. As shown in Fig. 3(b), the rear edge of the sheet Pa is retained by the suction head 17 of the supply cylinder 12. The supply cylinder 12 consists of a front and a

rear segments

12a, 12b. The

segments

12a, 12b are designed to change the angle formed therebetween for accurately holding the rear edge of the sheet Pa by the suction head. After the front edge of the printing sheet Pa retained on the supply cylinder 12 passes the contact point between the

cylinders

12 and 13, the rear edge of the sheet Pa is grasped by the holders 14 of the transfer cylinder 13. Further, as shown in Fig. 3(c), the sheet Pa is fed to the transfer cylinder 13 with the printed surface facing outward, and then retained on the left impression cylinder 106 shown in Fig. 1 with the printed surface facing inward to be subjected to printing on the rear surface by the left blanket cylinder 8b. The thus printed sheet Pb is forwarded to the delivery device 4 to complete printing.

Next, phase adjustment of the transfer cylinder 13 in the above-described switching between "single-side two-color printing" and "double-side single-color printing" will be described. While such adjustment is performed by a control unit shown in Fig. 8, the details of the control unit will be described later.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a main shaft 24 is rotatably supported between

frames

20, 21 by way of a pair of bearings 22, 23. A pair of

side plates

25a, 25b constitute the diaphragms of the transfer cylinder 13. The diaphragms are fixed on the main shaft 24 at the positions inner than the

frames

25a, 25b, respectively. A plurality of guide pieces 26 are fixed onto the main shaft 24 at equal intervals between these

side walls

25a, 25b. The circumferential surfaces of these guide pieces 26 guide the sheet Pa. A cylinder groove is defined in the respective guide pieces 26. Further, a support member 56 is secured on the outer side of the frame 20 by way of a bracket 59.

A driven gear 27 is provided at one end portion of the main shaft 24 to be rotatable integrally therewith. A drive gear 28 is attached to the driven gear 27 via Harmonic Differential Unit (a trademark; Harmonic Differential Co.) as a decelerator 29. The drive gear 28 is rotatably supported via a bearing 61 on the support member 56. The driving force of the main motor 15 is transmitted via a gear (not shown) to the drive gear 28. The driving force is further transmitted from the drive gear 28 through the driven gear 27 to the rollers 5 of the second printing unit 2.

The phase adjusting shaft 30 of the decelerator 29 protrudes from the outer surface of the support member 56. The phases of the

gears

27, 28 are adjusted by turning the phase adjusting shaft 30. The adjusting shaft 30 is immobilized, so that transmission of the rotation of the drive gear 28 to the driven gear 27 is achieved at the ratio of 1 : 1.

A couple of

gears

31, 32 is secured on the outer end portion of the adjusting shaft 30. The gear 31 is fixed to the adjusting shaft 30 at an outer position. The gear 32 is arranged next to the gear 31 and fixed by means of bolts 33 on the drive gear 28.

A locking electromagnetic clutch 35 is secured on the outer surface of the support member 56 by way of a bracket 60. A gear 36 is fixed to the shaft 37 of the clutch 35 together with a gear 34. The gear 34 is engaged with the gear 31 and connected to the shaft 37 of the gear 36 by way of the clutch 35. The gear 36 is engaged with the gear 32 so as to prevent relative rotation between the gear 34 and the gear 36 while the clutch 35 is actuated. The adjusting shaft 30 is retained as locked against the drive gear 28.

A phase control motor 41 drives the gear 31 connected to a shaft 42 of the motor 41 by way of

gears

38, 39 and an electromagnetic clutch 40. A gear 43 is fixed onto the shaft 42. An encoder 45 is fixed to the member 56. A gear 44 mounted on the shaft of the encoder 45 is engaged with the gear 43. The revolution of the motor 41 is detected by this encoder 45. The phases of two

gear

27, 28 are detected in accordance with the revolution of the motor 41.

An electromagnetic brake 47 is secured to a bracket 46 extending from the frame 21, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The brake 47 functions as the braking means for the transfer cylinder. The electromagnetic brake 47 is fitted on the main shaft 24 for holding the shaft 24 unrotatable upon actuation of the brake 47. A timing detector (resolver) 50 is mounted on the bracket 46. The resolver 50 has a gear 49 and detects the actuating timing of the second unit. The main shaft 24 is connected at its end to the timing detector 50 by way of a gear 48 mating the gear 49. The reference position of the second unit 2 is detected by the timing detector 50.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section taken along Y-Y line in Fig. 7. The drive gear 28 and the driven gear 27 have

stoppers

51, 52, as the reference position registering mechanism, fastened by bolts 53, respectively. The driven gear 27 is fixed to the main shaft 24. The

stoppers

51, 52 are arranged to be equally spaced from the axis of the main shaft 24 in such a way that the end faces of the

stoppers

51, 52 may be abutted against each other at the reference position when the drive gear 28 is turned by the motor 41.

Since the

stoppers

51, 52 are provided on the opposing surfaces of these

gears

27, 28, the reference position registering mechanism can be constructed compactly. This compact mechanism can be disposed in the press without interfering with other members. Further, as shown in Fig. 7, the

stoppers

51, 52 are abutted against each other at the reference position (the stopper 52 as indicated by a fantom line). Accordingly, and when the drive gear 28 is turned, the driven gear 27 is pushed by the

stoppers

51,52 to turn together with the drive gear 28.

A scale 54 for "single-side printing" and a paper size scale 55 for "double-side printing" are secured on the other surface of the gear 28. Two

scales

54, 55 have an arc shape and extend along the periphery of the gear 28 As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, a reference position sensor 57 is attached via a bracket 58 to a free end of the support member 56 extended from the frame 20. The sensor 57 detects the reference position of the

gears

27, 28, where the abutment of two

stoppers

51, 52 is taken place. While a proximity sensor is employed as the reference position sensor 57 in the preferred embodiment, other sensors can be also employed.

The sensor 57 is disposed to oppose to the center or therearound of the for the "single-side printing" scale 54 when the drive gear 28 is at the reference position. When the drive gear 28 is turned to reset to the reference position from the "double-side printing position", the sensor 57 detects the "single-side printing" scale 54 and outputs a signal immediately before the gear 28 reaches the reference position.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, the control unit which performs mode switching and phase adjustment, is provided with two CPU (central processing units) 70, 71. A display unit 72 is connected to the first CPU 70 for display. The display unit 72 is provided with control switches or an input section including sheet size setter etc.

The control switches are arranged in the form of a touch panel. The smallest necessary number of switches on the screen is selected and operated. The sheet size setter consists of ten keys provided on the display unit 72 and is used for inputting data indicative of the longitudinal size of the sheet Pa. Further, the display unit 72 has a function of a real-time-display relating to the progress of operation. In addition the display unit 72 has an alarm function for displaying malfunction such as failure.

The second CPU 71 is for use of controlling the electric members in the press. To the CPU 71 are connected a ROM (read only memory) 73 and a RAM (random access memory) 74. A program for controlling the motions of the press is stored in the ROM 73. The RAM 74 stores temporarily data in the course of computing operation etc. Further, an input/output unit (I/O) 75 is connected to the second CPU 71.

The phase control motor 41 is connected to the I/O unit 75 by way of a magnet 76, so that the revolution direction of the motor 41 is controlled. A first unit timing detector 77 and a transfer cylinder maximum position sensor 78 are connected to the I/O unit 75. The maximum position sensor 78 detects the transfer cylinder 13 to be at the maximum phase position where the phase between the reference position and current position of the cylinder 13 is maximum. Meanwhile, the electromagnetic brake 47, the electromagnetic clutch 40 and the locking electromagnetic clutch 35 are connected to the I/O unit 75. The encoder 45 is also connected to the second CPU 71 via a counter 79.

In order to adjust the phase between two

gears

27, 28 through the motor 41 by CPU 71, a signal is transmitted from the CPU 71 via the I/O unit 75 to the brake 47 and the clutch 40. More specifically, the main shaft 24 is free from locking of the brake 47. The clutch 40 allows the motor shaft 42 to mate the gear 39. Subsequently, a signal is transmitted from the CPU 71 via the I/O unit 75 to the motor 41.

The revolution of the motor 41 is transmitted via the

gears

39, 38, 31 to the adjusting shaft 30. Since the electromagnetic clutch 35 is deactuated at this moment, the

gears

31, 32 can rotate relative to each other. In accordance with this rotation, the phase of two

gears

27, 28 are adjusted. The revolution of the motor 41 is constantly detected by the encoder 45, and the signals from the encoder 45 are transmitted via the counter 79 to the CPU 71.

When the phase adjustment between two

gears

27, 28 is not carried out, the clutch 40 is deactuated and the clutch 35 is actuated. If the main motor 15 is revolved in this state, the adjusting shaft 30 of the decelerator 29 receives a force to be rotated with respect to the drive gear 28 due to the load applied to the driven gear 27. However, since the electromagnetic clutch 35 is actuated, relative rotation of the

gears

31, 32 is inhibited thereby, so that the shaft 30 is kept immobilized on the gear 28. In other words, the drive gear 28 is immobilized to the driven gear 27 to prevent induction of out-of-phase due to the load. It should be noted here that the electromagnetic clutch 40 is deactuated, so that the extra load is not applied to the rotation of the gear 31 but the

gears

38, 39 engaged with the gear 31 merely rotate.

In the thus constituted offset press, phase adjustment of the

gears

27, 28, namely transfer cylinder 13 will be described referring to the flow chart. The proceeding of the flow chart is subject to the control of the second CPU 71 in accordance with the program in the ROM 73.

When the control switch for mode switching is turned on (Step 1) as shown in Fig. 9, the CPU 71 calls a program for switching the printing mode (Step 2). The CPU 71 determines the current printing mode (Step 3). Namely, when the current mode of the press is "the single-side two-color printing mode", the mode is switched to the "double-side single-color printing mode" (A). When the current mode is the "double-side single-color printing mode", the CPU 71 further determines whether the sheet size should be changed (Step 4). When the sheet size is to be changed, the mode is switched to the sheet size change mode (B), whereas when the sheet size is not to be changed, the "double-side single-color printing mode" is changed to the "single-side two-color printing mode" (C).

Phase adjustment of the transfer cylinder 13 is performed when the "single-side two-color printing mode" is changed to the "double-side single-color printing mode". This adjustment process represented by (A) will be described referring to the flow chart shown in Fig. 10.

When the data indicative of the sheet size is input using the ten keys of the display unit 72 (Step 5), the angle between the front and

rear segments

12a, 12b of the supply cylinder 12 is adjusted in accordance with the sheet size (Step 6). The main motor 15 is then driven (Step 7). The transfer cylinder 13 is turned to a predetermined position based on the signal of the second unit timing detector 50 (Step 8). The electromagnetic brake 47 is actuated upon stopping of the main motor 15 to lock the transfer cylinder 13 (Step 9). In this state, the electromagnetic clutch 40 for adjusting phase is deactuated and the other electromagnetic clutch 35 for locking is actuated. Subsequently, the clutch 40 is actuated and the clutch 35 is deactuated. Subsequently, the motor 41 is driven (Step 10). The driving operation of the motor 41 opens the transfer cylinder 13 to the maximum phase position where the position sensor 78 outputs a signal. The transfer cylinder 13 is kept in such state (Step 11).

Further, the phase control motor 41 is driven (Step 12). The phase of the transfer cylinder 13 is adjusted to conform to the desired sheet size based on the signal transmitted from the encoder 45 (Step 13). Since the electromagnetic brake 47 is actuated to lock the transfer cylinder 13, the rotation of the respective cylinders in the second printing unit is prevented, enabling accurate phase adjustment of the transfer cylinder 13.

Next, phase adjustment of the transfer cylinder 13 in the sheet size changing mode (B) will be described referring to the flow chart of Fig. 11.

When the data representing of the sheet size is input using the ten keys of the display unit 72 (Step 14), the angle between the front and

rear segments

12a, 12b of the supply cylinder 12 is adjusted so as to conform to the sheet size, and these

segments

12a, 12b are locked by a segment lock pin which is not shown (Step 15). The main motor 15 is then started (Step 16). When the transfer cylinder 13 is turned to the reference position of the second unit based on the signals from the timing detector 50 (Step 17), the brake 47 is actuated upon stopping of the main motor 15 to lock the transfer cylinder 13 (Step 18).

Subsequently, the clutch 40 for adjusting the phase is actuated, and the clutch 35 for locking operation is deactuated. After the phase control motor 41 is driven (Step 19), the transfer cylinder 13 is opened to the maximum phase position. According to the signal transmitted from the position sensor 78, the CPU 71 determines the cylinder 13 is fully opened and keep the cylinder 13 is in this state (Step 20). Further, the control motor 41 is driven (Step 21). Therefore, the phase of the cylinder 13 is adjusted to conform to the desired sheet size in accordance with the signal from the encoder 45 (Step 22).

Phase adjustment of the transfer cylinder 13 when the "double-side single-color printing mode" is changed to the "single-side two-color printing" (C) will be hereinafter explained referring to the flow chart of Fig. 12. The angle between the front and

rear segments

12a, 12b of the supply cylinder 12 is adjusted to the maximum position to conform the maximum sheet size (Step 23). After completion of the adjustment in the supply cylinder 12, the main motor 15 is driven (Step 24). When the transfer cylinder 13 is turned to the reference position of the second unit (Step 25), the brake 47 is actuated upon stopping of the main motor 15 to lock the transfer cylinder 13 (Step 26). In this state, the clutch 40 for adjusting phase is deactuated, and the other clutch 35 for locking operation is actuated.

At the phase adjustment, the electromagnetic clutch 40 is first actuated, and the locking electromagnetic clutch 35 is deactuated. When the control motor 41 is driven (Step 27), the transfer cylinder 13 is turned close to the reference position in "single-side printing". When the reference position sensor 57 transmits a ON signal (Step 28), the motor 41 is stopped (Step 29).

Subsequently, following the deactuation of the phase-adjusting clutch 40 and the brake 47 for unlocking the transfer cylinder 13, the main motor 15 is slowly revolved (Step 30). This causes the drive gear 28 to start to rotate alone. The stopper 51 of the drive gear 28 abuts against the stopper 52 of the driven gear 27, resulting in the driven gear 27 to rotate together with the drive gear 28. Accordingly, the transfer cylinder 13 begins to rotate. After the transfer cylinder 13 is rotated for a predetermined time (Step 31), the locking clutch 35 is actuated to immobilize the phase between the gears 27, 28 (Step 32). The state where the stopper 51 of the gear 28 abuts against the stopper 52 of the gear 27 corresponds to the reference position in "single-side printing", and the switching operation is completed by the series of procedures described above.

As described above, the two

stoppers

51, 52 abut against each other at the reference position in the offset press according to the embodiment. Therefore, the registration accuracy of the reference position can be improved.

Further, following the stop motion of the drive gear 28 prior to reaching the reference position, the drive gear 28 is turned slowly. This may weaken the impact when the

stoppers

51, 52 abut against each other, preventing reduction in deformation of the

stoppers

51, 52. Accordingly, the accurate registration of the reference position may be carried out.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein, but the constitution thereof may partly be modified without departing from the invention. For instance:

(1) While an electromagnetic brake 47 is employed for applying a braking force so as to stop rotation of the transfer cylinder, a recess may be formed on the transfer cylinder in which a pin is inserted from the frame side instead of using the electromagnetic brake.

(2) While the

stoppers

51,52 are fastened with bolts in this embodiment, they may be formed integrally with the drive gear and the driven gear, respectively.

Claims

A sheet transferring apparatus for transferring a sheet (Pa) between a plurality of printing units (1,2) including a transfer cylinder (13) rotatably provided between the adjacent units, a power source (15) for actuating the transfer cylinder (13), a first rotating member (28) mechanically connected with the power source (15), a second rotating member (27) mechanically connected with the transfer cylinder (13), and said second rotating member (27) being arranged to be driven by the first rotating member (28), wherein printing operations on a single surface and on both surfaces of the sheet (Pa) are selectively performed, and a phase between the first rotating member (28) and the second rotating member (27) is adjusted by a phase adjusting mechanism (29, 30, 41), and further including

stopping means (51, 52) formed with the first and the second rotating members (27,28) respectively, for stopping a relative rotation between the first and the second rotating members (27,28);

detecting means (57) for detecting a relative position of said first rotating member (28) and said second rotating member (27) and

means (71) for protecting said stopping means (51,52), wherein said protecting means stops the turning movement of said first rotating member (28) before said stopping means (51, 52) abut against each other and restarts the turning movement of said first rotating member (28) at a low speed to allow said stopping means (51, 52) to abut against each other.
An apparatus as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the first rotating member includes a drive gear (28) and wherein the second rotating member includes a driven gear (27) mating with the drive gear (28).
An apparatus as set forth in Claim 2, wherein said drive gear (28) is set at a reference position corresponding to a predetermined phase between the drive gear (28) and the driven gear (27).
An apparatus as set forth in Claims 2 or 3, wherein said stopping means includes a first stopper (52) formed with the drive gear (28) and a second stopper (51) formed with the driven gear (27), said first stopper (52) and said second stopper (51) being arranged to abut against each other to stop relative rotation between said drive gear (28) and said driven gear (27).
An apparatus as set forth in Claim 4, wherein said first stopper (52) and said second stopper (51) being arranged to abut against each other when said drive gear (28) rotates to the reference position.