GB1579068A

GB1579068A - Rotary offset printing machine

Info

Publication number: GB1579068A
Application number: GB43497/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Current assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Priority date: 1976-12-18
Filing date: 1977-10-19
Publication date: 1980-11-12
Also published as: AT372649B; CA1119460A; FR2374164A1; ES232482U; ATA695477A; IT1117133B; NL7712127A; SE416031B; JPS56171235U; FR2374164B1; JPS571650U; JPS6321416Y2; NL167899C; SE7714446L; CH625747A5; JPS5377709A; ES232482Y; CS215005B2; JPS6321417Y2; DE2657610B2

Abstract

The printing unit, originally conceived as an offset printing unit, has a numbering cylinder (6) instead of the rubber-covered cylinder; a plate cylinder (7) is not arranged in the printing unit. Two application rollers (20, 21) are provided for inking the numbering cylinder (6); they are connected to the ink duct (9), using roller bearings belonging to the inking and damping units and provided in the original offset printing unit. Serially produced parts of the offset printing unit can be used in the manufacture of the printing unit. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE (71) We, HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, a body corporate organised under the laws of Germany, of Alte Eppelheimer Strasse 15-21, Heidelberg, Germany, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to inking units for inking of a numbering cylinder in an offset printing unit of an in-line rotary offset printing machine.

Certain printers using multicolour rotary offset printing machines in an in-line arrangement require their own number printing units. If very many number printing units have to be produced, a special printing unit would be designed for them. This however requires additional expense, for example for new side frames, so that there would be no price advantage for the customer.

It has already been proposed to replace plate cylinders of printing machines by a blanket inking cylinder, and to provide a numbering cylinder instead of the previous blanket cylinders. A damping unit is then put out of action and an inking unit inks the blanket inking cylinder, which in turn transfers ink to the numbering cylinder. Since the blanket inking cylinder and the numbering cylinder have the same diameter and are driven at the same speed, the numbers to be inked always encounter rubber inking cylinders at the same position. Consequently not only is the blanket on such cylinders damaged, but the quality of inking also suffers.

Consequently, clean inking is not ensured.

Furthermore, the same technical expenditure is necessary as for a normal offset printing unit.

According to the invention there is provided a multi-couple rotary offset printing machine, each couple comprising a printing cylinder, a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder but one couple having no plate cylinder and having a numbering cylinder instead of the blanket cylinder, the inking train being extended and ending in two ink applicator rollers for applying ink to the numbering cylinder.

Considering a hitherto proposed offset printing unit in the sense of rotation of its plate cylinder it is preferred that said inking train comprises a first ink application roller and an associated direct inking unit line, four intermediate rollers and said two applicator rollers lying against the numbering cylinder to form a chain of inking rollers viewed in the direction of rotation of the existing plate cylinder and three intermediate rollers mounted in mountings for three existing damping unit rollers. In addition to a saving in the number of parts, the drive parts for driving these rollers can be used without modification, and changes to the side walls, gear guards, or impression engagement, and throw-off have not been found to be required.

The inking train can alternatively consist of a direct inking roller line, a first two application rollers viewed in the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder, two intermediate rollers, and said two applicator rollers on the numbering cylinder and the last intermediate roller lying against the two application rollers. With a smaller number of inking unit rollers a chain of inking rollers is formed independently of the damping unit, and it can be adapted to any type of inking unit.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of one inking unit using damping roller mountings; and Figure 2 a side view of another inking unit having inking rollers disposed independently of the damping roller mounting.

In Figure 1, between side frames 1 of an offset printing unit disposed in line with other offset printing units, a sheet to be printed is fed by means of transfer drums 2, 3 to an impression cylindec 4, on which the sheet is printed in known manner. The sheet is then passed to a next transfer drum, and thence to other printing units or to delivery means.

Instead of a blanket cylinder such as has usually been fitted hitherto, a numbering cylinder 6 is shown in Figure 1. A plate cylinder 7 as is normally provided, is dispensed with and in its place the drive wheel on the outside of the side frame 1 is simply mounted on a bearing pin. Sheets to be printed receive an impression direct from the numbering cylinder 6 between the impression cylinder 4 and the numbering cylinder 6.

The numbering cylinder 6 is inked by means of a duct roller 8 in the offset printing unit, the unit having an ink duct 9, a lift roller 10, distributor rollers 11, 12, 13, with interposed inking rollers 14, and a first ink application roller 15 (viewed in the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder 7). Ink is transferred by way of four intermediate rollers 16, 17, 18, 19 to two application rollers 20, 21 contacting the numbering cylinder 6. The three intermediate rollers 17, 18 and 19 are disposed in the mountings of three existing damping rollers, the intermediate roller 18 being provided as ink distributor roller.

Of the chain of inking rollers described, the rollers 16, 20 and 21 with their mountings are thus additionally installed between the side frames 1. On the other hand, the plate cylinder 7 and inking unit rollers 22 both shown in chain lines, and two damping unit rollers 23 together with a water-fountain are dispensed with. Elimination of the inking unit rollers 22 also provides excellent accessibility to the numbering cylinder 6.

The offset printing unit shown in Figure 2 likewise has transfer drums 2, 3, an impression cylinder 4, a transfer drum 5, and a numbering cylinder 6 instead of a blanket cylinder. Here again, no plate cylinder 7 is disposed between the side frame 1. The chain of inking rollers consists of the rollers 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, while the rollers 15 can be supplemented by a second ink application roller 15 (viewed in the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder 7). The two ink application rollers 15, 15' lie against an intermediate roller 24, and the latter in turn lies against an intermediate roller 25. The intermediate roller 25 transfers ink to two application rollers 26,27, which in turn ink the numbering units on the numbering cylinder 6. The intermediate roller 25 can be driven as a distributor cylinder. Because of its mounting, it is advantageous for the roller 25 to be disposed approximately in the middle of the existing plate cylinder. Instead of two application rollers 20, 21 or 26, 27 it is also possible for one or more of the application rollers to be used in each case for special printing work. In Figure 2, the plate cylinder 7, and the inking unit roller 22, both shown in chain lines, and the complete damping unit 24 are also dispensed with. In return, the rollers 24, 25, 26 and 27 are added between the side frames.

Since in the illustrated numbering printing units there is a saving in the number of parts compared with hitherto proposed offset printing units, there is a considerable cost advantage for series production. It should also be borne in mind that no additional costs are incurred for patterns for castings.

The hereinbefore described units are simple and inexpensive, and can be used to effect uniform and accurate inking of a numbering cylinder installed in an offset printing unit instead of the rubber cylinder, while making the greatest possible use of inking and damping unit parts already existing in the printing unit, together with the appertaining drive controls, and so on.

While mass produced printing unit parts, such as side walls and the like, can be used, plate cylinder and inking unit and damping unit parts are not required, and expense is not required in the new construction of special parts. Furthermore, the uniform appearance of the individual printing units does.not suffer. In contrast to the lives of inking drums, the lives of application rollers are not limited by the diameter of the plate cylinders.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A multi-couple rotary offset printing machine each couple comprising a printing cylinder, a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder but one couple having no plate cylinder, and having a numbering cylinder instead of the blanket cylinder, the inking train being extended and ending in two ink applicator rollers for applying ink to the numbering cylinder.

2. A printing machine according to claim 1, in which said inking train comprises a first ink application roller and an associated direct inking unit line, four intermediate rollers and said two applicator rollers lying against the numbering cylinder to form a chain of inking rollers viewed in the direction of rotation of the existing plate cylinder and three intermediate rollers mounted in mountings for three existing damping unit rollers.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. be adapted to any type of inking unit. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of one inking unit using damping roller mountings; and Figure 2 a side view of another inking unit having inking rollers disposed independently of the damping roller mounting. In Figure 1, between side frames 1 of an offset printing unit disposed in line with other offset printing units, a sheet to be printed is fed by means of transfer drums 2, 3 to an impression cylindec 4, on which the sheet is printed in known manner. The sheet is then passed to a next transfer drum, and thence to other printing units or to delivery means. Instead of a blanket cylinder such as has usually been fitted hitherto, a numbering cylinder 6 is shown in Figure 1. A plate cylinder 7 as is normally provided, is dispensed with and in its place the drive wheel on the outside of the side frame 1 is simply mounted on a bearing pin. Sheets to be printed receive an impression direct from the numbering cylinder 6 between the impression cylinder 4 and the numbering cylinder 6. The numbering cylinder 6 is inked by means of a duct roller 8 in the offset printing unit, the unit having an ink duct 9, a lift roller 10, distributor rollers 11, 12, 13, with interposed inking rollers 14, and a first ink application roller 15 (viewed in the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder 7). Ink is transferred by way of four intermediate rollers 16, 17, 18, 19 to two application rollers 20, 21 contacting the numbering cylinder 6. The three intermediate rollers 17, 18 and 19 are disposed in the mountings of three existing damping rollers, the intermediate roller 18 being provided as ink distributor roller. Of the chain of inking rollers described, the rollers 16, 20 and 21 with their mountings are thus additionally installed between the side frames 1. On the other hand, the plate cylinder 7 and inking unit rollers 22 both shown in chain lines, and two damping unit rollers 23 together with a water-fountain are dispensed with. Elimination of the inking unit rollers 22 also provides excellent accessibility to the numbering cylinder 6. The offset printing unit shown in Figure 2 likewise has transfer drums 2, 3, an impression cylinder 4, a transfer drum 5, and a numbering cylinder 6 instead of a blanket cylinder. Here again, no plate cylinder 7 is disposed between the side frame 1. The chain of inking rollers consists of the rollers 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, while the rollers 15 can be supplemented by a second ink application roller 15 (viewed in the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder 7). The two ink application rollers 15, 15' lie against an intermediate roller 24, and the latter in turn lies against an intermediate roller 25. The intermediate roller 25 transfers ink to two application rollers 26,27, which in turn ink the numbering units on the numbering cylinder 6. The intermediate roller 25 can be driven as a distributor cylinder. Because of its mounting, it is advantageous for the roller 25 to be disposed approximately in the middle of the existing plate cylinder. Instead of two application rollers 20, 21 or 26, 27 it is also possible for one or more of the application rollers to be used in each case for special printing work. In Figure 2, the plate cylinder 7, and the inking unit roller 22, both shown in chain lines, and the complete damping unit 24 are also dispensed with. In return, the rollers 24, 25, 26 and 27 are added between the side frames. Since in the illustrated numbering printing units there is a saving in the number of parts compared with hitherto proposed offset printing units, there is a considerable cost advantage for series production. It should also be borne in mind that no additional costs are incurred for patterns for castings. The hereinbefore described units are simple and inexpensive, and can be used to effect uniform and accurate inking of a numbering cylinder installed in an offset printing unit instead of the rubber cylinder, while making the greatest possible use of inking and damping unit parts already existing in the printing unit, together with the appertaining drive controls, and so on. While mass produced printing unit parts, such as side walls and the like, can be used, plate cylinder and inking unit and damping unit parts are not required, and expense is not required in the new construction of special parts. Furthermore, the uniform appearance of the individual printing units does.not suffer. In contrast to the lives of inking drums, the lives of application rollers are not limited by the diameter of the plate cylinders. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A multi-couple rotary offset printing machine each couple comprising a printing cylinder, a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder but one couple having no plate cylinder, and having a numbering cylinder instead of the blanket cylinder, the inking train being extended and ending in two ink applicator rollers for applying ink to the numbering cylinder.

3. A printing machine according to claim

1 wherein said inking train comprises a direct inking roller line, a first two application rollers, viewed in the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder, two intermediate rollers, and said two applicator rollers on the numbering cylinder, and the last intermediate roller lies against the two application rollers.

4. A rotary offset printing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. - - -' -