US1125179A - Plate proving and trimming machine. - Google Patents

Description

0. ROESEN.

PLATE PROVING AND TRIMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1907.'

1,125,179. Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

0. ROESEN. PLATE PROVING AND TRIMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1907.

0. ROESEN.

PLATE PROVING AND TRIMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1907.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

5 BHEETS-SHEET 4.

V, :Emmunu 0. ROESEN.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Inna-2 ZZZ-7'1 7 Mafia.

PLATE PROVING AND TRIMMING MAGH1NE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1907.

UNITED STATEQIATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR ROESEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO R. H OE AND (30., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PLATE PROVING AND TRIMMING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented an. 19, 1915.

Application filed May 1, 1907. Serial No. 371,277.

T 0 all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, Oscar: ROESEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate Proving and Trimming Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in plate proving and trimming mechanism.

In preparing printing plates, such, for instance, as stereotype or electrotype plates, and particularly where a number of plates are to be used on the same machine, it is desirable that the plates have their edges so trimmed that they can be locked up and print in the desired register with little or no adjustment of the plate holding devices of the machine. This is especially true of plates in color printing, where successive plates produce their impression one over the other, and where, consequently, the finest register is desired.

Heretofore attempts have been made to trim plates by reference to certain predetermined marks. The variation in individual plates is such, however. that this mode of trimming is not satisfactory, and considerable time has to be expended in adjusting the plates by means of the plate holding de; vices of the machine, the machine being run between adjustments to determine exactly where the impressions will fall with reference to each other.

The present invention has for one of its objects to produce a machine in which the trimming itself is determined by the fall of the impressions with relation to each other, so that when the plates are once trimmed,

they can be set up on the printing machine scribed and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention, certain parts of the machine being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the rotary plate carrier employed. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of certain devices which may be employed for shifting the plate on the plate carrier. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating the means for operating the plate shifting devices shown in Fig. 4, and also certain plate carrier locking devices which may be employed. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional and plan vlews respectively of a plate clamp which may be employed. Fig. 8 is an end view of the construction shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of a construction for mounting one of the sets of cutters. Fig. 10 is a detail section of part of the construction shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail view illustrating a cutter ad usting device which may be employed.

Machines constructed in accordance with the invention in its best form will be provided with a printing mechanism by which preliminary prints may be obtained from the plates before subjecting the plates to the trimming operation. This printin mechanism may be variously constructe Such machines will also include a plate carrier for supporting the plate during the trimming operation. In the particular machine illustrated, which is one embodiment of the in vention, the plate carrier is made to rotate and forms one member of a printing couple, the other member being also a rotary member. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the various elements of the machine are mounted in side frames 1, 2, 3, these frames being tied together in any usual way. The plate carrier 4, hereinabove referred to, may be mounted on a shaft 5', this shaft bein supported in'suitable bearlngs 6 adjustab ly mounted in the frame as is usual. As has been indicated, this plate carrier may form one member of a printing couple, the other member including a cylinder 7 mounted on a shaft 8, mounted in bearings 9 suitably supported in the side frames 2, 3. The plate carrier and the cylinder referred to which may be an impression cylinder may be intergeared, the shaft 5 being provided with a gear 10 which is in mesh with a gear 11 mounted on the shaft 8. The cylinders may be driven in any suitable manner, but as shown, a driving pinion 12 is provided, this pinion being in mesh'with the gear 11. A feed-board, as 13, mounted as usual in hand fed presses, may be provided, and the sheet carrying or impression cylinder will be provided with the usual sheet controlling agencies, such as grippers, not shown. The usual front stops, indicated at 14, are or may be provided, and the frame mayalso support a receiving table of usual construction, indicated at 15. I

The means for supporting the plates to be proved and trimmed on the plate carrier may be varied widely in their specific construction. In the particular machine illustrated (see Figs. 4' and 6), the plate carrier is provided with a support 16 which rests on a second block or saddle 17. this saddle resting on the circumference of the plate carrier 4-. The saddle may be held on the cylinder in any suitable manner,but in the particular machine shown, two angular plates 18 are provided (see Fig.- 3), these plates being secured to the ends of the saddle by screws 19. The angular ends 20 of these plates take into suitable undercut grooves formed in the carrier, so that they prevent any circumferential movement of the saddle with respect to the carrier. The plate support may be secured to the saddle, when the same is employed, in any suitable manner, but, as shown, the saddle carries a pair of undercut bearers 21 (see Fig. 4) secured to the saddle by screws, or in any other suitable manner. The edges of the block support 16 may be recessed slightly, as shown, and take under theoverhanging edges of the undercut bearers. These bearers hold the support firmlyin position but at the sametime permit the support to be adjusted in the manner hereinafter re ferred to.

In machines constructed in accordance with the invention in its best form, two sets of trimming devices will be employed, and devices will be employed for producing an adjustment of the plate so as to bring the cuts made by these trimming devices in proper relation to, the matter on the plate.

In the particular machine illustrated. the

' adjustment of the plate is done in part, at

least, by an adjustment of the support 16. Tothis end, in the machine illustrated, two sets of adjusting devices are provided for the support v16, one set operating to adjust it circumferentially and the other set longitudinally of the carrier. These adjusting devices may be of various c onstruetioxis and variouslylocated. As shown, circumferential adjustment of the block 16 is obtained by screws 22 tapped through the plates 18 and bearing against the ends of the block 16. By loosening the screws passing through one of the plates 18 and tightening the screws passing through the other plate, circumferential adjustment within the desired limits may be obtained.

The longitudinal adjustment of the block referred to may be obtained by screws 23 passing through the bearers 21 before referred to. I

The plates, one of which is indicated at '24, may be secured to the block 16, when this block is employed, in any suitable or desired manner. In the best constructions, however, the plates will be secured on the support 16 by locking devices which in themselves permit an adjustment of the plates with respect to the support. The particular construction of locking devices employed for securing the plate on the support 16 may be varied within wide limits. As shown, four such locking devices are employed, but as these locking devices are the same, a description of one will suffice for all.

In the particular construction illustrated, the block 16 is recessed out and in this recess is located a recessed block 25. This block may be made movable toward and away from the block 16 and to this end may be provided with a threaded orifice 26 which is engaged by a screw 27, this screw having a squared end 28 which extends through the bearer 21. The screw is held from longitudinal movement by a collar 29 which may be secured by screws 30, or in any other suitable manner, to the support 16, this collar engagin between two collars 31 on the i of a number of recesses in the head of the. screw. In order to increase the ad ustment which may be obtained by the screw 33, the recess in the block 35 is deep enough to permit the insertion of ordinary furniture, a piece of which is indicated at 38.

As has been indicated, devices for holding the plate on the support 16 may be widely varied, but the construction thus described has specific advantages in a machine of the kind now being described.- Further, it being understood that there are two of these devices on each of the four sides of the lates, it will be seen that within the limits esired any adjustment of the plate,'no matter how fine, can be obtained.

he block 25 has an upper recess It being assumed that a plate is in position in the machine, the plate will be inked imany suitable manner, as, for instance, by la;.-hand roller, and the machinerun, a sheet em the eed-board by hand. The plate will deliver its impression on this sheet which will then be examined to see whether or not the impression made by the plate is in the right position on the sheet. If adjustment of the plate is necessary to bring the impression in proper position, the adjustment is made by manipulating the proper adjusting devices of those hereinbefore described, after which the plate is trimmed. It will be understood that as a rule the plate will have been trimmed roughly by ordinary trimming devices before it is put in the machine.

The trimming devices employed in the machine may be varied widely in construction and may be variously located and operated. As a rule, the plates are rectangular so that two sets of trimming devices are employed, one set for trimming two parallel edges of the plate and the other set for trimmin the other two parallel edges. In the particular construction shown, one set of trimming devices is arranged to be brought into operation during a rotation of the plate carrier about its axis. These trimming devices should not, however, be in operative position during the printing operation. They should, therefore, be arranged so that they may receive a movement toward and away from the axis of the cylinder in order to bring them into and out of operative relation with the plate on the cylinder.

While the particular construction by which the results indicated are obtained may be varied, in the particular machine shown, there is provided a cutter shaft 40, this cutter shaft being mounted in a housing 41 pivoted on a shaft 42 supported in the side frames 2, 3. The cutter shaft may be provided with a pulley 43 by which it may be driven from a belt, as 44, operated from a pulley on a driven shaft 45 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The belt may pass around a guide roll 46 on a belt tightening arm 47, this arm being mounted on a hub 49 supported on the shaft 42. To hold the belt tightenin arm in position, the hub '48 may be provide with a second arm 49' slotted as shown and engaged by a screw 50. The return run of the belt may pass around a guide pulley 51 mounted on a shaft 52' supported in the frame 23.

The shaft 40 may have the usual bush bearings, one of which is indicated at 53 (see Fig. 10) and may be provided with cutters of any suitable description. As shown, one of the cutters consists of the ordinary cutter head 54 provided with cutters 55, these cutters being held in position by screws 56', this construction being" a usual fed to the impression cylinder from one. The cutter head may beheld in position on the shaft by means of the usual washer 57 and nut 58. This head ma be adjusted in position if desired by shi ting the position of the washer 57.

It will be understood that the housing 41 is normally in such position that the cutters stand away from the plate. This permits the rotation of the plate carrier to effect the printing operation before referred to.

The means for moving the housing toward and away from the axis of theplate carrier to move the cutters into and out of operative position may be of any suitable description. In the particular construction illustrated, the housing is provided with a long hub 59 to which is secured a segment arm 60, the teeth of this segment engaging the teeth on a segment arm 61 which is supported on a hub 62 mounted on the shaft 52 before referred to. This hub 62 has secured to it a lever 63. the hub being held in position by means of a collar 64. By moving the lever, it is obvious that the housing will be rocked on the shaft 42 as a center, thus moving the cutter shaft and its cutters toward and away from the axis of the plate carrier. It will be understood that before the plate can be subjected to the action of the cutters just referred to, the plate holding clips or clamps operating on the sides of the plates which are to be trimmed by the cutters must be released. This can be very readily done by operating the screws 27 which will draw the clips back out of the path of the cutters. The releasing of the clips referred to, however, causes the seat of the plate on the support 16 to be somewhat insecure, and means should be provided to hold the plate during the trimming operation. While these means may be "aried in construction, as shown, the housing 41 (see Figs. 9 and 10) is provided with rolls 64 on shaft 65 supported in bushings 66 in the housing. These rolls should be of elastic material or should have a cover of elastic material such as rubber, so that they may firmly grip and hold-the plate. The rolls 64 are indicated as made of rubber in the drawings. The bushings 66 may be eccentric, as shown in the drawings, so as to permit any desired adjustment within limits: of these elastic holding rolls.

After two edges of the plate have been trimmed, in the manner described, the other two edges are subjected to the trimming operation. The means by which this is accomplished may be widely varied, but they will of course include proper trimming devices and will also include means by which a relative movement is set up between such trimming devices and the plate. In the particular machine shown, the plate is moved with respect to the cutters and is moved on the plate carrier. I g- -Prioe to beginning the movement of the plate, it is desirable that the plate carrier be ocked so as to be perfectly steady during what may be termed the traveling movement of the plate. While this locking may be effected by various means, in the particular construction shown, the shaft 5 of the carrier is provided with a locking collar 67 (see Figs. 2 and 5) this collar being feathered on the shaft, as indicated at 68, and also being provided with a locking screw, as 69. This collar is provided with an aperture, which, when the carrier is in proper position so that the plate may be given its traveling movement, is engaged by a sliding pin 70 which works through a suitable opening in a bracket 71 rising from the shaft bearing.

In the particular machine illustrated, the plate support 16 and the saddle 17 are both given the traveling movement before referred to, the plate being carried with them. lVhile this may be effected in various ways, in the articular construction shown, the saddle 1 is provided with a lug 72 to which is secured a nut 73, this nut engaging a long screw 74 provided with a squared head 75. While the saddle and support may be sustamed during the cutting operation in varlous ways if the machine which embodies the invention is of such a character as to cause these parts to partake of the traveling movement of the plate, in the particular machine'shown, the plate carrier is provided with an extension, or, in other words, is made long enough to form a support for the saddle during the trimming operation. This construction is clearly shown in the drawings, and it may be remarked that as shown the plate carrier is provided with a groove or longitudinal recess 76 extending from end to end thereof in which the screw 74 is located, the screw being journaled in plates 77 secured to the ends of the cylinder. The screw, when this shifting means is employed, may be turned in any suitable way, but in the construction shown, there is provided a short shaft 78, this shaft being journaledin a bearing 79 formed on the bracket 71 before referred to. This shaft may be provided with a hand wheel 80 and may have a squared socket 81 which maybe caused to engage the squared head- 75 by pushing the shaft lengthwise through its bearing.

spring catch, as 82, may be employed to hold the shaft back, so as to keep the socket out of engagement with the squared head 75 when such engagement is not desired.

The cutter mechanism employed may be varied. but 'as shown it includes a cutter shaft 83 journaled in bearings 84 secured to. the side frame The shaft-may be driven by a pulley 85 anda belt 86 passing around a driving pullev 87 'onthe shaft 45 before referred to. The cutter may consist of cutter heads 88 (see Fig. 11) carrying the usual cutters 89, and in order toadjust the cutters, the shaft 83 may be provided with an enlarged threaded section 84 which is enga ed by two adjusting nuts 85, one locate on each side of the cutter head. While the locking pin 70 may be relied upon to prevent any movement of the cylinder upon its axis during the trimming operation, a supplementary locking and guiding device may be provided. This device may consist, as in the machine shown, of a grooved rail 90 (see Figs. 1 and 12) secured to the frames 1 and 2 and located opposite extensions of the plate carrier. The groove in this rail may be engaged by the top of one of the plates 18 before referred to. While this device is not absolutely necessary, its use is recommended as when it is employed less strain is placed on the locking pin during the time the saddle is traveling along the extension of the plate carrier so that this pin is less liable to wear.

It will be understood, of course, that during the time the cutters 88 are operating, the plate clamps or clips on the edges of the plate which are being trimmed by the cutters will be thrown out. hile supplementary plate holding devices might be employed to hold the plate during the operation of these cutters 88, this will usually be found to be unnecessary, because of the difference in the operating angle between the clips which operate on the ends of the plate and those which operate on the sides, and for that reason the four end clips will usually be sullicient to hold the plate during the side trimming operation.

. The operation of the machine will' be understood from the foregoing description. It may, however, be remarked that after. the plate is trimmed the clamps are agai caused to engage with the trimmed plate and a second proof from the plate may be taken and this proof carefully examined. If it-be found that the impression now obtained is in the right position on the sheet no further operations are necessary. If, however, the impression is not in the right place on the sheet, the plate will be subjected to a further trimming operation, these operations being continued until the plate is exactly right.

It will be understood that according to this invention the plates are proved not by arbitrary marks but by the impressions of the plates themselves. The plates can, therefore, when they are once proved, be mounted in their position on the printing machine with certainty that their impressions will register. Much time is. therefore,

number of plates is employed, as is the case with the modern fast running machines. Each plate may be mounted on the proper cylinder of the printing machine, its position being determined in any desired way,

as by the use of marks or a special gage. It is then looked in position by the usual plate clamps or cli s and no further adjustment or proving of the plates will be necessary. In other words, the machine may be started when the plates are locked on the cylinders with certaint that the impression of each plate will all in proper register with relation to all the other plates, and it is therefore not necessary, as is now the case, to run and stop the machine frequently for the purpose of proving the position of the plates.

It will be understood, as has been indicated, that the invention may be carried into effect by machines which differ widely in construction. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the specific machine hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is l. The combination with a printing mechamsm, of plate trimming devices, and means for adjusting the plates to bring them into predetermined position before or after printing and before the trimming devices operate upon them, so that the plates of a set may betrimmed uniformly with respect to their desired register.

2. The combination with a printin couple, of plate trimming devices arran e to cooperate with the plate carrying mem er of said couple, and means on said member for adjusting the plate before it is operated upon by the trimming devices.

3. The combination with a printing couple including a rotary plate carrying member, of end trimming devices, and means for adjusting the plate before it is operated upon by said trimming devices so that the lates of a set may be trimmed along their ends uniformly with respect to their desired register.

4. The combination with a printing couple includin a rotary plate carrying member, of side trimming devices, and means for adjusting the plate before it is operated upon by said trimmin devices, so that the lates of a set may be trimmed along their sides uniformly with respect to their desired register;

5. The' combination with a printing couple including a rotary plate carrying member, of end trimming devices, side, trimming devices, and means for adjusting the plate before it is operated u on by said trimming devices, so that the p ates of a set ma be trimmed uniformly with respect to their desired register.

6. The combination with a rotary printing couple, of a set of trimming devices ar ranged to cooperate with a plate carryingmember of the couple, of means whereby said trimming devices may be moved toward and away from the axis of the cylinder to throw them into and out of operative relation therewith, and means for, adjusting the plate lengthwise of the rotary carrier.

7. The combination with a rotating plate carrier, of means operating on the edges of the plate-to adjust and hold the same in position on the carrier, a set of trimming de-' vices arranged to coiiperate with the carrier as it turns about its axis, means for moving the trimming devices toward and away from the axis of the cylinder to bring them into and out of'operation, and means for throwing out of operation the holding devices operating on the edges of the plate to be trimmed by the trimming devices, and means brought into operation by the movement of the cutters for holding the plate during the trimming operation.

8. The combination with a rotatin plate carrier, of means operating on the e ges of the plate for adjusting and holding the same i in position on the carrier, a set of cutters co- 9. The combination with a rotatin platecarrier, of means operating on the e ges of .the plate for adjusting and holding a plate in position thereon, a frame, a set of edge trimming devices mounted on the frame, means for moving the frame toward and away from the axis of the carrier, a flexible plate holding roll or rolls mounted on the frame and arranged to bear on the plate during the operation of the trimming devices, and means for throwing out of action the holding devices operating on the edges of the plate to be acted upon by the trimming devices.

10. The combination with a plate carrier, of a plate support mounted thereon, a set of adjustable plate holding devices for adjusting and holding the plate in position on the support, two sets of cutters arranged to produce cuts substantially at right angles to each other, means for movingthe carrier to bring one set of cutters into operation, and means for moving the support on the carrier to bring the second set of cutters into Operation.

11. In machines for successlvely trimm ng plates of the same character, the combinat on with the trimming devices, of a plate carrier a flexible second set of cutters into operation, and

andplate holding and adjusting devices, one or more of said devices including a recessed block, an edge clamp ad ustably mounted in the recess of the block, and means for adjusting the block.

12. in machines for successively trimming plates of the same character, the combination with the trimming devices, of a plate carrier and plate holding and adjusting devices, one or more of said devices including a recessed block, an edge clamp adjustably mounted in the recess of the block, a screw for adjusting the edge clamp, and a screw for adjusting the block.

13. The combinationwith a rotary plate carrier, of a plate'support operatively con nected with and moving with the carrier, means for adjusting and holding the plates on the. support, a set of cutters arranged to trim the plate as the carrier rotates about its axis, a second set of cutters arranged to produce cuts substantially at right angles to the first set, and means for moving the support lengthwise of the cylinder to bring the second set of cutters into operation.

' 14. The combination with a rotary plate carrier, of a plate support operatively connected with and moving with the carrier, means for adjusting and holding the plates on the support, a set of cutters arranged to trim the plate as the carrier rotates about its axis, a second set of cutters arranged to produce cuts substantially at right angles to the first set, means for moving the support lengthwise of the cylinder to bring the means for holding and guiding the support in its movement.

15. The combination with a long plate carrying cylinder, of an impression cylinder cooperating with one end thereof, a plate support on the plate cylinder, means for adjusting and ho ding the plate in position thereon, a set of cutters arranged to trim the plate as the cylinder moves about its axis, means for moving the cutters toward and away from the axis of the cylinder to bring them into and out of operative rela tion, a second set of cutters arranged to trim the edges of the plate not trimmed by the first set, and means for moving the support from one end of the cylinderto the other to permit the operation of the second set of cutters.

the support from one end of the cylinder to the other to permit the operationwof the second set of cutters, and.a guide for controlling the movement of the plate support as it travels along the cylinder.

- 17. The combination with a long plate carrying cylinder, of an impression cylinder cooperating with one end thereof, a plate support on the plate cylinder, means for adjusting and holding the plate in position thereon, a set of cutters arranged to trim the plate as the cylinder moves about its axis, means for moving the cutterstoward and away from the axis of the cylinder to bring them into operative relation, a second set of cutters arranged to trim the edges of the plate not trimmed by the first set, means for moving the support from one end of the cylinder to the other to permit the operation of the second set of cutters, and means for locking the plate carrying cylinder against rotation.

18. The combination with a long plate carrying cylinder, of an impression cylinder cotiperating with one end thereof, a plate support on the plate cylinder, means for adjusting and holding the plate in position thereon, a set of cutters arranged to trim the plate as the cylinder moves about its axis, means for moving the cutters toward and away from the axis of the cylinder to bring them into operative relation, :1- second set of cutters arranged to.trim the edges of the plate not trimmed by the first set, means for moving the support from one end of the cylinder to the other to permit. the operation ofthe second set of cutters, aguide for controlling the movement of the plate support as it travels along the cylinder, and means for locking the plate cylinder against rotation.

In testimony whereof, I have. hereunto set my-hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR ROESEN.

Witnesses: Gno. A. Duncan,

A. Bowm, Jr.

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