US1126769A

US1126769A - Stereotype-plate-finishing machine.

Info

Publication number: US1126769A
Application number: US77890113A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert T Johnston
Original assignee: Goss Printing Press Co Ltd USA
Current assignee: Goss Printing Press Co Ltd USA
Priority date: 1913-07-14
Filing date: 1913-07-14
Publication date: 1915-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1932-02-02

Description

R. T. JOHNSTON.

STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1913. 1, 1 26,769. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

( 1M www THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. Fl-ln-rn I Wu, um :I-lINGTON. D. C.

R. T. JOHNSTON. STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1913.

1,126,769. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

dd-w j THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT T. JOHNSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STEBEOTYPE-PLATE-FINISHING MAGI-IINE.

menace.

Application filed July 14, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT T. JonNsToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StereotypePlate- Finishing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to machines for finishing stereotype plates for printing presses, and has particularly to do with finishing machines of the type shown and described in my pendin a lication for stereotv 3e late finishing and cooling machines. filed May 1913, Serial No. 769,392. In the machine of my said application the plate to be finished is placed in a rotary shell, after which a controlling bar is operated by hand to actuate locking mechanism by which one edge of the plate is lifted to bring the outer surface of the plate into close contact with the interior of the shell in which position it is held during the finishing operation. When the plate is introduced into the shell it is properly positioned with reference to the end cutters by which the ends of the plate are beveled, and by one of which the tail-piece is cut off, by means of a rocking stop which intercepts the leading end of the plate and swings over as the plate moves into the shell, reaching the limit of its movement when the plate arrives in proper position for finishing. lVhen the plate is lifted into its locked position, the stop swings back under the plate, under the action of a spring, and when the plate is released it overlies the stop and may be drawn out over it. The shell is rotated at intervals by means of a gear, which is loosely mounted on the shell, so that it may rotate independently thereof, suitable clutch mechanism being provided by which at the proper times said gear is connected with the shell so as to rotate it, the gear being automatically disconnected from the shell when the latter has completed its rotation. The continued rotation of the gear then unlocks the plate so that it may be drawn out of the shell. My present invention, while subsidiary to that of my said application, is an improvement thereupon in that it provides means by which the movementofthe plate into the Specification of Letters Patent.

FatentedFeb. 2, 1915.

Serial No. 778,901.

shell operates the locking mechanism so that the plate is locked therein, and also actuates the clutch mechanism by which the driving gear is connected to the shell, so that the plate is first locked in position and the shell then begins to rotate, these latter operations being automatically initiated by the movement of the plate into the shell.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only such parts of the finishing machine as are necessary to a clear understanding of my invention,Figure 1 is a side view of the finishing machine; Fig. 2 is a partial end view illustrating the stop and the connection by which the movement of the stop operates the plate-locking mechanism; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail, being a partial vertical cross-section illustrating the detent for holding the operating bar in its innermost position; and Fig. 5 is a detail showing the lug o cam which releases the operating bar.

Referring to the drawings,3 indicates the shell which is adapted, to receive the stereotype-plate, and 4 indicates the driving gear which is loosely mounted thereon and is adapted to be connected therewith at proper times by suitable clutch mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

5 indicates a locking-bar mounted on the shell 3 and movable longitudinally of itself and circumferentially of the shell. Said bar carries a block adapted to engage one of the edges of the plate so as to lift the plate into close contact with the shell and secure it in position, as described in my said application;

6 indicatesa segmental gear which meshes with suitable teeth 7, on the locking-bar 5, said gear being pivoted at 8 and arranged so that when rocked in one direction it moves the locking-bar 5 up into locking position, and when rocked in the opposite direction it moves said locking-bar down into unlocking position.

9 indicates an arm carried by the gear 6, which arm connects with a swinging bolt 10, having thereon a spring 11, thus forming a toggle which operates to hold the gear 6 in either of its positions.

12 indicates a controlling bar, mounted to move longitudinally of the shell 3' and having a depending arm 13 adapted to bear upon a roller 14 carried by the arm 9, so that the movement of the bar 12 to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, operates to swing the gear 6 and locks the plate in the shell.

In my application above referred to, the controlling-bar, which corresponds to the bar 12, is moved to the right by hand and is returned to its normal position by a spring. In my present construction I also employ a spring 15 for returning the bar 12 to its normal or left-hand position, but said bar is moved to the, right to lock the plate by mechanism operated by the introduction of the plate into the shell. This movement of the bar 12 effects the connection of the gear 4 with the shell by the clutch mechanism referred to in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The manner in which the controlling-bar 12 is moved to the right by the introduction of the plate into the shell will now be described.

16 indicates the stop hereinbefore referred to, which is in the form of a bellcrank lever, pivoted at 17, adjacent to the outlet end of the shell. The stop 16 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 18 and with a horizontally-extending arm 19, the latter being pressed down by a spring 20, mounted on a rod 21. The upwardly-extending arm 18 is bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 2, and carries vertically-movable stop members 22, which, when the stop is in its normal position, are adapted to engage the upper margin of the plate as it is introduced into the shell, as

indicated by the lower pair of curved dotted lines shown in Fig. 2. As the .plate is shoved into the shell the arm 18 of the stop swings over to, the right until it reaches the limit of its movement, whereupon the plate is arrested in the proper position. When the plate is lifted into locking position. the stop swings back to its normal position shown in Fig. 1, the stop-members 22 then lying under the locked plate, as illustrated by the upper pair of curved dotted lines shown in Fig. 2. When the plate is released it drops down upon the stop-members 22, pressing them down with it. The plate may then be withdrawn over the stop-members.

23 indicates a rocking arm, fixed upon a shaft 24, its free end bearing against the outer face of the stop-arm 18, as shown in Fig. 1.

25 indicates a set-screw by which the position of the arm 23 may be adjusted with respect to the arm 18.

26 indicates a crank connecting the controlling bar 12 with the shaft 24 and secured thereto so as to rotate therewith. Said shaft is also fixedly connected with the arm 7 From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the plate is shoved into the shell far enough to engage the stop-arm 18, said stop-arm will swing over to the right as the plate advances and this will carry the arm 23 and crank 26 in the same direction, thereby moving the controlling-bar 12 inward so that its finger 13 engages the roller 14 and moves it to the right across a line drawn from the pivot of the arm 9 to the pivot of the bolt 10. By means of the setscrew 25 the position of the controlling bar 12 when the plate reaches the end of its movement, may be regulated, and in practice this set-screw is so adjusted that the platelocking spring 11 crosses the center and becomes effective at the instant the plate is brought to rest by the plate-stop. The

spring 11 then continues the movement of the segmental gear 6 and locking-barb, so that the plate is moved up into its locked position. The movement of the controllingbar 12 above described also effects the connection of the gear 4 with the shell 3 through the clutch mechanism referred to, which will now be described: As has been explained, the gear 4 is loosely mounted upon the shell 3 and it is constantly driven by means of a worm 27, mounted on a shaft 28, which is journaled in suitable bearings in the base, as shown in Fig. 3, said shaft being driven from the main drive-shaft of the machine through suitable gearing, as by beveled gears 2930. As the main drive-shaft is constantly driven while the machine is in use, it will be observed that the gear 4 rotates idly except when the shell is operatively con-.

- the material of which the shell is composed, but said shell is recessed to receive a hardened steel plate 35, in which the indentation referred to is formed, thus providing for readily maintaining the indentation in proper condition by renewing said plate. The lower portion of the pawl 31 isnormally pressed inward so that it will enter the indentation 33 by a spring 36, shown in Fig. 3. Said pawl is also provided with a hardened block 37 arranged above its pivot and on its outer surface, said block being employed for moving the pawl out of opera tive engagement, as hereinafter desoribed,to disengage the gear 4 from the shell at the end of each complete rotation of the latter. It willbe apparent that normally the pawl 31 stands in its innermost position, so that unless held out of operative position it will operatively connect the gear 4 and the shell 3.

38 indicates a detent lever which is pivoted intermediately upon a pivot 39, adjacent to the gear 4, the lower portion of said lever being adapted to swing toward and from the pawl 31 and being provided with a block 4:0 which is adapted to move into the path of the block 37, so as to intercept it. When this occurs, the downward movement of he pawl 31 incident to the rotation of the gear t, causes the lower por tion of said pawl to swing out, thereby disengaging the pawl from the shell, and consequently disconnecting the shell from the gear 4-. In order to disconnect the lower portion of the detent lever 38 from the block 37 when its function of disconnecting the shell has been performed, the pawl is provided with an outwardly projecting nose 4-1 which lies below the block 37 and operates when the lower portion of the pawl is swung outward to engage the lever 38 and swing it out so that its block l0 disengages the block 37, thereby allowing the pawl to continue past said lever as the gear l r0- tates. The lower end of the lever 38 is nor mally pressed inward so as to hold it in position to engage the block 37 of the pawl by means of a spring as which bears upon a button l3, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper end portion of the detent lever 38 lies adjacent to the operating-bar 12, as shown in Fig. 3, and has a beveled portion ll which is adapted to be engaged by a roller i5, mounted on the bar 12, in such position that when the operating-bar is shoved in by the movement of the plate into the shell, said roller will engage the beveled portion at of the detent lever 38 and swing it to he position shown in Fig. 3, thereby leaving the pawl 31 free to engage the shell and operatively connect it with the gear 4: and so cause it to rotate. Fig. 3 illustrates the parts in the positions they occupy just after the plate has been locked in position in the shell and before the shell starts to rotate, so that it will be seen that the detent lever 38 is not moved out of position to engage the pawl until the plate has first been locked in position, and consequently the shell can not be rotated until after such locking has been effected. It will be noted further that inasmuch as the operating-bar 12 is actuated in the manner described by the movement of the plate into the shell, the intro duction of the plate automatically operativelv connects the gear l with the shell and initiates its rotation. When the operatingbar 12 has been actuated in the manner described by the introduction of the plate into the shell, it is temporarily locked in its inner position by means of a latch 4:6, best shown in Fig. 4, which is in the form of a bellcrank lever, pivoted at L7 and having an arm 48, which engages a notch 49, with which the bar 12 is provided, said notch being adapted to register with the arm 48 when the bar is shoved into its innermost position. By swinging the arm -18 upward, the bar 12 will be released and may then return to its normal position, under the action of the spring 15. The lever L6 is provided with a downwardlyextending arm 50 by which said lever is rocked to release the operating-bar soon after the shell begins to rotate. For effecting this operation, the shell is provided with a lug or cam 51, best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, which projects so asto engage the depending 50 of the lever 46 soon after the shell begins to rotate. As the cam 51 is carried around, it strikes the lower end of the arm 50, thereby swinging the arm 48 out of engagement with the opcrating-bar 12, which is at once returned to its original position by the spring 15. This permits the detent lever 38 to return to its original position, so thatits block 40 lies in the path of the block 37 and will engage said block upon the completion of the rotation of the shell, thereby again disconnect ing the shell from the gear at and stopping it. When the shell stops the gear 4 continues to rotate, and acts to release the plate and permit it to drop into position for removal, as set forth in my application above referred to, but as this feature constitutes no part of my present invention, it will not be described herein.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the movement of the plate into the shell not only automatically operates the locking mechanism which looks the plate in position to be acted upon by the end cutters and the shaving devices, but also initiates the rotation of the shell as soon as the plate is locked in position, which operations, as hereinbefore stated, constitute the objects of my present invention.

That which I claim as my invention, desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, and means actuated by the movement of the plate into the shell for locking it in place after it has been properly positioned therein.

A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, means for positioning the plate in the shell, and means independent of the rotation of the shell for automatically locking the plate therein.

3. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, a movable stop for positioning the plate in the shell, and means actuated by the movement of said stop for locking the plate in the shell.

and

4:. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, a swinging stop for positioning the plate in the shell, and means actuated by the movement of said stop for locking the plate in the shell.

5. A stereotypeplate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, spring-actuated means for locking the plate in position, and means for automatically actuating said looking means when the plate has been positioned in the shell.

6. A stereotype-plate finishing machine,

comprising a rotary shell adapted to receive a plate to be finished, a stop for limiting the extent to Which the plate is moved into the shell, a locking device independent of the rotation of the shell for lifting the plate into engagement therewith, and means for automatically actuating said locking device When the plate has been positioned in the shell.

7. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shell adapted to receive a plate to be finished, locking mechanism for locking the plate in the shell, a controlling bar adapted to be actuated to operate said locking mechanism, andmeans for automatically actuating said controlling bar to operate said locking mechanism When the plate has been positioned in the shell.

8. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotary shell adapted to receive a plate to be finished, locking mechanism for locking the plate in the shell, a controlling bar adapted to be actuated to operate said locking mechanism, a stop for limiting the extent to Which the plate may be moved into the shell, and means connecting said stop With said controlling bar whereby the latter is actuated by the positioning of the plate in the shell to operate said locking mechanism. v

9. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising an intermittently rotatable shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, means for rotating the shell, and means actuated by the movement of the plate into the shell for initiating the rotation thereof.

10. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotatable shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, rotating means adapted to be connected With said shell for rotating the same, and means actuated by the movement of the plate into the shell for connecting said shell With the rotating means.

11. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising a rotatable shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, a gear rotating independently of the shell and adapted to be connected therewith for rotating the same, and means actuated by the'lnovement of the plate into the shell for connecting said gear With said shell.

12. A stereotype-plate finishing machine, comprising an intermittently rotatable shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, means for rotating the shell, locking mechanism for locking the plate in the shell, and means actuated by the movement of the plate into the shell for actuating said locking mechanism and then initiating the rotation of the shell.

13. A stereotype-plate finishing machine,

comprising an intermittently rotatable shell adapted to receive the plate to be finished, locking mechanism for locking the plate in the shell, means for rotating the shell, and means independent of the rotation ofthe shell and automatically actuated by the movement of the plate thereinto for actuating said locking mechanism to lock the plate in the shell and for then initiating the rotation of the shell.

ROBERT T. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. JAcKsoN, W. R. ELLIS, W. H. DE BUSK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent Washington, I). C.