US1146039A - Multicolor-printing press. - Google Patents

Description

F. M. TURCK. MUL'HCOLOR PRINTING PRESS APPLICATION FILED MAY22,19I3.

Patented July 13, 1915.

$51 elite 6 MULTIGOLOR-PRINTING PRESS.

inoan.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

Application filed May 22 1913. Serial No. 769,186.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. TURCK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multicolor-Printing Presses, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in multicolor printing presses in which rotating couples are employed to print two or more colors in superimposed relation upon sheets of material; and the objects of the invention are to provide a compact and readily accessible construction in which the sheets may be completely printed in one operation, to insure a more perfect register of the printed matter, and also to afford a uniform impression from the several printing plates. The invention also includes certain details of construction, hereinafter set v forth.

In describing the invention in detail reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like characters of, reference are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a ground plan of the press embodying the present invention, shown with certain well-known parts removed to more clearly illustrate the novel features thereof; Fig. 2, a sectional side elevation of the same, taken on the broken line 1 ;2 Fig. l, and including the feeding. delivering and inking mechanism; and Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of a single printing couple and sheet-carrier of a two-color press, shown as a modified form of construc tion.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, numeral 1 designates the base-plate of the press, upon which are mounted the fixed front and rear side frames 2 and 3 respectively. In these frames suitable bearings are provided in which are journaled for rotation the two sets of printing couples, composed of the form or plate cylinders 4 and 5 and the impression-cylinders 6 and 7. Each of the form-cylinders is divided circumferentially into three equal sections, two thereof being provided with printing plates, while the third is left blank or idle, the plates for cylinder 4 being indicated by the letters R and and those for cylinder 5 by letters and 13 3 the several letters likewise respectively indicating the commonly employed colors red, blue, yellow and black. arbitrarily arranged herein. The several plates are detachably secured in the usual manner upon the form-cylinders, and are adapted to engage for printing action the corresponding impression surfaces of the cylinders 6 and 7, indicated by 1', 1 b and 72?), these surfaces being conventionally arranged with detachable draw and filling sheets to afford means of applying the necessary packing or finake-ready for securing uniform impressions. As thus arranged, it will be obvious that each plate in its repeated revolutions will engage the same section of the impression surface and thereby preserve a corresponding uniformity in the impressions.

For imparting motion to the printing couples, a shaft 8 is mounted in bearings formed in the rear frame 3 and in the floorstand 9. the shaft being provided with a power-pulley 10 and a driving pinion 11, the latter engaging the loosely-mounted in termediate gears 12, shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. The intermediates 12 engage gears 13, fixed upon the shafts ofthe impression-cylinders 6 and 7, and the latter gears in turn engage corresponding gears 14:, fixed upon the shafts of the form-cylinders l and 5, the several gears being proportioned to rotate the several cylinders of the printing couples at a common rate of speed.

For advancing the work to be printed, a sheet-carrier is provided, composed of the oppositely-disposed annular side heads 15, connected together by the cross-braces 16, and arranged for rotation upon the bearing surfaces or runways 17, fixed upon the interior surfaces of the opposite side frames 2 and 3. Bearing-rollers 18 are preferably provided for the carrier-heads, and jour naled therein for rolling contact upon the runways. For imparting rotation to the sheet-carrier, the heads thereof at their periphery are provided with gear-teeth 19, which are engaged by thegears 20, fixed to the shaft of the form-cylinder i.

To the outer edges of the cross-braces 16 are fixed a series of thin annular bars arranged to divide the sheet-carrier circumferentially into seven equal sections, the bars and corresponding sections both being indicated by the numerals 21lto 27 inclusive. Each section adjacent the cross-brace thereof is provided with a set of grippers 28, ar-

at eachicoiisecutive revolution of the couples.

interior, supports for the sheets, and their crrcumferential lengths correspond severally inders, as measured upon the impression surfaces of thelatter, and with which they are driven at 'a corresponding rate of speed,

the circular path-of the former being tangent to the line ofprinting contact of the two printing couples. To afford the'necessary clearance for the path of the crossbars and grippers ofv the carrier, longitudinally extending recesses or grooves 30 are .f rmedin the impression-cylinders 6, and 7, '20.

on opposite sides of the impression surfaces, "WlllCll recesses also serveto contain the necessary fixtures for adjusting and retaining the cylinder cover sheets, these latter sheets being also spaced apart longitudinally of the cylinder forclearing the annular carrier-bars, the lateral spaclng of which bars corresponds with that of the side and intermediate margins of the printed sheets.

As shown in Fig. 2, the sheets, as indicated in broken" lines upon the carrier-sections' and With' respect to their printed conditions, are positioned in accordance with the-general operation of the press, Whichpositionsyrelative 'to the printing couples andto-the feed and delivery devices, occur As'indicated, the carrier-sections 24 and 27 contain no sheets, having passed adjacent the blank sections on the form-cylinders in the latters previous revolution; section 21 of the carrier holds a new sheet; section 22, a sheet having imprints of red and yellow colors; section 23, a sheet completely printed and ready for delivery; section 25, a sheet with a red imprint thereon; and section 26, one with red, yellow and blue imprints. During the following revolution of the printing couples each carriersection will advance three divisions andthe sheets on sections 21 and 23 will pass between the printing couples d and (i and respectively receive the imprints R and B; likewise sheets on 25 and 26 will receive Y and BB imprints from the printing couple 5 and 7; the section 23 will deliverits sheet upon the delivery-tapes 31 and pass in blank relation with the blank section on form-cylinder 4; and the'blank section 24 will receive a new sheet from the feed-table 29. It will be obvious that the several sections of the carrier as thus advanced the three divisions wiil, at the beginning and at the end of such movement, be similarly positioned with respect to the printed condition and feed and delivery of the sheets. In like mannereach W1th those of the sections of the form-cyl-" immediately succeeding revolution of the printing couples presents a corresponding condition, necessitating the feed of a new sheet and the deli ery of a printed one. For completing a cycle of the carrier-section 21, it will be found that seven revolutions of the printing couples will he required as follows: in the first revolution the new sheet thereon will have received in its movement of three divisions a red impression, in the second revolution a red and yellow, in the third a red, yellowjand blue, in the fourth a red, yellow, blue and black, in the fifth the sheet will have been delivered, in the sixth the section will have remained blank, and in the seventh, a new sheet will have been fed thereto, all as severally indicated by the reference characters in the consecutive positions.

To provide for the delivery of a sheet at each revolution of a printing couple, the rock-shafts of the several sets of grippers 28 are each provided at one end with the usual grooved tumbler-head 32, nection with a spring-rod movable with the carrier to normally retain the grippers either in an open or a closed position, the opening movement thereof being effected during the rotation of the carrier by the en gagement of the'slotted portion of the tumbier-head with the relatively fixed pin 33, disposed in off-set relation with the pivotal center of said head, all arranged in accordance with common practice and'with respect .to the delivery-tapes 31, which latter is likewise arranged in well-known manner with movable guide-bars 34, suitably timed for engagement With the lower portion of the leading edge of the advancing sheet for directing the latter'upon the tapes. As the successive delivery of the sheets occurs only at each revolution of the printing couples or third divisional passage of the carriersections, the grippers on the intermediate sections will remain closed; and to provide for this condition the pin 33 is fixed in projecting relation upon an arm 35 of a lever pivotally mounted upon the rear side frame. 3, the opposite arm of the lever being pivotally connected to a rod 36, engaged by a cam 37, fixed upon the supporting shaft of the form-cylinder 4c, the cam being proport-ioned and positioned with regard to each revolution thereof to effect a movement of the pin into two relatively fixed positions, in one position thereof, as shown, the pin is alined with the slotted tumbler-heads to effect the opening movement of the grippers,

' and in the opposite position the path of the operating in con- For affording additional support of the 'sheets with respect to the annular carrier sections at their upperportion of movement, a series of brushes 40 are mountedwithin said carrier in relatively fixed relation upon a series of circumferentially-extending bars -11, secured to brackets 42, fixed to the side frame of the press. The bristles of the brush are sufficiently long and resilient to engage the inner surfaces of the sheets in their path of movement and prevent an excessive sagging thereof between the annular carrier-bars, and also by their resilience are adapted to yield and retract under the contacting movement of the cross-braces l6 and the grippers 28. Exteriorly of the carriersections, the free portion of the sheets in its path is controlled by the fixed guides a3, conveniently supported in any approved manner; and also for urging the sheets in contact with the impression surfaces adjacent the line of printing contact to avoid premature engagement of the forms and consequent smearing of the sheets, a1r-supply pipes 44 are provided, having perforations arranged to suitably direct the air, obtained from any conveninetly connected source of supply.

The forms are provided severally with independent and similar set of inking devices arranged to distribute ink of suitable color; as, from the fountain 45 to the formrollers 46'by meansof a series of intermediate ro-lls arranged and operated in the usual manner. As herein shown, the form BB in its rotation is adapted to be yieldingly engaged by the form-rollers 46, the Journalboxes of which are provided with suitable springs 47 and mounted for the movement necessary for the disengagement of the r rollers. from the form, which movement is effected by the engagement ofa projecting bearing surface formed on each of the cams 48 with the guiding wheels 49,.the former being fixed upon the shaft of the form-cylinder 5 and the latter loosely mounted upon the shafts of the form-rollers 46. It will be evident that by providing for the cams suitable projecting bearing surfaces for the guiding wheels, the distribution of the ink may be limited to its proper printing form.

In like manner the several sets of inking devices are arranged with cam-controlled form-rollers for the application of the ink u, 1 the forms.

As herein shown, the double set of inking devices for each of the form-cylinders are adapted to be mounted upon movable standards arranged independently of the main frames, from which they may be conveniently separated temporarily for adjusting both the printing forms and the inking rollers. These standards are indicated by the numeral 50 and are preferably provided with bearing rollers 51 arranged to run upon tracks formed on the upper face of the baseplate 1, to which the standards are detachably secured in operativeposition.

To provide for initially inking the forms preparatory for the printing operation, the form-cylinders thereof are disengaged from their respective impression-cylinders, the latter of which are mounted in the usual manner in slidable journal-boxes operatively connected for movement in opposite directions by the toggle-arms indicated by the numeral 52, the latter being actuated by the rod 53 in any approved manner.

In the construction of the form-cylinders 4 and 5, it will be obvious that the relatively increased diameter thereof, due to the double form sections and the necessary addition of the blank surface thereon, will have certain advantages, not only with respect to the construction of the connected printing plates in requiring a less degree of stretch and distortion in the bending process thereders also permits the use of form-rollers of relatively greater diameter, thus allowing of increased spacing of certain of the parts to render the same accessible to the operator.

It will be evident in the operation of the printing press as herein described and shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that a plurality of sheets at one handling may be printed with four superimposed impressions; also, that the same press may likewise make three impressions by the disconnection of a form from one of the form-cylinders; or, by operating upon one form-cylinder only may make two superimposed impressions upon the sheets, or even a single impression thereon. 1

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the numerals 54 and 55 designate respectively the coacting form and impression cylinders considerably greater The increased diameter of these form-cylin-' of a two-color press, and 56, the cross-braces I printing plates R and PB, while the remain- I ing two are left blank. The cross-braces of the sheet-carrier are arranged with grippers operated in the manner shown in Figs. land 2, and during the regular ope ation of the press the sheets are positioned upon the carrier as shown, the arrangement thereof providing for thefeed and delivery of a single sheet at each consecutive revolution of the form-cylinder. As indicated, section 57 is provided with a new sheet, section 58 with 10 a sheet having the imprint R, section 59 a sheet with the imprints. R and B, sections 60 and 61 areboth blank. In the next following revolution of the form-cylinder the carrier. will have advanced four divisions, during which time the sheet on section 57 will have received the imprint R, section 58 the R and B imprints, section 59 will deliver its sheet to the tapes 62, section 60 will remain blank, and section 61 will take a new sheet from the feed-table 63 and be advanced to the present position of section 57. It will thus be seen that at each-successive revolution of the form and impression cylinders the carrier will receive a new sheet and deliver one upon which two colors have 7 been superimposed, and also, that the relative positions of the remaininglsheets upon the carrier with respect to the printing 2 plates and the feed and delivery devices will be common at such successive revolutions.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that an exceedingly simple, compact and accessible construction has been provided for accomplishing work ordinarily requiring a considerably greater number of parts. Also, it Will likewise be evident that the sheets as held in undetached relation by the grippers --throughout the entire printing operation will afford a perfect register therefor.-

4 I am aware that multicolor printing presses have heretofore been designed wherein a' rotary sheet carrier operates in conjunction with a plurality of multi-form printing couples to effect superimposed impressions, the carrier operating upon a single sheet at a time and requiring for the completion of the latter a-number of revolutions corresponding with the number of separate forms, thus necessitating a periodical tripping action or separation of the printing cvlinders between sheet impressions. As, thus arranged it will be obvious that not only will the output of the machine be comparatively limited, but if the same is run at considerable speed the tripping action will tend to impair the register of the Work. In the present invention it is to be noted that the several forms of the printing couples operate consecutively Without interruption upon the seve "a-l sheets supported at one time upon the carrier, resulting, as above stated, in the delivery of a printed sheet complete at each revolution of the printing couples.

bination of printing mechanism including a form-cylinder circumferentially divided to form a blank section and a plurality of form sections, severally coactmg impression surfaces for said form sections, .a sheet-carrier arranged to present a sheet to each one of said forms at successive revolutions of said form-cylinder and including an idle carrier section, and means for delivering said sheetand effecting the-registration of the idle carrier section with the blank section of said form-cylinder.

2. In a multicolor printing press, the combination of printing mechanism including a form-cylinder circumferentially divided to form a blank section and a plurality of form sections, severally coacting impression surfaces for said form sections, a multiplesheet carrier arranged to present alternate sheets to each one of .said forms at successive revolutions of said form-cylinder and including an idle carrier section, andmeans for delivering said sheets and effecting the registration of the idle carrier section with the blank section of said form-cylinder.

3. In a multicolor printing press, the combination of printing mechanism including a plurality of form-cylinders, each thereof circumferentially divided to form a blank section and a plurality of form sections, severally coacting impression surfaces for saidform sections, a multiple-sheet carrier arranged to present alternate sheets to each one of said forms at successive revolutions of said form-cylinders and including idle carrier sections, and means for delivering said sheets and effecting the registration of the idle carrier sections with the blank sections of sa d'form-cylinders.

4. In a multicolor printing press, the combination of a form-cylinder circumferentially divided to form a blank section and a plurality of form sections, severally coacting impression surfaces for said form sec tions, a sheet-carrier provided with a plurality of sheet-carrying sections arranged to present ashect to each one of said forms at successive revolutions of said form-cylinder and including an idle carrier section,-

means for feeding a sheet to said carrier at each successive revolution of said formcylinder, and means for delivering a prlnted sheet from said carrier at each successive revolution of said form-cylinder and eifecting the registration of the idle carrier section with the blank section of said formcylinder.

5. In amulticolor printing press, the combination of a plurality of form-cylinders, each thereof circumferentially divided to form a blank section and a plurality of form sections, severally coacting impression surfaces for said form section, a sheet-carrier provided with a plurality'of sheet-carrying sections arranged to present a sheet to each one of said. forms at successive revolutions. of said form-cylinders and including idle carrier sections, means for feeding a sheet to said carrier'at each successive revolution of said form-cylinders, and means for delivering a printed sheet from said carrier at each successive revolution of said formcylinders and effecting the registration of the idle carrier sections with the blank sections of said form-cylinders.

6. In combination with a printing couple provided with a plurality of forms and severally coacting impression surfaces arranged for. superimposed impressions, of a sheetcarrier comprising an annular frame including means for carrying a plurality of sheets in a path tangent the printing line of said couple, means for advancing the carrier and presenting the sheets severally to each one of said forms at successive revolutions of said couple and at a speed common with the printing speed, and a series of fixed brushes disposed within said annular carrier frame and having resilient bristles adapted to sup-. portably engage the sheets and yield under contact of the carrier frame.

7. The combination of a form-cylinder circumferentially divided to form a blank section and aplurality of form sections, severally coacting impression surfaces for said form sections, a sheet-carrier'provided with a plurality of sheet-carrying sections ar ranged to present a sheet to each one of said forms at successive revolutions of said formcylinder and including an idle carrier section, means for supplying a blast of air to said sheets for effecting their contact with the impression surfaces and for facilitating the drying action of the impression thereon, and means for delivering said sheet and effecting the registration of the idle carrier section with the blank section of said formcylinder.

8. The combination of a form-cylinder circumferentially divided to form a blank section and a plurality of form sections, severally coacting impression surfaces for said form sections, independent inking mechanisms for each of said form sections, a sheetcarrier provided with a plurality of sheetcarrying sections arranged to present a sheet to each one of said forms at successive revolutions of said, form-cylinder and including an idle cirrrier section, and means for delivering said sheet and effecting the registration of the idle carrier section with the blank section of said form-cylinder.

9. .The combination of a form-cylinder eircumferentially divided to form ablank section and a plurality of form sections, severally coacting impression surfaces for said form sections, independent inking mechanisms adapted to apply ink of different colors to each of said forms respectively, a sheet-carrier provided with a plurality of sheet-carrying sections arranged to present a sheet to each one of said forms at successive revolutions of said form-cylinder and including an idle carrier section, and means for delivering said sheet and effecting the registration of the idle carrier section with the blank section of said form-cylinder.

10. In combination with a printing couple provided with a plurality of forms and severally coacting impression surfaces arranged for superimposed impressions, of a sheetcarrier comprising a pair of annular side heads mounted for rotation, a series of crossbraces connecting said heads, circumferentially-extending bars fixed to said crossbrace and arranged to support a plurality of sheets movable in a path tangent the printing line of said couple, gripping means coacting with said cross-braces to engage the sheets, and means for advancing the carrier for presenting the sheets severally to each one of said forms at successive revolutions of the printing couple and at a speed common with the printing speed.

11. In a multicolor printing press, the combination of rotating printing mechanism comprising a form-cylinder circumferentially divided to form a blank section and a plurality of form sections, an impressioncylinder having impression surfaces coacting severally with said form sections and arranged therewith for consecutive printing action, a sheet-carrier provided with means I for carrying a plurality of sheets in a path tangent the printing line of said form and impression cylinders, means for advancing said carrier for presenting the sheets sever ally to each one of said form sections at successive revolutions of said form cylinder and at a speed common with the printing speed, means for feeding a sheet to said carrier at each successive revolution of said form-cylinder, and means for delivering a printed sheet from said carrier at each successive revolution of said form-cylinder and effecting the registration of the idle carrier section with the blank section of said. formcylinder.

12. In a multicolor printing press, the combination of rotating printing mechanism comprising a plurality of formcylinders each thereof circumferentially divided to form a blank section and a plurality of form sections, a plurality of impressioncylinders having impressionsurfaces coacting severally with the form sections of said form-cylinders and arrangedv therewith for consecutive printing action, a sheet-carrier provided with means for Carrying a plurality of sheets in a path tangent the printing line of said form and impression cylinders, means for advancing said carrier for presenting the sheets severally to each one of said form sections at successive revolutions of said form cylinders and at a-speed common With the printing speed, means for feeding a sheet to said carrier at eachsuccessive revolution of said form-cylinders, and means for de-- livering a printed sheet from said carrier at each successive revolution of said form-cylinders and effecting the registration of the idle carrier section with the blank sections of said form-cylinders.

' Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 21st day of May A. D. 1913.

FREDERICK M. TURCK. Witnesses CHAS. W. LA RUE, ARTHUR FRISCH.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addrcssingithe Commissioner of I'atents,

Washington, D. 0.

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