US1378386A - Web intaglio-printing press - Google Patents

Description

B. R. STICKNEY. WEB INTAGLIO PRINTINGIPRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY-l2, I920. 17,

4 SHEETS-SHEYET I.

y mi.)

B. R. STICKNEY. WEB INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED MAYIZ, 1920.

Patented May 17, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

81 new Fox I GR a; I

B. R. STICKNEY. WEB INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED MAY12. 1920. 1,378,386.

Patented May 17, 1921. Q} "I b I r in UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN n. STICKNEY, or WASHINGTONLDISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WEB INTAGLIO-PRINTING PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d Ma 17 1921 Application filed May 12, 1920. Serial No. 380,715.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN R. STICK4 NEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Web Intaglio-Printing Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to web intaglio printing presses, and" contemplates more particularly an improved means for obtaining a proper impression during the printing operation, thereby producing an evenly colored and altogether superior printed product.

Atpresent, and in accordance with my invention, stamps and bank notes, for example, are printed upon a continuous web or strip of paper fed between printing and lmpression cylinders, a blanket being interposed between the web and the impression cylinder as shown. In practice, the color and general tone of the printed product are frequently found to vary, due to an uneven action of the impression cylinder caused by varying thicknesses of the blanket, or an uneven cutting, forming or joining of the printing plates.

It is an object of my invention to compensate for these varying inequalities, undulations and irregularities by producing a novel impression cylinder consisting of a floating shell yieldingly arranged above the printing cylinder and capable of conforming to the most prominent or minutest unevenness which may be presented during the printing operation.

Another object of my invention is em bodied in the novel supporting means of the impression cylinder, wherein it is free to bodily and differentially rotate with relation to the supporting means. 7 I

A further object of my invention is to produce a yieldable impressioncyhnder suspended between relatively fixed and yielding supports whereby the greatest poss ble latitude of movements is afforded the cylinder 'when conforming to the thick and thin portions in the blanket as will more fully here: inafter appear. 1

A still further object of my invention is to produce an impression cylinder possessing advantages of assembly, longevity of use, and minimum cost in manufacture.

With these and other objects in VleW the press on the line 6-6 of Fig invention further consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the 'apfiended claims.

the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown my invention as applied to a known type of web intaglio printing Figure 1 is .afragmentary sectional view of the press illustrating my improved impression cylinder in associated relation;

Fig. "2 is an enlarged. transverse view of the printing mechanism partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. etis a detached view in elevation of my impression cylinder;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View therethrough on the line 5---5v of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse sectionalview 5 Fig. 7 is a detache perspective view of the ringand pin' cooperatively associated with the driving gear of the cylinder and more particularly a friction or differential control therefor;

Fig. 8 is a detail transverse sectional View on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the yleldable supporting element at one end of the impression cylinder;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating in an exaggerated manneiy the relation of the printing and impression cylinders, and the interposed blanket, prior to forcing down the pressure roller;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the poas passing between the printing and impression cylinders.

My invention includes among other things an impression cylinder consisting of a novel metallic shell or cylinder arranged to yielding or stretching of the paper and eliminating what is sometimes called cloudin or shading in the printed product. In igs. 10 to 13 inclusive some exaggerated positions of the impression cylinder are more or less diagrammatically illustrated, wherein the concentric and peripheral surfaces of the cylinder are resiliently distended or sprung into substantially an elliptical shape. In

addition,'the shell can be resiliently distorted circumferentially such as is shown in Fig. 12, or still again it may be longitudinally flexed as shown in Fig. 13. A diflerential' speed of rotation of the impression cylinder with relation to the printing cylinder is also obtained by my novel supporting means as will more fully' hereinafter ap ear.

y way of example, the two extremeconditions usually found in the blanket interposed between the printing and impression cylinders are those of thinness and thickness. In addition other irregularities of a mechanical nature are often present. The present invention has been found to successfully compensate for these deterioratingcircumstances, and as a result preclude the production of an inferiorly printed and cloud web.

Re erring to the drawings and'more particularly F igs. 1, 2 and 3, I have shown a portion of a web intaglio. printing mechanism in which the web '1- passes upwardly from the usual roll 2 over two separated series of moistening rollers 3 and 4;, and then downwardly against the printing plates of the printing cylinder .5, from where it is carriedupwardly again over 'a heater or drying means indicated by the numeral 6. The

Web is fed. further and continuously from.

this point to the gumming mechanism, and

- subsequently wound, but inasmuch as this latter and other associated mechanism form no part of the present invention, I have not shown the same, nor will I describe it in further detail The impression cylinder includes a circular shell 7 formed of suitable metal-possessing 'qualities of hardness tenacity and re--.'

silience, capable of producing a tractable ellipticity with relation to the p'rintingcylinder. The shell 7 is 'revolubly mounted between a relatively fixed collar or support 8 and a yielding collar or support 9, see Figs. 4 and 5. These supports 8 and 9 are of novel construction in that they. are each provided with annular ribs or flanges 10,

the inner faces 11 of which form supportingand bearing surfaces against which the ends 12 of the shell 7 abut. The abuttlng surfaces are properly machined and finished, so as to permit of the shell being readily moved or shifted invarying radial and revoluble positions. Hubs 13 are formed upon the supporting collars 8 and 9, the size of said hubsbeing reduced sufficiently to allow.

of a spring 16 adapted to bear against a removable key 17, which in turn bears against the collar 9. The key 17 is inserted through a slot 18 formed in the shaft '15, and the opposite ends thereof are positioned within recesses or notches 19 provided in the collar 9, see Figs. 8 and 9. A screw 20 is threaded into the end of the shaft 15 and retains the spring 16 in operative position against the key. This screw may be adjustable to vary the, tension of the spring as will be understood. L

The shaft 15 is journaled in bearings preferably constructed in the form of housings 21'yieldingly supported in the side frames 22. Springs 23 as shown in Fig. 2 are ar--- ranged above and below the housings 21, and

are interposed preferably between the bearing housings of the pr nting cylinder 5 and q a superimposed pressure roll 24, and pr0- vide for the yielding positioning of the impression cylinder.

Motion is. transmitted to the shaft 15 through a gear 25 whichis frictionally secured thereto as 'shown in Figs. 5- and 6. The gear is recessed at 26 upon one side thereof, and is designed to receive a ring 27 between which and the gear 25 is interposed a suitable friction material 28. The ring 27 is secured to the shaft by means of a key or friction material 28 by meansof a ap end 32 adapted tobear' against the hu 33 of I in 29 arran ed within aslot 30. formed 1n the ring 2 and designed to ex-' the gear. -A screw 34 serves to f properly position the cap end 32 and a pin 35 is inserted through the said cap end and extends into the shaft 15 as shown in Fig. 5. From this construction it willbe obvious that a slipping action .is provided for difl'eren-1 'tially controlling thepositive drive of the machine with relation to the web, thereby preventing breakage and, other possible amage 'of the Web through' improper strains and stretching.

The-gear 25 receives motion from a meshing gear 36 secured to the shaft 37 of the the drawings.

printing cylinder 5. A bevel gear 38 which is preferably formed integral with the said gear 36 receives motion in turn from a bevel shown, imparts motion to the main driving shaft as will be understood.

Meshing with the gear 25 is another gear 39 arranged to transmit motion to the shaft 40 of the pressure roller 24 hereinbefore re ferred to. The pressure roller or cylinder 24 is superimposed above the impression shell or cylinder and in contact therewith as shown, pressure being applied through plungers 41 interposed between the bearing housings of the pressure roller shaft 40 and suitable cams 42 carried by a shaft 43. 1 The shaft 43 is operatively controlled by means of a hand wheel 44 which when operated serves to rotate the cams 42 and force the plungers 41 against the bearing housings of the pressure roller, during the printing operation. The springs 23 serve to return the plungers, thereby relieving the web from pressure when not printing by slightly lifting the impression cylinder. This position is indicated in Fig. 10.

In describing the operation of my improved impression cylinder, reference being had to Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, I have shown the related positions of the printing cylinder 5, theimpression shell 7, a pressure roller 24, the web 1 and an interposed blanket 45. j

In Fig. 10 the normal position of the impression shell or cylinder 7 is shown as circular. In this position the pressure roller has not been moved down and the web 1 is not in printing relation with the printing cylinder. 5 that is to say, in the great majority of instances the pressure when applied to the impression shell will have a tendency to vary its" circularity and it is this feature that I have attempted to exaggeratefiin the succeeding Figs. 11 and 12 of In some instances, however, it may be possible to maintain this circu- '-larity of the shell 7, While printing, and to cause its distortion only when compensating for irregularities, undulations and the like. In practice it has been found that when pressure is applied to the impressionshell,

the circularity of the same is distended to a more or less degree, thereby changing the circumferential contounof the shell to an elliptical periphery, the major and minor axesthereofbeing indica'ted by aand b. The degree of the pressure which is applied through the manipulation of the hand wheel 44, may be varied, but it is usual to regulate the same so as to provide for an effective printing contact'at the thinnest possible portion of theblanket, such for example as is shown in Fig. 11, the thin place in the blanket being indicated by the numeral 46. In producing this substantial ellipticity of the shell, it will be obvious that the ends thereof are caused to radially lengthen and recede upon the inner faces 11 of the ribs or flanges 10, provided on the supporting collars 8 and 9, in conformity with the said ellipticity.

As-the impression cylinder is revolved, it will be seen that the path of travel thereof is substantially elliptical, the extent of ellipticity changing in conformity with the irregularities of the blanket and other attenuating conditions.

For example, in Fig. 12, anexaggerated position of a portion of theshell 7 is shown wherein a comparatively thick place in the blanket indicated by the numeral 47, has peripherally affected the shape of the shell and its ellipticity, causing it to radially recede without damaging the web or otherwise marring the printed surface.

In addition to these cross sectional illustrations of some of the conditions incident to web intaglio printing, I have illustrated in Fig. 13 a longitudinal flexing of the shell due to an enlarged and relatively wide portion 48 of the blanket. Numerous other contingencies are apparent as arising from either the condition of the blanket or the mechanical imperfections of the printing plates and I do not limit myself to the conditions illustrated herein.

.With the shell 7 under pressure as here-- tofore described, theresilient action thereof is to recover its circularity, but this being restricted by the aforesaid pressure, it follows that the web- 1 is effectively pressed into all'undulations of perfect and imperfect formation in the printing plates for sharply printing the product.

In addition to the aforesaid radial, longitudinal and other resilient movements of the shell, a differential revoluble speed is obtained whereby the said shell moves circumferentially with relation to the bearing faces 11 of the supporting collars 8 and 9. The passage of the web 1 therefore, between the printing and impression cylinders is evenly effected, thereby permitting a synchronous cooperation of the said printing and impression cylinders at the time of printing without strain upon the web. Supplementing this revoluble differential movement of the shell, the friction device heretofore described is also provided for preventing a positive feed of the web to the point of breakage when under too great a strain as will be understood.

The universality of my impression cylinder in compensating for all manner of movements during the printing operation, will be apparent from the foregoing, especially in view ofthe attempts heretofore made to successfully support an impression cylinder so as to permit of its effective op' eration at all points and under all conditions.

Various changes in the size and proportions, as well as the construction and. arrangement of the several parts'may be resorted to, and I do not limit myself to the exact form shown and described herein.

I claim 1 1. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printing cylinder, an impression cylinder therefor, consisting of a free circular shell, and means for varying the entire circularity thereof whereby the web iskept in continuous contact against the printing cylinder.

2. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printing cylinder, an impression cylinder therefor consisting of a free resilient metallic shell and means for changing the entire circularity'of said shell into that of ellipticity whereby the web is kept in continuous printin g contact by the elasticity of the shell. v

3. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printing cylinder, an impression cylinder therefor consisting of a free resilient metallic rshell, means for supporting said shell in movable floating relation to the said printing cylinder, and means for changing the entire circularity of the shell and increasing the resiliency thereof for keeping the web in continuous printing contact against the printing cylinder.

4, A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printing cylinder, an impression cylinder therefor consisting of a free resilient metallic shell, and means for varying the radial relation of the entire impression surfaces of said shell for increasing its resiliency, whereby the web is kept in continuous printing contact against the printing cylinder.

5. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printing cylinder, an

aforesaid resilient metallic impression cylinder therefor consisting of lation to the aforesaid shaft.

a free resilient metallic shell, and means whereby the radial and longitudinal relations of said shell are varied at all points to keep theweb in continuous printing contact against the printing cylinder.

6. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printing cylinder, an impression cylinder therefor consisting of a free resilient metallic shell, means for supporting the shell in complete and movable floating relation to the printing cyl inder, and means for changing the circularity of said shell whereby the resulting elasticity of such change serves to keep the web in continuous printing contact against the aforesaid printing cylinder.

7. A web intaglio printing press includ ing in combination a printing cylinder, an

impression cylinder therefor consisting of a resilient metallic shell, means for driving said shell, and means for supporting the shell in movable floating position and diflerentially revoluble with relation to the driving means therefor;

9. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printing cylinder, an impression cylinder consisting of a resilient metallic shell, means for driving said shell, means for differentially controlling the rotation of the said shell with respect to the driving means, and means for supporting the shell in radially floating position for increasing the resiliency of said shell, whereby the web is kept in continuous contact against the'printing cylinder.

10. A web intaglio printing press including in combination a printing cylinder, an impression cylinder consisting of a resilient metallic shell, means for driving said shell, and means for differentially controlling the rotation of the said shell with respect to the driving means, whereby the operation of the printing and impression cylinders .is synchronized during the printing operation.

11. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, a shaft about which said shell is floatingly mounted for driving the same, and supporting bearings for the shell carried by the said shaft whereby adifi'erential speed of rotation can be imparted to the said shell with respect to the driving shaft therefor.

12. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, a shaft about which the shell is floatingly mounted for driving the same, and

spaced bearings between which the shell is revolubly differentially supported with-re- 13. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, a shaft about which the shell is floatingly mounted for driving the same, and relatively fixed and yielding bearings be tween which the shell is revo'liibly supported.

14:. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, a shaft about which the shell is floatingly mounted, an adjustable bearing support for one end of said-shell, a movable support for the other end of the said shell, and means including a spring for floatingly retaining the shell between the aforesaid bearings.

. 15. An impression cylinder comprising a shell, a shaft about which the shell is floatingly mounted, a relatively fixed bearing support for one end of the shell a movable bearing support-for the other end of sa d 16. A web shell, a key for detachably positioning the movable bearing upon the shaft, and a spring for pressing thesaid movable bearing against the shell for yieldingly retain ing the same between the bearing supports.

intaglio printing press include ing ,in combination a printing Cylinder and the blanket for maintaining the said blanket against the web during the printing opera- 7 tion. 1 v

17. A web intaglio printing press including in combinationa printing cylinder and blanket, an impression cylinder formed of a floating resilient shell freely and revolubly supported at each end thereof, and means whereby the said shell is caused to move 1on gitudinally and radially for forcing'the said blanket at all times against the web during the printing operation. I

- 18. A Web intaglio printing press includ- I ing in combination a printing cylinder, an

impression cylinder therefor consisting of I a free resilient metallic shell, means for supporting the shell in movable floating position, and means including a friction device for drlving said shell and permitting of differential rotation therewith.

19. An impression cyllnder comprising a freely' mounted shell, a support" for said shell, and means for floatingly positioning the shell in said support.

In testimonyjwhereof I l BENJ R. STICK EY.

flix'my, nature. 1

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