US1611246A - Plate-printing machine - Google Patents

Description

E. P. sHELDoN PLATE PRINTING MACHINE Dec. 21 1926.

' e sheets-snaaiV 1 Filed'AuguSt 25. 1923 Dec. 2l 1926. 1,611,246 f E. P. SHELDON l PLATE PRINTING MACHINE '1923 e sheets-sheet z -FIG.Z.-

Filed Augusv 25 /af Z INVETOR.

I v Avrs.

Dec. z1 ,1926. 1,611,246

E. P. SHELDON PLATE PRINTING MACHINE Filed August' 25, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 21 1926.

E. P. SHELDON PLATE PRINTYLNG MACHINE 1923 6 Sheets-Shefet 4 Filed August 25 Dec. 21 1926.

E. P. SHELDON PLATE PRINTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed August 25, 1923 E. P. sHELDoN PLATE PRINTING MACHINE Filed August 25|, 192s Dec. Z1 1926.

6 ISheets-She'ai'. e

" IIIIIIIHIIIIIIHIIHHHHll1VA Patented Dec. 21, 1926i'.

UNITED STATES lP .LtTEN'r OFFICE.

EDWARD P. SHELDON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNO-R, BY MESNE ASSIGN MENTS, TO R. HOE AND CO., INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION vF NEW YORK.

PLATE-PRNTIN G MACHINE.

i This invention relates `to lcertain improvements in power plate printing machines.

to provide a It is the especial object of the invention small power plate machine suitable for printing bank notes and the like, in which a single plate is employed and in which there is provided a bed for the plate which is vgiven a reciprocating motlon past the inking, wiping, and impression members, and the movement of which is such .that -,the support is momentarily stopped vso l jlooking 1n the directionn of arrow 6 of Fig.5.

that Ctheplate may be polished by the operator before impression;

A further object, of the invention is to provide a. power plate machine which will print on both thin material, such as a sheet of paper, or on a relatively thick material, such as cardboard and the like, and to provide an impression mechanism which, when thin material is to be printed, will act to seize and carry the sheet during the impression and deliver the printed sheet, or where thick material is to be printed, will act to feed the material between the impression cylinder and the plate, the plate carrying the printed material away for manual delivery at the end of the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for heating the plate support and the plate during the travel of the plate through the machine so that the ink may be maintained at any desiredworking fiuidity.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved mechanism forv tripping the impression cylinder, of such character that the eylinder may be tripped off impression from different points inthe machine. l

lVith these and other objects not specifically referred to, the invention consists in certainenovel parts, arrangements and combinations,vwhich will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings. and the novel features pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

Referring now to these drawings- Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of a vpower plate printing machine embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view, partly in section and partly broken away, of the sheet feeding end of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3" is 'a plan Viewv ofpart of the construction shown in Fig. 2, the view being taken in the direction of arrow `3 of Fig. 2.

.Figure 4 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow; 4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the plate carrying bed and its associated parts.

Figure 6 is a partial sectional side View Figure 7 is a side View., partly in section, on an enlarged scale of the impression cylinder, feed board, and co-operating parts.

Figure 8 is a partial side view of the construction shown in Fig. 7, illustrating another position ef the parts.

Figure 9 isan endview, partly broken away and partly in section of the construction shown in Fig. 7, the view being taken in the direction of arrow 9 of that figure.

Referring now to these drawings, 1, 2 indicate suitable side frames' rising from a base 3l in which the various parts of the mechanism are positioned. In the particular construction illustrated, the power plate machine embodying the invention -includes a single plate support 4 which is given a reciprocating motion back and forth in the machine, .bneath an impression cylinder 5, its co-operating abutment 6, wiping-mechanism 7 and 8, and an inking mechanism 9, the plate 1ndicated at P being inked and wiped and then brought to one extreme: end of the machine where it is gradually slowed down momentarily stopping to permit polishing after which the impression is effected.

Referring first to the bed supporting driving mechanism, in constructions embodying the invention in its best form, the driving mechanism will be of such character as to reciprocate the bed back and forth under the Various agencies with which it co-operate's with an easy even movement, and in which the bed at extremes of its movement will gradually slow down and momentarily stop so that the plate may be polished. In the particular construction'illustrated, the bed is in the form of a-l frame which slides in channel guides 10, 11, su ported. from the side frames 1,'2, before re erred to, these being best shown in Fig. 4. The bed centraltravelling block 16, this block being pivot.

ally mounted on a driving chain 17, this driving chain passing over sprockets 18 and 19 at opposite ends of the machine, the chain also passing over, if desired, adjusting sprockets 20, 21 mounted in brackets 22 suitably secured to the frame.

It will be observed that With this construction the block rides up and down in the hanger arms as the chain passes over the sprockets and this movement is such, as to gradually slow down the movement of the bed and to stop the bed momentarily When the block is at midway position in passing over the sprocket, this `position being shown in Fig. 2. With this construction, therefore,'an easy regular driving movement is given the bed and the operator has .a chance to polish the plate When it is in its itreme left, vhand position, considering Bgdachines constructed in accordance with t-he invention will be capacitated to print on relatively'thin material, such as a sheet of paper, or lif desired on comparatively thick material such as cardboard. In the particu.- lar` construction illustrated, Where thin material is to be printed upon, this material is controlled by the impression cylinder duringv the printing operation and 'is delivered by this cylinder. lVhere a thick material as cardboard is to be printed on, howe`ver, the sheet of such material is printed by the impression cylinder, the sheet then remaining on -the plate and being removed therefrom after the plate has reached the end of the machine opposite the feeding end.

The specific construction for feeding a relai" tively light sheet, as paper, will be first 4described. y 1 l Referring to Figs. 2, 7, 8 and 9, the shaft 23 of the impression cylinder 5, which may be a blanketed cylinder, such blanketbeing indicated at 24, is mounted in bearings 25 supported to slide in guides 26 formed in upwardly extending portions 27 of side frames 28 rising from the base 3, before referred to. This cylinder is provided With sheettalring devices in the form of grippers 29 carried on a gripper shaft 30 suitably mounted in the heads 31, 32 of the cylinder.

This gripper shaft is rocked to open 'the grippers at the sheet taking point and at the sheet delivery point by means of a tumbler block 33'ha`ving a groove 34 in Which take the ends'of pins 35, 35', this tumbler block being 'fast on lthe shaft. The` shaft is rocked. against a spring rod construction which normally holds the grippers closed.

While this spring rod construction lmay be of various characters, in the particular construction illustrated, on account of the small size of the gripper cylinder the spring rod construction has been adopted by Which suflicient spring action can be obtained Within the circumscribed cylinder limits. As shown, the shaft 30 is provided With an arm 36 to which is secured one end of a rod 37 provided With a spring 38. The other end of this rod 37 engages with one end of a lever arm 39 pivoted at 40 in the cylinder head, the other end of this lever arm er1- gaging a second rod 41 provided With a spring 42, cured at 43 in the cylinder head. With this construction a strong closing movement is imparted to the grippers.

The grippers 29 are opened by the pin 35 to take the head of the sheet so that it is forwarded in proper relation'vvith the vprinting plate P, this position being shown in Fig. 7, andare` operated by the pin 35 to open and release the sheet at the delivery point,.the parts in this position being shown in Fig. 8. i

The sheet lis thus held in the control of the cylinder during the printing operation and is delivered by the cylinder. In the best constructions means are provided by which '-1 the end of the sheet will be lifted from the cylinder after `it is released by the grippers and, furthermore, in the best constructions strpping devices Will beprovided co-' operating with the lifters whereby-the sheet i is stripped from the cylinder as the cylinder rotates.' While these desired objects may be effected in' different Ways, in the particular construction illustrated the cylinder is provided With a pair of lifting fingers 44 mounted on a rock shaft 45 suitably journaled in the heads of the cylinder. This shaft at one endbeyond the head is provided With a hub 46 having an arm 47 carrying a stud 48 on which is secured a cam roll 49. This cam roll is adapted to ride on a cam 50 secured to one of the side frames before referred to;` as clearly shown in Fig. 9,

the cam riding over the face of this plate rocking the shaft and 'swinging .the lifter fingers to lift the end of the sheet above the surface of the cylinder. Located adjacent the cylinder are strippers in the form of` plates or framesl having bevelled ends 52 the other end of this arm being seff and sheet receiving surfaces 53. As the cyl- I inder rotates the'sheet is lifted off the lifters so that the ends project over the stripper plate and on the continued rotation of the cylinder the sheet is stripped or lifted therefrom, and the latter readily removed by the suitable mechanism which may be varied.

In the particular construction illustrated these pins'are mounted (see Figs. 7 and 9) to slide in bracketsa secured to' the` frame of the machine, being normally moved toward the left in Fig. 9 by means of springs 56, the shanks of the pins being reduced, as

indicated at 57, to forma shoulder against -which one end of the spring abuts, and the other end of the spring taking against one of the supporting brackets. At their outer ends these pins are provided with adjustable abutments in the form of adjusting nuts 58 against whichbear forked arms 59, 60, one of these arms being provided for each pin. These arms are fast on rocking studs 61 secured in brackets 62 suitably secured to the` frame of the machine.\\'l`hese arms are preferably mountedv so as to be moved together,

and in the particularconstruction shown, there is provided arms 63, -64 carried on studs, these arms being connected by a link These arms are manipulated to withdraw the pins from the path `of the tumbler ,block at suitable times by means of a sleeve cam 66 which operates the cam arm 67, thereby causing the yoke arm 59 to move the blocks to the right in Fig. 9 and withdraw I d the pins against the laction of the springs 5.6.

CTI

The sleeve cam 66 is operated from any suitable part of the machine, as from a rod 68 which, through mechanism hereinafter referred to, acts t'o throw the impression cylinder on and' off impression. This slee-ve cam 66 is locked in position on the rod by a set screw 69. When it is desired for purposes hereinafter referred to, for the pins to be continuously held out of the path of the tumbler block for any desired time, this may be effected by loosening the locking nut 69. sliding the sleeve cam upwardly on the rod so that the' cam arm 67 is prevented from moving downwardly. The" parts will thus be held in such position, the sleeve cam being again locked in its adjusted position, with the pins permanently held out of the path of the tumbler block.

The sheets are or may be fed to the 'press' on an inclined feedboard 70 supported on brackets or standards71 on the side frames' of the machine, the sheets being fed down this part by hand or in any other suitable way against a stop finger 72 which acts to properly tposition thesheets so that they may be taken by the grippers. Where the sheets are thus fed against the stop linger means will be employed for withdrawingA the finger or stop out of the way of the grippers so that the latter can seize the sheets. The particular construction for effecting this may be somewhat varied, but in the particular construction illustrated the stop fingers are carried on blocks 73 fast on the rock shaft 74 suitably journaled in the brackets or standards 71, before referred to. This rock sha-ft has secured thereto at one side a rocking plate 75 (see Fig. 2) to one side of which is Secured a spring rod construction 76. v The other side of this plate has connected thereto a link 77 which is connectedl at its other end to one end of a lever arm 78 pivoted on a stud 80 (see Fig. 7 .the

other end of thislever arm carrying a cam roll 81. This cam roll is arranged to contact with a bar cam 82 removably secured as by screws 83 to the side of the plate support 4, before referred to. The stop fingers are thus normally held in up position by the spring 76 and are moved downwardly through the roll 81 running on the 'operating face of the 4bar cam, this operating face projecting forwardly beyond the bed, as shown in Figs. 2 and- 7, so that the stop tinger is dropped at the proper time to enable the grippers to take the sheet from the board. If desi-redl guide fingers, indicated if:

at 84 in Fig. 7, may be provided, these fingers extending above and forwardly of the feed boardso as to space the leading end of the sheet from the cylinderand thus ensuring the grippers taking the sheet.

With Athis construction as so far described thesheet is taken by the grippers as the bed comes intol printing relation withi-the impression cylinder. and is carried forward and around the impress'on cylinder and delivered from the top side thereof. If de sired margin rollers, indicated in Figs. 2

and 7 by the numeral 85, may be provided the machine at 86 arms 87. These farms" are t split arms connected by a screw bolt 88 having adjusting collars 89. The upper end of the arms`87 are pivoted at 90 to short arms 91 on a rock shaft 92 taking in bearings 93 4suitably formed in the side frames, before, referred to.

At one side of the machiney there islprovided an operating arm 94 (see Fig. 2) the other end lof this varm beingiconnected at 95 vto the upper end of the rod 68, before referred to. By making or breaking the toggle thus formed the cylinder is thrown into printing relation with the plate and removed therefrom after the printing operation.

The operation of the rod 68 by which this is efected is or ma be automatic. In the particular construction illustrated, the lower end of this rodI is secured to an arm 96 of a lever 97 pivoted at 98 on a second lever 99;

The other arm 100 of the lever 97 is secured to one end of an operating rod 101, the

' other yend of this operating rod being con- Y Fig. 2, this movement causing a making of foot treadle y110.

- chine.

the toggle, and throwing the cylinder on the ,impression against a spring 103, this spring acting to break the toggle when the rod 101 is freed by the cam to alloiv it tomove to the right in Fig. 2.

Means are provided for locking the pivote point 98 of t-he operating lever 97 so that the rod 101 can effect its toggle making and breaking function, and means forbreaking this lock so that if desired the movement of the rod 101 will not make the toggle, s) that the cylinder can be left offimpression when desired. In the yparticular construction illustrated.` the lever 99 is pivoted at 104;-- -in a bracket 105 suitably secured to the frame of the machine. This lever has an arm 106 to which is connected a spring rod construction 107. Th'e lever-is also provided with a latching arm 108 provided with a notch 109 and the lever is provided with a CO-operating with the locking arm of the lever is a latch 111 on the cross shaft 112, this shaft being provided at each side of the machine with operating pedals 113. Connected with the latch is a rod 114 which, at its other end is se, cured to a lever arm 115 pivoted on a shaft 116, this shaft being provided with operating treadles 117 at eachside of th-e ma- Tlie lever arm 115 is connected to the spring rod construction 118.

With this construction` when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 with the foot treadle pressed down aga-inst the spring l107 the parts are in latched position and provide an abutment against which the rod 101 may Work tooperate the toggle actu ating rod 68 to effectthe making and break ing of the toggle. If, hoever, either of the levers117 or 113 are depressed the latch 111 is removed from the notch 109 where'- upon the movement of the rod 101 will cause the lever 99 to rock on the pivot 104 and the `toggle Will remain broken until the parts are returned to. the position shown in Fig. 2.

As before stated it is very often desirable in this type of machine to print on a thick sheet, such as cardboard or other similar niaterial too heavy to be handled by the impression cylinder, and the present machine is capacitated to do this. lVhen such heavy material is to be printed, the sheet after it has been printed rcma'-ins on the plate and passes With thc plate under the wiping and inking mechanisms, which have been lifted tion of the toggle operating rod 68, and by removal of the bar cam 82 the spring 76 will render the stop 'linger 72 inoperative. There such heavy material is to be fed a removable back stop 120 is provided on the feedboard 70, this stop being adjustable to provide for predetermined sheet lengths, this stop being arranged on the feedboard so that the sheet when placed in position on the board against the stop Will be positioned to lbe nipped between the cylinder and the plate and for- -ivarded through for printing.

In machines embodymg the invention in its best form, means will be provided for heating the plate support and plate so as to keep the ink in the desired condition of fini-dity, and in the best form of the invention this heating means will be electrical. lVhile various devices may be employed for this purpose, a convenient one is that shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. As there shown, tlere is provided an electrical circuit includinfr a pair of conductor rails 121, 122 in circuit with a line indicated by a I) through Whichcurrent is ldelivered from any suitable source of electrical supply, not illustrated. The bedisprovi'ded withSi heating elements in the form of apair of conductor bars 123, 124, which are supplied with current from a pair of shoesi125,l126 through circuits 12T. 128. These conductor rails are dimensioned to transmit the required degree of heat to loo the bed to keep the ink in the desired fluid condition.

The mechanism is or may be driven from a` suitable source of power, as a 'motor 129. which through a belt 130 drives the main driving shaft .131. From the' shaft 131 Vthrough a train"of gears 132,-133, 134` 135,

136` is driven a gear 137 on a shaft 138 extending lengthwise of the machine. This shaft 138 has at each end a gear 139 by which the carrier chain sprockets 18, 19, before referred to, are driven through a gear 140 on the sprocket shafts 141. Impression cylinder 5 -is driven from the gear 136 through an intermediate 142 and a gear 143 on the im pression cylinder shaft. The cam shaft 102, before referred to, isfdriven from the shaft 131'through a gear 144 on a shaft 145 having a Worm 14 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig; 1. i

Theinkin g mechanism is driven from the gear 139 through a gear 147 on theshaft 148 of the sprocket 19 through a train of gears 14.9, o, 151.

The wiping mechanism is ldriven from the shaft 181 through gears 152, 153, and intermediates 154, 155. This driving mechanism is shown only diagrammatically, as it is not` necessary for an understanding of the present invention, and any suitable or desirable driving arrangement, other than tliat indicated may be used asdesired.

lVitli the construction shown and 'described a plate printing machine has been produced capacitated to handle either light or heavy sheets Without any rearrangement of the press, and a machine which may be continuously operated but which at the same time will give an opportunity for the hand polishing of the plate at one end of the plate and delivery ofthe heavy products of the plate from the other end of the machine.

lVhile the specific mechanisms shown and described are those preferred, it will be understood that various changes may be made f in certain mechanisms Without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is: i l

1. Iii a plate printing machine, the combination of a travelling plate support, a cooperating iiiipression cylinder, and means whereby a product may be delivered by the impression cylinder after printing or. remain on .the plate and be delivered therefrom after the plate has passed the impression cylinder.

2. In a plate printing machine, the combination of a travelling plate support, a c0- operating impression cylinder, means for tripping the cylinder on and oft1 impression, sheet taking ldevices on the cylinder, and means for preventing the action of the sheet taking devices Without stopping theoperation of the tripping means.

3. In a plate 'printing machine, the combination of a travelling plate support, a cooperating impression cylinder, Jmeans for tripping the cylinderon and oft' impression,

,I and means l'whereby a product may be delivered by the impression cylinder after print ing orremain on the plate and be delivered therefrom after the plate has passed the impression cylinder.

4. In a plate printing machine, the coinbination of a travelling plate support, a cof operating impression cylinder, means for tripping the cylinder oii and off impression, sheet taking devices on the cylinder which control the sheet during printing and from which the sheet is delivered after"printing, and means for silencing the operation of the sheet taking devices Without stopping the operation of the tripping means.

.5. In a plate printing machine, tlie combination of'a travelling plate support, a cooperating impression cylinder, means for tripping the cylinder on and 0E impression, ysheet taking devices on the cylinder, land connections from the tripping means for operating the sheet taking devices Without effecting the operation of the tripping means.

6. In a plate printing machine, the combiiiation of a travelling plate support, a cooperating impi'ession' cylinder, means for tripping the cylinder on and olf impression, gripi'iers on the cylinder, connections from .the tripping means foi' operating the sheet taking devices, and means for preventing the action of the sheet tali-ing devices vvith-4 out ,stopping the operation of the tripping means. A

7. In a plate printing machine, the combination of a travelling plate support', acooperating impression cylinder, a toggle for tripping the. cylinder onv and ofi' impression,

a rod for opera-ting the toggle, grippers on the cylinder, connections from the rodfor operating the grippers and means for presoV venting the operation of the connections Without interfering With the operation of the rod.

\ 8. In a plate printing machine, the combination of a travelling plate support, a cooperating impression cylinder, a toggle for tion of a printing member, a 'co-operating impression cylinder, means for tripping the cylinder on and olf impression, grippers carried by the cylinder, connections `)from the tripping means for operating lthegrippers, and means for preventing the operation of the grippers Without interfering with the operation of the tripping means.

` 11. In a plate printing machine, the combination of a plate support, a co-operatin impression cylinder and inling, wiping an polishing mechanism, means for reciproeating the support past these devices, means whereby a product may be delivered by the impression cylinderafter printing or remain on the plate for delivery therefrom, and

means for causing a dwell of the support beyond the impression cylinderA and inking mechanism. i I 12. In a plate printing machine, the combination of a travelling plate support, a cooperating impression cylinder, means whereby afproduct may be delivered by the impression cylinder after printing or remain on the plate for delivery therefrom, and means for heating the support and plate.

13. In a plate printing machine, the combination of a travellingV plate support, a con operating;- impression cylinder, means whereby a product may be delivered by the impression cylinder after printing or remain on the plate for delivery therefrom, means for heating! the support and plate, and means for causing' a dwell o1? the support at 'different points in its path.

14. In al plate printing machine, the combination of a travelling plate support, a cooperating impression cylinder, means operable from different points of the machine for tripping the cylinder on and off impression, and means whereby a product may he delivered by the impression cylinder after livered therefrom'after the plate has'p s the impression cylinder.

r 15. In a plate printing machine, the coin-j printing or remain on the plate and be 'dc-,520

bination of a travelling plate support, a co-"fy operating impression cylinder, means operable from different points of the machine tor tripping thecylmder on and off impression,

sheet taking devices on the cylinder, conmyJ hand` f ED'WA RD P. SHELDON.

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