US1716609A - Printing-plate-locking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l 9 brie r1 fireuv'on A. w. wooo PRINTING PLATE LOCKING MECHANISM Original Filed July 2, 1926 [E 7 ZZaae Cylvvier Z5 fipremz'aa g 6315a) June 11, 1929.

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June 11, 1929. H. A. w. WOOD PRINTING PLATE LOCKING MECHANISM 2 Sheets$heet Original Filed July 2, 1926 Patented June 11, 1929.

STATES PATENT FFICE.

HENRY A. 'WISE HOOD, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO VIOOD NEXVSPAPER MACHINERY CORPGRATIUN, OF NEVT YORK, N. "L, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

PRINTING-PLATE-LOGKING IMECHANISM.

Application filed July 2, 1926, Serial No. 120,097.

This invention relates to a quick lock-up mechanism for the plates of printing cylinders and is an improvement on my application with the same title, Serial No. 95,333, filed March 17. 1926.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an instantaneously acting plate locking and unlocking device, having in general the characteristics of said application, with electrical means connected therewith, whereby, when the means for unlocking the plates is in operative condition, it will be impossible to drive the press at any other than threading-in speeds, and to provide a safety device for preventing accidental operation of the clamps.

In the use of the device the various plate clamps are left open in order that the plates may be removed and new ones applied, so that up to the last instant the plates may be shifted or replaced without additional labor and then, by the mere starting. of the press, all the clamps are closed by the rotation of the cylinders themselves. In this way much time is saved in getting ready to start the press and the number of men necessary to start it is reduced.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Rcfereice is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which lcig. 1 is a plan of a press equipped with a preferred plate locking and unlocking device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one end of one plate cylinder showing the looking device;

F 3 is a side view of the same partly in central section showing certain electrical connections;

Fig. i is a similar fragmentary view showing the clamping ring cam;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the clamping ring operating mechanism in inoperative position and Fig. 6 is an end view indicated by the arrow 6 in Fig. 2.

In my above mentioned application I have shown. a machine for quickly locking plates on the printing cylinders of a press, to save delays due to the operation of hand tools and to the separate locking of the plates on the several plate cylinders of a press. In

Renewed November 7, 1928.

this case I have shown the main features thereof.

I have shown in Fig. 1 a plan of a press with several impression and plate cylinders. in each case the various plates on the plate cylinder 11 are locked by two semi-cylindrical locking rings 10 at each end. In this view I have shown the locking devices, which will be described. in detail later, as under the control of two electric circuits 1), one connected with each locking device all along the press. At the two sides of the press are lock up push-buttons 14 each controlling the several solenoids 30 located on that side.

Y'Vhen the push button 14: shown open is closed, the several solenoids on that side of the press will be energized and by rotating the cylinders in a manner hereafter described the pressure on the plate will be relieved. This automatically opens the circuit 13 on the lower half of the push button lever which normally closes the circuit 1.5 of the press control other than the jogging or inching speeds. Thus when the lock-up solenoids 30 are energized it is not possible to drive the press at any other than those speeds. But the press can. be run at the low speed through the slow motor not shown. 7 represents a source of power such as a dynamo.

I also provide means for making it impossible to operate the lock-up solenoids 30 electrically while the press is driven by the large or high speed motor 16. This consists of a circuit breaker 9 which is connected to the motor sides of the circuit breaker 6 of the large motor. It is so arranged that when the large motor 16 is in operation the current controlling the lock-up solenoids is broken by a contractor 8 attached to the last mentioned circuit breaker 9. This provides absolutely safety in operating the lock-up solenoid so that it is impossible to run the press on the large motor when they are in use and conversely it is impossible to use them while the press is driven by the large motor.

Each of the locking rings 10 extends half way around the cylinder and locks half the plates at that end of the cylinder, and the four rings on each cylinder, of course, look all the plates thereon. In the form shown, the locking ring 10 has a beveled edge 17 which engages the beveled edge of the plate P and holds the plate on the cylinder as is well understood. The actual force which holds the plate is supplied by a plurality of springs 18 on guide rods 19 extending longitudinally of the cylinder and having their heads inserted in recesses in the ring so that this ring is normally held by the springs with sullicient force to clamp the plates firmly in position. I employ yielding force for this purpose so that the ring can be pulled back to release the plates and so that, when the means for pulling the plate back is out of operative connection with the ring 10, the springs will quickly and automatically draw the ring back into the locking position as is indicated by a comparison of Figs. 3 and 5.

For this purpose each ring- 10 is provided with a groove 20 which has a cam 21. This cam is ui'idercut at 22 to provide an inwardly slanting surface for a purpose that will appear. The operating means for the clamping ring comprises a lever 23 which is operated automatically.

On this lever 23 a stud 2;") having on the bottom a cam roller 26. This roller is of a truncated conical form to lit the slant 22 ot the undercut of the cam. it will be obvious that it the cam roller is down in the groove 20 which is uniform around the ring except for the cam 21, and is located at a point at a distance from the cam, the springs 18 will be free to clamp the plate. N ow ill the cylinder rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 the cam 21 will be moved to the position shown in that figure, and in doing so the ring 10 will be drawn back to the releasing position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The purpose of undercutting the cam will now be obvious. The lever 23 cannot be moved to release the roller 26 from the cam while in contact therewith on account of this undercut and the conical shape of the roller. Therefo e, normally the press ill be sttmped in this position and the clamps will he held open. The plates can be changed or adjusted and then the press can be started up. This results in the roller riding oil the cam and the cam moving back into clamping position.

ll the roller 26 were left in the position shown in Fig. 3 the plates would be unclamped at each revolution. For the purpose of witlnlrawina; the cam roller 26 from operative position the shaft 27 which carries the lever 23 is provided with anarm 28 which is connected with a plunger 2 operated by a solenoid 30 which is connected with one line 12. \Vhen the press is not running, the push-button 1 1- can be operated to connect the circuit. All the lovers 23 on that side will be pulled down so as to bring the cam rolls 26 into the grooves 20 of the rings. Then during that half rotation of are press all the top clamps on that side will be released and the press will be stopped with the cam roller in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Now it the current is broken by means of the push-button there vill be no magnetic energy to hold the levers in operative position. A spring 31 operating on each arm 28 will be free to move the lever up to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 5. On the arm 28 are two projections 32 which come into contact with stops 33 at the ends oi the oscillation of the lever and restrict its motion in that way.

To prevent the manual or accidental oparetion of each lever 23 i show a latch lever El i connected with the plunger 29 so as to be operated thereby just before the latter operates the lock up lever 23. This locks the lever in place whenever the circuit to the solenoid 30 is broken. The clamps on the other side are controlled by identical connections shown in part at the middle oi tle otner side in Fig. 1.

In this way it will be seen that all the clamps ot the pre s can be withdrawn automatically during" the same rotation to release the plates. On starting up, the plates on one half ot' each cylinder will all be clamped during the same hall rotation and without.- any necessity for any attendant to be near any of them to perform any locking opera tion. They do not have to manipulate screws or belts or see that any adjustments are made correct.

.llt will be seen that half the clamps on either half of the cylinders may be opened simultaneously and left open so that the plates can be removed and new ones applied.

The press is started up at threading-in speed and the top clamps on one half of the cylinders open during one half printing period of the press or one half rotation of the plate cylinders. Up to the last instant, plates can be shifted or replaced without additional labor and then with the mere startin; of the press all open clamps are closed. This saves much time in the starting of the and a great deal of lnirryingr around on the part of the operators to get the plates locked.

It will be seen, therefore, that the press "annot lie driven at any other than the threading in speed until the plates are locked when the electrical arrangement is used.

Although I have illustrated and described only one term of the invention 1 am aware of the fact that modifications can be made theren by any person skilled in the art with out departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

ilherei ore, I do not wish to be hunted to the details oi construct-ion herein shown and described but what I do claim is:

1. In a printing press, the combination with clamping means for the printing plates,

means for driving the press at printing speeds, and means for driving the press at slow speeds, of means for withdrawing the plate clamps, and means whereby the operation of the means for driving the press at printing speeds will render the clamp withdrawing means inoperative.

2. In a printing press, the combination with automatic clamping means for the printing plates, electric connections for driving the press at full speed, and electric connections for driving the press at slow speeds, of electro magnetic means for withdrawing the plate clamps, and means whereby the connection of the electric means for driving the press at full speed will render the electro magnetic means inoperative.

3. In a printing press, the combination with automatic means for withdrawing the plate clamps to release the plates, electric connections for driving the press at full speed and electric connections for driving the press at slow speeds, of means whereby when the press is connected to be driven at slow speed the automatic means will be in "full operative condition, and means whereby when the press is connected to be driven at high speeds the electro magnetic means will be inoperative to release the plates.

1:. In a printing press, the combination with means for withdrawing the plate clamps to release the plates, means for driving the press at printing speed, and means for driving the press at slow speeds, of means whereby whenthe press is connected to be driven at slow speed the clamp withdrawing means will be in full operative con dition, and means whereby when the press is connected to be driven at high speeds the clamp withdrawing meanswill be inoperative to release the plates.

In a printing press, the combination with a series of plate cylinders, automatic clamping means thereon for clamping and releasing the plates, solenoids adapted to render the clamping means operative for unclamping the plates when the solenoids are energized, a motor for driving the press and means whereby the solenoids are all cut out of the circuit when said motor is thrown into the circuit and operated.

6. In a printing press, the combination with a series of plate cylinders, means there on for releasing the plates, and solenoids for rendering the releasing means operative for unclamping the plates, of means for rendering the releasing means inoperative when the solenoids are de-energized, a motor for driving the press at printing speeds, and means whereby the solenoids are all cut out of the circuit when said motor is thrown into the circuit and operated.

7. In a printing press, the combination with a series of plate cylinders, means thereon for releasin the plates, solenoids for rendering the plate releasing means operative for unclamping the plates, and springs for normally holding the releasing means in inoperative position when the solenoids are deenergized, of a motor for driving the press, a circuit breaker connected with the motor for connecting it to the line, a second circuit breaker connected to the motor sides thereof, and a contactor for the last named circuit breaker for breaking the circuit controlling the solenoids and preventing their operation when the first circuit breaker is closed.

8. In a printing press, the combination with a series of plate cylinders, automatic clamping means thereon for clamping and releasing the plates, and solenoids for operating the clamping means adapted to render them operative for unclamping the plates when the solenoids are energized, of a motor for driving the press at printing speeds, a circuit breaker for the motor, a second circuit breaker connected to the motor sides thereof, and a contactor operated by the first named circuit breaker for breaking the circuit controlling the solenoids and preventing their operation when the circuits are connected to throw in the motor.

9. In a printing press, the combination with the plate cylinders, plate clamps therefor, and a series of solenoids on each side of the press adapted to be connected up to withdraw the plate clamps and release all the plates on that side of the press, of a push button for controlling the whole series of solenoids on that side of the press, a circuit connected with the push button when it is closed for energizing said solenoids, a series of levers connected with the solenoids and adapted to be moved thereby into operative position when energized, cams on the several plate clamps which, when the cylin der turns to a certain position, will withdraw the plate clamps, if the several solenoids are energized, a motor for driving the press at inching or jogging speeds connected with one side of said push button and operative to drive the press when the puslrbutton is closed, said solenoids being connected to be tie-energized when the push button is open, and a circuit connected and completed when the push button is open for operating a motor to drive the press at full speed, whereby when the press is driven at full speed the solenoids are de-energized and cannot act to withdraw the plate clamps, but when it is driven at inching or jogging speeds the solenoids are energized and the plate will be automatically released.

10. In a printing press, the combination with the plate cylinders, plate clamps therefor, and a series of solenoids on each side of the press adapted to be connected up to withdraw the plate clamps and release all the plates on that side of the press, of a push button for controlling the whole series of solenoids on that side of the press, a circuit connected with the push button when it is closed for energizing said solenoids, a series of levers connected with the solenoids and adapted to be moved thereby into operative position when energized, cams on the several plate clamps which, when the cylinder turns to a certain position, will withdraw the plate clamps if the several solenoids are energized, a motor for driving the press at inching or jogging speeds connected with one side or said push button and operative to drive the press when the push button is closed, said solenoids being connected to be ale-energized when the push button is open, and means whereby when the press is driven at inching or jogging speeds the solenoids are energized and can act to withdraw the plate clamps.

11. In a printing press, the combination with the plate cylinders, plate clamps therefore, and a series of solenoids adapted to be connected up to withdraw the plate clamps and release the plates, of a series of: lovers connected with the solenoids and adapted to be moved thereby into operative position when energized, cams on the several plate clamps which, when the cylinder turns to a certain position, will withdraw the plate clamps if the several solenoids are energized, a motor for driving the press at inching or jogging speeds, and means whereby when the press is driven at inching or jogging speeds the solenoids are energized and can act to withdraw the plate clamps.

12. In a plate elampin g device for a printing press, the combination of a plate clamp, a spring for normally holding the plate clamp in position for locking tne plates, said plate clamp having a cam groove thereon, a lever having a roller adapted to be located in the cam groove for pulling back the plate clamp when the cylinder rotates to a certain point, a spring for holding the lever in inoperative position away from the clamp, a solenoid for moving the lever into opera tive position with its roller in the cam groove, and means connected with the plunger of the solenoid for locking the lever in inoperative position when the solenoid is inactive.

13. In a plate clamping device for a printing press, the combination with a plate clamp, and means for normally holding the plate clamp in poe 'tion for lockin the plates, of movable means i'or drawing bd k the plate clamp when the cylinder rotates to a certain'point, said means normally being in inoperative position, a solenoid for moving the last named means into operative position, and a latch connected with the plunger of the solenoid and operated thereby for locle ing the last named means in inoperative position when the solenoid is not energized.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature.

FENRY A. FUSE WOOD.

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