US1744131A - Unit press with shiftable folding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1930. R. R. M CORMICK UNI T PRESS WITH SHIFTABLE FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mww o o 0 0 0 0 9 03- 0 0 0 o e 0 0 o e 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 a o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I M Q Jan. 21, 1930. R, R, McCORMlCK 1,744,131

UNIT PRESS WITH SHIFTABLE FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 21, 1930. R. R. MCCORMICK UNIT PRESS WITH SHIFTABLE FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 21 1930 ROBERT R. MCCORMICK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS UNIT PRESS WITH SI-IIFTATBIAE FOLDING MECHANISM Application filed August 28, 1925. Serial No. 53,036.

This invention relates to a printing press of the unit type wherein the printing units are arranged in a row and in a common plane, and has especial reference to the disposition 5 of the folding units with relation to the printing units.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a printing press of the so-called unit type wherein the printing units are arranged 1 in a single row in a common plane and the folding units are movably arranged with respect to the printing units in such a manner as to permit the use of the minimum of printing and folding units, while providing the maximum flexibility in association of pages. 7

Another object of my invention resides in providing a single row of printing units dis posed in a horizontal plane and in mounting the folding units above the printing units in such a manneras to permit the folding units to be shifted relatively to and lengthwise of the row of printing units whereby to permit the installation of a maximum number of printing units in a row together with the maximum flexibility of association with the minimum number of printing units.

Another object of my invention resides in providing a unit type press wherein the frame of the press forms a mounting for a single row of printing units arranged in a horizontal plane and wherein the upper portion of the press frame is constructed to provide a substantially continuous horizontally disposed platform to receive a plurality of folding units mounted thereon and wherein each of said folding units is constructed to be independently shiftable along said platform while at the same time being operatively driven from a source of power on said press frame by which arrangement each of said folding units is adapted to receive the webs from selected printing units.

A further feature of my invention resides in the particular means for maintaining a folding unit in stationary position while at the same time permitting it to be shifted along the platform when desired, and especially in connection with the power driving means for the folder whereby it may be driven in various shifted positions.

Another feature of my invention resides in the arrangement of the unit type press having the printing units in a single row in a horizontal plane, together with the arrangement of the folding units disposed above the printing units and capable of being moved longitudinally of the row of printing units in such manner as to render possible the arrangement of mailing tables extending the full length of the press at the folding level,

and a conveyor disposed beneath the mailing tables and likewise extending the length of the press whereby the papers may be delivcred from the folding unit onto the mailing table and thence delivered to the conveyor for delivery to either end of the machine.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the follow ing specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a rather diagrammatic view of my unit press showing folding units disposed above the horizontal row of printing units and receiving the webs from certain prlnting units.

of said Figure 2 is a similar view showing the foldlng units 1n shlfted positions whereby to receive webs from certain other selected prlnting units.

Figure 3 is an enlarged constructional view showing the printing unit, a single folding unit and the manner of drlvlng the foldlng mechanism from a power shaft carried by the printing frame.

ment.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,

my unit press preferably consists of frame 1 which in the present instance is shown as provlding a mountlng for a plurality of a press printing units 2 disposed in asingle horizontal plane. The frame 1 of the press is shown as mounted on uprights 3, to provide sutlicient lower room for the supply rolls 4 located beneath each printing unit.

These printing units are driven by means of a motor 5 likewise located in the lowermost level, which in turn through a train of gearing drives a horizontally disposed power shaft 6 mounted on the frame 1. This power shaft 6 in turn drives a series of upright power spindles 7 carried by the frame one each being disposed preferabl in front of a printing unit.

In order to arrange the maximum number of printing units in a single row and thereby utilize the maximum available space for the printing units, the folding units are not disposed directly in the line of and between the printing units. In the arrangement shown in the drawings, the folding units are shown as disposed above the printing units. If desired these folding units may be disposed in front of the single row of printing units.

In order to permit the maximum flexibility in the association of the printing units and folding units, I propose to mount the folding units so that they can be shifted longitudinally of the line of printing units into various positions of adjustment so that each folding unit may be moved to receive the webs from difi'erent groups of printing units. In the form of my invention illustrated, the frame 1 is constructed and arranged at the portion above the printing units, as a supporting platform 8. This is most facilly accomplished by forming the top of the frame as a substan tially continuous smooth deck. The folding units each comprise an independent frame 9 u on which the folding mechanism is mounted The bottom ortion 10 of each frame 9 is rovided with a caring surface 11 adapted in stationary position to rest firmly on the deck 8 of the upper portion of the frame and is provided with a depending lip 12 which overhangs the front portion of the deck 8 to insure proper alignment.

Means is provided for permitting each of these folding unit frames 9 to be shifted rela- I tively to the deck surface 8 of the main frame 1. In the present instance each frame is provided with a plurality of arms 13, preferably four in number, bolted to the vertical side members of the frame 9. These arms 13 form spaced bearings for a spindle 14 having a central eccentric portion 15 upon which is freely journaled a roller 16. The end of the spindle 14 is provided with a lever 17 having a handle 18, so that by turning the lever in the desired direction the eccentric portion 15 is shifted to thereby raise or lower the roller 16. When the eccentric portion is shifted upwardly the roller 16 is carried upwardly and out of contact with the deck portion 8 of the main frame 1, so that the frame 9 may rest solidly upon the upper surface of the deck 8 and the folding unit frame will remain stationary. On the other hand when it be desired to shift the Y folding frame longitudinally of the printing roller 16 whereby to carry the weight of the frame 9 and thereby permit it to be shifted longitudinally of the press.

It is, of course, manifest that any desired number of folding units may be tl us mounted on the deck 8 of the printing frame 1. Figures 1 and 2 show four of such folding units, Figure2 showingthem in a shifted pOsiti0n,s0 as to receive the webs from different arrangements of printing units. Obviously other shifted positions of the folding unit are possible. In fact, a folding unit may be positioned in front of any desired printing unit simply by coupling the power shaft of the folding unit to any desired vertical spindle 7 arranged in front of each printing unit. To this end each folding unit frame 9 is provided with a shaft 19 terminating in a coupling member 20 which is adapted to couple to a complementary coupling member 21 carried by the upper end of each of the vertical power shafts 7. In this manner the driven mechanism of each folding unit may be driven in any of its shifted positions. Other types of drives may be substituted and particularly a type wherein a folding unit driving mechanism is continuously coupled to the source of power in any position intermediate two adj acent spindles 7.

Another feature of my invention resides in the possibility with apparatus shown of arranging a series of mailing tables at the upper folding level and extending the full length of the press and in arranging a conveyor preferably a belt conveyor underneath the table, and extending likewise the full length of the press so that the papers can be delivered to each end of the press. This construction entails a tremendous saving. At present it is necessary to use a carrier boy to take the papers from the press delivery and place them on the paper lifts for transmission to the mail room. Any number of such carrier deliveries are necessary and an equal number of carrier boys for the press deliveries. With the folders on the upper level and the mailing tables and conveyor arranged as described the fly-boy will jog the papers and place them on the mailing table, and mailers who tie the papers and drop them onto the belt conveyor where they will go to one end for mail circulation or to the other end for city delivery. The saving in carrier boys alone with this construction is considerable. In adition to saving in the press room, there will also be a saving in the mail room for under the present system it is necessary to have a mailer at each one of the five paper lifts in operation to remove the papers from the paper lifts. With the described arrangement these men are dispensed with.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a unit type press, the combination of a frame, a plurality of printing units arranged thereon in a line in a common plane, a press drive, a folding unit, means for mounting said folding unit so that it can be shifted relatively to certain of said printing units, and without change of position of any of the printing units, to selectively receive the webs from predetermined printing units and means carried by said frame for driving said folding unit in its shifted positions, said folding unit driving means being a branch of the press drive.

2. In a unit type, press, the combination of a frame, a plurality of printing units arranged thereon in a line and in a horizontal plane, a press drive means forming a support above certain of said printing units, a folding unit located on said support, means for permitting said folding unit to be shifted along said support whereby to occupy various positions above and relatively to certain of said printing units and to receive the webs from selected printing units, said folding unit being shiftable with out changing the position of any of the printing units, and means carried by said frame for driving said folding unit in said shifted positions, said folding unit driving means being a branch of the press drive.

3. In a unit type press, the combination with a frame, a pluralityof printing units disposed thereon in a line and in a common plane, apress drive, said frame being constructed and arranged to form a supporting way above said units, a plurality of folding 5; units disposed on said way, means permitting said folding units to be moved along said way into selected positions to receive the Webs from predetermined printing units, said folding unit being shiftable without changing the position of any of the printing units, and means carried by said frame for driving said folding units in various shifted positions, said folding unit driving means being a branch of the press drive.

4. In a press, the combination of a frame, a plurality of printing units disposed in a row and in a common plane thereon, a press drive, said frame being constructed and arranged so as to form a continuous supporting surface above said printing units, a driving means on said frame, a plurality of spaced power transmissions on said frame actuatable by said driving means, a plurality of folding units shiftable along said supporting surface, said folding units being thus adjustable with respect to the printing units without requiring a change in the position of the lat ter, and means for coupling each of said folding units to selected power transmissions, said folding unit driving means being abranch of the press drive.

5. In a unit type press, the combination of a main frame, a plurality of printing units disposed thereon in a horizontal plane, said frame above said printing units being constructedand arranged to form a platform, a folding unit comprising an independent frame resting on said platform, a plurality of rolls carried by said independent frame and means for shifting the supporting weight ed to rest on said platform, a plurality of rollers carried by said frame and means for bringing said rollers into contact with said platform to support said independent frame whereby it may be easily moved along said platform, a' folder on said platform, and means for driving said folder.

7 In a unit type press, the combination of a frame, a plurality of printing units disposed in a horizontal plane thereon, said frame forming a substantially continuous platform above said printing units and longitudinally of said frame, a power shaft extending lengthwise of said frame, a plurality of transmission shafts extending vertically of said frame one for each printing unit, the upper end of each shaft terminating in a coupling at the level of the platform, an independent frame shiftably mounted on said platform a folding unit on said frame, a complementary coupling shaft on said independ ent frame adapted to couple to the coupling member of a selected vertical shaft, and means for driving the folding mechanism of said independent frame from said complementary coupling shaft on said frame.

8. In a unit type press, the combination of a frame, a plurality of printing units arranged thereon in a line in a common plane, a folding unit mounted on the top of said frame above said printing units and being movable relatively to the latter whereby. it may be positioned to receive the webs from selected printing units, said frame and said folding unit being respectively equipped with driving elements adapted to become interengaged by the positioning of said folding unit in operative relation above any selected printing unit, whereby the folding unit is adapted to be connected to a source of power in any of its shifted positions by merely arranging the unit in selected position.

9. In a unit type press, the combination of a frame, a plurality of printing units arranged thereon in a line in a common plane, a folding unit mounted on the top of said frame above said printing units and being movable relatively to the latter whereby it may be positioned to receive the webs from my name to selected printing units, said frame carrying a plurality of driving elements, said folding unit being adapted to be raised for travel along said frame and to be lowered to a position of rest above selected printing units and said foldin unit having a complemem' tarry driving e ement adapted to become interengaged with one of the driving elements on the frame when said folding unit is lowered to a position of rest, whereby the folding unit is adapted to be connected to a source of power in any of its shifted positions by merely arranging the unit in selected position.

' 10. A web printing press including in combination a series of rotary printing units, a trackway extending along said series, a folding mechanism movable along the trackway, a common driving means for the printing units, a drive shaft for each printing unit, a drive shaft for the folding mechanism and means for coupling the drive shaft for the folding mechanism with the drive shaft of any one of the printing units.

11. A web printing press including in combination a horizontal series of rotary printing units, a trackway extending along and above said series, a folding mechanism movable along the trackway, a common driving means for the printing units, a vertical drive shaft for each printing unit, a drive shaft for the folding mechanism and means for coupling the drive shaft for the folding mechanism with the drive shaft of any one of the printing units.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe this specification. ROBERT R. MCCORMICK.

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