US1798850A - Dampening device for plate cylinders in offset-process printing presses - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1931.

S. MOE ET AL DAMPENING DEVICE FOR PLATE CYLINDERS IN OFFSET PROCESS PRINTING PRESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1929 INVENTO ,8 1

IVERT MOE. ,S'IGURDAMOE.

March 31, 1931. s, MOE T AL DAMPENING DEVICE FOR PLATE CYLINDERS IN OFFSET PROCESS PRiNTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N1 TORS. S/vm r M95. 5/0 Una/7.15405.

, 'TORNEY Patented Mar. 31, 1931 SIVERT MOE AND BIGURD A. MOE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DAMPENING DEVICE FOR PLATE CYLI NDERS IN OFFSET-PROCESS PRINTING PRESSES Application filed November 18, 1923. Serial No. 407,824.

This invention relates to offset process printing presses, and particularly to means for dampening the plate cylinders thereof.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, practicable and etlicient device for applying nn'iistnre to the plate cylinder in the form of a very fine spray or mist.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a simple and novel construction and arrangement whereby the application of moisture to various portions of the cylinder may be controlled as desired.

,ttnother object of the invention is to provide automatically actuated means for con trolling the application of moisture in a manner to prevent its entering the gap or open portion formed in the face of the plate cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to proride a structure whereby the area of the cylinder to which the moisture is applied may be varied as desired, and wherein any excess or moisture resulting from the operation of the device may be returned to its source of supply.

A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character disclosed in sundry details hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which I Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through a portion of an offset process printing press illustrating the application of our improved cylinder dampening device thereto, and taken approximately as indicated by the line 1 -1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating substantially the arrangement of parts shown in F ig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional e evat-ion of a portion of Fig. 1, illustrating a changed position of the automatically actuated means for preventing the moisture from entering the gap or open portion formed in the face of the plate cylinder.

Fig. 4. is a side elevation of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the spray nozzles and its supporting bracket.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the nozzle and bracket illustrated in Fig. 5 and taken as indicated by the line 6-6 thereof.

In the accompanying drawing only so much of an offset process printing press has been shown as is thought necessary for a clear understanding of the present invention, and, in the illustrative embodiment, comprises a plate cylinder 10 to the outer surface of which an etched plate 11 (Fig. 2) is attached, the said cylinder being provided with a gap or opening 12 in its periphery to admit of the positioning of the clamping or other suitable means (not shown) within the body of the cylinder 10 etched plate thereto.

Suitably positioned in a manner to co'opcrate with the plate 11 are a plurality of inking rollers 13 (Fig. l) for applying inks o'f ditl'erent colors to said plate, andyas is We understood in printing presses of the offset process type, a blanket cylinder or roller (not shown) is provided, which is adapted also to co-opcrate with the plate 11 in a manner to receive the ink applied to the plate and transfer it to the paper or other material to be printed.

The structure above described being comnoon in offset process printing presses, further detailed showing has been omitted from the drawings to facilitate the showing of features embodying the present invention.

For dampening the plate 331, as is C( nmon practice in the" operation of printing presses of the character described, we have devised a novel construction and arrangement of elements for applying water to the plate 11 and cylinder 10 in the form of a very fine or mist, which consists of a tube 17 having a closed end portion 18 and'having its opposite or open end portion 19 connected, by means of a hose or pipe 20, with an air compressor or other suitable means for supplying air under pressure to the tube 17.

Suitably spaced longitudinally along one side ofthe tube 17 are a plurality of outlet ports 21, clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and adju-stably mounted for securing the spray on the tube 17 at inter vals corresponding to the spacing of the ports 21, are a plurality of brackets 2 adapted to be secured to the tube 17 in fixed relation thereto by means of clamps 23 and clamps in screws 24.

uitably mounted with respect to the tube 17, referably in lugs 22a formed on the brac ets 22, are a plurality of preferably short pipes or nozzles 25 communicating with bores 26 formed in the lugs 22a, the lower end portions of the bores being submerged in the water of a supply tank or reservoir 27 mounted on cross bars 28 suitably positioned in a pair of frame members 29, the upper or discharge ends of the nozzles 25 being positioned ad'acent the air outlet ports 21 and substantia y in the plane of passage of the air discharged from said ports, in a manner to cause the air under pressure from the orts 21 to pass over or across the open end 0 the nozzle 25 in a direction substantially at right angles to the axial line of the nozzle, thereby creating a vacuum at the upper end of the nozzle for drawing water from the tank 27 and forcing it in the,form of a fine spray or mist against the cylinder 10 and late 11. For

reventing the entrance of oreign matter into the bores 26 the submerged or lower end portions of the bores may be covered with strainers or screens 30 of very fine mesh, thereby protecting the nozzles 25 against cloggin and consequent interference with the eflicient operation of the device.

For controlling the passage of water through the bores 26, each of the brackets 22 is provided with a valve chamber 31, shown, in the present instance, as extending substantially transversely to the axial line of the bore 26 and communicatin therewith, the said chamber bein adapted to receive the lower or inner en of a longitudinally movable valve 32 having screw threaded enga ement with t e bracket 22, whereby the va ve may be adjusted into or out of co-operative relationship with the bore 26. In as much as the valves 32 are mounted in a manner to be operated independently of each other, it will be observed from the foregoing description that the application of moisture to various portions 0 the platen may be effectively and selectively controlled, or, if desired, may be shut off entirely merely by manipulating the valves 32 to adjust their inner end portions into a position to close the bore 26 and prevent the passage of water therethrough.

For preventing the entrance of atmospheric pressure to the bores 26 packing rings 33 of resilient material, such, for example, as rubber or the like,are positioned, while under compression between portions of the brackets 22 as in slots or notches 34 formed in the brackets, and in a manner to surround the stems of the valves 32.

For preventing moisture from entering the gap or opening 12 in the plate cylinder 10 uring the operation of the machine, a plurality of deflector members or plates 35 and 36 are adjustably secured to oscillating supporting shafts or bars 37 and 38, respectively,

by means of split brackets 39, the'said shafts For connecting the deflector plates 35 and j 36 in a manner to cause them to move simultaneously away from and toward each other to permit or prevent the application of moisture to the plate cylinder 10, the shaft 37 is provided adjacent one of its end portions with a downwardly extending arm 43 adjustably secured to the shaft 37 and having its lower end portion forked as indicated at 44 in a manner to receive a sliding block 4;} pivotally mounted on a stud 46 adjacent the upper end of an arm 47 adjustably secured to the shaft 38 on which the lower deflector plate 36 is mounted.

For oscillating the shafts 37 and 38 in their bearings in a manner to actuate the deflector plates 35 and 36 is an arm 48, adjustably secured, preferabl to one of the end portions of the shaft 3 the u per or free end of the arm 48 being pivot y connected to one end of a link 49, the opposite end of which is-pivotally connected to the upper or free end of an arm 50, pivotally mounted at 51 on an extension 52 formed on one of the supplemental frame members 41. Rotatably mounted on one side of the arm 50 and intermediate the ends thereof is an, anti-friction roller 53 adapted to engage the surface of the plate cylinder 10in a radial plane passing through the cylinder withi the longitu inal limits of the gap or penin 12 formed in the cylinder as shown in igs 2 and 3, or, in other words, ositioned in a manner to enter the gap 12 w en the open side-of the c linder is adjacent the roller or dampening evice, as illustrated in Fig. 3,

and for urging the roller toward the cylinder to insure the roper functioning of the lates 35 and 36 suitable resilient means, suc for example, as a spring 54, ma be emplo ed, and as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive 0 the drawings, may be positioned around a rod 55 pi,votally connected at 56 to the arm 50 and slidably mounted in a lug 57 formed'on one of the upwardly extending bearing portions and a shoulder58 formed on the rod 55 in a manner to urge the roller 53 and upper end-1:;

of the arm 50 toward the plate c linder 10,

It willbe obscrvedfrom the oregoing description that as the gap 12 or open side of the cylinder approaches the moistening devicethe roller 53, by reasonjof its longitudinal'position with respect to the plate cyline the gap'lQ and through the connections of the arm 50 wit-h the deflector plates 35 and.

der and the'urging of the spring 54 will enter 36 will cause the plates to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 3, thereby causing the spray or mist from the nozzles to be deflected onto the plate 36 by which the moisture will'be returned to the supply tank 27. This position of the plates and 36 will be maintained during the passage of the gap 12 past the moistening device and as the forward edge of the plate cylinder surface engages the roller'53 in a manner to move it outwardly, the shafts 37 and 38 will be rocked in a manner to move the plates 35 and 36 to the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby permitting the spray or mist from the nozzles 25 to be directed against the plate 11 secured to the surface of the cylinder 10. The rod is provided at its outer or free end portion with screw threads adapted to receive an adjusting nut and lock nut 59 and 60, respectively, by which the roller 53 may be adjusted toward or away from the center of the plate cylinder 10 in a manner to cause a. reater or lesser movement of the roller 53 w en engaged by the surface of the cylinder, thereby providing an opening of greater or lesser degree between the co-operating edges of the plates 35 and '36, thus varying the area of the plate cylinder surface ex osed to the application of moisture from t e spraying device.

It will be observed from the fliregoing description that by reason of the mobility of both the upper and lower detector plates 35 and 36', the plates may be actuated with a relatively small movement-of the roller 53 which contributes materially to the smoothness of operation of the device. more, that the relative adjustability'of the plates 35 and 36, arms 43, 47, 48 and 50, to-

gether withthe roller 53 provides means for producing most desirable and eflicient cooperation of the forward or co-operating edges of the plates.

For preventing the accumulation of moisture adjacent the forward edge of the plate 35, a longitudinally extending bafile 61 of wide V-shaped cross section is secured to the plate 35 in a manner to extend from a point adjacent theforward edge of the plate to a point substantially toward the rear edge thereof, the forward leg portion 61a of the baffle providing a surface down which water from the forward edge of the plate 35, when Furtherin contact with the co-operating edge of the rom; which it will drop onto the lower deflector plate 36 and be returned thereby to the sup ly tank 27. t

,The ower front edge of the top plate 35 adjacent the cylinder 10 is provided with an upstanding flange portion'*62 which may be formed, as shown, b an extension of the pottion 61a of the bafiih 61 for reventing the accumulation of water by capilllary attraction on top of the plate 35, which would be most objectionable, in that, if sufiicient water accumulated it would be deposited on the cylinder 10 in quantities undesirable in a dev ce of the character described. In the present instance any water that might, by any chance accumulate on top of theplate 35 will be drained laterally to the side edges of the plate and on to the plate 36 and thence to the supply tank 27. i t

. or confining thev spray or mist adjacent the surface of the plate cylinder 10 a late or guard 63 may be suita' ly. positione adjacent the cylinder above the co-operatin edges of the plates 35 and 36, and supported in such position by brackets 64 secured to the su plemental frame members 41.

or protecting the sprayin device and supplytank 27 tromthe accumu ation of dust or the like, and for preventing foreign matter from entering the spray applied to, the, plate cylinder 10, a cover member orhood 65 may be provided andlsecured to a supporting frame member 66 piv'btally mounted at 67 on ears or lugs 68 carried by the upwardly extending bearing portions 40 of H supplemental frame members 41, the en portions of the members 66 being extended beyond the pivotal connections '67, as indicated at 69 (Figs. 1 and 2) in a manner to en age the underside of the shaft 37 and provide a sup port for the hood 65 in its 0 erative position. Operatively connected to t manner to move therewith is a plate 70 adapted to co-operate with theupper deflector plate 35 in a manner to form a continuation of the throat formed by the side walls 42"and plates 35 and 36, thereby means for efiectually irecting the spray or moisture toward the plate cylinder 10. It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the I vides a device for ap ying moisture to plate cylinders in a form 0 exceptionally fine spray or mist, and wherein the application ofmoisture to various portions of the cylinder may be controlled. Also that our invention provides automatically actuated means for preventing,

gap for'me Obviously, the present invention is not" limited to the precise construction and are hood 65 in a roviding additional a,

lit

lpresentinvention promounted on said frame an rangement shown and described, as the same may be variously modified. I Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly, as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and subcombinations.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In an offset process printing press, the combination with a rotatable plate cylinder having a gap formed in theperiphery thereof, of a device for spraying moisture on said cylinder, and a plurality of movable-co-opcrating members for preventing the entrance of moisture into said gap as the cylinder is rotated.

2. In an offset process printing press, the

combination with a rotatable plate cylinder having a gap formed in the periphery thereof, of a device for spraying moisture on said cylinder, and a plurality of automatically actuated co-operating members for preventing the entrance of moisture into said gap as the cylinder is rotated.

'3. In an offset process rinting press, the combination with a rotahle plate cylinder having a gap formed in the periphery thereof, of a device for sprayin moisture on said cylinder, and a plurality o automatically actuated members movable in opposite directions with respect to each other for prevent-' ing the entrance of moisture into said gap as' the cvlinder is rotated.

4. In an offset process printing press, the combination with a rotatable plate cylinder having a gap formed in the periphery thereof, of a device for spraying moisture on said cylinder, a plurality of pivotally mounted automaticall actuated co-operating members adapted to e positioned between said cylinder and spraying device and movable in oposite directions with respect to each other or preventing the entrance of moisture into said gap as the cylinder is rotated, and means co-operable with said cylinder for actuating said member.

5. In an offset process printing press, the combination with a rotatable plate cylinder having a gap formed in the periphery thereof, of a frame, a device mounted on said frame for sprayin moisture on said cylinder, a plurality of deflector lates movably cl co-operable'in a manner to prevent the entrance of moisture into said gap, and means carried by one of said plates for' preventing the accumulation of moisture adjacent the edge of said upper plate;

6. In an offset process printing press, the (ombination with a rotatable plate cylinder having a gap formed in the periphery thereof, of a frame, a device mounted on said frame for spraying moisture on said cylinder, upper and lower deflector plates pivotally mounted on said frame and co-operable with each other in a manner to prevent the entrance of moisture into said gap, means carried by the upper plate for preventing the accumulation of mpisture on the edge of said upper plate, and means co-operable with said cylinder for actuating said plates.

7.. In an offset process printing press,the

combination with a rotatable plate cylinder having a gap formed in the periphery thereof, of a frame, a device mounted on said frame for spraying moisture on said cylinder, upper and lower deflector plates pivotally mounted on said frame and co-operable with each other in a manner to prevent the entrance of moisture into said gap, means for adjusting the position of said plates with respect to each other, means co-operable with said cylinder for actuating said plates, and

the accumulation of moisture adjacent, the.

edge thereof, means for preventing the accumulation of moisture on top or said plate, means for ad usting the position of said plates with respect to each other, means pivotally mounted on said frame and co-operable with said cylinder for actuating" said plates, and means for adjusting said actuating means with respect to said plates.

9. In an offset-process printing press, the combination with a rotatable plate cylinder having a gap formed in the periphery thereof, of a frame, a device mounted on said frame for spraying moisture on said cylinder said device having a source of water supply associated therewith, a plurality of supporting bars rotatably mounted in said frame, an upper deflector plateadjustably secured to the other of said bars for directing moisture toward said cylinder and for returning excess moisture to said source of supply, co-operating arms adj ustably secured to the respective bars, and means co-operable with said cylinder and adjustably connected to one of said bars for rocking the bars in a manner to cause said plates to move away from each other and permit moisture to be sprayed onto said cylinder and to approach each other in a manner to prevent moisture from entering said gap as the cylinder is rotated.

10. In an offset process printing press, the combination with a rotatable plate cylinder having a gap formed in the periphery there of, of a frame, a device mounted on said 1,7ee,seo

frame for spraying moisture on said cylinder, upper and lower deflector plates pivotally mounted on said frame, a source of water supply associated with said spraying device, side walls co-operable with said upper and lower deflector plates in a manner to form a throat for directing moisture from said spraying device toward said cylinder, and a hood ada ted to be positioned over said spraying evice and said source of supply.

11. In an offset process printing press, the combination with a rotata le plate cylinder having a gap formed in the periphery thereof, of a frame, a device mounted on said frame for sprayin moisture on said cylinder, upper,

and lower eflector plates pivotally mounted on said frame, a source of water supply asso-- ciated with said spraying device, side Walls movable with one of said plates and co-operable with both said upper andlower deflector plates in a manner to form a throat for directing moisture from said spraying device toward said cylinder, a hood ivotally mounted on said frame and adapte to be ositioned over said spraying device and sai source of supply, means carried by said hood and cooperable with one of said deflector plates in a manner to form a continuation of said throat, and means co-operable with said cylinder for actuating said plates.

12. In an offset process printing rose, the combination with a plate cylinder aving a gap formed therein, means for applying moisture to said cylinder comprising a. source of water sup 1y, a plurality of nozzles communicating t ierewith, means for directin air under pressure past the discharge en of said nozzles for drawing water from said source of supply and directing it toward said cylinder in the form of a fine spray or mist, means for controlling the passage of water to said nozzle, and a plurality of pivotally mounted automatically actuated members for preventing the entrance of moisture into said gap as the cylinder is rotated.

13. In an offset process printing press, the combination of a plate cylinder having a gap formed therein, means for applying moisture to said cylinder comprising a source of water supply, a'plurality of nozzles communicating therewith, means for directing air under pressure past the discharge ends of said nozzles for drawing water from said source of supply and directing it toward said cylinder in the form of a fine spray or mist, means 'for controlling the passage of water to said nozzles comprising a plurality of brackets adjustably mounted on said air directing means and havin bores formed therein communieating wit said nozzles and said source of water supply, filtering means positioned adjacent the receiving ends of said bores, valve stems adjustably mounted in said brackets and co-operable with said bores for controlof November,

ling the passage of water therethrough, re-

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