US1970809A - Wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1934. F. c. MARQUARDT WIPING AND POLISHING MECHANISM FOR STEEL PLATE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 10, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN 8%)4 L ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 1934. M'ARQUARDT WIPING AND POLISHING MECHANISM FOR STEEL PLATE PRINTING MACHINES I v '6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1932 Aug. 21, 1934. F. c. MARQUARDT WIPING AND POLISHING MECHANISM FOR STEEL PLATE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 10, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 mlNVENT W LAHQRNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT o-FFicE r W-IPING AN D POLISHING MECHANISM FGR STEEL PLATE PRINT KNG MACHINES Frank G. Marquardt, -Brookly-n, N. $5., assignor to American Bank Note Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 10, 1932, Serial No. 637,189

My invention relates to wiping and polishing mechanisms for steel plate printing machines, and more particularly to a mechanism for imparting feeding movement to the wiping Webs. in steel plate printing machines it is necessary to remove the ink from the top or non-printing surface of a printing plate by means of a wiping web, and to impart a final polish to the plate with the incidental removal of any small quantity of ink which is not removed by the wiping web, by means of a polishing web prior to the making of the impression.

With one type of rotary steel plate printing machines, it has been the practice to hold the wiping and polishing webs against movement with, or counter to that of, the plate during the wiping and polishing operations, although the platen over which said webs pass receive a lateral reciprocating movement to prevent the formation of ink streaks upon the non-printing surface of the plate.

The wiping webs, in addition to removing the surplus ink, accumulate the ink at the parting line between the web passing over the wiping platen and the plate, thus providing surplus ink which is distributed about the plate and forced into the lines of the design in a manner to effectively pack these lines, or thoroughly fill them with the ink.

Prior to my invention it was the practic'eto' so construct the wiping mechanisms for rotary steel plate printing machines of the type towhich the invention relates, as to secure a longitudinal feeding movement of the wiping or of the polishing l web by mechanisms havinga fixed predetermined operative effect, so that irrespective of the character'oi the design upon, or of the size of, the plate the same quantity of Web was fed with each'cycle of operations of the machine. Great difficulty has always been experienced in securing a proper feeding of the web without possibility of the formation of creases and wrinkles therein, due to the stresses to which theweb is subjected during the wiping or the polishing operation, this difiiculty, however, being more pronounced with a wiping web than with a polishing web because the inajor portion of the cleaning of the plate results from the action of the wiping web thereon.

In printing from an intaglio, engraved or undersuriace steel printing plate, there is great wastage of ink because of th'e'nec'essityfor'applying inkto the non-printing or top surface of as well'as in the lines of the design upon the plate, and the subsequent removal of the larger portion of such suriaceink. The amount of ink applied varies in accordance with thecharactei' of the design and with the size of the plate. The use of a wiping Web having a progressively increased degree of saturation by the ink in the direction of movement of the plate, ensures a morepertfect wiping operation, and a more 'perfeet wiping results in a more 'perfectpolishing.

A proper conditioning of the wiping web -is largely dependent uponthe aggregate amount of ink applied'to the plate and the length of Web f ed following each wiping operation. 'In steel plate printing machines, in use prior to my invent-ion, 'theus'ual practice was toprovide an intermittently actuated web feeding mechanism for imparting fiked feeding movement to both the wiping and polishing webs irrespective of the character of the design uponthe plate, or of the length of the plate. With a short plate, itwas necessary to apply a greater quantity of ink to the plate in order to secure 'a proper degree of saturation of the'wiping web and a'properpacking of thelines of the design, while with a long plate, it was necessary to apply less ink to the plate in order to prevent an over-saturation of the wiping web. Consequently, in the inking of platesfthe efi'iciency of the wiping mechanism particularly, and of the polishing mechanism incidentally; was determined by the amount of ink applied to the plate, this amount being regulated by "the adjustment-of the ink fouri't plate. Such adjustment was dilficult to secure with any degree of accuracy, and as a consequence the usual practice was toprovide ink upon the plate considerably in excess of that actually required for its proper inking thus ensuring,,at all times, a minimum saturation of the wiping web.

The amount of ink applied to theplate hadlto be at all times sufficient to secure a proper conditioning of the length of the wiping webdetermined by the fixed quantity of feed thereof by the wiping, mechanism, the size, character or de sign-upon the plate being of secondary consideration. Hence, the wastage of ink was always greaterrthan would be normally required by the character of the plate itself.

'liur'thermore, the ieeding of a fixed length of b'oththe wiping andpolishing webs, irrespective of "the requirements of the plate itself, made it necessary to stop the machine at certain intervals in order to place new rollers of wiping an'cl polishin'g web in the machine. Whenever a" new web is s'upplied'to the machine, a proper conditioning of this web was necessary before 'themachine could again be used for making an imprint.

With the above conditions in mind, 'I have pro- Kill lot

vided a web actuating mechanism for advancing either the wiping or the polishing web or both prior to each wiping or polishing operation wherein the mechanism may be so adjusted as to regulate the length of web fed with each actuation of said mechanism with regard to the size of'the plate and the character of thelines of the design thereon, thus permitting the adjustment of the supply of ink to the inking rollers solely with regard to'the plate requirements. By thus regulating the feed, particularly of the wiping web, the proper conditioning of the web is 1 determined by the quantity ofink' upon the nonprinting surface of the plate necessary for securing a proper filling and packing of the lines and the plate need not be supplied with anexcess of ink solely for the purpose of conditioning the wiping web.

It is obvious that with an eff cient wiping action, the quantity of ink, which must be removed by the polishing web, .will be almost negligible so that the rapid soiling of the polishing web is avoided and its sole vfunction'becomes that of bringing the top or non-printing surface of the plate to its normal bright finish by removing any lm spots thereon caused by the oil vehicle of the ink. With this condition, only a slow intermittent feeding movement of the polishing web is necessary, and by the mechanism of the invention, it is possible to regulate this feeding movement to accord with the efliciency secured by the wiping mechanism, as well as the size of the plate. When referring to the size of the plate, its length is meant, since the width of different plates has no influence upon the proper conditioning of the wiping web, and the actionof the polishing webv beyond that the feeding movement of each web must be determined by some portion of each plate where the inking or polishing is most difiicult.

When the mechanism of the invention is used for feeding both the wiping and the'polishing webs, its construction must be. such as to secure .a' differential feeding interval of the wiping web and the polishing web, since one of these webs may be operative as to one plate, while the other is operative as to another plate and each web must be fed duringan interval while the other is operative upon a plate. The length of polishing'web fed with each actuation of: the

mechanism ofjthe invention is shorter than that of the wiping web so thatthe construction of the mechanism must be such as to permit such variation in the quantity of the length of each web fed with each actuation of the mechanism. When the mechanism is applied to both the wiping and the polishing webs, its construction is also tice heretofore followed, of determining the quantity of ink applied to'a plate mainly by the necessity for securing a certain degree of saturation of the wiping web. This will be more fully referred to hereinafter.

The invention consists primarily in a wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wiping platen, a web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the web toward said platen, 'a take-up mechanism adapted to draw said web across said platen, an

intermittently operative actuating means for said feeding and said take-up mechanisms including therein a member having a fixed quantity of movement, and means whereby said actuating means may be adjusted to regulate the quantity of web fed and taken up with each actuation of said means without varying the quantity of movement of said member; and in such other novel features and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the lower portion of a rotary steel plate printing machine, showing the wiping and polishing mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a condensed enlarged view of a portion of the actuating means;

Fig. 4 is an illustrative View showing the position of parts immediately following the operation of the actuating means to advance the wiping web;

Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the position of parts immediately following the advancement of the polishing web; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the position of parts'immediately prior to the advancement of the polishing web.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. a

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the invention in connection with a steel plate printing machine having a plate cylinder 10 adapted to receive two plates 11 and 12. Since the wiping and polishing mechanisms, in their operation cooperate only with the plates upon the plate cylinder, the drawings omit all other mechanisms of, the machine, such mechanisms being old and well known in the rotary steel plate printing art.

, The wiping mechanism comprises two platens 13 and 1e extending longitudinally of the cylinder 10, these platens being of the usual construction and beingactuated in the usual manner, it being customary as heretofore stated to impart a reciprocatory, movement to these platens longitudinally of the. cylinder to avoid streaking of the plates and ensure a more complete 'filling'of the lines of the design upon the plate. Adjacent the platens 13 and .14 is a support 15 for a roll of wiping web shown at 16. Between said support and the platens are' a pair of feeding rollers 1'7 and 18 adapted to frictionally engage the web 16 and advance it towards the platens 13 and 14. The web passes about a guide roller 19 in its run from the roll of web to the feeding rollers. These rollers are set sufiiciently tight to'resist any drag of theplate upon the portion of the web passing aboutthe platens 13 and 14 during the wiping operation. Tneplatens l3 and 14 are spaced slightly apart and between them, the web 16 passes about a weighted guide roller 20, which serves to take up any slack.

Below the support 15 is a support 21 for the rewind reel, consisting of slotted arms permitting upward movement of the rewound webwith the gradual increase in its diameter with a continued operation of the machine. Below the slotted arms is a take-up or rewind roller 22. One of the feed rollers, 17, carries a sprocket wheel 23 which is connected by a sprocket chain 24 with a sprocket wheel 25 carried by the arbor of the rewind reel 22. The feedingrroller 1'7 and the take-up roller 21 are the same diameter as are the sprockets and a lock nut 42.

movement of the rock arm 27 in one direction, to

23 and 25 so that the length of web drawn from the supply reel is the same as the element of web rewou-nd upon the rewind rest.

This general arrangement and mnstrucndn is old a'nd well known in rotary s'teel pl-aite printing machines, my invention relating more particularly to the actuating'means operative-upon these old or similar mechanisms for the purpose of impar'ting and timing the actuation thereof and ror controlling the length of web 16 fed" with each actuation thereof. h

Mounted adjacent the plate cylinder 10 1s a 1m tatable housed cam 26, and mounted ad this Cain is a rock arm 27. The cam 26 is oohnected with a gear 28 upon the plate cylinder through an idler gear 29 and a gear 30 c'ar'r'ied by the cam. The gear 30-is of one-half the diame-ter of the gear 28 upon the plate cylinder so as to receive one complete revolutioniorieach plate upon the cylinder 10. If three plates are used upon said cylinder, the gear 30 will be one-third plate Cylinder.

The rock arm 27 is pivoted at one end thereoi' at 31,'andcarries an anti-friction roller 32 engaging the cam 26.

Carried by the arbor 31 of the take-up or rewind'reel is a friction ratchet clutch member 32. Mounted upon this clutch member is a gear wheel 33. The member 32, about the periphery thereof, is provided with a plurality of tapered recesses 34 in which are seated one or more balls or cylinders This general type of ratchet clutchis old and well known, being used in connections where the driving member, by movement-in one direction will carry the driven member with it, and

in its movement in the opposite direction will disengage it from the driven member so as to permit it to move freely in relation thereto.

. Mounted in suitable guideways adjacent the take-up or rewind roller 22 is a rack 38 enmeshed with the gear 35. The rack 38 is reciprocated by means of a connecting rod 39 pivotally connected with said rack and with a block 40 adjustably mounted in an elongated slot ll in the arm 27.

- The'block 40 is secured in any adjusted position in relation to the slot 41 by means of end clamps By the above construction,

the right, will impart contra-clockwise movement to the gear 35, and impart similar movement to the balls or cylinders 37 in the recesses 36in a manner to set the clutch and impart contra-clockwise movement to the take-up or rewind reel 22, and movement of the arm 27 in the opposite directi'on, to the left, will impart clockwise movement the gear may be varied by changing the radius.

at which the: arm 27 acts upon the connecting rod 39 by the adjustment of the pivot block longitudinally of the slot 41. obviouslythe nearer this block is to the pivot 31, the shorter will be the movement of the rack 38.

may be a considerable range in the length of the web fed as the arm 27 in the actual machine is long, the rack 38 being located adjacent the base df t-hei'machine, parental-this pursoseand partly In this manner thelength of feed of the web may be variecLand there for a mer'e convenient neat-an er "the rewind mechanism; 'By the foregoing construction it will te neted' that the feeding rollers 17 and 1 8 and the ta-he iip roller 22 are intermittentlyactuated by the u ati-ng means consisting of'the cam 26, m

27-, the connecting rod 39, the c -operatm nec'ting rod 39, radially ,Qi the Frock aria 27, p

m'i ts the' adjustment of this mechanism n'fa man her to regulate the quantity of web-red nd taken: up with ea ch cycle of operations or the actuat means. This result is secured notwithstanding that the rock arm 27 receives a fiir'ed diia htity'of oscillatory movement with each rotation or the cam ze. 2 1

The cam 26- is provided with-substantially an: metrically opposite rises and falls,- the rise being indicated at'42and thefall at 43, the camexcept at the rise and fall having two portions at different radii from the axis of the cam as snowmespectively at 44 and 45. The spacing or the rise and: fall of the cam approximately 180 apart, is' for the purpose of securing a proper timing in the feeding of the wiping web 16in relationto each plate 11 and 1 2, and also a proper timing in the feeding of the polishing web as -'a result of the movementsof the rock arm 27. A rise'and'a fall on the cam, of course are necessary if the actuating mechanism is used to causethe feeding of either the wiping web or the polishing web alone, but the locating of the caries in the manner described is necessary when the rock arm 27 is usedto cause the feeding of both wiping and polishing webs.

The polishing mechanism will now be described. This comprises a single platen 46, spaced from the wiping platens 13 and 14 in the direction of movement of the cylinder 10. Adjacent the-platen roller is a support47 for a reel of polishing web 48. The web passes from the rollabout the guide roller 49 and between a pair of feeding rollers 50 and 51 adapted to frictionall-y engage the web 48, and advances it toward the platen 46. After leaving the feed roller 51, the web passes about guide rollers 52 and 53.

Adjacent and below the support 47 is a support- 54 for the rewind reel consisting o'f'slot'ted arms permitting upward movement of the rewound web with its gradual increase of diameter with a continued operation of the machine. Below the slotted arms of the supp'o'rt54 is a take-up or rewind roller 55. I

"One of'the feed rollers 51 carries a sprocket wheel 56 which is connected by a sprocket chain 57 with a sprocket wheel 58 carried by the arbor of the rewind reel 55. An idler sprocket 'wheel 59 co-operates with the sprocket chain 57', a similar idler sprocket wheel 60 co-operating with the sprocket "chain 24. Both these idler sprockets serve merely as tensioning devices.

Carried by. the arbor 61 of the polishing web take-up or rewind roller 55 is a friction ratchet clutch member 62. Mounted upon this clutch member-is a gear 63, and within taperedrecesses 64 about the periphery of the member 62- are seated one or more balls or rollers 65 This ratchet clutch isofthe same construction-as that heretofore described as a part of the actuating mechanism for the wiping web take-up or rewind mechanism, with the exception that the recesses 64 are set oppositely to the recesses 36, so that with the setting of the clutch -mejchanisxn' operative 'upon the take=up or rewind roller 55'; said foil roller will receive a clockwise movement, where as with the setting of the clutch mechanism take-up or-rewind roller is a rack 66, the teeth of which are enmeshed with the gear 63. This rack 66 is reciprocated by means of a connecting rod 6'7 pivotally connected with saidrack and with ablock 68 adjustably mounted in the elongated slot 41 in the arm 2'7. The block 68 .is secured in any adjustedposition along the slot 41 by means of end clamps and lock nuts 69.

a The wiping web16, in passing from the roller 18, passes about a guide roller and across the platen 13, and from the platen 14 about the guide roller '71 to and about the rewind roller 22.

I The roll of rewound wiping web is shown at '72 and the reel of rewound polishing web is shown at '73.

. The cam 26, the rock arm 2'7, the connecting rod 6'7, the rack 66 and the members of the clutch mechanism 6265 constitute an intermittently operated actuating means for feeding the polishing web, the movability-of the connecting rod 6'7 radially of the rock arm 27, permitting the adjustment of this actuating means in .a manner to regulate the quantity of web fed and taken up with each cycle of operations of said actuating means.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the rock arm 27 and the cam 26 are common to the actuating means for the mechanisms for feeding thewipingweb and the.

polishing web. This, however, is largely a matter of expediency, since by it an accurate timing in the feeding of the two webs in relation to each other is more readily secured than with two independent rock arms and cams.

The operation of the herein described wiping and polishing mechanism is substantially as follows: v I r The determination of the; quantity-of wiping -web fed prior to the wiping of each plate is of greater importance than a regulation of the quantity of polishing web fed. This is because any saving of ink is accomplished through a proper regulation of the wiping web. Therefore, if desired, the rock arm 27 and its actuating means 26 may be used solely to actuate the wiping web feeding mechanism. is a practical matter, however, it is preferable to utilize these parts to also actuate the polishing web feeding mechanism, since regulation of the quantity of polishing web fed prior to the polishing of each plate is'highly desirable, mainly in the interests of a saving of the polishing web.

I will therefore first describe theoperation of the mechanism as to thefeeding of the'wiping web, and then describe its operation in relation to the polishing web. 7 This, I will follow with a description of the timing in the actuation of the two webs, notwithstanding that the rock i arm 2'7 and cam 26 are a common source of power or actuating means for both web feeding mechanisms. V Y a H In feeding the wiping web throughthe matensioning roller 20, over the platen 1'4,'around the guide roller '71 to about the rewind roller 22 the end being wound upon the spool of the rewind reel '72.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, theplate 11 has been inked and is about to engage the wiping web 16. The arm 27,

in this view, is shown in its extreme position to the right, with the roller 32 passing from the rise 42 of the cam 26 and just entering upon the high concentric portion 44 of said cam. The parts will remain in this position until the fall 43 of the cam moves the rock arm 27 to its extreme left position shown inFig. 6, the position of parts shown in Fig. 5 being that immediately preceding thecmovement of the rock arm 27 to the left. 7 f

1 This movement of the arm 27 to the left will impart no movement to the take-up or rewind roller 22, since movement of the rock arm to the left will impart a clockwise movement to the gear 35 Which will disengage or release the clutch and permit a free movement of said gear.

Following this movement of the arm to the left, it will remain stationary during an interval cor,- responding with the low concentric cam surface 45. Consequently, the wiping web will remain immovable during the entire interval following themovement of the rock arm 27 by the rise 42, until toward the completion of a full revolution of the cam 26, said rock arm is moved to the right by said rise .42, since while the arm 2'7 remains stationary by reason of the engagement of the roller 32 with concentric portions 44 and 45 of the cam and is moved by engagement with the fall 43, nomovement is imparted to the takeup or rewind roller 22. With the movement of the rock arm 27 by the rise 42, however, which movement will be to the right, the rack 38'is actuated by theconnecting rod 39 in a manner to impart a contra-clockwise movement to the gear wheel 25, which movement will force the balls or rollers 3'7 towardthe shallow part of the recesses 36 in the clutch member 34, thus setting the clutch so as to impart contra-clockwise movement to said take-up or rewind roller 22.

The amount of turningmovement of the roller 22 is determined by the length of the reciprocatory movement of the rack 38, and this in turn is determined, not aloneby the quantity of movement in arc of the rock arm 2'7, but by the distance which the pivot block 40 is set from the pivot 31 about which the arm 2'7 has movement.

With an increase of theradius at which this block is set. there will be an increased feeding movement of the wiping web 16, notwithstanding that therock arm 26 has a constant range of oscillation.

. The cam 26 has one full revolution for each plate 11 or 12'carried by the plate cylinder 10. Consequently the arm 27 will have one full direct and return oscillation for each plate upon said cylinder. The rise 42 upon the cam. 26 is so set in relation to the space between plates upon .the cylinder that its movement to the right will be completed prior to the engagement of the forward edge of a plate with the portion of the web 16 about the platen l3, and following the disengagement of the preceding plate, as 12, from the portion of the web passing about the platen 14. Consequently, all movement of the web 16 will occur while it is-not engaged with any plate.

The length of the rise 42 is such that a full feeding movement may be imparted to the web 16 when the largest plates, which are used upon the machine, are .mountedupon the cylinder 10, or; when succeeding plates are most closely spaced in relation to each other. Plates of different lengths are used upon these machines, but the number of plates is always the same, that is to say, vif a machine is designed to have the plate cylinder carry two plates, there are never more than two plates mounted upon the plate cylinder, while if the machine is designed to carry three plates, there are never more than three plates mounted upon said cylinder.

As heretofore explained, to ensure a proper conditioning of the wiping web in orderto effectively fill and pack the lines of a design upon the plate, it is necessary that this web shall be saturated or partially saturated to a degree which will prevent or retard the absorption of the ink with the movement of the plate in relation to the wiping web so that as each portion of the plate leaves the web, or is about to leave the web, there is no tendency of the web, by capillary attraction, to draw ink from the lines of the design. In fact, with a proper degree of saturation of the wiping web, this web itself will supply ink to some of the lines rather than pick the ink therefrom. This conditioning of the web requires theapplication of ink to the plate, not only with regard to the filling of the lines, but also with regard to the amount of ink which must be absorbed by the web. With a short plate the amount of ink applied to the plate must be increased, as compared with a long plate, in order to furnish sufiicient ink for the conditioning of the wiping web. At least that was the condition prior to my invention.

With the wiping mechanism of the invention, however, when a short plate is mounted upon the cylinder 10, instead of increasing the quanity of ink applied to the plate, the connecting rod 39- is moved radially of the arm 27, the amount of this movement being governed largely by the length of the plate.

When the block 40 is. set closer to the axis 31 of the arm 27, the throw of the rack 38 is decreased and the turning movement of the gear 35 and the take-up or rewind reel 22 is reduced. As a consequence, the quanity of wiping web fed will be reduced, and withthe shortening of the amount ofv web fed, the'available ink for conditioning the web will be suflicient to secure the desired degree of saturation without increasing the quantity of ink. applied to the plate. .For example, as-

suming. that with a large plate and a six-inch wide platen, the web, with each actuation of the roller 22, is fed four inches, each plate is subjected to four inches of unsaturated web and there will be two inches of saturated web passing over the platen 13. The web passing over the platen 14 is always saturated or partially saturated with ink. The supply of ink upon the top or non-printing surface of a large plate will be sufficient topartially saturate this four inches of fresh web and will increase the degree of saturation of the partially saturated two inches of web adjacent the platen 13. With a small plate, however, the area of the plate will be such that if the plate is' inked to the same extent as the long plate, assuming that the short plate is only half the length of the long plate, there will not be sufficient ink to secure a desired degree of saturation of the four inches of fresh web. By cutting down the length of web fed to two inches instead. of four, there will be sufiicient ink upon the short plate to properly condition this" two inches of web, and it will take three feeding movements of the web, instead of only two, before six inches pass from the platen 13 as With the long plate, so that two-thirds of the web, instead of only one-third, following each feeding movement, will have absorbed ink, one-third from two plates, and one-third from one plate. In this manner, the shortening of the length of Web fed will ensure the maintenance of the web in proper condition without increasing the amount of ink applied to a short plate as compared with acorresponding area on a large plate. a

By trial impressions the connecting rod 39 'may be adjusted radially of the arm 27 to any extent which it is found ensures a proper inking of the plate. With some designs more ink may be required to nil in the lines and less will be available for conditioning the web, but the actuating means for feeding .the web maybe adjusted to accommodate the wiping mechanism to this condition. This adjustability of the actuating means for the wiping web feeding mechanism eifectsa saving of the wiping web as well as of ink, when small plates are used upon the cylinder 10. Also, by regulating the length of feed of the wiping web, over-saturation of the web, resulting in streaking of the plate may be avoided. I I I By the use of the mechanism of the invention, not only are economies effected as to ink and web, but it is possible to soset the machine as to secure a more uniform inking of succeeding plates with the'avoida'nce of losses resulting from the making of defective impressions.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, the relation of parts is such that the plate 12 has passed from engagement with the polishing web 48, at

which time the rock arm 27 is in its extreme right position, the roller 32 being about to enter the fall 43 of the cam 26. With the continued rotation of said cam, the arm 27 will be moved to the left impartinga direct reciprocation to the rack 66 and a clockwise rotation to the gear 63. This movement of the gear 63- willmove the balls or rollers 65 toward the shallow part of the recesses 64, thus setting the clutchmechanism in a manner to turn the take-up or rewind roll 55in a clockwise direction. Movement of this roller and of the sprocket wheel 58 carried thereby, through the sprocket. chain 57 and sprocket wheel-56, will actuate thefeeding rollers 51 and 52 in a manner to draw polishing web 48 from its rolland advance it toward the polishing platen 46, the slack thus created being taken up by the take-up or rewind roller 55 and wound upon the rewind reel '73.

The movement of the rock arm 27 will, when completed, establish a relation of parts, as shown in Fig. 6,v the succeeding plate 11 not yet hav ing engaged the polishing web 48 passing about the platen 46. With the continued rotation of the cam '26, the rock arm 2'7 will remain stationary throughout the engagement of the roller 32 with the low concentric cam portion 45, but said arm will receive reciprocation to the right from the rise 42 ofthe cam, following which the arm will remain stationary during the engagement of the roller 32 with the high concentric cam portion 44.

During the revolution of the cam 26, following the actuation of the rock arm 27 by the fall 43 of said cam, notwithstanding that before said fall again becomes operative, said arm will have rollers 65 in a direction to'disconnect this gear from the driven clutch member 62. The connecting'rod 67 may be adjusted radially of the arm 26 by means of the block 68 and the clamps 69 in a manner to regulate or control the quantity of polishing web fed with each complete revolution of the cam 26 or each complete direct and return oscillation of the rock arm 27. The function of the polishing web ismerely to remove any streaks of ink or any blotches 'of oil upon the non-printing surface of the'plate, and since with an effective wiping action such are not present in any substantial amount, the polishing web becomes soiled very slowly. Consequently, as compared with a wiping webythe length of polishing web fed preparatory to the polishing of a plate is relatively much shorter.

With short plates the block 68 may be set closer to the pivotal support 31 of the rock arm 27, while with longer plates it'may be set more remote from this support 31. The adjustment is mainly for the purpose of limiting the length of polishing web fed to that required to properly clean the non-printing surface of the plate, since with the shortening of the amount of web fed there is not only a saving in the consumption of the web during the run of the machine, but stoppage of the machine for the replacement of thesoiled web by a fresh one is lessfrequent.

The adjustment of the block 68 is along the same slot 41 in the arm 27 which permits adjustment of the block 40 through which power is transmitted to the wiping web take-up or rewind roller 22, it being possible to utilize the same arm 27 as a part of the actuating means for both the wiping and the polishing mechanism because of the differential quantity of feed required for the wiping web and for the polishing'web. i V

The use of actuating means, including an arm 27, which is common to both the wiping web and the polishing web feeding mechanisms is advantageous as it ensures accuracy in the timing in the feeding of these webs and permits the regulation of the quantity of either web fed without disturbing the adjustment as to the other web and without interfering with the timing above referred to.

The functioning of the actuating means in operating the different web feeding mechanisms individually, has heretofore been described but without regard to the timing factor. The spacing of plates upon the plate cylinder 10 affords an interval during which either the wiping web or the polishing web may be advanced, but this space is so short and the wiping platens and the polishing platens are so spaced that this interval does not coincide as to both of the Webs. According to the position of the plate cylinder, the wiping of one plate may occur while another plate is being polished; one portion of a plate may be wiped while another portion of it is being'polished; the polishing web may be operative upon a plate while the Wiping web is inoperative, and the wiping web may be operative while the polishing web is inoperative. Consequently, the wiping webv may be fed while the polishing web must be held stationary, since it is operating to polish a plate, and inversely, the polishing web may be fed while it is necessary to maintain the wiping web stationary because of its operative relation to a plate.

With movement of the rock arm 27 to the right, the Wiping web actuating mechanism is caused t0 advance this web, and consequently this movement must occur while a plate is disengaged from the web 16. Movement of the arm to the right, however, will merely turn the gear 63 without imparting feeding movement to the polishing web, which is necessary because at this time the polishing web 48 is in contact with a plate, or may be in such contact, according to the length of the plate. Movement of the rock arm 2'7 to the left occurs while the wiping web 16 is engaged with a plate, but following the disengagement of a plate with the polishing web 48. With this movement, the polishing web rewind roller 55 is actuated to advance the polishing web but the gear 35 is turned idly in relation to the driven clutch member associated therewith, so that the wiping web remains stationary.

By setting the rise 42 and fall 43 approximately 180 apart; by having each extend through an arc of the same degree as the smallest arc in the space between the largest plates used upon the cylinder 10; by imparting one full revolution'to the cam 26 for each plate upon the cylinder, and determining the ratio of the gear 28 and the gear 29 by the number of plates upon the cylinder, to wit: two to one or three to one, it'is possible to secure the timing of the feeding of the two webs in the manner above described and still maintain'each web stationary during the full interval it is engaged with a plate, notwithstanding that during this interval the rock arm 2'? receives reciprocatory movement in one direction since this movement will have no effect upon the web which at the moment. is engaged with a plate.

' The use of a ratchet clutch mechanism permits the intermittent actuation of both web feeding mechanisms, and the use of a ratchet friction clutch mechanism permits a close setting of the actuating mechanism to regulate the quantity of web fed.

The mechanism of the invention is heavy, durable and readily accessible, being located'at one side of the machine.

Regulation of the quantity of feeding movement, as to either web, is secured by determining the effective leverage at which the arm 27 acts through the connecting rod 39 or 6'7 upon the rack 38 or 66. The length of the arm 27 is sufficiently great to permit the setting of the actuating means for the web feeding mechanisms respectively to meet the requirements of a plate of any size which may be used upon the machine.

It is not myjinte'ntion to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A wipingand polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wiping platen, a web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the web towardsaid platen, a take-up mechanism adapted to draw, said web across said platen, an intermittently operative actuating means for said feeding and said take-up mechanisms including therein a member having a fixed quantity of movement, and means whereby said actuating means may be adjusted to regulate the quantity of web fed and taken up with each actuation of said means without varying the quantity of movement of said member.

,2, A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing: machinesembodying therein a wiping platen, a wiping web feeding mechanism adapted to. advance the wiping web toward said platen, a take-up mechanism adapted to draw said wiping web across said platen, a polishing platen, a polishing web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the polishing web toward said platen, a takemp mechanism adapted to draw said polishing web across said platen, an intermite tently operative actuating. means for said win.- ing web and said polishing web feeding and takeup mechanisrns respectively, and means whereby the actuating means operative upon the polishing webfeeding and take-up mechanism may be adjusted to regulate the quantity of polishing web fed and taken up with each actuation of. said means.

3. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wiping platen, a wiping web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the "iping web toward said platen, a take-up mechanism adapted to draw said wiping web across said platen, a polishing platen, a polishing web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the poiishing web toward said platen, a take-up mechanism adapted to draw said polishing web across said platen, an intermittently operative actuating means for said wiping web and said polishing web feeding and take-up mechanisms respectively, and independently adjustable means whereby the quantity of wiping weband the quantity of polishing web fed and taken up with each actuation oi said means may be varied.

a. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein. a wiping platen, a wiping web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the web toward said platen,

, a take-up roller co-operating with a rewind reel to draw said wiping web across said platen, a ratchet clutch mechanism, the driven member of which is carried by said take-up roller, and the driving member of which includes a gear, a reciprocatory rack enmeshed with said gear, a cam, driving means for said cam, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and a connecting rod, one. end of which is connected with said rack and the other end of which is connected with and adjustable l radially of said arm, whereby the effective leverage at which said arm acts may be adjusted to regulate the movement of said clutch mechanism and the quantity of wiping web fed and taken up with each actuation of said arm.

5. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wiping platen. a wipingweb feeding mechanism adapted to advance the wiping web toward said platen, a take-up mechanism adapted to draw said wiping web across said platen, a polishing platen, a polishing web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the polishing web toward said platen, a take-up roller co-operating with a rewind reel to draw said polishing web across said platen, a ratchet clutch mechanism, the driven member of which is carried by said take-up roller,- and the driving member of which includes a gear, a reciprocatory rack enmeshed withv said gear, a cam, driving means for said cam, a rock arm actuated by said and a connecting rod, one end of which is connected with said rack and the other end of which is conected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby the efiective leverage at which said arm acts be adjusted toregulate the movement'of said clutch mechanism and the quantityof polishing web-fed and taken up with each actuation of said arm.

, 6. A wipingand polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines. embodying therein a wiping platen, v a wiping web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the wiping web toward said platen, atake-up roller adapted: to draw said wiping web across said platen, a polishing platen, a polishing web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the polishing web toward said platen, a take-up roller adapted to drawsaid polishing web across said platen, ratchet clutch mechanisms, the driven members of which are carried by said take-up rollers respectively, and the driving members of which each include a gear, reciprocatory racks enmeshed with said gears respectively, a cam, driving means for said cam, a rock arm actuated bysaid cam, and connecting rods each-having one end connected with a rack and the other end connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby the effective-leverage at which said arm acts upon either connecting rod may be adjusted to regulate the movement of either of said clutch mechanisms independently ofv the other and the quantity of wiping web or polishing web fed and taken up with each actuation of said arm.

7. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing -machines embodying therein a wiping platen, a wiping web feeding mechanism adapted toadvance the web toward said platen, a take-up roller co-operating with a rewind reel to draw said wiping web across said platen, a friction ratchet clutch mechanism, thev driven member of which is carried by said take-up roller, and. the driving member of which includes a a gear, a reciprocatcry rack enmeshed with said gear, a cam, driving means for said cam, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and a connecting rod, one end of which is connected with said rack and the other end of which is connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby the effective leverage at which said arm acts may be adjusted to regulate the movement of said clutch mechanism and the quantity of wiping 'web fed and taken up with each actuation. of said arm.

8. A'wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wiping platen, a wiping web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the wiping web toward said platen, a take-up mechanism adapted to draw wiping web across said platen, a polishing platen, a polishing web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the polishing web toward said platen, a take-up roller co-operating with a rewind reel to draw saidpolishing web across said platen, a friction ratchet clutch mechanism, the driven member of which is carried by said take-up roller, and the driving member of which includes a gear, a reciprocate-i y raclr enmeshed with said gear, a cam, driving means for said cam, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and a connecting rod, one end of whichis connected with said rack and the. other end of which is connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby the effective leverage at which said arm acts may be adjusted to regulate the movement of said clutch mechanism and the quantity of polishing web fed and taken up with each actuation of said'arm.

9. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wipe ing platen, a wiping web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the wiping web toward said platen, a take-up roller adapted to draw said its wiping web across said platen, apolishing platen, a polishing web'feeding mechanism adapted'to advance the polishing web toward said platen, a take-up roller adapted to draw said polishing web across said platen, friction ratchet clutch mechanisms, the driven members of which are carried by said take-up rollers respectively, and the driving members of which each include a gear, re-' ciprocatory racks enmeshed with said gears respectively, a cam, driving means for said cam, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and connecting rods each having one end connected with a rack andthe other end connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby the effective leverage at which said arm acts upon either connecting rod may be adjusted to regulate the movement of either of said clutch mechanisms independently of the other and the quantity of wiping web or polishing web fed and taken up with each actuation of said arm. 7

10. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wiping platen, a pair of feeding rollers adapted to ad-= vance the wiping webtoward saidplaten, a takeup roller co-operating with a rewind reel to draw said wiping web across said platen, connections between said take-up rollerand said feeding rollers, whereby said feeding rollers and said takeup roller are simultaneously actuated to feed and take up the same length of wiping web, a ratchet clutch mechanism, the driven member of which is carried by said take-up roller, and the driving member of which includes a gear, a reciprocatory rack' enmeshed with said gear, a cam, driving means for said cam, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and a connecting rod, one end of which is connected with said rack and the other end of which is connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby the effective leverage at which said arm acts may be adjusted toregulate the movement 'of said clutch mechanism and the quantity of wiping web fed and taken up with each actuation of said arm. V

11. A wiping and polishing mechanism for'steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wiping platen, a wiping web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the wiping web toward said platen, a take-up mechanism adapted to draw said wiping web across said platen, a polishing web, a pair of feeding rollers adapted to advance the polishing web toward said platen, a take-up roller co-operating with a rewind reel to draw said polishing web across said platen, connections between said take-up roller and said feeding rollers, whereby said feeding rollers and said take-up roller are simultaneously actuated to feed and take up the same length of polishing web, a ratchet clutch mechanism, the driven member of which is carried by said take-up roller, and the driving member of which includes a gear, a reciprocatory rack enmeshed with said gear, a cam, driving means for said cam, a rock arm actuated by said a cam, and a connecting rod, one end of which is connected with said rack and the other end of which is connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby the effective leverage at which said arm acts may be adjusted to regulate themovement of said clutch mechanism and the quantity of polishing web fed and taken up with each actuation of said arm. I

- 12. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wiping platen, a wiping Web feeding mechanism 7. adapted to advance the wiping web toward said platen, a take-up roller adapted to draw said wiping web across said platen, connections between said take-up roller and said feeding mechanism, whereby said feeding mechanism and said takeup roller are simultaneously actuated to feed and take up the same length of wiping web, a polishing platen, a polishing web feeding mechanism adapted to advance the polishing web toward said platen, a take-up roller adapted to draw said polishing web across said platen, connections between said last named take-up roller and said polishing web feeding mechanism,whereby said feeding mechanism and said take-up roller are simultaneously actuated to feed and take up the same length of polishing web, ratchet clutch mechanisms, the driven members of which are carried by said take-up rollers respectively, and the driving members of which each include a gear, reciprocatory racks enmeshed with said gears respectively, a cam, driving means for said cam, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and connecting rods each having one end connected with a rack and the other end connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby the effective leverage at which said arm acts upon either connecting rod may be adjusted to regulate the movement of either of said clutch mechanisms independently of the other and the quantity of wiping web or polishing web fed and taken up with each actuation of said arm.

13. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of spaced plates, embodying therein a wiping platen, a wiping web feeding mechanism, a wiping web take-up mechanism, a polishing platen, a polishing web mechanism, a polishing web take-up mechanism, a cam having a rise and a fall substantially 180 apart, connections between said cam and said plate cylinder, whereby said cam receives one full revolution for each plate on said cylinder, a rock arm actuated by said cam, oppositely set ratchet clutches having driven members which are operative upon said take-up mechanisms respectively, and each having a driving member, connections between said driving members respectively and said arm, whereby each take-up mechanism will be actuated while the other is inoperative, and means whereby the effective leverage of said arm upon said last named connections respectively, may be independently regue lated to vary the quantity of web fed and taken up with each reciprocation of said arm.

14. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of spaced plates, embodying therein, wiping and polishing web platens, wiping and polishing web feeding mechanisms, wiping and polishing web take-up rollers, oppositely set ratchet clutch mechanisms, the driven members of which are carried by said take-up rollers respectively and the driving members of which. each include a gear, reciprocatory racks enmeshed with said gears respectively, a cam having a rise and a fall substantially 180 apart, connections between said cam and said plate cylinder whereby said cam receives one full revolution for each plate on said cylinder, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and connecting rods each having one end connected with arack and the other end connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby each take-up roller will be actuated while the other is inoperative, and the effective leverage of said arm upon said connecting rods respectively may be independently regulated to vary the quantity of web fed and taken up with each reciprocation of said arm.

15. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of spaced plates, embodying therein, wiping and polishing web platens, wiping and polishing web feeding mechanisms, wiping and polishing web take-up rollers, oppositely set friction ratchet clutch mechanisms, the driven members of which are carried by said take-up rollers respectively and the driving members of which each include a gear, reciprocatory racks enmeshed with said gears respectively, a cam having a rise and a fall substantially 180 apart, connections between said cam and said plate cylinder whereby said cam receives one full revolution for each plate on said cylinder, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and connecting rods each having one end connected with a rack and the other end connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby each take-up roller will be actuated while the other is inoperative, and the effective leverage of said arm upon said connecting rods respectively may be independently regulated to vary the quantity of web fed and taken up with each reciprocation of said arm.

16. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of spaced plates, embodying therein, wiping and polishing web platens, wiping and polishing web feeding mechanisms, wiping and polishing web take-up rollers, connections between each feeding mechanism and the take-up roller co-operating therewith whereby the same length of web is simultaneously fed and taken up, oppositely set ratchet clutch mechanisms, the driven members of which are carried by said take-up rollers respectively and the driving members of which each include a gear, reciprocatory racks enmeshed with said gears respectively, a cam having a rise and a fall substantially 180 apart, connections between said cam and said plate cylinder whereby said cam receives one full revolution for each plate on said cylinder, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and connecting rods each having one end connected with a rack and the other end connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby each take-up roller will be actuated while the other is inoperative, and the effective leverage of said arm upon said connecting rods respectively may be independently regulated to vary the quantity of web fed and taken up with each reciprocation of said arm.

17. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines embodying therein a wiping web platen, and means for feeding a wiping web across said platen, including therein a take-up mechanism, an intermittently operative actuating means therefor including therein a member having a fixed quantity of movement, and means whereby said actuating means may be adjusted to regulate the quantity of web taken up with each actuation of said means without varying the quantity of movement of said member.

18. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of spaced plates, embodying therein, wiping and polishing web platens, means for feeding wiping and polishing webs across said platens respectively including wiping and polishing web take-up rollers, oppositely set ratchet clutch mechanisms, the driven members of which are carried by said take-up rollers respectively and the driving members of which each include a gear, reciprocatory racks enmeshed with said gears respectively, a cam having a rise and a fall substantially 180 apart, connections between said cam and said plate cylinder whereby said cam receives one full revolution for each plate on said cylinder, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and connecting rods each having one end connected with a rack and the other end com1ected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby each take-up roller will be actuated While the other is inoperative, and the effective leverage of said arm upon said connecting rods respectively may be independently regulated to vary the quantity of web taken up with each reciprocation of said arm.

19. A wiping and polishing mechanism for steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of spaced web platens, wiping and polishing web feeding mechanisms, wiping and polishingweb take-up rollers, connections between each take-up roller and its associated web feeding mechanism, oppositely set ratchet clutch mechanisms, the driven members of which are carried by said take-up rollers respectively and the driving members of Which each include a gear, reciprocatory racks enmeshed with said gears respectively, a cam having a rise and a fall substantially 180 apart, connections between said cam and said plate cylinder whereby said cam receives one full revolution for each plate on said cylinder, a rock arm actuated by said cam, and connecting rods each having one end connected with a rack and the other end connected with and adjustable radially of said arm, whereby each take-up roller will be actuated while the other is inoperative, and the effective leverage of said arm upon said connecting rods respectively may be independently regulated to vary the quantity of web fed and taken up with each reciprocation of said arm.

FRANK C. MARQUARDT.

plates, embodying therein, Wiping and polishing I

Images