US2018282A - Pressure adjustment for cylinders of printing and other machines - Google Patents

Description

Get. 22, 1935. ROBINSON 2,018,282

PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT FOR CYLINDERS 0F PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 29, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. T. A. ROBINSON Oct. 22, 1935.

FRESSURE] ADJUSTMENT FOR CYLINDERS OF PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 29, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 22, 1935. L. T. A. ROBINSON 2,018,282

PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT FOR CYLINDERS OF PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 29, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 79 749 53 8 65 95 ,9 fi 1 I49 1 m fi a 95 az a 62 as 0 62 90 9/ I k I m 51- I 4 65 59 E81 5 INVZ'NTOR Z.ZJ4./?o/x7son ATTORNEY Oct. 22,1935. "r. A. ROBINSON 2,018,232

PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT FOR CYLINDERS OF PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 49 45 Z4 W 21 J M Z1 w Z5 Z3 3 40 Z6 i=2 4 5a I!!! H!!! l/VVZWVTOI? Z. ZA/ia/vawr ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 22, 1935 PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT FOR CYLINDERS OF PRINTING AND OTHER MACIIINES Leslie Thomas Albert Robinson, Sydenham, England Application March 29, 1934, Serial No. 718,060 In Great Britain June 23, 1932 13 Claims.

This invention relates to cylinders and particularly to associated cylinders which are required to be in contact under pressure applied to one or other of the said cylinders. The invention however is more particularly although not exclusively intended for use in connection with printing cylinders where it is required say for example that a form cylinder be in contact with a blanket or impression cylinder under considerable pressure and the present invention has for its object to provide simple and efficient means to obtain and apply the desired pressure between the two cylinders preferably in a printing machine. Theinvention is hereinafter described in its application to a rotary intaglio photogravure printing machine from which its application in general to cylinders associated together under pressure will be readily understood.'

According to the present invention means are provided for use in associating cylinders under pressure wherein one cylinder is supported at each end upon toggle mechanism which is adapted to be operated manually or by pressure fluid in order to force the associated cylinders into contact with the desired pressure and to release the cylinders from contact with each other. One 1 cylinder shaft of two superposed cylinders having their axes aligned vertically and intended to besure. 'To obtain an adjustable and variable pres,-

. other.

sure use is made of pairs of contra-movable wedges one pair at least of which is adjustable. It is preferred however that both pairs of wedges be adjustable in directions at right angles to each As applied to a rotary int'aglio'photogravure printing machine the cylinder which is supported upon the toggle mechanism may be the impression or form cylinder. the latter being preferred. The toggle supported cylinder is carried in bearings supported by blocks having lat-' eral flanges so as to prevent displacement of the said blocks axially of the cylinder and provided with recessed upper ends to receive and retain an upper pair of wedges on which the bearing blocks of the associated cylinder are supported so that the pressure between the two cylinders can be adjusted by manipulation of the upper or a lower set of wedges or both sets of wedges the pres- 5 sure between the two cylinders being applied by means of the toggle mechanism. The upper pair of wedges also act to absorb any bumps that may arise due to the passage of the gap in the blanket cylinder over the form cylinder. The blocks or bearings carrying the lower cylinder are provided at their lower ends with cap-like plates adapted to retain the upper ends of the upper toggle bars or links in position, the said links. being pivotally supported behind the cap-like plates. The lower ends of the upper toggle links or bars are supported on pivots against which abut shorter toggle links and the lower ends of these latter are supported on pivots carried by blocks slidable and adjustable in recesses in the frame of the machine. The joints of thetoggle links or bars are gapped and. of segmentalform and closed by cover plates or linkswhich are connected by links to a cross shaft. The free ends of the aforesaid cover plates or links are pivotally connected to bell crank levers pivotally supported at the apical angles on the aforesaid cross shaft'which is mounted and supported in the frame of the machine. The aforesaid bell crank levers may be in the form of hand levers or in the form of obliquely angled levers having the free ends connected to the piston rods .of pressure air cylinders so that the toggle mechanism or toggle mechanisms may be operated by hand or by pressure air or liquid to apply the pressure to the cylinders. In the arrangement where pressure air is used each pressure air cylinder is pro! vided with a cook the barrel of which is provided with three openings or' holes and the plug of the cock is provided with three arms one of the 40 I said armshaving a hole or an opening therethrough. The cock plug is extended upwardly or rigidly secured to a rod extending upwardly to a level above the ground suitable for manipulation by an attendant. To thefree end that is to say the upper end of the aforesaid rod a handle .is secured which can be moved into a -neutral position, that is to say a position where the pressure air is cut off from the cylinder and from thence to an "of!" position or from the 50 position is that in which air is admitted into the actuate the toggle mechacylinder in order to nism. Further features of the toggle mechanism are hereinafter described and claimed.

, In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efiect reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show diagrammatically and by way of example means in accordance with the presentinvention for use in the application of pressure to associated cylinders. w I

The illustrations hereinafter described show the application of the invention to the cylinders of a single unit of a rotary photogravure printing machine from which the nature of its application to associated cylinders in general will be readily understood. I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of a. pair of stands or uprights such as are used in a rotary photogravure printing machine the said stands or uprights being adapted to support two associated cylinders and means for applying pressure therebetween. I v

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow A.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan showing means foractuating a plurality of toggle mechanisms as applied to a four color rotary photogravure printing machine. The machine may be built for printing in two or more colors.

Figure 4 is .a sectional plan of the quadrants disposed at the stands in Figure 2 and showing the on off and neutral positions of handles movable over these quadrants.

Figure 5 drawn to an enlarged scale is a half elevation and half section of the toggle mechanism on which each end of the form cylinder is supported.

Figure 6 drawn to an enlarged scale is a central section taken at right angles .to Figure 5 of the toggle mechanism per se.'

Figure '1 is a sectional plan showing a fluid pressure device for use in actuating the toggle mechanism.

Figure 8 is a detail view hereinafter described. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 which show the application of the invention to a rotary photogravure printing machine is an impression or blanket cylinder and 2 is a form cylinder. The cylinder 2 is preferably of the type which is split longitudinally into at least two segments which carry a flexible form sheet the ends of which extend inwardly of and between the two segments assembly of the segments being adapted to tension the form sheet into its proper ,position. It should be clearly understood however that any other suitable type of form cylinder may be used.

. 3 indicates the shaft of the impression or blanket cylinder and 4 indicates the shaft of the form cylinder. The bearings which carry the shaft 3 of the impression or blanket cylinder I are sup ported on and form stationary abutments for wedges 5, 6 which are adjustable in position by hand wheels 1, 8. 9, ID are the hearings or blocks which carry the form cylinder shaft 4. The blocks 9, In which are disposed in slots l2 in stands or uprights I3, |4 disposed one on each side of the machine are connected to toggle mechanism hereinafter described. The blocks are held in place in the slots ll, l2 by flanges l5, H5 in order to prevent displacement of the'said blocks axially of the cylinder. The blocks- 3, I!) may be 'the operation of the toggle bar 2|.

,are formed in the The GE to the planes of the stands or uprights l3, l4. 5

The bearing blocks of the associated cylinder namely the blanket cylinder I are supported on the upper surfaces of the wedges 5, 6. Contact between the cylinders I and 2 can be adjusted by manipulation of the wedges 5, 6 by the hand wheels 1, 8 or by adjusting either wedge by the respective hand wheel. The blocks 9, l0 carrying the form cylinder 2 or bearers carrying the said blocks have secured thereto caplike plates l1, l8. As all the toggle mechanisms are alike :1- description of one toggle mechanism-is considered suflicient for the purpose of the present specification. The toggle mechanisms on which each end of. the form cylinder is supported each comprises bars 2|, 23' seemore particularly Fig- 20 ures 1, 5 and 6 which are disposed behind cover plates or links 2|, 23. Each toggle bar 2| is pivotally fulcrumed at its upper end as at I3 and at its lower end as at 25, 20 and 24 being the corresponding pivotal fulcrums on the opposite side 25 of the machine. The upper end of the toggle bar 23 is fulcrumed on the pin 25 and the lower end of the toggle bar 23' is fulcrumed on a pin 26. The fulcrumpin l9 extends through the cap like plates l1, I8 and the bearing on the upper end of 30 the toggle bar 2| is of arcuate or approximately semi-circular form as shown more particularly in Figure 5. Each cover plate or link 2| is forked at its upper end as at 21, Figure 5, to facilitate The lower 5 end of the toggle bar 2| has a segmental bearing as at 28 Figure 5 which is of arcuate form. The upper end of each toggle bar 23' is V shaped to form an arcuate V shaped bearing having outwardly diverging sides as at 29 and 30. The low- 0 er end of the toggle bar 23' has a segmental bearing as at 3]. The fulcrum pin 25 is movable in the direction of the arrow B Figures 1 and 5 when breaking the toggle joint. The lower hearing for the pin 26 is of V shaped arcuate form as 5 at 32 having outwardly and downwardly diverging sides 33, 34 and is provided in a block 31 supported on a wedge 38. Toggle mechanism comprising bars such as 2| and 23 and cover plates or links 2|, 23 are disposed in the slots or'openings |2 in each stand l3, l4 and at opposite sides of the machine. The faces 23 and 33 at the toggle joints 25 and 26 respectively may form stops with the adjacent faces on the ends of the bars 2|, 23' in order to limit the movement of u the toggle bars when breaking the toggle joints to relieve -the contact pressure of one cylinder against the other. The lower bearings 32, 32' blocks 31 supported on the wedges 38 and 38' which are to the respective supporting blocks, the blocks 31 being held in place in slots 39, Figure 5, in the stands or uprights l3, l4 by caps or plates 40. 42 Figure l are plates which hold the wedges 38 in position.v The bearings 32, 32' at each stand 65 and-on opposite sides of the machine are closed l4 as at 55 Figure 1 7islidable relatively w The shaft of each bell crank lever 52 may be operated by a bell crank hand lever 56 (shown dotted in Figure 1) so that the toggle mechanism may be operated by hand. The wedges 38, 38' are-adjustable independently or simultaneously by means of a rod I03 and hand wheels I04, I05. The rod I03 is screw threaded at one end and passes through a sleeve I06 screw threaded into one wedge 38. The'screw threads I01, I08 on the rod I03 and the sleeve I06 respectively are of the same pitch and the hand wheel I05 is rigidly secured io the sleeve I06 whilst the hand wheel I04 is rigidly secured to the rod I03. Between the hand wheels I04, I05 is arranged a clutch which may. be of any suitable type one convenient type being that in which the adjacent faces IIO, III of the clutch members are serrated. On the rod I03 and outwardly of the hand wheel I04 is disposed a spring II2 so as to maintain the members III], III of the clutch in engagement. It will be obvious that the hand wheel I04 can be retracted against the pressure of the spring II2 so as to rotate the rod I 03 independently of the sleeve I06 to effect adjustment of the wedge 38. The spring II2 however can be omitted if desired. By disengaging the clutch members I I 0, III and rotating the hand wheel I05 the wedge-38' can be adjusted independently of the wedge 38. By engaging the clutch members IIO, III and rotating either hand wheel I00, I05 the two wedges 38, 38 can beadjusted simultaneously.

Conveniently however each bell crank lever 52 which is pivotally supported at its apical angle as at 55 in the standards I3, and I4 is pivotally connected as at 51, 58 by a link 59 to a piston rod 60 connected to a piston 6I (Figure 7) in a fluid pressure cylinder 62. 63 and 64 are air inlets or outle s for spent fluid from the cylinder 62. 65 is a cock the barrel 66 of which is provided with three openings 61, 68, 69 or holes and the plug of the cock is provided with three arms I0, II, I2, one I2 of the arms having an exhaust hole 13 therethrough. The cock'plug is extended upwardly or is rigidly secured to a rod I4 which extends to a suitable level above the ground floor level I5. To the upper end of the rod I4 is rigidly secured a hand lever 16 which is movable over a quadrantal member 11 from a neutral position I8 Figure 4 to an on position I9 and to an oif position 80. In he neutral position the pressure fluid is cut off from the cylinder 62. In the off position pressure fluid is admitted to the cylinder to release the toggle mechanism, whereas in the on position pressure fluid is admitted to the cylinder to apply the toggle mechan sm. It will be readily understood therefore that by restoring the hand lever I6 to the neutral position, the toggle mechanism may be left in the position to which it was last adjusted. It is preferred that the valve of the fluid pressure applying device be always moved from a neutral position to an on position and then back to the neutral position, or from a neutral position to an off position and then back to the neutra position. i

If desired the plug of the cock may be connected by a lever M to a link 82 which may in turn be connected by a lever 83 to a rod 83 similar to the rod I0 on the other side of the machine, the rod 83 being provided at its upper end with a hand lever 84 similar to the hand lever I6. The hand lever 8 may be movable over a quadrant 85 Figure 2 imilar to the quadrant H but disposed on the other side of the machine. Such nected by cross rods 82 to levers 83'.

an arrangement allows of the toggle mechanism being operated either by the hand lever 56 of which there may be two one on each side of the machine, or one of the hand levers I6 '0! 84 may be used to operate the cock and such movement 5 may be transmitted to the rod I4 on the other side of the machine through the connecting link 82.

In order to effect the independent adjustment of the toggle mechanism as distinct from the si- 1 multaneous operation of all the toggle mechanisms the sleeve or tube 99 Figure 8 is provided at its lower end with an enlarged part 99' Figure 8 having a recess I00. The rod I4 which extends through the enlarged part 99' of the tube 15 99 or sleeve is provided with a pin IOI' which engages in the recess I00 so that therod I4 can be moved by the handle 84 and thus acfuate the cross rod 82 without imparting movement to the sleeve or tube 99. Conversely when any one tube 2 99 is operated by a handle such as I00 there is a certain amount of idle motion before the movement of the said tube is transmitted through rods 94 and the cross rods at 82 to all the toggle mechanisms at the several stands.

In the application of the invention for example to a four color rotary photogravure printing machine provided with four pairs of stands 86, 81, 88, 89, 90, 9|, 92, 93 Figure 3 (there may however be any number of stands) 30 a pressure air cylinder such as 62 may be provided at each stand of each pair of stands on opposite sides of the machine. In such an arrangement the cocks on one side of the machine would be coupled up to a plurality of rods 14. 5 These latter rods in turn would be connected to the short levers 8I which in turn are con- The levers 83' are connected to the upright rods 83. Surrounding the rods 83 are sleeves such as 99 see 40 more particularly Figures 1, 2 and 8 the said sleeves being connected at their lower ends by lever arms such as 95' to rods 94 adjustably connected by couplings throughout the whole length of the machine and disposed only on one side thereof as shown in Figure 3. Itwill be seen from Figure 3 therefore that there is a rod I4 and handle I6 at each stand at one side of the machine and a rod 83 and handle 84 at each stand on the other side of the machine. It will 50 also be understood that each rod 83' on one side of the machine is surrounded by a tube 99 at each stand. Such an arrangement provides for operation of the toggle mechanism simultaneously from either side or each side of the ma- 55 chine. It will be obvious also that pressure can be applied to all the toggle mechanisms simultaneously or to any desired toggle mechanism. Further the toggle mechanism at each stand or at any one stand can be actuated from either 60 side or each side of the machine. It will be appreciated also that there are two hand levers at each stand and on one side of the machine and one hand lever at each stand on the other side of the machine. It will be obvious from 65 the foregoing that pressure air can be admitted to any cylinder or all of the cylinders-in order to actuate the toggle mechanisms on each side of any one stand from either side or from each side of the machine whilst at each stand and on 7 one side of the machine the toggle mechanisms of all the stands can be actuated by the hand lever 56 or its duplicate at any other stand. If desired the longitudinally extending connecting rods 94 on one side of the machine may be dupli- 76 control the operation of the toggle mechanism .cylinder, means to connect the operating ele- 'and means whereby the members at that particular s tand irrespective of which side of the said stand at which he is standing. Further he can when in position at any one stand simultaneously operate the cock on the pressure cylinder at one side of that particular stand and by so doing control or operate the cooks on the other sides of the said stands, and consequently he can thus simultaneously control the actuation of the toggle mechanisms and the application of pressure to all the cylinders irrespective oi. the number of stands. Obviously there may be two, three, four, five or any desired number of pairs of stands all coupled up in the manner as hereinbefore described so that the toggle mechanism at each stand can be actuated at that particular stand or if desired the toggle mechanisms of two or more stands irrespective of their number can be actuated simultaneously from any one stand.

What I claim is:-

l. Means for varying the relation between associated cylinders of a printing machine, including toggle mechanism arranged at each end of one cylinder of the associated cylinders, upper and lower fulcrums for each toggle mechanism,

a wedge to adjust the lower fulcrum of each 1 toggle mechanism, a member cooperable with each wedge to independently adjust the wedges,

may be coupled for simultaneous movement to\effect simultaneous adjustment of the wedges.

2. Means to control the relative positions of cooperable cylinders in plural sets of a printing machine, said means including toggle mechanism at each end of and for supporting one cylinder of each'set, an operating element for each toggle mechanism, means to connect the operating elements of the toggle mechanisms of each ments of the toggle mechanisms of all cylinders, and means to control actuation of the operating elements to selectively operate the toggle mechanisms of one set of cylinders or the toggle mechanisms of all sets of cylinders.

3. Means to control the relative positions of cooperable cylinders in plural sets of a printing machine, said means including toggle mechanism at each end of and for supporting one cylinder of each set, operating means for the toggle mechanisms for the cylinders of each set, a control for said operating means adjacent each toggle mechanism of all sets, a'cross rod connecting the controls tor the operating means of the toggle mechanisms of one cylinder, rods connecting the controls of similar toggle mechanisms of all cylinders, and means to selectively and simultaneously operate the controls'for the operating means of the toggle mechanisms of one cylinder or the controls for the operating means of the toggle mechanisms of all cylinders.

4. Means to control the relative positions of cooperable cylinders in a printing machine having a=plurality of printing couples, said means including toggle mechanism at each end of and 1 for. supporting one cylinder ofeach set, fluid pressure means to actuate each toggle mechanism, a valve to control the fluid pressure means, means to actuate each valve, a cross rod conders.

necting both valve operating means, and a manually operable member cooperating with each valve operating means, whereby the toggle mechanisms of a cylinder may be simultaneously controlled. through operation of either manually 6 ing means, a manually operable member cooper- 16 able with each valve operating means, whereby the toggle mechanisms of a cylinder may be simultaneously controlled through operation of either manually operable member, rods connecting the valve operating means of similar toggle 20 mechanisms of all cylinders, and selectively operable means whereby the manually operable members of all valves may be simultaneously and similarly operated at will.

6. In a means for controlling the relative posi- '25 tions of cooperable cylinders of a printing machine, toggle mechanism arranged at each end of and for controllingthe position of one of said cylinders, means to independently adjust each toggle mechanism, means to couple the inde- 30 simultaneously and similarly operate the toggle mechanism. 35

'7. A construction as defined in claim 6, wherein the controlling means includes a pressure responsive device to operate each toggle mecha-. nism; a valve to control each pressure responsive device, a mechanical connection to compel si- 40 multaneous operation of the valves, and a manually operable means for each valve. Y

8. In combination with cooperable printing machine cylinders, togglemechanisms tosupport one cylinder, meansoperable by fluid pressure 46 to align the toggle mechanisms with the cylinder in a preset position. a i

9. In combi ation with cooperable printing machine cylin rs, toggle mechanisms to support one cylinder, means operable by fluid pressure to align the toggle mechanisms with the cylinder in a.preset position, and means manually adjustable to alter the preset position of the cylinder. I

10. In combination with cooperable printing machine cylinders, toggle mechanisms to move one cylinder into a preset position relatively to the other cylinder, means adjustable at'right angles to the axis of the said cylinder to limit the movement of the said cylinder into a preset 60 position and to maintain the cylinder in the Y preset position, and means adjustable in a direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder to vary the distance between the associated cylin- A 65 11. In combination with cooperable printing machine cylinders, toggle mechanisms to move one cylinder into a preset position, adjustable 12. In a printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, toggle mechanisms to support one cylinder of each, printing couple, toggle mechanisms operable by fluid pressure to support the II- said cylinder and to move the latter cylinder into a preset position relatively to its associated cylinder, and means disposed at one side of the machine to actuate all the toggle mechanisms.

13. In a. rotary printing machine, a form cylinder, an impression cylinder associated therewith, toggle mechanisms disposed at each end of the form cylinder and operable by fluid pressure positively in opposite directions to move' the form cylinder into a preset position, and means to vary the preset position of the form cylinder.

LESLIE THOMAS ALBERT ROBINSON.

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