US2035903A - Delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines - Google Patents

Description

AGHINES March 311, M356.

F. C. MARQUARDT DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR ROTARY STEEL PLATE PRINTING M Filed March 30, 1953 4 SheebS-Shee l ZT i.

@t/ATTORNEY,

Vwmch 3l, i936. FA C, MARQUARDT 2,035,903

'FING MACHINES DELIVERY MECHANISM `FOR ROTARY STEEL PLATE -PRIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1935 R O T N E V m Malh 3i, F C' MARQUARDT 2,035,903

E PRINTING MACHINES DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR ROTARY STEEL PLAT Filed March 30, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q VENTOR March 31, 1935i F. c.. MARQUARDT DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR ROTARY STEEL PLATE PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 50, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IVENTOR Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR ROTARY STEEL PLATE PRINTING MACHINES Application March 30,

19 Claims.

The invention relates to delivery mechanisms for rotary steel plate printing machines, and more particularly to such a mechanism wherein the printed sheets are delivered upon a web of anti-offset material and collected within a roll of such material.

Some rotary steel plate printing machines include a plate cylinder, which is adapted to receive not only plates of different lengths, but one, two or three plates according to the number of printed sheets which are to be produced. If only a short run of a press is required to produce the desired number of sheets, only one plate may be used, while on longer runs two or three plates may be used, each plate being a duplicate of the other.

A so-called parafn web delivery mechanism has heretofore been used in connection with rotary steel plate printing machines with highly satisfactory results, but the mechanisms employed had certain limitations requiring the adaptation of the delivery mechanism to machines, the plate cylinders of which carry a definite number of plates, any variation in the number of plates placing a limitation upon the capacity of the delivery mechanism inasmuch as the printed sheets collected in the roll of paraffin web with such variation would be so spaced from each other as to permit the collection of a limited number of sheets with a web of a definite length.

Limitation of the capacity of the delivery and collecting mechanism necessitates a more frequent stoppage of the machine for the removal of an exhausted delivery web and the substitution of a new web therefor, thus cutting down the daily output capacity of the machine by the eX- tent of the time required to do this work.

In the old type of delivery mechanism above referred to, the rewind mechanism was intermittentiy actuated, friction rollers acting upon the supply roll of the web to unwind a fixed length of web therefrom with each actuation of said mechanism, and the rewind roll being acted upon by a friction drive receiving power through a pawl and ratchet mechanism. A takeup mechanism for slack in the web between the supply and the rewind roll placed a light tension upon the web which was variable by reason of the sudden stoppage and starting of the rewind mechanism. At times with a continued run of a press, there was an accumulation of excessive slack in the web due to the mechanical diiiiculties of scynchronizing the feeding mechanism operative upon the supply roll with the takeup mechanism operative upon the rewind roll.

CII

1933, Serial N0. 663,614

Notwithstanding the provision in the rewind mechanism of means whereby the quantity of rotative movement of the rewind reel was reduced as the diameter of the roll of rewound weby increased, it was impossible to so vary the quantity of rotative movement of the rewind reel as to maintain even an approximate ratio between such rotative movement and the varying peripheral speed of the rewound roll of web due to change of diameter. To minimize this diiculty, the takeup mechanism above referred to was employed, but even with the use of the takeup mechanism, it was necessary to provide what might be termed overfeed of the delivery web with each actuation thereof so as to preclude all possibility of the overlaying of one printed sheet upon another. This necessitated an excessive space between succeeding sheets, and had the effect of a very substantial reduction in the number of sheets which could be collected and stored within a given length of web and necessitated a more frequent removal of exhausted supply reels from, and replacement of fresh supply reels of web in the machine.

As each fully rewound roll of web is removed from the machine, it is stored in a treatment room until the ink upon the sheet has been properly dried to permit a subsequent run of the sheets through a press. At the end of each days run whether a web has been fully rewound or not, it is necessary to remove the printed sheets to this treatment room, the practice prior to the present invention having been to cut or tear the web in order to permit the removal of the rewind reel from the machine. This practice was Wasteful of the web, but was unavoidable with the structure of the machine above referred to.

With the above conditions in mind, I have provided a delivery mechanism for steel plate printing machines of the type in which the printed sheets are wound within a roll of anti-offset webbing, wherein the web receives continuous feeding movement while the printing machine is operating. This movement is by a positively actuated driving mechanism including therein a differentially operating speed reducing gearing which will ensure a progressive reduction in the speed of said driving mechanism in substantially direct ratio to the increase in the diameter of the roll accumulating upon the rewind reel. This mechanism is so constructed that the speed of the driving mechanism for the rewind reel may be so varied as to ensure a close spacing of the printed sheets upon the continually moving web and may be so set as to vary the speed of the web while still preserving the speed ratio between the plate cylinder and the peripheral velocity of the roll of web.

The machine of the invention is also so constructed as to permit Variation in the `speed of the rewind mechanism, according to whether one or more plates are being used upon the plate cylinder.

To ensure a uniform tension upon the delivery or collecting web, I provide a braking mechanism operative upon the supply reel which is automatically actuated to vary the resistance to the turning movement of this reel, according to the diameter of the roll of web upon the reel. This mechanism also precludes possible overrunning of the supply reel in a manner to cause the formation of slack between the supply roll of web and the rewind reel.

Also embodied in the machine of the invention, is a high speed mechanism operative upon the rewind actuating mechanism, so that upon the completion of a job, or upon the completion of a days run of the machine, the unused portion of the collecting or delivery web may, in a short time, be wound upon the rewind reel so as to avoid the necessity for cutting or tearing the web.

The braking mechanism above referred to, perative upon the supply reel, is provided with means whereby it may be manually actuated to maintain its maximum braking action to facilitate a high speed unwinding and rewinding of the web without possibility of the creation of slack, and thus minimize likelihood of the tearing of the web because of the additional stresses applied thereto as a result of the high speed at which the web is run through the press during this operation.

In the operation of rotary steel plate printing machines, the actuation of the throw-olf mechanism is frequently necessary because of a failure to properly feed a sheet to the members of the printing couple, of the making of improper impressions due to conditions of the inking mechanism, or of the presence of foreign matter upon the printing plates. To avoid limiting the capacity of the delivery or collecting mechanism due to such practice, I include in the transmission mechanism of the rewind actuating mechanism train, means whereby this train will be made inoperative to transmit power simultaneously with the actuation of the throw-off mechanism.

The low speed, or normally operating, rewind mechanism and the quick rewind mechanism, receive their power from the same source, so that it is necessary to provide means whereby the power from said source may be selectively applied to either of said mechanisms. This same mechanism may in part also be used to prevent a rewinding of the delivery or collecting web while operating same preparatory to the beginning of a run, and when making trial impressions, so as to avoid reduction in the capacity of said delivery or collecting mechanism. By this arrangement, the power to the rewind reel itself may be interrupted,

`when required, not only for the purposes above specified, but also when adjusting the variable speed mechanism for the purpose of determining the rate of travel of the web to adapt it to the collection of sheets of different lengths.

As will more fully appear hereinafter, the differential, variable speed mechanism is actuated from the rewind mechanism so as to ensure a graduated reduction in the speed of this rewind mechanism in order that the rate of travel of the web will remain approximately the same with an increasing diameter in the roll of the rewound web, notwithstanding that the diameterl of the roll of web is not an instrumentality in controlling the operative effect of the rewind mechanism.

The construction employed is such that the various mechanisms for applying power to the rewind reel, instead of being controlled by a changing diameter of the roll of rewound web, will automatically function to determine the rate of increase in the diameter of said roll by controlling the speed at which it is rotated to that required to maintain a substantially uniform speed of the web through the machine.

The rate of increase in the diameter of the roll of rewound web is considerably greater than the rate at which the diameter of the supply roll decreases, because of the inclosure in the convolutions of the rewound web of the printed sheets. Hence, the speed of the rewind reel, and the progressive and continuous variation in this speed must be determined by the rate of increase in the diameter of the roll of rewound web.

The invention consists in a delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines embodying therein suchnovel features of construction 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 delivery mechanism of the invention upon the actuating mechanism side thereof;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the mechanisms for applying power to, and controlling the speed of operation of, the rewind mechanism, the rewind gears and the transmission mechanism operative thereon being omitted or indicated in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the clutch mechanism by which the gears operative upon the rewind reel are made inoperative;

Fig. 4 is an end View of the supply reel retar mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a side view thereof; and

Fig. 6 is an end View from the left of Fig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, no showing of the printing press itself is made, since such is well known in the art and the invention relates merely to the mechanisms by which the printed sheets are collected prior to their removal from the press.

In Fig. l of the drawings there is shown, at i3, the discharge end of the delivery tapes commonly used in rotary steel plate printing machines. Adjacent the end of the tapes l@ is a frame il, having mounted adjacent the top thereof suitable bearings for a rewind reel i2, upon which, what is generally known as a paraffin web I3, is

wound after being drawn from a supply rollk thereof upon a reel I@ mounted adjacent the bottom of the frame. This web, in passing from the supply reel to the rewind reel, passes about guide rollers I5, i6, Il, i8, and iS. One of said rollers, I9, is positioned below and adjacent the discharge end of the tapes lil, and approximately upon the plane of the aXis of the reel i2, so that under normal conditions the reach of the web passing to the roll thereof upon the reel l2 will be upon a decline so as to compensate in part for the slower speed of the webi3 as compared with that of the tapes I0.

Carried by one arbor of the rewind reel l2 is a gear 2|), by means of which said rewind reel is turnedv by a gear 2| through the intermediate gears 22 and 23, two such gears being used to secure the desired stabilizing effect in the operation of the rewind mechanism upon the rewind reel.

To adapt the invention to the different conditions which may be present by reason of the use of a different number of, or a Wide variation in the length of, plates mounted upon the plate cylinder of a printing machine, I provide three sprocket wheels 24, 25 and 26 which may be selectively connected with a sprocket wheel 21 upon the shaft 28 of the gear 2| by means of a sprocket chain 29. The sprocket wheels 24, 25 and 26 are of different diameters, and are splined to a shaft 36 to permit axial adjustment of the three gears, so that any one of them may be lined up with. the sprocket wheel 21, according to the desired fixed ratio of the speed of the rewind reel to the angular speed of the plate cylinder.

While I refer to a fixed speed ratio, it is to be understood that the speed of the rewind reel is subject to a gradual progressive decrease, in proportion to the increase in the diameter of the roll of web accumulating upon the rewind reel I2. This last named mode of operation does not affect the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, but, to the contrary, maintains this ratio with approximate accuracy so as to ensure a uniform speed in the run of the web at all times while the press is in operation.

By the use of the three sprocket wheels 24, 25, and 25, as described, a machine is always equipped with the necessary parts to secure the desired adjustments to adapt it for use with a different number, or different sizes, of plates, thus permitting a quick adaptation of the machine to the speeds of the rewind mechanism required, and avoiding the necessity for the use of interchangeable sprocket wheels in making such adjustments.

Carried by the shaft 35 is a worm wheel 3|, through which power is applied to the shaft 3 0 by a worm shaft 32 carrying a bevel gear 33. This gear 33 is normally enmeshed with a bevel gear 34 carried upon the shaft 35 of the driven members 36 of an automatic differential speed reducing mechanism, actuated by a member receiving power from the driving members 31 of said differential speed mechanism, in a manner which will be more fully referred to hereinafter.

The speed reducing mechanism above referred to is of a well known type, so that a detailed showing thereof in the drawings is unnecessary.

Carried by the shaft 38 of the driving members 31 is a sprocket wheel 39, which, as will hereinafter appear, is adapted to be connected with or disconnected from said shaft. Said sprocket wheel 59 is connected by a chain 40 with a sprocket wheel 4l, mounted upon a shaft 42 carrying .a small spur gear 43, enmeshed with a large spur gear 4d mounted upon a stud shaft 45. Carried by the shaft 45 is a sprocket wheel 46 connected by a chain 41 with any desired source of power driven in synchronism with the plate cylinder of the printing machine.

The power transmission mechanism above described is such as to determine the angular speed of the rewind reel l2 in relation to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, although b-y the selection of a sprocket 24, 25 or 26 for the purpose of transmitting power to the gear 2|, this ratio may be changed. This condition has to do only with the setting of the machine, since by the inclusion in the power train of the automatic differential speed reducing mechanism it will be constantly changed as the diameter of the roll of rewound web increases.

As will more fully appear, the rate at which the angular speed of the rewind reel decreases, while expressed in terms as being determined by the diameter of the roll, is, in fact, determined by time and speed factors, since the roll of rewound web is not a power factor in causing the desired mode of operation.

Acting upon the sprocket chain 29 is a takeup sprocket 48, mounted in an adjustable and reversible bracket 49 secured in position by means of bolts 56. In the event of the use of the sprocket wheel 25, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the sprocket 48 will be set as shown in said figure. If the sprocket 24 is used, it will be necessary to adjust the bracket 49 so as to compensate for the slack in the chain resulting from the use of a sprocket wheel of smaller diameter. If the large sp-rocket wheel 26 is used, then it is necessary to reverse and adjust the bracket 4S to avoid the presence of unnecessary slack in said chain.

The automatic differential speed reducing mechanism is actuated by a feed back mechanism from the shaft 28. This mechanism comprises a sprocket wheel 5|, carried by the shaft 28 and connected by the sprocket chain 52 with a sprocket wheel 53 upon the driven member of a speed reducing mechanism 54. The ratio of reduction of this mech-anism is 200 to l, although this exact ratio is immaterial. ducing mechanism itself is of an old and well known construction, it being merely necessary to show and describe the input and output of this mechanism, the input being the sprocket 53, which is a part of the driving mechanism, and the output, a sprocket wheel 55, which is a part of the driven mechanism.

The automatic differential speed reducing mechanism is of a type using bevelled opposed friction disks for the driving members 31, as well as for the driven members 35. The disks of each pair are moved toward and from each other by means of rocking levers 56 and 51, acting upon one arm of each of which levers is a shaft 58 having oppositely pitched lead screws 59 and 56.

Mounted upon the shaft 53 is a sprocket wheel 6| connected by a sprocket chain 52 with the sprocket wheel 55.

A takeup sprocket 63 is used in connection with the sprocket chain 52.

By the foregoing combination of parts, the angular speed of the lead screws 59 and 63 is proportionate to the angular speed of the shaft 25, but with the turning of this screw, the speed of the driven members 35 of the automatic differential speed reducing mechanism will be gradually reduced, because with the separation of the driving members 3i of said mechanism, said members will operate upon the belt 6d connecting said members at a progressively shortening radius, while simultaneously said belt will act upon the driven members 36 at a progressively lengthening radius. This gradual reduction of speed of the driven members 36 results in a gradual lowering of the speed of the gear 2 and a proportionate lowering of the speed of the shaft 58 carrying the lead screws 59 and 5B.

The automatic differential speed reducing mechanism has a range of speed reduction of approximately 6 to 1, the maximum low speed The speed reof transmission being substantially one-sixth of the maximum high speed. This also is immaterial since the range may be varied according to the setting of the mechanism by means of a h-and crank 65 carried by the lead screw shaft 58.

The rewind reel I2 is positively rotated by the gearing heretofore referred to, and angular movement of the reel draws the delivery or collecting web l5 from the supply of web carried by the reel I l at a speed which, notwithstanding the fairly low speed at which the web travels, would be sufficient to develop enough momentum in the supply reel to cause the creation of slack in the web between this reel and the rewind reel I2. The web in its run may have -a speed range from about l2 to 70 feet per minute according to the size and number of plates on the plate cylinder.

The presence of slack is undesirable for the reasons that it results in likelihood of tearing of the web by a sudden application of the load of the supply reel to the web, and in a tendency of the web to wrinkle o-r crease, The web I3 is of thin, treated paper `and does not possess suiicient inherent strength to resist any heavy strains thereon. With prolong-ed use, the web also loses strength, and repeated use of the web is desirable in the interests of economy.

It is desirable, therefore, to have the web B3, in its run through the machine from the reel I4 to the reel I2, fairly taut at all times without developing excessive pressure upon the printed sheets being wound in the convolutions of the roll of rewound web.

By providing means developing tensioning stresses upon the web as a result of movement of the reel I2, and so constructing this means that with a decrease in the diameter of the web upon the supply reel I4 the resistance to the movement of the reel M will be decreased as the speed of the reel I4 increases with the lowering of the diameter of the roll of web thereon, it is possible to have the web subjected at all times to substantially the same tensioning stresses and thus maintain a substantially uniform pressure condition as to all printed sheets throughout the entire roll of web wound upon the reel I2.

In Figs, 4,5,and6 of the drawings, an automatic retard or braking mechanism is shown, the function of which is to develop sufficient resistance to the turning movement of the supply reel Iii to maintain a substantially uniform tension of the web notwithstanding the increased effective leverage at which the rewind reel I 2 acts as the roll thereof increases in diameter, and the higher speed of rotation of the supply reel I@ with the continued exhaustion of the roll of web thereon, with a uniform speed of the web in the manner above referred to.

A continuous run of the web, as distinguished from an intermittent movement thereof, or movement by succeeding impulses, permits the use of this braking or retard mechanism, upon the supply reel.

The retard or braking mechanism comprises a brake drum 66 carried by one arbor of the supply reel I4. (Jo-operating with said drum 66 is a brake band 61 carrying a weight 68. One of the brake bands 6'! is connected with an arm 69 rotatable about an axis concentric with the axis of the supply reel I4, and carried by a hub lil.

Carried by said hub III is a second arm 'I I, connected by a link 'I2 with one arm 'I3 of a rock shaft lli which also has an arm l5.

Upon the opposite side of the machine is a second rock shaft I6 having a crank arm 'I1 which,

in conjunction with the crank arm 15, supports a weighted bar 'I8 by which the rock shaft 'I4 may be so actuated manually as to impart a contraclockwise movement to the hub 'I and the arms 69 and 'II to increase the contact area between the brake band S'I and the brake drum 66.

Carried by the rock shafts 'M and 'I6 respectively, are crank arms I9 and Bil supporting between them a roller SI adapted to be forced by the weight S8 acting upon the arm II and link 'I2 into engagement with the perimeter of the supply roll of delivery or collecting web I3 upon the reel I6.

With this construction, when the supply reel of web I3 is at its maximum diameter, the rock shafts 'ILE and 'i6 and arm 'II are actuated to cause the arm 69 to be so positioned as to cause the greatest contacting area between the brake band 5l and its co-operating brake drum 66, but as the roll of web decreases in diameter, said arm B9 receives clockwise movement in proportion to the decrease in the diameter of the roll and thus progressively reduces the contacting area between the brake band 6l and the brake drum 65, so as to compensate for the increased speed of rotation of the roll of web with decrease of its diameter since with an increase of speed, the braking action would progressively increase if the same braking areas were maintained.

By decreasing the braking areas with the increase of speed, substantially the same braking action is secured, irrespective of the diameter of the roll upon the supply reel.

Consequently, the web in its run through the machine, will be subjected at all times to the same tensioning stresses due to the resistance of this retard or braking mechanism, and as a result there will be no undue tightening of the web in the roll upon the rewind reel i2. This is highly desirable.

It is necessary to mount new reels containing a supply roll of web at fairly frequent intervals during a days run of a press, how frequently depending upon the number and length of plates upon the plate cylinder and the length of the web in a supply reel.

To facilitate the mounting of fresh rolls in a machine, I provide manually operative. means whereby the contact roller 8l, which by engagement with the surface of the roll controls the braking action, may be moved to, and held in, a position where it will not interfere with the mounting of the roll.

This mechanism comprises a hand lever 82 pivoted at 82a connected by a link 83 with the crank arm le. Carried by the lever 82 is a stop pin 84 adapted to enter a notch 85 in a latch lever 86 pivoted at a. The lever 85 is provided with a stop shoulder 81 for limiting oscillatory movement of the rock shafts 'NI and 'I6 by the weight 68.

This mechanism may also be used to vary the normal resistance to the run of the web when actuating the rewind mechanism. This will be referred to in connection with the description of the rewind mechanism.

During the makereaoly of a press, accompanied by the making of trial impressions and when setting the automatic differential speed reducing mechanism to determine the speed of the web for the purpose of securing a desired spacing of the printed sheets wound therein, it is necessary to operate the printing machine, but unnecessary to operate the rewind mechanism. To permit this interruption of power for operating `the rewind reel, I key the gear 2| to the shaft 2,8, but mount the sprocket wheels 21 and 5| idly upon said shaft and connect them thereto by cooperating clutch members 88 and 89 carried respectively by the said sprocket wheels, which are connected with each other, and a lmember 99 splined to said shaft 28. When the vclutch members BB and 89 are in engageable relation with each other, power is transmitted to the gear 2| and the reel I2 is positively rotated, but when said clutch members are disengaged, the power to the gear 2| is interrupted, but all other parts of the power transmission mechanism may continue to operate without imparting movement to the web.

VD-roll may be moved out of contacting relation with each plate upon the plate cylinder so as to avoid ofi-setting upon the blanket of said impression cylinder or D-roll. When this throwoff mechanism is actuated, it is desirable to interrupt the feeding movement of the web |3 to avoid unnecessary reduction of the capacity of the web. v

The machine of the invention is so constructed that with the actuation of the throw-off mechanism, the power to the rewind mechanism will be simultaneously interrupted. This mechanism comprises a rock shaft 9| having cranks 92 and 93. The crank 93 is connected with the throwoff mechanism of the printing machine by a link 9e. A movable clutch member 95 is splined to the shaft 3S and is engageable by a forked arm 99 of a bell crank lever 91, the other arm 98 of which is connected with the crank 92 by a link 99. Any other desired mechanism for interrupting the transmission of power to the rewind mechanism may be employed according to the design of the machine. It will be understood that the clutch member 95 may not be actuated to disconnect the sprocket 39 from the shaft 99 while the machine is making impressions.

If upon the completion of a days run, a supply roll of the collecting or delivery web I3 is not exhausted, it is necessary, to permit the removal of the roll of such web upon the reel I2, to either tear the web or wind the length of web still upon the supply reel upon the rewind reel. It has been heretofore pointed out that the tearing of the web was the universal practice prior to the present invention and that this practice was extremely wasteful. To avoid such wastage of web, l provide the machine with a high speed rewind mechanism, which during normal operating conditions of a press, is inoperative to transmit power to the rewind mechanism, but which is capable. of being so set as to act upon said mechanism.

This high speed rewind mechanism comprises, in the form of the invention shown, a sprocket wheel |95 carried by the shaft 45. Adjacent the shaft 2S, I provide a shaft |9I carrying a gear |92, enmeshed with a gear |03 carried by a stud shaft |04, which also carries a sprocket wheel |05. This sprocket wheel is connected by a chain |06 with the sprocket wheel |00, suitable guide sprockets |01 and |08 being provided. The shaft extends across the machine and is provided upon the side of the machine opposite to that where the gear |02 is located, with a large gear |99 enmeshed with a gear ||0 carried by the shaft 28.

While I have referred to the sprocket wheel as being carried by the shaft I 04, it is idly mounted upon this shaft, but is adapted to be attached thereto by means of a clutch mechanism I, the release of which clutch mechanism will permit a continuous run of the chain |06 without turning the gear |03. The sprocket wheels |00 and |05 rotate continuously while a machine is in operation, but the gear train between the sprocket |05 and the gear 2| remains inoperative until the clutch mechanism I has been set, except for its idle operation by the gear 2|.

The operation of the herein described machine is substantially as follows:-

Rotary steel plate printing machines operate at low speeds and the imprints made thereby are more susceptible to smutting than other kinds of printing because of the character of the ink used and the quantity of ink forming the various lines of the impression. This is referred to because it is a factor necessary to an understanding of the invention.

In describing the operating conditions of the machine and in the claims throughout the speciiication, certain terms are used in the interests of brevity. The term rewind reel is used to define a rotatable spindle with a roll of delivery or collecting web and inclosed printed sheets thereon. The term supply reel is used to denne a spindle with a roll of delivery or collecting web thereon. The Yterm rewind reel actuating mechanism refers to the gear train 2|, 22, 23, and 20 or any equivalent mechanism for imparting turning movement to the rewin-d reel. 'I'he mechanism applying power to the gear 2| is termed the main power train. The term high speed power train refers to the mechanism by which the rewind mechanism may be actuated independently of the main power train.

When preparing for a run of the press, the web I3 is passed from the supply reel I4 about the guide rollers I5, i9, I1, I8, and I9 to the rewind reel and secured thereto. Before beginning a work run of the machine, it is necessary to operate the machine for a short time to ensure a proper inking of the plate and a proper conditioning of the wiping web. During this operation of the press, impressions are made upon trial sheets. It is desirable that the delivery or collecting mechanism be so adjusted or set as to be inoperative during thiswork. This adjustment of the machine may be accomplished in two ways according to whether or not trial impressions are to be made. The main power train may be made inoperative to transmit power to the rewind reel actuating mechanism by actuating the throw-off mechanism of the press, power from which throw-off mechanism will be transmitted to the bell crank lever 91 through a link 99 by the crank 92, shaft 9 I, crank 93 and link 94. Movement of said bell crank lever actuates the clutch member 95 to disconnect the sprocket 39 fr-om the shaft, thus interrupting power to the automatic differential speed reducing mechanism. When making trial impressions, it is necessary, since the throw-off mechanism cannot be used, to interrupt the application of power to the rewind mechanismV by disengaging' the aIlSm At all times, excepting at the end of a run, the clutch mechanism I I I will be released so as to disconnect the high speed power train from the rewind actuating mechanism.

While trial impressions are being made by a machine, both the main power train and the high speed power train must be inoperative in relation to the rewind reel actuating mechanism, although power is continuously applied to parts of said mechanisms.

During the makeready of the machine, it is necessary to make adjustments to provide a speed of the run of the web which will ensure not only a close spacing of succeeding printed sheets, as they are wound within the rewind reel, but which will accommodate all printed sheets as they are delivered to the web with due regard to the length of the sheets and the number of plates upon the plate cylinder of the press. If but a single short plate is mounted upon the plate cylinder, the speed of the web will necessarily have to be much lower than though there were two or three such plates upon the plate cylinder. With longer plates, the speed of the web must be slightly higher than with short plates, this being true irrespective of the number of plates upon the plate cylinder.

The speed of the web I3 may be approximately determined by the selection of a sprocket wheel 24, 25, and 26 to be connected with the sprocket wheel 2'I by the chain 29. With small plates, the sprocket wheel 24 is used when one or two plates are mounted upon the plate cylinder, while with larger plates and a greater number of plates, the sprocket wheel 25 or 26 will be selected according to the size and number of plates. A limited range of additional adjustments may be secured by the setting of the automatic differential speed reducing mechanism without interfering with the functioning of this mechanism to maintain a uniform speed in the run yof the web I3 until the supply reel is exhausted or a run has been completed.

The selection of a sprocket wheel 24, 25 or 26 and the setting of said automatic diierential speed reducing mechanism establishes a fixed ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder. Ihe fact that the rewind reel actuating mechanism has a progressively decreasing speed with the increase in the diameter of the rewind reel, does not materially change this ratio although there may be slight deviation from the initial speed of the web. The amount of such deviation, however, will be negligible so far as the utilization of approximately the full capacity of the web is concerned.

In starting upon a regular run of the press, the clutch members 88 and 89 are set so that the main power train is operative to apply power to the rewind reel actuating mechanism to impart continuous travel to the web I3, and clutch II I is released so as to permit the gears I09, |02, and |03 to idle. With this setting, when power is applied to the printing machine, power is transmitted through the chain and sprocket mechanism 46 and 41 to the main power train and to the high speed power train, the former train turning the rewind reel I2 through the gears 2|, 22, 23, and 20 and the latter train idling. In this manner the rewind reel is continuously rotated by the application of power thereto as distinguished from a friction drive.

With rotation of the gear 2lv there is a back feed of power through the sprocket wheel 5I, the sprocket chain 52 and the speed reducing mechanism 54 to the lead screw shaft 58. In a manner well known to the type of automatic differential speed reducing mechanism, the action of the lead screws gradually separates the driving members 3l and moves the driven members 36 toward each other as a result of movement of the rocking levers 56 and 5l. The movement of the lead screw shaft is very slow so that the change of the position of the members 3'I and 36 in relation to each other is very gradual. As a result of the gradually shorter radius upon which the members 31 act upon the belt 64 and the gradually lengthening radius at which this belt acts upon the members 36, the effects above referred to are secured because the belt 64 drops toward the axis of the members'S'I as said members are separated, and moves away from the axis of the members 36 with downward movement of the belt as a whole.

Due to the action of the automatic differential speed reducing mechanism, the angular speed of the gear 2l is gradually lowered, thus reducing the speed of the rewind reel I2 asit increases in diameter. The rate of reduction of speed of the gear 2I is proportionate to the rate of increase in diameter of the web upon the rewind reel I2, and this condition is the same irrespective of the setting of the machine to adapt it for use with `plates of different sizes or of a different number upon the plate cylinder.

Whatever the adjustment of the delivery mechanism, the web I3 will move at a relatively lower speed than the delivery tapes IIJ since it is merely required that the length of webl fed during each cycle of the plate cylinder shall approximate the aggregate length of the sheets printed during that cycle as distinguished from the peripheral length of the cylinder. In order words, sheets while being conveyed by the tapes I are spaced from each other a distance equalling the space between plates upon the cylinder, but when wound within the rewind reel, the printed sheets are positioned fairly closely adjacent each other. The inclination of the reach of the web I3 between the roller I9 and the rewind reel insures the delivery of the forward edge of each sheet closely adjacent the periphery of the rewind reel, so that as each sheet is delivered by the tapes I8, it is necessary that the preceding sheet shall have been in its entirety wound within the web upon the reel I2. Otherwise there is likelihood of a sheet overlaying a preceding sheet.

The braking or retard mechanism operative upon the supply reel is for the purpose of oiering sufficient resistance to the turning of said reel to develop a desired tension of the webI between the supply reel and the rewind reel and to maintain this tension. Tautness of the web avoids likelihood of the formation of wrinkles or creases therein, and the absence of slack between the two reels also reduces to a minimum, likelihood of tearing of the web Because of the sudden application thereto of the load of the supply reel. When the diameter o-f the rewind reel is small, that of the supply reel is relatively larger and the rewind reel acts at a short radius against a long radius of the supply reel so that with the feeding of a given length of web, the rotation of the rewind reel will be relatively greater than that of the supply reel. As the rewind reel gradually increases in diameter, this condition is reversed, and becomes exaggerated because the rewind reel increases in diameter by the thickness of the weby I3 augmented by the thickness of the sheets of paper collected in the wound web.

The construction of the braking or retard mechanism described is such that when the rewind reel acts at the greatest leverage of the supply reel, said mechanism oiers the maximum resistance to the turning of the supply reel there being the maximum area of contact between the brake drum 66 and the brake bands 61. Greater resistance to such turning movement under such conditions is necessary because of the slow movement of the supply reel, and the absence of any accumulated braking action with such slow movement. With a more rapid rotation of the supply reel, however, the increased speed, if the same area of contact between said drum and said brake band were maintained, would result in an increased braking action due to the speed of movement of the drum upon the supply reel.

The movement of the crank shaft lil as a result of movement of the roller 8l toward the axis of the supply reel with a lessening of the diameter thereof, moves the hub 'Hl and the arms B and 1I carried thereby clockwise, thus lowering the friction area between the brake band El land the drum 66 in proportion to the decrease in the diameter of the supply reel, thus maintaining a substantially uniform braking or retard action upon said reel at all times and developing substantially uniform stresses upon the web irrespective of the diameter of the rewind reel. By thus establishing and maintaining a substantially uniform tension upon the web, each printed sheet is subjected to substantially the same pressure as it enters within the rewind reel, and looseness in the convolutions in the web I3 upon said rewind reel, which might result in slippage causing smutting of an impression, is avoided.

By the construction of the braking or retard mechanism as described, the application of substantially uniform tensioning stresses to the web results from a reduction of the area of the cooperating braking members with, and in proportion to, a decrease in the diameter of the supply reel.

Whenever during a run of the press, it becomes necessary to actuate the throwoff mechanism to prevent offsetting upon the blanket of the impression cylinder or D-roll, or for any other reason, the bell crank lever 91 is ,actuated to simultaneously interrupt the transmission of power by the main power train to the rewind mechanism so as to stop the feeding of the web I3 until the machine is again made operative to make impressions. Delays of this kind are not infrequent and are of uncertain duration. Continued feeding of the web- I3 under such circumstances would result in .a considerable length of web being rewound on the reel I2 without the presence of printed sheets.

Under the most favorable circumstances, it is essential to remove the full rewind reel and mount a fresh supply reel in the machine three or four times a day, and by reducing the time lost in changing reels the daily output of a machine may be proportionately increased. Ordinarily, a supply reel will be completely exhausted in from one and one-half to two hours unless very short plates are used, and it is necessary to remove the rewind reel at the completion of each days run.

VWith three large plates on the plate cylinder, a run of the web I3 will range from '7 to 9 feet for each revolution of the plate cylinder. With one small plate, it may be only one-fourth of this distance or even less. With plates upon the plate cylinder differing in number and size, there will be a proportionate variation in the run of the web.

As heretofore stated, the automatic differential speed reducing mechanism may be manually adjusted by means of the hand crank 65 so as to vary the fixed ratio established by the selection of the gears 26, 25, and 26, as described above. In so adjusting said mechanism, it is merely necessary to disengage the clutch members 88 and 89 and apply power to the main power train to actuate the feed back mechanism. During the rotation of the members 31-36, the lead screw shaft 58 may be turned by hand to effect any desired setting of said members. In this manner, the initial rate of movement of the web may be varied, but thereafter the speed of the web will be uniform.

At the end of each days run of a printing machine, it is necessary to remove all printed sheets from the machine. Quite frequently it happens that upon completion of the run, a considerable length of web remains in the supply reel. It is obvious that to permit the removal of the rewind reel it is either necessary to tear the web between the rewind reel and the supply reel, or to complete the transfer of the web from the supply reel to the rewind reel. With the web moving at its normal speed, the latter course is impossible since it might take an hour to effect such a transfer. The high speed rewind mechanism is provided to obviate this difficulty.

When the days run is completed, the pressman merely disconnects the clutch members 88 and 89 and sets the clutch III. The subsequent application of power to the delivery mechanism will cause the rotation of the gear 2l by the high speed power train, thuscausing the rapid rewinding of the web I3 upon the rewind reel. While the tensioning or rewind mechanism is not required in this operation, nevertheless it continues to operate, but this is immaterial. If it be found that the high speed of the web tends to cause the creation of slack, the pressman may, by actuating the handle 82, increase the braking action of the brake band 61 upon the drum ES, or may so control it as to ensure a desired tension of the web to avoid wrinkling or creasing thereof. In fact, the notch is provided to permit the setting of the brake mechanism so as to develop its maximum braking action, or to so position the roller BI as to afford clearance for the mounting of a fresh supply reel in the machine.

During the operation of the high speed power train, the main power train would normally be inoperative as to the rewind mechanism, but ordinarily the practice is to actuate the throwoff mechanism during the high speed rewinding of the web, thus interrupting the power applied to the automatic differential speed reducing mechanism.

The various examples given as to speeds are subject to wide variation, being based upon printing machines of a particular construction. With different constructions of printing machines these speeds will be diierent.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction 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 delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having'a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of anti-offset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, and connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed ,reducing mechanism imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder.

2. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of antiofset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said speed reducing mechanism, whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and a braking or retard mechanism operative upon said rewind reel to develop tensioning stresses upon the web.

3. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of antioffset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mecha.- nism, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, actuating means for a throwoi mechanism of a press means whereby said main power train is made inoperative in relation to the rewind reel actuating mechanism, and means whereby said last named means may be connected with the thro-wollE mechanism actuating means to ensure stoppage of the rewind reel substantially simultaneously with the actuation of said throwol mechanism.

4. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of antioffset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a Xed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, means whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating m-echanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, a high speed power train co-operating with said rewind reel actuating mechanism, and selectively operative means whereby either Yof said power trains may be made operative or inoperative in relation to said actuating mechanism.

5. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of anti-offset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a, main power train imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein selectively operative means whereby said power train may be set to establish the desired ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of a plate cylinder, and a speed reducing mechanism, and connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder.

6. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of anti-oiset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a xed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a sprocket wheel operative upon the rewind reel actuating mechanism, a plurality of sprocket wheels of diierent diameters, a sprocket chain adapted to be selectively connected with said first named sprocket wheel and one of said plurality of sprocket wheels, whereby said power train may be set to establish the desired ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of a plate cylinder, and a speed reducing mechanism, and continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of theV web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder. 7. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of anti-offset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism; a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to'cause movement of the web in a xed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein selectively operative means whereby said power train may be set to establish the desired ratio'between the speed of the web and the angular speed of a plate cylinder, and a speed reducing mechanism, continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and manually operative means whereby said speed reducing mechanism may be adjusted to vary the ratio established by said selectively operative means between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder.

8. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of anti-offset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a iiXed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a sprocket wheel, a plurality of sprocket wheels of different diameters, a sprocket chain adapted to be selectively connected with said rst named sprocket wheel and one of said plurality of sprocket wheels, whereby said power train may be set to establish the desired ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of a plate cylinder, and a speed reducing mechanism, continuously operating connections between sai-d rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, manually operative means whereby said speed reducing mechanism may be adjusted to vary the ratio established by said selectively operative means between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and a clutch mechanism connecting said iirst named sprocket wheel and the rewind reel actuating mechanism, whereby the main power train may be actuated to facilitate manual adjustment.

9. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of anti-onset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, a feed back mechanism actuated from said main power train adjacent said rewind reel actuating mechanism and imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said speed reducing mechanism, said feed back mechanism including therein a speed reducing mechanism whereby the speed reducing mechanism of said main power train is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism, and means whereby said main power train and said feed back mechanism may be made operative or inoperative in relation to said rewind reel and to said speed reducing mechanism of said main power train respectively.

10. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of anti-offset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism comprising a gear carried by said rewind reel, two gears enmeshed therewith, and a gear enmeshed with both of said last named gears, a main power train imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said last named gear to cause movement oi the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, and connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism imparting continuous uni-directional movement to said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder.

1l. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of anti-oiset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, a braking or retard mechanism operative upon said supply reel to develop tensioning stresses upon the web, means whereby said braking or retard mechanism may be actuated to maintain a substantially uniform tensioning stress upon the web irrespective of the diameter of the supply reel, and means engageable with said supply reel and operative upon said last named means for automatically actuating said braking or retard mechanism by and in accordance with the changing diameter of the reel.

l2. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of antioffset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement oi the web in a iixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and a braking or retard mechanism operative upon said supply reel to develop tensioning stresses upon the web comprising a brake drum carried by said supply reel, a member rotatable about the axis of said reel, a weighted brake band connected with said member and co-operating with said drum, crank shafts at opposite ends of said reel, a roller carried thereby in engageable relation with the perimeter of the reel, and connections between a crank shaft and said member, whereby the area of contact between the brake band and the brake drum will be progressively reduced with a lessening of the diameter of said supply reel.

13. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of antioffset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and a braking or retard mechanism operative upon said supply reel to develop tensioning stresses upon the web comprising a brake drum carried by said supply reel, a member rotatable about the axis of said reel, a weighted brake band connected with said member and co-operating with said drum,. crank shafts at opposite ends of said reel, a roller carried thereby in' engageable relation with the perimeter ofthe reel, connections between a crank shaft and said member, whereby the area of contact between the brake band and the brake drum will be progressively reduced with a lessening of the diameter of said supply reel, and manually operative means whereby the area of contact between the brake band and the brake drum may be controlled independently of the supply reel.

14. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of antioffset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism embodying driving members carried by a shaft, driven members, connections transmitting power from said driving members to said driven members, means whereby said driving members and said driven members may be simultaneously actuated to vary the operative effect of said connections, means for transmitting power from said driven members, a power transmitting member mounted upon the shaft of said driving members, and a clutch mechanism whereby said last named member may be connected with said shaft, a bell crank lever operative upon said clutch mechanism, a crank shaft, a link connecting a crank upon said shaft with said bell crank lever, actuating means for a throwoff mechanism of a press, means whereby said crank shaft may be connected with the throw-off mechanism actuating means, whereby said speed reducing mechanism maybe made;

inoperative to transmit power through said main power train simultaneously with the actuation of the throw-off mechanism of a press, and continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder.

15. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and. an impression cylinder Vembodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of arrtil offset material passing from said supply 'reel totx said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train including a clutch meollanism whereby said main power train may be connected with said rewind reel actuating mechanism to impart continuous movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder or to prevent transmission of power to said rewind reel actuating mechanism, and a speed reducing mechanism, means whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and a high speed power train including therein a clutch mechanism whereby said high speed power train may be selectively connected with, or disconnected from, said rewind reel actuating mechanism.

16. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machinesv having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of antiducing mechanism and a clutch mechanism intermediate said speed reducing mechanism and said rewind mechanism, whereby said main power train may be selectively connected with, or disconnected from said rewind reel actuating mechanism, continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and a'high speed power train including a gear train acting upon the gear enmeshed with both of the gears of the rewind reel actuating mechanism, and a clutch mechanism whereby said high speed power train may be selectively made operative or inoperative.

17. AA delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of antioffset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder. and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, means whereby said main power train may be made inoperative in relation to the rewind reel actuating mechanism, a high speed power train co-operating with said rewind reel actuating mechanism, means whereby said high speed power train may be made operative or inoperative in relation to said actuating mechanism, and means whereby said means for making said main power train inoperative may be connected with the throw-off mechanism actuating means of a press to ensure stoppage of the rewind reel substantially simultaneously with the actuation of said throw-off mechanism.

18. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of anti-offset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanism, a main power train including a clutch mechanism whereby said main power train may be connected with said rewind reel actuating mechanism to impart continuous movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed .of the plate cylinder or to prevent transmission of power to said rewind reel actuating mechanism, and a speed reducing mechanism, continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed of the plate cylinder, a high speed power train including therein a clutch mechanism whereby said high speed power train may be selectively connected with, or disconnected from, said rewind reel actuating mechanism, actuating means for said clutch mechanism connecting the main power train with the rewind reel actuating mechanism, and means whereby said actuating means may be connected with the throw-01T mechanism actuating means of a press to ensure stoppage of the rewind reel substantially simultaneously with the actuation of said throw-off mechanism.

19. A delivery mechanism for rotary steel plate printing machines having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder embodying therein a supply reel, a rewind reel, guide rollers for a web of antioffset material passing from said supply reel to said rewind reel, a rewind reel actuating mechanisrn, a main power train operating continuously upon said rewind reel actuating mechanism to cause movement of the web in a fixed ratio to the angular speed of the plate cylinder, and including therein a speed reducing mechanism, continuously operating connections between said rewind mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism whereby said speed reducing mechanism is automatically actuated to progressively reduce the speed of said rewind reel actuating mechanism to maintain the ratio between the speed of the web and the angular speed .of the plate cylinder, a braking or retard mechanism operative upon said supply reel to develop tensioning stresses upon the web, means whereby said main power train may be made inoperative in relation to the rewind reel actuating mechanism, means whereby said last named means may be connected with the throw-01T mechanism actuating means of a press to ensure stoppage of the rewind reel substantially simultaneously with the actuation of said throw-oi mechanism, a high speed power train co-operating with said rewind reel actuating mechanism, and means whereby said high speed power train may be made operative or inoperative in relation to said actuating mechanism.

FRANK C. MARQUARDT.

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