US2055272A - Rotary intaglio printing - Google Patents

Description

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L ATTORNEYS vA. WEISS ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTINQ sept. 22, 1936. 2,055,272

Filed Dec. 7, 1952 15 sheets-s116928V 243340 "l Y 'SV a .Law

L ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1936. A wElSs ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING Filed DeC. "l, 1952 HRM sept.22,1936. y Awms 2,055,212;

ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING INVENTOR i ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1936. l A WEBS t ROTARY INTGLIO PRINTING Filed Dc. 7, 1932 l5 Sheets-Sheetv 11v INVENTOR` W ZM ATTORNEYS v A sept. 22, 1936.

A WEISS ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING 13 Sheets-Sheet V12 FiledI Dec. 7, 1952 www@ I lNvENToR ATTQNEYS y Sept. 22, 1936. A. WEISS 2,055,272

' I ROTARY INTGLIO PRINTING Filed Dec. 7, 1932 1s sheets-sheet 13 INVENTOR ffm@ ATToRN Ys 55 the highest character.

Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED -sT-A'nzs` PATENT OFFICE 2.055.272 I fm,

` Application December 7, 1932, Serial No. 646,032 49 claims. '(ci. 10i- 157) in the art of rotary intaglio printing, the mechanism has been extremely bulky, largely in view` of certain inherent characteristics necessary in the art heretofore, particularly where a large number of printing cylinders is desired, and this results not only in consuming vast floor space but also entails other objections, in that the distance of web travelbetweenprinting cylinders is great,

requiring a correspondingly greatlength of paper Also, the servicing and proper, maintenance of said machines, both'during and between runs, has

been difiicult and time-consuming. Among these latter disadvantages might be mentioned the matter of maintaining the desired supply of ink. of the desired consistency. at the printing surfaces and keeping the operative parts free from `be coming coatedor gummed with ink.- which when partially or wholly hardened is extremely sticky. Accordingly,fan object of this invention isto 4provide a compactlmachine capable of accommodating the desired number of printing'cylinders, while requiring only a relatively small floor space area, and one in which a wel?` path of travel between cylinders is reduced to a minimum. and .having its operative control and adjustment means so arranged and in such cloee'proximity that operative eifort is reduced to a minimum.

Another object is to provide improved methods and apparatus for carrying out the same which permitsn increase'in operative speed of from 100 to several hundred-per cent. as compared -with current practice. while prod ing -work of Another object is to provide improved methods and apparatus for carrying out the same which permit extremelyeilicient and expeditious operative and maintenance servicing, and specifically with reference to inking and in cleaning the 5 l parts subjected to ink.

Another object is to provide apparatus -of the character described having means for efiicientiy and automatically establishing and maintaining the desired web tension. f i

Further and more specicfobjects, features'and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification. l

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the printing end of the machine as ,viewed from what hereafter will be termed its control side;

Fig. la is a similar view showing the supply end 2o and is the complement of Fig. 1 to illustrate a complete machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the printing end of the machine as viewed from what hereafter will be termed its drive side; f

Fig. 2a. is a similar view showing the supply end and is the complement of Fig. 2 in villustrating a complete'machine showing in general the chief drive train;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken 80 'intermediate the sides of the machine in a pluralityof planes to-illustrate details of theupper printing stageadjacent the drive side and details of the lower printing stage adjacent the control side,both as viewed from the control side;

Fig. Sais a similar view showing the supply end and is the complement of Fig. 3 in illustrating the complete machine; fr v Fig. 4is a plan view of a portion of the printing mechanism illustrating one of the printing unit 40 Fig.`i'ris a sectionalview taken at 5--5 of Fig. 4 in a direction transverse the aids 'of the printing cylinder and Ishowing the cylinder and related cylinder; ,Fig.6 is a similar view taken at t-I of Fig. 4' adjacent the end o! the cylinder;

Fig. 7 (Sheet 3) is a sectional view taken at` 11of' Fig. 4 and is similar to Fig. 5 with cer-j tain parts omitted in order to more clearly show certain features of the doctor mounting;

Fig. 8 (Sheet 3) is anelevatiorn of certain fea- A. tures of a printinguunit'assembly illustrating 55 parts in elevation adjacent the vcenter ofthe 5f certain features of an ink housing anddoctor mounting;

Fig. 9 (Sheet 9) isa sectional view taken approximately at 9 9 of Fig. 6 to illustrate the reciprocating mechanism for the doctor;

Fig. 10 (Sheet 9) is a sectional view taken at I0-I0 of Fig. 4 to illustrate-further details of said mechanism;

Fig. 11 (Sheet 9) is a similar view=taken at II-II of Fig. 3, to illustrate 'further details of the same;

Fig. 12 (Sheet 10) is a sectional view taken at I2-I2 of Fig. 4 showing particularly certain details of the printing cylinder drive train, said cylinder mounting and adjustment means, pressure roller mountingand adjustment means, ink housing and chamber with inlet and outlet port and ink chamber fioat and control;

Fig. 13 (Sheet 10) is a perspective view of certain adjustment details of. Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 (Sheet 10) is a perspective view of a drive connection of Fig. 12;-

Fig. 15 (Sheet 10) is a sectional view taken at I5-I5 of Fig. 1, showing further adjustment details of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 (Sheet 11) is a sectional view taken at I 6-I 6 of Fig. 4 showing further details ofthe parts illustratedfin Figs. 4 and 12;

Figs. 17 and 18 (Sheet 11) are perspective views of certain details of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 (Sheet 6) is a sectional view taken at I9-I 9 of Figs. 2a and 3a showing certain features of the web feed drive train;

Fig. 20 (Sheet 6) is a sectional view taken at 20-20 of Figs. 2a and 3a showing certain' features of the web tensioning brake mechanism;

Fig. 21 (Sheet 6) isa perspective view showing the said mechanism more fully;

Fig. 22 (Sheet 6) is a section atv 22-22 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 (Sheet 2) is a sectional view taken at 23---23 of Figs. 2a and 3a showing certain further features of the web feed mechanism;

Fig. 24 (Sheet 2) is a view, partly in section, taken at 24-24 of Fig.` la and showing details of the supply roll mounting and related parts;

vention and taken in its entirety represents a machine embodying fourprinting stages; While solid line 'parts of the diagram, represent the machine embodying two printing stages as specifically and completely, described and shown herein.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 32, the general features of the machine will first be described by way of introduction and in order to present a clear understanding of the general travel of the web and the rela, tive location of the principal ,units of the present embodiment of the invention, which embodiment takes the form of a rotary intaglio printing press comprisinga plurality. of printing'stages each of which may represent a different color.

As viewed in Fig. 32 the right hand side of the diagram represents the printing end, the left hand side the supply end; the operating controls are located on the front side, and the driving means is principally located'adjacent the rear side. For a more detailed structural showing of the corresponding portions as similarly viewed, reference may behad to Figs. 1-1a and 3-3a.

The web to be printed upon,'such as the paper web I is supplied from a roll 2, from which it passes over an idle roll 3 and around a roller I which serves to hold it into engagement with initial feeding means comprising the conveyor feed belt 5 carried by the driving pulley 6 and the belt tensioning .idler roller 1. From here the web' passes over the roller 8 and thenin a reverse direction over a floating roller 9 whose position is varied according to the tension of the web to automatically vary a braking action on the supply roll; and then continues its path of travel toward the printing end of the machine.

At Vthe printing end the web I passes over a roller I0, then upwardly and between the rollers I I and I2, which are adjustingly yieldingly urged together to provide a tensioning means immediately prior to the first printing operation, thence over roller I2 and beneath a pressure roller I3 which serves to urge the web into suitable printing engagement with a printing cylinder I4 to thereby make the first impression on the web at what will be termed the iirst printing stage, designated A. The web then passes to a conveyor feed belt I5 which is supported by a driving pulley I6 and cooperating adjustable idler roller I1. This belt conveys the web around the pulley I6 and thence to a second printing stage B, Where a, second impression is printed on the web in the desired registry with the first. For purposes of ready reference the printing unit assemblies at respective stages will be referred to hereafter as A and B in general.

As many further and subsequent printing stages C and D as desired may be employed, but for purposes of simplicity only w,two complete stages are fully illustrated and described in the detailed description following.

After the web has received the desired number i of printing impressions, it passes from the last stage to a conveyor belt similar to the belt I5 and which will accordingly be designated I5'; and is carried by the same rearwardly and then forwardly to adacent the printing end of the machine where it passes around rollers I8 and I9 and on to suitable disposal or folding'mechanism (not shown);

The structural detalls of the machine will now be described in particularity, first the general supporting structure, and then the remaining structurein the order of the sequence of web travel through the machine.

Frame structure trol and drive'sides of the machine. 'Ihe lower edges of the frames 2I and 22 rest in' seats extending lengthwise of the base 20 at respectively oppositeA sides thereof and lying somewhat below the top of the base and the frames are rigidly attached to the base such as by bolts 23. The

gsged position by rotating the same 180 and engaging the pin 50 ina recess 52 provided on the frames areinterconnected and braced transverse- 1y by a plurality of transversely extending niembers .including the tie bolts or rods, such as24, and other members which will be hereinafter referred to in connection with additional functions performed bythem. The frames 2| and 22 in the present. embodiment each comprises four parts, which will now be described.

'I'he frame 2l comprises the' rear portion 25- (Fig. 1a), which extends the full height of the frame 2l. the lower front portion 26 (Fig. 1). the upper front portion 21, and the'intermediate upper portion 28. The portions 21 and 28 are Y supported from the portion 26 and rest upon a shelf 29 formed onthe top thereof, and are suitably secured thereto: while the rear portion extends upwardly from the base 20 and is secured l. along itsinner upper edge to the portion 28. The "1 parts are preferablyof lightened construction' providing webs adapted andpositioned to act as supporting and bearing points for the operating mechanism; and these and further detailed structural features of the frames will be referred to laterin connection with closely related parts of the mechanism. .f

The frame 22 (Figs. 2-2a) is similarly constructed and comprises the respectively correspondingportions 30, 3i, 32 and 33 (see also Figs. 3-3a5. It is to be particularly noted that the tops of frames 2l and 22 are substantially flat, and in otherl respects provide shelf supports similar to 28 of frame portion 26, thereby to permit increasing the number of `printing stages by addirm additional stages such as C and D.

AMain drive-Web fees I able couplings.

From. the journal 38 the shaft 86 passes -rearwardly and is journaled in a housing 39 rigidly secured to the frame portion and`which encloses a worm 40 secured to the. shaft 36 andl adapted to be driven thereby; and the worm 40 is in driving engagement with a worm wheel 4| positioned within an upwardly extending portion 42 of the housing 38 (Figs. 19 and 3a, Sheet 6) The worm wheel 4| has a hub portion 43 secured to the inner race of a ball bearing 44 whose outer race issupported ina journal cup 45 secured to the inner face of frame portion 80 (Fig. v19). A shaft 45 is freely journaled in the hub of worm wheel 4I and itsends respectively project beyond the end of the hub and the face of the worm wheel' The latter end carriesa drlvingarm 41 whoseihubis rotatably securedto the shaft 46 in driving engagement therewith. The arm 41. at

its outer end. carries a releasable driving pin 48 resiliently urged into driving engagement with `tl-i'e wheel 4| by means of a helical con'pression spring 48 seated in a bore in a boss formed ine tegral with the arm 41. '.I'he pin 48 isprovided with a cross Pin 50, .receivable in a slot formed in the outer end of said boss,` and a knul-led hand piece 5I -which permit the pin 4,8 to be withdrawn from driving engagement andlocked in disenouter face of the said boss. It will therefore be seen that the shaft 46 may be selectively placed in odriven engagement with the worm wheel 4l.

The other end of the shaft 46 (Figs. 19 and 3a) carries securely fastened thereto forrotation ytherewith a spur gear 53 in driving eng-agement" with a spur gear 54. The .gear 53 is secured to its shaft ina manner providing easy selective replacement for 'selectively varying its pitch diameter for reasons to be more fully pointed out hereinafter. The gear 54 is freely journaled on a stub shaft 55 which is rigidly secured to an.

adjustable arm 56 lsecured to a 'stub shaft 51, as

jby pin-means; and the shaft 51 is journaled in a boss formed on frame portion 38. The gear 54 is in driving mesh with' a spur gear 58 which is mounted on'stub shaft 51 and freely rotatable with respect thereto. y

The shaft 51 has integrally attached to its other end an adjusting lever or handle 58 which is provided with'an arcuate slot and lock bolt to permit of its limited adjustable movement and itsbeing locked in the .desired position. The reason for this adjustment is that the'rotatlonal speed of the bear a certain ratio to that at the printing end,

e both of which are driven from a common shaft,

and such ratio must vary with different size printing cylinders in order to maintain vthe desired vspeed of web feed relative to cylinder surfacespeed. By the means just described a gear 53 may be provided of the desired pitch diameter, to

effect said desired ratio, 'and byrocking the lever gear train at the supply end of the machine should y 59 the spur gear 54 maybe suitably adjusted selectively to mesh with respective gears 53 of varying diameter, and locked in such position.

The gear 58 is in driving mesh with a gear 60 secured to its shaft 6ifor rotation therewith, and the shaft is journaled in a bearing 6Ia which is seated in a housing formed integral with frame portion 30. The shaft 6I projects outwardly beyond the vouter face of the frame portion 30 of the-frame 22 and on its projecting end carries a cone pulley 62 secured thereto and adapted to be rotated thereby. The pulley 62 is engaged by a. belt 63 to be driven thereby (see Fig. 2a, Sheet 4) and which passes through a belt adjuster 64 and thence around a cone pulley 65 to be driven thereby and which is tapered reversely to the taper of pulley 6 2V and cooperates therewith for the purpose of providing a variable speed drive. The

'pulley 65 (see also Fig. 23) is attached to the shaft 65 for driving the same and the shaft is suitably journaled in side frame portions 25 and 30 and carries intermediate said side frames the roller 6 which is attached thereto and adapted to be rotated therewith. 'I'he belt adjuster 64 is carried by an'faxially movable adjusting shaft 61 journaled in side frame portion 30 and having an end projecting inwardly of its bearing support to which is attached a screw block 68, the screw threads of which engage an adjusting screw 6,8 whose respectively opposite ends 10 and 1| are journaled in the frame portions 30 and 25; and the end 10 is extended outwardly'throughthe frame portion 25 and carries secured thereto a hand wheel 12 providing means for rotating the screw 69 to thereby niove the belt adjuster 64 in-a direction F axially of the driving pulley 62 and ldriven pulley'- to thereby vary the position of the belt 63 forthe purpose of effecting a corresponding variation of drive ratio between said pulleys. This ,Speed variation not only aifects the linear velocity of the web feeding belt 5, which is carried by the roller 6 and extends substantially the length of said roller, but also affects the linear speed of (the web feed conveyor belts I5 and I5', which are driven from the shaft 66 in a manner to be de-' scribed following. The feed belt 5 (Figs. 1a and 2 3) extends around the roller 1 which is supported on plungers 1.3, 14 (see also Fig. 3a), which are journaled respectively in bosses provided on arms 15, 16 pivotally supported on shaft-66, and roller 1 is resiliently held forwardly of roller 6 by means of helical compression springs such as 11 (Fig. 3a) to thereby provide the necessary tautness'to the belt 5 in order that the necessary driving friction might' be maintained against the web to be fed between the belt 5 and its cooperating friction roller 4. The friction roller 4 is freely rotatably mounted on a shaft 18 which is suitably journaled frames, and by referring to Figs. la and 23 it will be seen that the shaft 18 is one of the transversely extending members which together with the tie rods 24 serve to brace the frames.

Conveyor belt drive Referring now to Fig. 23, the drive of the conveyor belts I5 and I5 will now be described. A sprocket gear 19 is secured to the shaft 66 and adapted to be driven thereby, and carries the driving chain 80 which drives the sprocket gear 8| freely rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 82 suitably supported in the frame portion 30 and carrying a spur gear 83 integral with the sprocket 8| and adapted to be driven thereby. The spur gear 83 is in driving mesh with a cooperating spur gear 84 which is .secured to and adapted to drive the shaft 85 which, is suitably journaled in the opposite side frames. The shaft 85 projects outwardly beyond the frame 30 at the drive side of the machine and carries a bevel driving gear 86 adapted to be driven thereby. The bevel gear 86 is in driving mesh with a corresponding bevel gear 81 which is carried by and adapted to drive a diagonally extending shaft 88 which is suitably carried in' journal housings (see Fig. 2a) 89 and 90. Adjacent its lower end the diagonal shaft 88 vcarries secured thereto a bevel gear 9| in cooperative driving mesh with a bevel gear 92 secured to and serving to drive a shaft 93 which is suitably lournaled in the side frames and which carries the roller I6 which serves to driv'e the web conveyor belt I5. Correspondingly, the shaft 85 (Figs. 1a and 23) has secured thereto and is adapted to drive, the roller I6' which in turn serves to drive the web conveyor belt l5'. It will be noted from Figs. 2a and 3a that the power drive is delivered direct to the upper shaft 85 and then downwardly to the shaft 93 of the correspondingly lower unit, and that theshaft 88 which thus transmits the power is projected upwardly; and in this connection it is pointed out that provision is thereby made for adding additional units for additional printing stages such as C and D, heretofore referred to.

Before taking up the mechanism of the printing end of the machine-in detail, the means for adjusting the tensioning of the conveyor belts I5 and I5 will be briefly described; but since bo'th of f `these tensioning meansare identicaL'only one will be described in detail and corresponding parts of the other will be indicated on the drawings by corresponding numbers bearing the prime suffix Referring more particularlyto Figs. 3 and 6, it will be seen that ther roller I1, which supports the forward end of the conveyor belt I5, is carin respectively opposite side' ried on the shaft 94 supported in sliding journal means 95 and adjustable in a direction transverse to the axis 94 by means of adjusting screws 96 supported in seats 91 attached respectively to the side frame members as will be more fully seen from Fig.' 4.

Printing units Since the printing units at stages A and B are identical in substantially all major particulars, only one of these units, i. e. that at stage A, will be descrid in detail and where corresponding parts of the similar unit at stage B are referred to, such as where certain parts might be clearly illustrated in sectional views in connection with unit stage B, such corresponding parts of stage B will be given the same reference characters as the parts of unit stage A supplemented by the suflix prime to designate the respectively different locations in the respective units of stages A and B.

In the present embodiment the printing cylinders, such as I4, are supported each directly by what will be termed an ink ho-using, and such housing and its means of support from the structural framework will first be described; and then the driving means for the cylinders and related adjustment means will be described.

The general position of the housings will be understood by reference to Fig. 1, wherein the" housings are indicated in general as 98 and 98.

The said housings are supported between the sideframes in a manner which will be best understood by referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, from which it will be seen `that the housingbase 99 (Fig. 6) is pro-" ing in lateral position, (Figs. 12"and 15) as by means of set screws |01, to be moved thereby; the member in turn being slidable axially on a laterally extending shaft |08. cylinder I4 is vpositioned with a portion of its periphery extending within the said housing and is supported on a driving shaft |09, and the respective ends of the cylinder are spaced inwardly from the housing end walls |03 and |04 and the periphery of the cylinder is spaced inwardly from the side walls and |06. 09 has a smooth sliding fit at the cylinder hub end I|0 and is provided with a conical shoulder portion III which is seated with a driving fit in a cooperating conical bore formed inthe cylinder hub end 2. The drive shaft has one end I|4 supported in an inner ball race ||5 Whose outer race ||6 is received infa bearing recessformed integral with the housing end |03 and a thrust and sealing collar ||1 vsurrounds the drive shaft and is interposed between the adjacent cylinder hub 4I I2 and the innerl face of the race I|5, serving to distribute lubricant from the bearing recess, A screw thread ring |I8 is in interior threaded engagement within the `said bearing bore and bears against the outer bearing race l|6 to hold the bearing and the shaft carried thereby in proper axial adjustment. Similar supporting means is provided adjacent the cylinder Thehousing is The driving shaft The printing hub ||0 and the housing end |04 and such sup- 75 4 prevent rotative movement of said sleeve while porting means permits' the axial adjustment of the cylinder with respect to the inner faces of the housingl ends |03-I04. This supporting means further permits easy removal of. the cylinder |4 for purposes of change of' printing design or change of cylinder size. In such removal the ring ||8 is removed and the drive shaft ||4 may be then pulled out of thecylinder |4 in orden to lift the cylinderout of the housing. To facilitate such removal I have provided asustaining lugs ||9 (see also Fig. 6) on respective housing ends |03 and |04, said lugs being spaced slightly below the normal position of the cylinder hub ends ||0 and so that innormal operation they create no friction but as soon as ,the driving shaft is removed they serve to supportl the cylinder Within the housing. The rounded/upper surfaces of lugs I9 permit ink drainage. The dorive shaft |09, as will bemore fully pointed out following, engages its driving train by means of a sliding key connection which permits the removal above described and which furthermore permits the axial adjustment movement of the housing and cylinder now to be described. l

Cylinder drive and adjustment The housing adjustable hollow shaft |0| (Figs. 12 and 15) extends outwardly through the frame 2| and is suitably supported at its outer end in a journal housing |20 and is provided with an exterior threaded portion |2| in threaded engagement with the surrounding worm wheel screw block |22, also suitably journaled in said housing |20. The worm wheel |22'is in driving mesh with the 'worm |23 attached to the end of the shaft |24 and adapted to be driven thereby. The shaft |24 carries on its upper end a bevel gear |25 in driving mesh with the corresponding bevel gear |26 secured to a stub shaft |21 which is suitably journaled in the frame 2| and housing |20 and is provided at its outer end with a control or a hand wheel |28. It will therefore be seen that by rotating the hand wheel |28 movement i`s transmitted through the bevel gears,ls haft |24 and the worm and wheel driven thereby, causing theA Worm wheel |22, which'is in interior threaded engagement with thehollow shaft |0|, to move the said shaft axially and thereby to move the housing together with the cylinder carried thereby in adirection axial of said cylinder. `Axial adjustf ment of 'the cylinder is desirable for purposes -of accurate 'registration of. the design to, Be printed; and furthermore, circumferential adjustment of the cylinder about' its axis is desirable for a like reason. Meansvfor such circumferential adjust` ment will now be discussed. y

The shaft |08 extends outwardly beyond the housing |20 and ,carries on its projecting end a hand -wheel |29 by means of which the shaft may be rotated freely within its supporting hollow shaft |0|. The other end of said shaft |08'projects outwardly through the side frame 22 in which it is suitably journaled for support as by a journal boss |30 and caries secured thereto a spur gear 3| which is rotatedl upon rotation of the shaft |08. A second control wheel |32 is secured to this'end ofthe shaft lto provide for rotation of the shaft from either side of the machine. The gear |3I'is'in mesh with an inter-` mediate gear |33 (see also Fig. 2*), and the gear |33 is in driving mesh with a'spur gear |34 which is provided with interior screw threads in co,- operative'enga'gement with external. threads of a vscrew sleeve |35. The screw sleeve |35 is plosi- Vtioned within suitable housing means |36 which `threaded ring |4|.

permitting axial movement thereof; and said housing means also -serves to restrict axial movement of the spur gear 34.f. The sleeve |35 is supported on a bearing |31 whose outer raceis clamped within a bore of said sleeve by means of a clamping ring |38. ,The inner race |39 of said bearing-is securely clamped to the outer end of a driving sleeve |40 by means of a screw The driving sleeve |40 is illustrated in Fig. 14 from whichit will be seen that it is provided with an axial smooth bore |42 having an axially extending keyway in which is seated a key |43, and the exterior surface of said sleeve is provided with a steep pitch helical spline, comprising in the present embodiment two grooves such as |44 and two tongues such as |45.- The bore |42 isfof such size as to permit a sliding fit on the driven end of the cylinder` drive shaft |09 whichds providedv with an axially extending lreyvxray for accommodating the key |43. The helical spline on the exterior of the driving connection M0 engages a corresponding shaft |09 by means of the cooperating helicalsplines of said gear and sleeve, the rotation of said connecting sleeve will act to advance or retard the. shaft |09, and the cylinder I4 carried thereby, relative to the driving gear |41A and its driving train. The means of circumferential adjustment of the cylinder |4 just de.- scribed is' primarily for the purpose of effecting relatively ne adjustments; and in order to provide additional adjustment adapted forrelatively more extensive or coarse adjustments, the following provision is made. Thelub |46 is provided with a flange |48, to which gear teeth rings |49 and |50 are adjustably attached by means.

of screws@ |5|; access to said screws being had through openings such as |52 provided in the housingmeans |36 (see also Fig. 2). By thismeans hthe gear ring parts |49 and |50 may be adjusted .cirfcumferentially relative to the gear hub |46 to provide for any degree of adjustment desired. 'Ihis coarse adjustment necessarilyis made while the machine is shut down and serves to adjust the cylinder circumferentially/ to effect approximate' adjustment; while the fine adjustment may be effectedv while themachine is operating and serves to istration.

The gear |41,l which is of herringbone type, (Fig. 9) is in driving mesh with a similarly formed gear |53, having a hub |54 which is journaled in a suitable bearing |55 supported by the side frame 22. The gear |53 is keyed to 'a stub shaft |56 which projects outwardly therefrom and has its outerend journaled in a bearing |51 suitably provide for accurate reg-.m

supported'by housing means |58 lsecurely buti'emovably attached to the' said supporting frame l22. 'The shan lss intermedlatethe bearing Isl with a cooperating. worm |60 which is keyed to the forward lend ,of the main drive shaft 38 (Fig. 2)

Doctor reciprocating mechanism Before describing the doctor mounting, its reciprocating mechanism will iirst be described since it is closely associated with the drive train |65 normally forming an integral part of the housing frame 22. The gear |63 is keyed to astub shaft |66 'which extends outwardly beyond said cover plate and has its outer end Journaled in a bracket housing |61 rigidly attached to the housing end wall |06. 'The end of the shaft |66 extends within said bracket and carries attached thereto for rotation therewith a worm |66 (Fig. 10) which is in driving mesh with a worm wheel |66 carried by an upwardly projecting shaft |10 which is also journaled in said housing bracket |61 and carrying on its upper outwardly projecting end a worm |1| adapted to be rotated therebyand in driving mesh with a worm wheel |12 which is carried by and serves to' drive a stub shaft |16 journaled in a bracket |16 which is formed integral with the doctor supporting structure-to be hereinafter described. The shaft |16 carries adjacent its opposite end and adapted to be driven thereby a spur gear |15 which is in driving mesh with a cooperating spur |16 carried by a suitably journaled doctor reciprocating shaft |11 which is driven thereby and which carries intermediate its ends a barrel cam |16 provided with a canrgroove |16 in which is cooperatively seated a cam roller |60 which is carried on a cam pin |6| rigidly carried by the parts to be reciprocated, which will now be described in commotion with the manner in which the doctor is mounted.

In this connection it is pointed out that the cam groove |16 is so positioned and formed as to provide a straight-line motion of the doctor, i. e. so that the rate of travel of the doctor is uniform throughout substantially its full travel. 'I'his is contrary to current practice, in which the doctor reciprocations slow down considerably before reversal of direction and speed up appreciably inv themiddle of the stroke. The result of such motion is that during approximately one-half of the period of reciprocation the doctor knife is practically at a dwell. As a result, portions of the doctor are worn rapidly and unequally due to the unequal time of engagement of thewiping edge of the doctor with deeply `etched areas of the printing cylinder which oiier little orr no support for the doctor. In the present invention the improved manner of reciprocating the doctor provides a uniform motion and the reduction in speed at or near the end of the stroke of the doctor before reversal is reduced to a minimum, and accordingly the doctor knife constantly -changes its position with respect to the etched volatile ink ingredients from the ink housing in order to materially retard and preferably prevent evaporation of the ink. `ll'hisls of extreme importance not only when highly volatile or rapidly drying inks are employed, as is contemplated in practicingthe invention in its present preferred form, but also when relatively less volatile inks are employed, since evenin relatively less volatile inks there are certain ingredients which are readily volatile, and it is the elimina-'- tion or escape from the inks of these readily volatile agents which is one of the serious drawbacks in the art of printing as t is practiced in general today. In other words, it is to be clearly understood that while the present preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates the use of extremely highly volatile inks, nevertheless the invention has also proven of great merit when employed in the use oi inks of the character in general use today. One of the difilculties in re-l tarding, and more particularly in substantially preventing, the escape of volatile ingredients from the ink housing is encountered where a reciprocating vdoctor is employed; and since the use of a reciprocating doctor is highly desirable, if not necessary, to produce the best possible results in printing, the provision to maintain a seal with the reciprocating doctor is an important feature of theinvention.`

Referring again to Fig. 9 and 'to Figs. 5 and 6.

with an outer wall flange |66 (Fig. 6) which is in close fitting engagement with a housing side wall portion |66 which is in close fitting engagement with the inkY housing side wall |06 and forms an upwardly extending continuation of the same. The wall portion |66v is integrally attached to supporting arms |66 which are 'pivotally mounted on the shaft |02. The supporting member |66,l

the side wall portion |65, the ink housing end walls |06 and |06 and the side wall |06 are positioned and arranged in sealing -contiguity in order to retard and substantially prevent the evaporation of ink. The reciprocable doctor slide |62 carries integrally attached thereto brackets |61 and |66 in which'are respectively secured hinge pins |66 and |60 which pivotally sup- `port brackets |6| and |62 to which is secured a doctor |66 by means of the clamping members |66 and |65 and the clamping screw means |66 and' |61 which are provided with knurled'heads to permit ready removal of the doctor which is further held in position between its clamping bars |66 and |66 as by means of a bolt connection |66 (Fig. 4). The brackets |6| and |62 are provided with Vupwardly extending arms terminating in bosses serving to support respective rollers |66 and 200 which engage vand are adapted to roll on respective plunger caps 20| and 202 which are urged outwardly by. helical compression springs such as 206 (Fig. 6)4 held in position by suitable centering means and provided with adjusting means such as 206 by means of which the degree of compression may be regulated in the wiping pressureof' the operating edge of the doctor; said compression means serving to urge the edge of the doctor |66 into operative engagement with the peripheral surface of the printing roll such as 4 (Figs. 5 and 6). To disengage the operating edge of the doctor |93 from its contact with the surface of the printing cylinder |4, the following means is provided; `referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 9. An arm 205 is secured rigidly to the reciprocating doctor slide |82 and carries in threaded engagement therewith an adjusting screw 206 which is adapted to engage i a cooperating arm"20'| rigidly secured to .the

f surfaceof the printing cylinder.

' doctor and its clampingbars (Fig. 7) by suitable means such as the screw 208. By screwing the screw 206 downwardly the shoulder thereof bears on the arm 201 causing the doctor |93 to rotate about its pivot pins |89|90 to thereby disengage the operating 4edg'e of the doctor from the The doctor slide supporting bracket |83 is adjustably secured to its supporting side wall portion |85, as heretofore pointed out, by suitable clamp screws sch as 209 (Fig. which pass through vertical slots in the said wall portion |85 and are in screw threaded engagement with the. member |83.

Means for adjusting the member |83 in an `upward and downward direction, such as to accomlmodate the position of the doctor for printing cylinders of varying sizes, (Fig. 5) comprise an adjusting screw 2| 0 in threaded'engagement with a screw boss 2| formed in the member |83 intermediate its ends and saidscrew'being provided with a thrust spool head 2|2 engaged by a thrust bearing 2|3 which is rigidly attached to the side wall portion |85. It will therefore be seen that with the clamping screws 209 loosened, the member |83 and the parts carried thereby may be f' housing or'in the removal ofthe printing cyl inder, the doctor blade together with its closely related reciprocating and driving mechanism which are carried by the supporting member |83, which is in turn supported by the pivoted side wall portion |85, may be swung outwardly "as can best be appreciated from Figs.V 8 and 10, in which the relative positions of the above mechanism in its closed and openposition are indicated respectively in full and dotted lines.

The worm is of suillcient'length topermit proper driving mesh with the worm wheel |12 throughout the limits of adjustment of the memeber |83. When the wall portion I85is swung l down this driving engagement is broken, but

when the wall portion is returned to operative position the driving engagement is restored.

Suitable releasable clamp means (Figs. 3, 4, 8 i

' and 11) are provided for holding the parts closed for permitting the movement of the same and clamping screw '2|1 provided with an outer eye "end serving ,to pivotally support a locking cam 2|8 provided with a handle portion 2|9; the locking cam on each end ot Athe housing being cooperatively disposed adjacent to a respective boss such as 220, one of which is positioned adjacent cachot the supporting arms |86.

-these comprise trunnion bearings such as .2|5-

Further structure to effect the desired sealing of the ink housing in cooperation with parts previously described will now be pointed out, with reference particularly to Figs.v 4, 6 and 9. The doctor" |93 extends beyond the respective ends of the .printing cylinder |4 in a manner illustrated in Fig. 9,- from which it willbe seen that as viewed in said ligure the doctor is positioned at the end of its stroke tothe rightf The extended portions ofthe doctor engage respective end blocks 22| and 222 which are in respective sealing contiguity with the end walls |03 and |04 and serve to bridge the space between the said end walls and respective adjacent ends of the cylinder, thereby in eifect providing inwardly extending projections of said end walls. A ilexible sealing strip 223 (see also Fig. 6) is clamped to the upper edge'of the bracket |83 by means section as to be held in intimate sealing engagenient throughoutthe length of said doctor for a substantial portion of the width of said doctor. y

The opposite ends of the sealing strip 223 (Fig. 9) lie suillciently closely adjacent respective end walls |03 and |04 to effect an operating seal with said end walls and the lower edges of the ends of said strip lie in sealing engagementwith arcuate surfaces of the respective end block.A 22| and 222. 'I'he median portion lof the lower edge of said sealing strip is cut away as at 225 in` order to space vthe edge of the same away from the periphery of the printing cylinder throughout this length of said cylinder'to thereby permit and assure positive and emcient contact between the active edge of the doctor |93. and the printing cylinder such as |'4. It will therefore be seen' that the said sealing strip and said doctor jointly serve to effectively seal the space bounded by the bracket |03,which in effect forms an inwardly4 extending projection of the side wall of' said ink`housing, the end walls |03 and |04 and the i of a clampingstrip 224/and is so formed in cross end block 22|, cylinder |4 andY end block 222.

It is to be particularly noted that this sealing condition is maintained during the operative reciprocation of the doctor.

`The end blocks 22| and 222 areconstructedas .illustrated in Fig. 17. from which it will be seen that each block i's provided with a at end wall 228 having a cut-away portion 221 to provide a clearancefor the hubof cylinder |4, and an upper arcuate wall portion v228 of a curvature' similar to the curvature of printing cylinderI with which the block is' adapted to be used. It will lee-understood that the pair of blocks for usel with 'a given cylinder are preferablyespecially designed for 'the particular size cylinder with which they are to cooperate. This is desirable' 4 in order to place the-inwardly projecting arcuate' anges ofv the blocks in'proper sealing contiguity with the respective cylinder Aends and to vprovideA a continuous straight line support for the doctor and .cooperating sealing strip.' However, to obviate the necessity of having to change the said 4

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