US2069613A

US2069613A - Cylinder separating mechanism for printing presses

Info

Publication number: US2069613A
Application number: US711776A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander T Koppe
Original assignee: GEN PRINTING INK CORP
Current assignee: GEN PRINTING INK CORP; GENERAL PRINTING INK Corp
Priority date: 1934-02-17
Filing date: 1934-02-17
Publication date: 1937-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-02

Description

Feb. 42|, 1937. A, T, @PPE 2,069,613

CYLINDER SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. 17, 1954 7 sheets-shea 1 alti. .dlii I Feb. 2, .1937. A, T. KOPPE 2,059,613

CYLINDER SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. 17, 1934 fr sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 2, 1937.

A. T, KoPPE l 2,069,613 CYLINDER SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSESl 4Filed Feb. 17, 1954 7 sheets-sheet 3 Eu/@won A. T. KOPPE Feb. 2, 1937.

Filed Feb. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 @www - Feb. 2, 1937.

A. T. KoPPE CYLINDER SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Eil/07125071:

@Zalige/wier .7.7C'0J29/U A. T. KOPPE A2,069,613

CYLINDER SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Feb. 2, 1937.

Filed Feb. 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 6 0 5 0 3 w 2 2 f u m ff 3 5 29 o @Y Z n 9 666 lf, ll b d w xww/ Y? 6 NNW /ll a L 2 j ,L Z @wf m w 07% www A. T. KOPPE Feb. 2, 1937.

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UNITED STATES CYLINDER SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Alexander T. Kop'pc, New York, N.- Y., assig'nor to General Printing Ink Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1934, Serial No. 711,776

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in printing presses and its purpose is to provide mechanism for automatically separating the cylinders of a press, such as the inked transfer cylinder and the paper-carrying cylinderx upon failure of the feeding mechanism to deliver a paper sheetl to the paper-carrying cylinder, thus preventing the printing of the impression upon the surface of that cylinder. The invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with printing presses of the offset type in which the design carried by a press plate of zinc or the like, mounted upon one cylinder, is transferredto a rubber blanket forming the surface of a transfer cylinder, by which the inked design is in turn transferred to the paper sheet mounted upon another cylinder, and one of the objects of the invention is to eiect the separation of the paper-carrying cylinder and the transfer cylinder and also to separate the transfer cylinder from the cylinder carrying the zinc plate. upon failure of the machine to feed a sheet of paper or other stock to vthe paper-carrying cylinder. Another object of the invention is to separate the inked form rollers from the cylinder carrying the zinc plate or the like upon failure of the machine to feed a sheet of paper or the like to the paper-carrying cylinder. Still another object of the invention is to provide a printing press comprising a movable member adapted to engage the surfaces of successive sheets of paper or other stock as these sheets are fed to the cylinders of the press and adapted, When there is a failure in the supply of paper sheets, to release certain latch mechanism which automatically eiects theseparation of the cylinders of the press and the movement of the inked form rollers to inoperative positions. A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically separating the cylinders of a press upon failure of the supply of paper sheets thereto in 'combination with means for permitting the ready restoration of the cylinders to their rormal positions after the failure in the supply of paper sheets has been corrected. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment is illustrated. Inl the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the upper portion of a printing press embodying the features of the present invention, illustrating the parts in the positions they occupy when the cylinders of the press are separated and the ink supply means elevated from its normal position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation similar to that of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism of the present invention in its normal position corresponding to the printing position of the cylinders of the press and the normal position of the ink supply means;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation similar to a portion of Fig. 2, illustrating the relative positions of theparts when the cylinders of the press are separated from each other while the ink supply means retains its normal position;

Fig. 3gt is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 3L-3a of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the devices for supporting and adjusting one end of an ink supply roll; l

Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of another form of device for supportingv and adjusting an inked form roller;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6 8 of Fig.`4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation similar to that of Fig. 3, showing the relative positions of the parts when they have been restored to their normal positions;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the irregular line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectiontaken on the 1 line 9-9 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on the line lil-i0 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is-a vertical section taken on the linelI-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section similar to the lower right-hand portion of Fig. 11. showing the relative positions of the parts when there is a failure in the feed of paper sheets so that the latch mechanism is tripped by the rotary device which normally engages the upper surface of the paper sheets as they are fed to the cylinders;

Fig. 13 is a perspective vew of the rotary paper-engaging device which controls the operation of the latch mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a partial side elevation of the printing press looking toward the side thereof opposite that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and "I;

Fig. 15 is a detail verticalfsection taken on the line i5--i5 of Fig. 10, showing the ratchet actuating device for imparting anintermlttent rotary motion to the vacuum feeding drums;

Fig. 16 shows a partial vertical section transversely of the machine on thel line -N of Fig. 10'; and y Fig. 17 shows a detail vertical section tak on the line i1-i'l of Fig. 16.

As illustrated in the drawings, the invention is embodied in a' printing press of the offset type comprising vertical side frames 26 which are adapted to rest upon a suitable foundation or support and which have rear extensions 26n adapted to support parts of the operating mechanism. The paper sheets to be printed are supplied to the press by suitable feeding mechanism, such as that described and claimed in my copending applicationSerial No. 706,188 filed January 11, 1934, and these paper sheets 22 follow each other in succession over a paper conveyor 2| comprising a feed board 23 over which pass the endless power-driven feed tapes 24 supported at their lower ends by a roller 25 which has bearings in brackets 26, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 10 and l1. From the conveyor 2|, each paper sheet 22 passes onto a table 36 which has a rearward extension 36a terminating adjacent the conveyor 22 and a forwardly extending plate 36b adapted to support the forward part of the sheet. The forward edge of each paper sheet ispositioned on the table 36 against a series of paper stops 33 so ythat each sheet is definitely located in a precise position before itis fed to the cylinders of the press by the rotation of a series of vacuum drums 3| which are locatedv above the supporting plate 36. After being positioned against the stops 33, the stop members are elevated and *the vacuum drums rotate in the direction of` the arrow 32 with the result that the forward portion of the paper sheet is positioned against the stops 35 of a'paper-carrying cylinder 34 which rotates in the direction of the arrow 36. This mechanism, including the vacuum feeding drums 3|, by which-the paper sheets are positioned and then fed tothe cylinder,is described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 700,258, led November 29, 1933.

The paper sheet 22 is guided to the cylinder 34 by guide fingers 31 and when the edge of the sheet Vengages the stop memb'ers 36, it is automatically 'gripped and held by a series of gripping flngers 36, whereupon the Vstop members 33 are elevated, as shown bydotted lines in Fig. 12, and the papersheet is withdrawn from the table and carried'around the cylinder as the cylinder rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 36, shown in Fig. 1l. The cylinder 34 may be providedwith a draw sheet 36 which underlies the paper sheet on the cylinder. As the paper sheet rotates with the cylinder 34, an impression or design is printed thereon from the transfer cylinder 46 which rotates in the direction of the arrow 4| and which is provided with a rubber blanket 42 adapted to receive itsimpression from an offset press plate 44, o! zinc or the like, which is mounted on the plate cylinder 45. The

cylinders

34, 46 and 45 are power-driven and the upperv cylinder 45 is adapted to drive, by frictional contact, a series of inked form rollers 46 which have their peripheral portions formed of felt and which are adapted to receive their ink supply from metal rolls 41. These rolls 41 are in turn s'upplied'with ink from a metal cylinder. 44 which is supplied with ink from a reservoir in the usual manner. The

rolls

46, 41 and 4I are carried by a head 56 which is pivotally mounted at on the side frame members 26 so that the entire series of ink supply rolls may be tilted upwardly to move the rolls 46 out of contact with the press-plate 44 on the cylinder 45.

'I'he inked form rollers 46 have their shafts 46'L mounted in brackets which are illustrated particularly in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. The two outer brackets at each end of the rollers comprise plates 52- which are pivotally mounted upon the ends of the shafts of two of the rolls 41 and which are provided adjacent their opposite ends with slots 52* engaged by screws 53 which enter threaded apertures in the head 56 to hold the plates 52 in adjusted position. Each plate 52 is enlarged at one end and is provided with a transverse threaded aperture 52b engaged by a threaded stud 54. This stud is provided with an enlarged head comprising two parts 54 and 54b which are pivoted together at 54 and which form between them a cylindrical bearing for the end of one of the shafts 46e. A member 55 is secured in an aperture in the member 54 and passes through an aperture in the other member 54b to be engaged v on its threaded end by a wing nut 56 which may be removed when it is desired to detach the ink roller 46 supported thereby. Each plate 52 is provided with a slot 52c intersecting the threaded Ra cylindrical aperture 52d which partially intersects the bore 52b in which the member 54 is mounted and this aperture is engaged by a pin 51, recessed on one side to receive the member 54, and threaded at its outer end for engagement by a nut 58, as shown in Fig. 6, which illustrates a like construction for the intermediate roller 46, as hereinafter described. The pin 51 holds the stud 54 against rotation and maintains the bearings ofthe inked roller shaft in proper adjustment. The intermediate inked roller46 is carried at its end by plates 59, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which are similar to the plates 52 except that they have a more limited swinging motion about the axes of the shafts of the rollers 41 on which they are supported. These plates 59 are clamped in place on the head by screws 66 which engage threaded apertures in the head and elongated slots 59n in the plates, as illustrated in Fig. 4.`

Each plate 59 is provided with a bore 59h in which is mounted a stud 6| having at its lower end an enlarged head made up of parts 6 Ia and 6Ih which are similar to the parts 54 and 541 previously described and which are similarly pivotally connected at 6|c and secured together by a threaded pin 62 and a wing nut-63 for clamping in the bearing thereof the shaft of the middle inked roller 46. The stud 6| is adjustable vertically by a nut63 located in a slot 59 formed in the plate and the stud is held against rotation by a transverse pin 64 and a nut 65 similar to the parts previously described in connection with Fig. 5.

The cylinder 45 is provided with clamps 66 for securing the zinc plate 44 in place and the cylinder 46 is provided with a pair of clamps 61 for engaging one edge of the rubber blanket 42 and with another pair of clamps 66 mounted on a roller 69 for engaging the other edge of the rubber blanket and drawing it taut 'around the cylinder. The cylinder 34, which carries the paper sheet during the printing operation, is preferably provided with the perforated draw sheet 36 which is secured along one edge between a pair of clamps 16 mounted in the longitudinal recess of the cylinder and atthe other end by being turned inwardly and clamped against one edge of the recess by means of the blocks 1| which carry the stop members 35. These blocks are mounted on a rod 12 which may be turned to release a sheet.

Adjacent this rod, there is mounted the shaft 13 upon which the paper-gripping fingers 38 are secured. This shaft is provided at its ends, in the usual manner, with crank arms having rollers adapted to engage stationary cams mounted on the side frames 20 of the machine so that the grippers 38 are automatically actuated at the proper periods of time to grip the paper sheet and to release it. When the paper sheet is released from the cylinder 34, it is taken by a delivery cylinder 14 which is somewhat similar to lthe cylinder 34 except that it rotates in the opposite Adirection so that its gripping ngers may receive the paper sheet as it is released from the cylinder 34. The cylinder 14 delivers the paper to stacking apparatus of any suitable form.

'Ihe

cylinders

34, 40, 45 and 14 are driven by mechanism which is located adjacent one of the side frames 20, as shown particularly in Fig. 14. 'I'his'mechanism is driven from an electric motor 15 mounted on the lower part of the frame and connected by a belt 15a` to actuate a pulley l5b fixed on the shaft 15c which is connected through a sprocket gear 15d with a sprocket chain 15e which extends upwardly and around a sprocket gear 16 secured upon a shaft 11 which also has bearings in the side frame members 28. The shaft 11 has secured thereon a pinion' 18 which meshes with a large gear 19 secured upon a shaft 88 having bearings in the lower parts of the side frames 20. This shaft has fixed thereon a bevel pinion 8| which meshes with a bevel gear 82 secured upon the lower endof a vertical shaft 83 having bearings in the brackets 84 which are secured to the adjacent side frame. At its upper end, this shaft 83 has a bevel pinion 85 secured thereon to mesh with a bevel gear 86 which is secured upon the shaft 81 of the plate cylinder 45. The shaft 81, like the shafts of the other cylinders, is journaled in bearings carried by the side frames 20 and through the connections just described it is driven to revolve in contact with the transfer cylinder 40 and the inked form rollers 46. On the inner side of one of the side frames 20, the shaft 81 of the plate cylinder has a gear 88 secured thereon to mesh with a gear 89 which is secured to the shaft 90 of the transfer cylinder 40. This gear 89 also meshes with a gear 9| which is secured upon the shaft 92 of the paper-carrying cylinder 34 so that the paper carrying-cylinder is driven from the transfer cylinder. The delivery cylinder 14 is xed upon a shaft 93 which is journaled in bearings carried by the side frames and one end of this shaft has fixed thereon a bevel gear 93a which lis driven by a bevel 4pinion 93b secured upon the lower part of the vertical shaft 83. In this way, all of the cylinders are positively driven in timed relation to each other and the mechanism of the present invention is adapted to separate the cylinder 4D from both the cylinder 34 'and the cylinder 45 upon the failure of the machine to feed a paper sheet to the cylinder 34. This is accomplished, as hereinafter described, without completely disengaging the

gears

88 and 89 and 89 and 9| so that these cylinders are continuously driven even when they are separated from each other to prevent printing by the cylinder 40 upon the surface of the cylinder 34. Before describing the mechanism by which the automatic separation of the cylinders is effected, the means for feeding the paper sheets to the cylinder 34 will be more particularly described.

The mechanism by which the paper sheets are transferred from the conveyor 2| to the cylinder 34 is illustrated particularly to Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 and is described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 700,258, filed November 29, 1933. This mechanism comprises the feeding drums 3|, heretofore mentioned, which are in the form of radial disks 3|a having transversely extending annular flanges 3|b at their outer edges. These disks have hubs 3|c which are secured by keys 94 upon a hollow shaft 95 which` extends transversely of the machine, above the paper supporting plate 30h, with the end portions thereof journaled in bearings which are formed in the side frames 2|), as shown particularly in Fig. 10. The shaft 95 also has mounted thereon a series of suction blocks 91 each of which is associated with one of the drums 3|. Each block 91 comprises an arm 91a which extends vertically downward from the shaft 95 with a passage 91lo formed therein to communicate with the internal passage 95a of the hollow shaft 95 through one of the ports 95b which are formed in the shaft. The flange 3 |b of each vacuum drum 3| is provided throughout a portion of its circumference with a series of spaced suction openings 3|d which are adapted to registersuccessively with the suction passage 91b as the drum is revolved about the associated block 91. The ports 95b which are formed in the hollow shaft 95 are extended through a substantial arc, as shown in Fig. 11, corresponding to the arc through which the openings 3 |d are distributed around the periphery of the drum so that as the drum revolves, a communication is established between the interior of the hollow shaft and each of the passages 91b throughout the time that the openings 3 |d are passing beneath the lower end of the suction block. The shaft 95 also carries a series of sleeves 98 which are mounted between adjacent members 3| and 91 on the shaft in order to space them apart. In addition to the downwardly extending arms 91, each suction block comprises a horizontally extending arm 91c terminating in a hub portion 9`|d which is' engaged by a shaft 99 extending transversely of the press and having its ends journaled in brackets |00 carried by the side frames 20, thus holding the suction blocks 91 against rotation While the drums 3| revolve about them. One'end of the shaft 95 is closed by a plug |0| and the other end is connected to a source of suction, as hereinafter described, so that a partial vacuum is maintained within the hollow shaft 95 and as the shaft is rotated by the mechanism hereinafter referred to, the suction acting through the passages 91b and the openings 3 ld operates to pick up the paper sheet 22 from the supporting plate 3|)b and move it in -the direction of the cylinder 34 as the drums rotate. The distribution of the openings 3|d about a portion of the periphery of each drum l3| is such that while the last opening is passing beneath a passage 91", as the drums rotate in the direction of the arrow 32, in Figs. 11 and 12, the forward edge of the sheet will have engaged the stops 35 carried by the cylinder 34, and the paper sheet is then gripped by the fingers 38, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 12, just before the sheet is released by the suction applied through the last openings in the drums 3|...

The mechanism fox rotating the shaft 95 is adapted to produce a complete rotation of the shaft during the movement of each paper sheet 22 over the table 38 and at the end of each rotation, the shaft and the drums 3| come to a complete stop and remain stationary untilthe next 75 -paper sheet is moved into engagement with the stop members 33. In order to insure the stopping of the shaft 95 and the connected drums 3| at the end of each revolution, without any overrunning due to momentum, the shaft 95 is provided with a friction brake |04 having its brake strap connected to a vstationary rcd or pin |05 projecting outwardly from the adjacent side frame 20 so that the brake is held against rotation during the rotation of the shaft 95.

In order to prevent the close contact of the paper sheet with the supporting plate 30b from creating a suction effect which might interfere with the ready picking up of the paper sheet by the vacuum drums, the plate 30b is preferably provided with perforations 30d distributed throughout the area beneath the drums.

ing downwardly, toprevent the clogging of the openings with dust or the like, and they permit the atmospheric pressure to act freely on'the under side of each paper sheet when the sheet is beneath the suction drums so that thesheet is readily picked up by the Suction established through the passages 91J and the openings 3|d. The plate 30b may be made adjustable for the purpose of varying its spaced relation to the lower peripheral portions of the drums 3|.

For the purpose of imparting to the shaft 95 an intermittent rotary motion, each increment consisting of a complete revolution, this shaft is provided at one end with a gear |30 which meshes with a gear |3| mounted to revolve on a short shaft |32 which has one end xed in one side frame 20 and the other end secured in a bracket |33 which is secured to the side frame, as shown in Figs. 10, 14 and l5. 'I'he gear |3| is provided with a relatively xed ratchet disk |34 provided with a pair of diametrically opposed notches |34EL adapted to be engaged by a pawl |35. This pawl is pivoted on a pin |36 carried by an actuating member |31 which is in the form of a hub mounted on the shaft |32 with an outwardly projecting arm |31* in which the pin |36 is xed.

The pinion |43 is driven by a gear sector |45 carried at the end of an actuating lever |46 These v perforations are of varying cross-section, divergwhich is pivotally mounted at |41 upon a bracket |46. The lever |46 has a depending arm |46a provided with a roller |49 adapted to travel in the groove |509 of a cam' |50 which rotates continuously and, through the roller |49, imparts a reciprocatory motion to the lever |46, thus giving corresponding reciprocatory angular movements to each of the gears in the chain of gearing leading up to the actuating member |31. 'I'here is thus imparted to the vacuum drums 3| an intermittent rotary -motion whereby these drums rotate continuously in the same direction and come to a stop at the end of each revolution with the forward aperture of the series of apertures 3|d in each drum located beneath one of the suction passages 91", as shown in Fig. 11, in readiness to pick up a paper sheet positioned against the removable stops 33. The cam |50 is adjustably secured upon a shaft |52 extending transversely of thev press and having bearings in the side frames 20, as shown in Fig. 14. The shaft |52 has a large gear |53 secured thereon to mesh with a driving pinion |54 which is fixed upon the previously described shaft 11 so that the shaft |52 is rotated continuously during the operation of the driving motor. By adjusting the cam |50 on the shaft |52, the stationary positions of the drums 3| may be regulated in order to cause the initial opening 3|d in each vacuum drum to be positioned beneath theassociated suction passage 91b in one of the suction blocks, and to regulate the speed with which the paper sheets engage the stops 35 on the cylinder 34.

The hollow shaft 95 is connected at the end thereof adjacent the gear with an elbow |65 which communicates with a vacuum tube |66.

` The elbow |65 is provided with an enlargement ||i5n containing means for forming a uid-tight connection with the end of the rotating shaft 95. 'I'he vacuum tube |66 extends downwardly adjacent the vertical shaft 11, as shown in Fig. 14, and the lower end thereof communicates with an elbow |69 which is secured in a valve block |10 carried by the lower part of the side frame. This valve block has a transverse passage |10'I communicating with the e1bowA|69 and also with a vacuum pipe |1| which leads to the suction pump adapted to be continuously driven by an electric motor or the like during the operation of the press. The valve block |10 is provided with an upwardly extending bore |10h which intersects the bore |10* and which has slidably mounted therein a valve plug |12. At the upper end of i this valve plug there is mounted a bracket |13 and a coil spring |14 is interposed between this bracket and the upper face of the block |10 so that the spring acts normally to elevate the plug and permit a freevcommunication between the pipe |1| and the elbow |69. The bracket |13 carries a roller |15 arranged to bear upon the surface of a cam |16 which is secured on a shaft |11 rotatably mounted in a bracket |16 carried by the valve block |10. A sprocket gear |19 is secured on the shaft |11 adjacent to the cam |16 and this sprocket gear meshes with a sprocket chain |00 which passes around a sprocket gear |9| fixed upon the previously described shaft` |52 so that during the operation of the press, the

.camv |16 is continuously driven and effects an intermittent downward movement of the valve plug |12 with the result that the connection of the suction pipe |1| with the elbow |69 and the vacuum `tube |66 is intermittently closed. The cam |16 is so positioned on the shaft 11 that the suction connection is closed by the valve plug |12 during those portions of the revolutions of the vacuum drums 3| in which the unperforated portions of the drums pass beneath the suction passages 91b in the blocks 91.

The stop members 33 which engage the forwardv described shaft 99 by means of clamping bolts or studs |85. With this arrangement, the rocking of the shaft 99 in its bearings will elevate the stop members 33-from the paper-engaging posiend of a shaft |89 which is journaled in thel brackets |00. A'coil spring |90 is connected to a pin |9| projecting from the end of the lever |80 and also to a stationary pinl92 fixed on the s adjacent bracket |00, thus maintaining the roller |81 in engagement with the cam. 'I'his cam has a substantial portion of its peripheral surface arranged concentrically with the axsof the shaft |89 and spaced some distance from said axis so that when this portion of the cam isin contact with the roller |81, as shown in Fig. 14, the crank arm |86 is depressed, thereby causing the arms 33a to be elevated, as shown in Fig. l1, to permit the movement of the paper sheet over'the table under the inuence of the vacuum drums 3|. At the end'of this stage of the operation, and after the rear edge of the sheet has passed onto the cylinder 34 from the supporting plate 30h, the stops 33 are quickly depressed into the notches 80c of the supporting plate as the roller |81 passes into enga-gement with the sharply inclined-portion of thecam |88, the stops 33 remain in the 'positions shown in Fig. 12, while another sheet of paper travels over the table 30 and engages those stops, whereupon the .sharply inclined portion of the cam |88 at the other side of the axis of the cam causes the arms 33a to be quickly elevated until they reach the position where they are Vretained in their elevated positions while the roller |81 is in engagement with the portion of the cam which is concentric `with'thecam axis. In this way, the continuously rotating shaft |89, which is actuated 'as hereinafter described, causes a periodic elevation of the stops 33 in the proper timed relation to the rotation of the vacuum drums 3| and the positioning of the stops 35 on the cylinder 38 in the proper location to receive the paper sheet.

As each paper sheet moves over plate 30h, it is guided into engagement with the stops 35 on the cylinder by., the guide ngers 31, previously referred to. These guide ngers are carried by brackets |95 which have projecting vears |95a engaged by screws |96 which may be adjusted to clamp these brackets upon a tubular shaft or sleeve |91 which is mounted to rock about a shaft or axle |98 having its ends secured in the the supporting.

split hubs |99ab which are secured together and clamped upon a sleeve or hollow shaft 202 which is mounted upon a shaft or axle'203 extending between and secured in the side frames 20. A bracket |95h is clamped on the sleeve |91 adjacent one end thereof and is provided with an aperture which is engaged by a rod 205. The rod 205 is suspended from a member 206 which isv mounted upon the rod or shaft 201 extending between the side frames. The 'rod 205 carries a fixed collar 208 and a coil spring 209 which is positioned on the rod between the collar and the coacting arm |95", as illustrated in Fig. 17, so that when the brackets |95 are rocked about the shaft |98, the spring 209 is compressed by the upward movement of the arm of the bracket |951. For the purpose of elevating the guide fingers 31, the hol, low sleeve or shaft |91 has xed thereon a crank arm 2| 0, shown in Fig. 11, which carries at its upper-and outer end a roller 2 adapted to coact with the peripheral surface of a cam 2|2 fixed upon a shaft 2 I3 which has bearings in the brack-- iets |00. The cam 2|2 is so formed that after the forward edge of the paper sheet has been gripped by the gripping fingers 38 on the cylinder 34, the lever 2 I0 is actuated by the cam to rock the hollow shaft or sleeve |91, thereby elevating the stop fingers 31 to the position shown in Fig. 12 and compressing the spring 209. This elevation of the stop ngers 81 is maintained while the roller 2|| contacts with that portion of the ca m 2 l2 which is concentric with the axis of the shaft 2|3 and then the fingers 31 are again moved to the position shown in Fig. 11 as the roller 2|| rides in` wardly on the sharply inclined portion of the .calli under the inuence of the springs 209.

'I'he shaft 2 I3 is provided at one end with a rela. tively xed gear 2|5 which meshes withan idler gear 2|9 mounted to revolve about a stub shaft 2|1 xed in the adjacent bracket |00, as shown in Fig. 11. The gear 2| 1 meshes with agear 2| 8 xed upon the previously described shaft |89 which carries the cam |88 for actuating the stops 38. The gear 2|8 is driven through an idler gear 2|9 whichis mounted to rotate on a stub shaft 220 carried by the adjacent bracket |00. The gear 2 9 is driven by a gear 22| iixed upon a shaft 222 which extends transversely of the machine with its ends journaled in the brackets |00. The gear v22| is driven by a gear 223 mounted upon a. stub shaft 224D carried by one of the side frames, as shown in Fig. 11. The gear 223 is in turn driven by a gear 225 .xed upon a horizontal shaft 229 which has one end journaled in one of the side frames20 and the other end journaled in a frame member 230 which is supported by rods 23| and 285 extending between the side frames,- as shown in Fig. 16. The shaft 205 is also supported adjacent rthe frame 'member 23|" by a member ,233.

shaft |52 which has previously been described as,

the shaft upon which the cam |50 is located. As heretofore explained, the shaft |52 is driven continunusly when the driving motor of the press is in operation and it will be apparent that, through. the4 connections which have just been described,

all of-y the shafts 2|3, |89, 222 and 226 are also. continuously'driven for actuating the various parts of the mechanism which are connected thereto.l

In addition tothe sheet transfer mechanism just described, the press may be provided with means, not a part of the present invention, for positioning the sheets laterally on the table 30.

When the conveyor 2| or the vacuum feeding drums 3| andy their associated mechanism fail to feed a paper sheet 22 to the cylinder 34, the impression or transfer cylinder 48 is automatically separated from the paper-carrying cylinder 34 and from the plate cylinder 45 through the operation of mechanism which then automatically turns the eccentric bearing members 235 in which the ends of the shaft 90 of the cylinder 40 are journaled, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 14. These bearing members are themselves journaled in apertures 236 which are formed in the side frame members 20 and they are provided on theirv outer sides with disks 235' which overlap the side frames and which have crank arms 235b extending therefrom and pivotally connected with blocks 231. Each of these blocks is engaged by a connecting rod 238 which is threaded at its extremity and engaged at the opposite sides of the block 231 by nuts 239 so that the effective length thereof may be varied. The other' end of each rod 238 is pivotally connected by a pin 240 with a lever 24| mounted to revolve about the shaft 203 projecting transversely through the machine and having bearings in the side frame members 28, as shown in Fig. 3. At one side of the machine, one of these levers 24| is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm 24|a having a hardened lug 24|b adapted to be engaged by another lug 2431 carried by an actuating member 243, when this actuating member is in the position shown in Fig. 3. Upon upward movement of the actuating member 243, the lug 243h pushes upwardly on the arm 24|* of the adjacent lever 24|, thereby turning the shaft 203 and moving both crank arms 24| to rotate the eccentric bearing members 235 to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby separating the cylinder from each of the

cylinders

34 and 45. The upward movement of the levers 24| is eiected by an arm 244 which -is pivoted at 245 on one of the side frame members and which embraces the adjacent ends of one lever 24| and its connecting rod 238. The Vopposite flanges 244n of this arm 244 are provided with elongated slots 244b which are slidably engaged by the pivot pin 240. This arm 244 carries a downwardly projecting pin 246 which is adapted to be engaged by the lug 243b of the actuating member 243, when the actuating member is in the position shown in Fig. '1, for the purpose of turning the adjacent lever 24| through the connected pin 240 and thereby turning the eccentric bearing members 235 so that the cylinder 40 is returned to printing position with respect to the

cylinders

34 and 45. In Fig. '7, the actuating member 243 is shown by dotted lines in an upper position which it occupies after it has turned the eccentric bearing members 235 to bring about this normal printing relationship of the cylinders. The actuating member 243 is provided at its rear end with a slot 243 engaged by a pin 246 which is secured upon the end of an actuating crank arm 249. At its other end, the actuating member 243 carries a roller 250 which rides upon the peripheral surface of a cam 25| secured 1upon the shaft 92 of the cylinder 34. This cam rotates continuously with the cylinder and upon each rotation thereof, the projection 25|* of the cam is adapted to elevate the actuating member 243 about the pin 248. If the cylinders have been in relative printing'positions and the actuating member 243 is in a position with the lug 243b thereof beneath the lug24lb on the Aadjacent lever 24 at lthe time that the actuating member is elevated by the cam 25|, the lever 24| is turned by the elevation of the actuating member, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby separating the transfer cylinder 40 from each of the

cylinders

34 and 45. If the actuating member occupies its f rear position with the lug 243b thereof beneath the pin 246, at the time that the actuating member 243 is elevated by the cam 25|, and if the cylinder 40 is then separated from the

cylinders

34 and 45, the elevation of the actuating member 243 causes the arm 244 to be raised by the engagement of the lug 243b with the pin 2 46, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby turning the eccentric bearing members 235 and restoring the cylinder 40 to printing position with respect to the

cylinders

34 and 45. The actuating member 243 is normally pulled in a. downward directionby a coil spring 252 which is attached to the under side of this member and to a stationary member 253 carried by the adjacent frame member, thus maintaining the roller 250 in contact with the periphery of the cam 25|. The actuating member 243 is moved to occupy a position beneath the lug 24|b or beneath the pin 246, by the actuating crank 249 which is fixed upon a shaft 255 journaled in bearings carried by the frame extensions 20a. This crank member 249 may be actuated by the turning of the shaft 255 or by the action of a coil spring'256 which is mounted on a rod 251 pivotally attached at 258 to the crank member-and having a sliding engagement with a flange 259 which projects outwardly from the frame member 20a. The coil spring 256 engages the flange 259 at one end and the head of the pin 251 at the other so that when the shaft 255 is free to turn, the spring 256 moves the crank arm 249 toward the'left, as viewed in Fig. 7, thereby positioning the lug 243b beneath the lug 24|b of the crank 24| by which the eccentricI bearing members 235 are turned in a direction to separate the cylinders.l The pin 248 is connected by a coil spring 254 with a pin 254n mounted on the actuating member 243, thus maintainingthe pin 248 normally at.. the left hand end of the slot 2431*,y

as viewed in Fig. '1, but permitting relative movement of the actuating member 243 and the crank 249 in case the latch is tripped while the parts are in the relative positions shown'in Fig. 3 with the lug 243b at one side of the pin 246.

The shaft 255 is normally held against rotation under the influence of the spring 256 by certain latch mechanism illustrated particularly in Figs. 11 and 12 and including a disk 260 which is secured on the shaft 255 and which is provided at f one point around its periphery with a notch 260 having -a radial shoulder 260b at one end thereof.v This notch isnormally engaged by a latch member 26| which is pivoted at 262 on the frame member 23| carried by the 'transverse frame member 234 and by the various shafts which extend through it. The latch member 26| is notched to form a shoulder 26 I which is adapted fto engage the shoulder 260J of the disk 268 and it may be elevated to disengage these shoulders by a crank arm 264 which is secured upon a shaft 265 journaled in the frame member 23| and in the side frame members 20. This shaft 265 has another crank arm 266 xed thereon and the outer end of this crank arm'is pivotally connected by a link 261 with a bell-crank lever 268 which has an upwardly extended pointed arm 268* terminating at a point beneath the table ,30 adjacent a slot 3De which is formed longitudinally in the table at this point. Located above this slot is a rotary paper-.engaging device 210, shown 1n Figs. 11, 12 and 13, comprising a crank arm 21| fixed upon the shaft 222 which is journaled in the brackets |00, and actuated in the manner heretofore described, to revolve in the direction of the arrow 213. This paper-engaging member comprises, in addition to the crank arm 21|, a paper-contacting member 211 having a' forked extremity 211a at one end and a laterally projecting lug 211b at the other. This paper-contacting memberis pivotally connected at an intermediate point to the crank arm 21| by means of a pin 219 and, as the crank arm 21| rotates, the forked extremity 211 of this member211 is adapted to descend by gravity and ride upon the surface of the paper sheet 22 in the lower part of its path of travel, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The extent of the downward swinging of the forked end of this member is limited by the engagement of the member 211b with the side of the crank arm 21|. sheet on .the table 30 over the slot 30P therein, the forked extremity 211a of this member 211 drops through the slot and the tip 268a of the lever 268 is engaged by the slot 211c of the fork, thereby causing the lever 268 to be turned toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 11, by the action of the device 210, so that the crank arm 264 is operated to elevate the latch member 26| as shown in Fig. 1'2. The shaft 255 is then free to turn under the influence of the spring 256 with the result that the actuating member 243 is moved by the crank 249 from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that upon the next revolution of the cam |56, this actuating member is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby causing the crank arms 24| to turn the eccentric bearing members 235 and separate the cylinders. On the other hand, if the paper sheets follow each other.in proper succession on the table 30, the paper-engaging member 211 never drops through the slot 30e and the latch member 26| continues to hold the shaft 255 against rotation. After the latch member 26| has been elevated to release-the shaft 255 and permit the separation of the rolls bythe action of the spring 256, the apparatus may be reset, after it has been determined that the paper sheets are again being delivered in normal sequence, by manually turning a crank handle 280 which is pivoted on the shaft 255 and which is normally held in elevated position by a coil spring 28| connected to the handle and to a pin 282 on one of the side frame members 20. Upon pressing this handle downwardly, a lug 2803, formed on the'side thereof, engages a lug 249a formed on the side of the actuatingy crank 249, thereby turning the shaft 255 to a position where the latch member 26| again falls by gravity into the notch 260a in the disk 260.

In addition to effecting separation of the cylinders when there is a failure in the feed of paper sheets to the cylinder 34, the dropping of the forked member 211 through the slot 30e of the table 30 also brings about the elevation of the" inking head 50 about its pivot 5| for the purpose of preventing further inking of the plate 44 on the cylinder 45 by the inked form rollers 46. This is accomplished through a pair of connecting rods 285 which are connected to the forward edges of the head 50 by pivot pins 286, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, '1 and 14. These rods are formed in sections which are relatively adjustable by turn buckles 285a and they include If there is no paper.

'operation of the lever 29|.

. xed on a transverse shaft 201 which is journaled in bearings carried by the side frames of the machine. At the side of the machine on which the actuating member 243 is located, the bracket 285b is pivotally connected by a link 290 with the upper rearwardly curved extremity 29|a of a lever 29|. This lever is pivoted at 292 on the adjacent side frame and extends downwardly to a point adjacent the actuating crank 249 where it terminates in a transversely extending flange 29|b adapted to engage a notch 293b formed in a latch member 293 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 255. The crank 249 is provided with an arm 249b which projects downwardly and rearwardly beneath the latch member 293. This arm has a socket in its upper side which is engaged by a coil spring 294 arranged to bear at its upper end against the lower side vof the latch member so that this latch member is normally forced in an upward direction to the extent permitted by a lug 249c which projects laterally from another arm 249(1 formed integrally with the crank 249 and projecting rearvhead 50 is lowered to effect the inking of the plate 44 on the cylinder 45, the lever 29| by which the inking head is swung about its pivot, occupies the position shown'in Fig. 1, wherein the flange 29|b at the lower end of 4this lever is engaged and held by the latch member 293, thus maintaining the inked form rollers 46 in their lower plate-engaging positions at the same time that the cylinder 40 is held in engagement with the

cylinders

34 and 45 by the latch member 26|.

When the actuating crank 249 is turned by the spring 256, upon the release of the shaft 255 by the latch member 26|, the lug 249c causes the latch member 293 to turn downwardly with the shaft 255 so that it assumesV the position shown in Fig. 3. The lever 29|, which operates the inking head 50, is then released and the lower end thereof is -then permitted to swing toward the engaged by a nut 299 which may be adjusted to.

vary the compression of the spring 295. The link 298 is pivotally connected to the lower part of the lever 29| by a pin 300 and at its other end it is engaged by a pin 33| which passes through an elongated slot 302EL formed in one arm of a bell crank lev-er 302. This bell crankl lever is pivoted at 303 on the adjacent side frame 29and the upwardly extending arm thereof is provided with a handle 392b which may be engaged by the hand of the operator for manually controlling the When the arm 291 is moved toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3,.by the expansion of the spring 295, the arm 291 carries with it the link 298 which is attached to the lever 29|, so that the crank arms 288 on the shaft 289 are swung toward the right, as viewed .in Fig. 3,

thereby elevating the inked form rollers 46 out of contact with the plate 44 on the cylinder 45.

'I'his brings aboutA a comparatively slight sepa,-

fil

ration of the inking rollers 46 and the plate on the cylinder 45, as shown in Fig. 3, but, if at any time during the operation of the machine a greater separation is desired in order to permit the removal of the rollers 46 from the i brackets in which they are mounted, this may be accomplished by swinging the bell crank lever 302 manually about its pivot to the 'position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the long arm of this bell crank lever rests upon an adjustable stop member 304 which threadedly engages a lug 305 carried by the adjacent side frame member 20 and which may be held in adjusted position by a lock nut 306. If the operator of the machine desires to prevent the separation of the inking rollers 46 from the plate 44 on the clyinder 45 at the time that the impression or transfer cylinder is separated from the

cylinders

34 and 45, this may be done by swinging the bell crank lever 302 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, until it occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, where the short arm thereof rests upon a stop member 301 threadedly engaging a lug 308 carried by the side frame and held in adjusted position by a lock nut 309. When the short arm of the bell crank lever 302 engages the stop member 301, the pivot pin 30| lies below a line connecting the axes of the pivots 300' and 303 so that the short arm of the bell 'crank lever 362 and the link 298 then act as a continuous member opposing any movement of the lever 29| under the influence of. the spring 295. If the bell crank lever 302 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, when the operator moves the handle 280 downwardly to reset the latch member 26|, the transverse iiange 249E on the end of the previously described arm 249d, movable with the actuating crank 249, engages the lower end of the arm 291 and thus swings the link 298 upwardly about its pivot 300 to restore the link 298 and the bell crank lever 302 to their normal positions, shown inv Fig. 7, at the same time that the actuating crank arm 249 is restored to a. position Where the latch member 26| engages the disk 260 and the latch member 293 engages the flange 29|b on the lever 29|. In addition to these means-forV manually controlling the operation of the lever 29| which controls the movement of the inking head 50, there is provided a manually operated handle 3|0 xed on one end of the shaft265 which carries the crank arm 264 by which the latch member 26| is elevated. This handle 3|0 may be manually operated when desired in order. to release the latch member 26| from engagement with the disk 260 and thereby cause the spring 256 to effect the separation of the cylinders at any stage during the operation of the machine, even when the paper sheets are being fed in proper succession.

When the ink rollers are separated from the cylinder 45 and the cylinder 40 is separated from both of the

cylinders

34 and 45, it is desirable that the cylinders be operated at aireduced speed while various changes and adjustments are being made in the set-up of the press and means are therefore provided for automatically altering the circuit connections of the driving motor 15 -when the cylinder separating mechanism and ink roller moving mechanism are actuated. For this purpose, a trip switch 3| I, shown in Fig. '7, is provided for controlling the circuit connections of the motor 15, the arrangement being such that when the switch is closed, the resistance is cut into series with the motor or the field excitation of the motor is increased so that it then operates v at a reduced speed, for example, half of. the speed at which it runs in the normal operation of. the press. The conductors for controlling these circuit connections are led to the casing of the switch 3|| through a conduit 3|2 and the contacts of the switch are controlled by a plunger 3|3 which has a head 3| 3 located beneath the arm 2491. When the contacts of the switch are open, this plunger is maintained in its upper position by a spring or the like 3 I4 and the position of the head 3|3a is such that when the lever 29| is released by the latch 293 and the arm 249 moves downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 the plunger 3|3 is pushed downwardly to actuate the switch and thereby alter the circuit connections of the motor in order to cause the motor to operate at half speed.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments coming within the scop of the appended claims.

1 I claim:

l. The combination in a printing press having a plurailty of cylinders, of means for feeding paper sheetsto one of said cylinders, means for supplying ink to another of said cylinders, means y including an actuating crank fory effecting relative movement of two of said cylinders transversely to their axes, means comprising a biased operating lever for effecting relative movement of said ink supply means with respect to its cylinder, means normally connecting said operating lever with said actuating crank for holding said ink supply means in operating position, and means actuated by the failure of said paper-'feeding means to deliver paper sheets in regular sequence for causing the operation of said actuating crank to separate two of said cylinders and thereby releasing said operating lever to permit movement of said ink supply means from its operating position.

2. The combination in a printing press having a plurality of cylinders-o1 means for feeding paper sheets `to one of said cylinders, means for supplying ink to another of said cylinders, means including an actuating crank for effecting relative movement of two of said cylinders transversely to their axes, means comprising an operating lever for effecting relative movement of said ink supply means with respect to its cylinder, means normally connecting said operating lever with said actuating crank for holding said ink supply means in operating position, means comprising a partI movable into the path of travel of said paper sheets for causing the operation of said actuating crank -up the failure of said feeding means to deliver a paper sheet, said operating lever being released by the movement of said actuating crank, and spring means for moving said operating lever when it is released to effect the separation of said ink supply `means from its cylinder. g

3. The combination in a printing press having a plurality of cylinders, of means for feeding paper sheets to one of said cylinders, means for supplying ink to another of said cylinders, means including an actuating crank for effecting relative movement of two of said 'cylinders transversely to their axes, means comprising a biased operating lever for effecting relative movement of said ink supply means with respect to its cylinder, means normally connecting said operating lever with said actuating crank for holding said ink supply means in operating position, means including a latch for normally holding said actuating crank against movement, and means comprising a part movable into the path of travel of said paper sheets for releasing said latch and permitting movement of said actuating crank upon failure of said paper-feeding means to deliver a paper sheet, said operating leverv being released by the movement of said actuating crank.

4. The combination in a printing press, of a plurality of cylinders, means comprising an electric motor for rotating said cylinders, means for -feeding paper sheets to said cylinders, inking rollers for supplying ink to one of said cylinders, means including a latch for normally holding said inking rollers in ink-supplying position, means actuated by the failure of said feeding means to supply a paper sheet to said cylinders for releasing said latch and effecting relative separation of said inking rollers and said cylinders supplied thereby, and means including an electric switch automatically operated by said last named means for changing the circuit connections of said motor and causing said cylinders to rotate at reduced speed.

5. 'Ihe combination in a printing press, of a plurality of cylnders, means comprising'an electric motor for rotating said cylinders, an inking head adapted to supply ink to none of said cylin'- ders, means including anfoperating lever for l eecting movement of said inkinghead wth respect to the cylinder supplied thereby, a latch for engaging said lever for normally holding said head in ink-supplying position, means tending to actuate said lever to move said inking head from ink-supplying position when said lever is released by said latch, means for actuating said latch to release said lever, and means actuated by said last named means for controlling the speed of said motor.

6. The combination in a printing press, of a plurality of cylinders means comprising an electric motor for rotating said cylinders, an inking head adapted to supply ink to one of said cylinders, means including an operating lever for eecting movement of said inking head With'respect to the `cylinder supplied thereby, a latch for engaging said lever for normally holding said head in ink-supplying position, means tending to actuate said lever to move said inking head from ink-supplying position when said lever is released by said latch, means for actuating said latch to release said lever, an arm movable with said latch, and a trip switch connected in the circuit of said motor and having an operating part located in the path of movement of said arm.

7. The combination in a printing press, of a plate cylinder, means for supplying ink to said cylinder, means comprising an operating lever for effecting relative movement of said ink-supply means and said cylinder, means tending normally to actuate said lever to effect a limitedseparation of said cylinder and said ink-supply means, releasable means for normally holding said lever to maintain said ink-supply means yin operative relation to said cylinder, land `manually controlled means connected v'with said lever for effecting a greater separation of said ink-supply means and said cylinder when said lever is released by said releasable means.

8. The combination in a printing press, of a plate cylinder, means for supplying ink to said cylinder, means comprising an operating lever for eecting relative movement of said ink-supply means and said cylinder, means tending normally to actuate saidulever to effect a limited separation of said cylinder and said ink-supply means,

lever having one arm adapted to be manually oper-ated, a link connecting the other arm `of said bell crank lever with said first named lever, and a stop for engaging said last named arm of said bell crank lever to position it in substantial alignment with said link and thereby prevent movement of said rst named lever.

5 10.- The combination in a printing press, of a cylinder, ink-supply means for supplying ink to said cylinder, means comprising an operating lever for eifecting relative movement of said inksupply means and said cylinder, a bell crank lever having one arm adapted to be manually operated, a link connecting the other arm of said bell crank lever with said rst named lever, a stop for engaging said last named arm of said bell crank lever to position it in substantial alignment with said link and thereby prevent movement of said first named lever,`the actuation of said bell crank lever to move said second named arm away from said stop being adapted to actuate 'said first named lever to separate said inksupply means and said cylinder, and a second stop adapted to engage said bell crank lever to limit said last named movement thereof.

11. The combination in a printing press, of a plurality of cylinders, means for feeding paper sheets to one of said cylinders, inking means for supplying ink to another of said cylinders, means comprising` a lever for effecting relative movement of said inking means and the cylinder supplied thereby, a latch for normally holding said inking means in operative position with respect to its cylinder, means for automatically actuating said lever to separate said inking means and the cylinder supplied thereby when said lever is released bysaid latch, means actuated by the failure of said feeding means to feed -a paper sheet tosaid iirst named cylinder for separating said cylinders and releasing said latch, a manually operated bell crank lever, a link connecting one arm of said bell crank lever with said first named lever, and a stop for positioning said arm of said bell crank lever in substantial alignmentwith said link to prevent actuation of said first named lever when it is released by Ysaid latch. i

12. The combination in a printing press, of a paper cylinder, a transfer cylinder, a plate cylinder, an inking head having inking rollers for applying-,ink to the plate cylinder, means for feeding paper sheets to the paper cylinder, tripping mechanism operative upon 'the failure of said feeding means to deliver a paper sheet, and independent mechanisms operable to separate the inking rollers from the plate cylinder andthe transfer cylinder from the plate and paper cylinders, respectively, said independent mechanisms being` released for operation when the tripping means is actuated.

13. The combination in-a printing press, of a paper cylinder, a transfer cylinder, a plate cylinder, an inking head having inking rollers for applying ink to the plate cylinder, means for feeding paper sheets to the paper cylinder, tripping mechanism operative upon the failure of the feeding means tol deliver a paper sheet to the paper cylinder, independent mechanisms operable to respectively separate the inking rollers from the plate cylinder and the tranfer cylinder from the plate and paper cylinders, said independent mechanisms being released for operation when the tripping mechanism is actuated and the inking rollers being moved to a limited separated position due to the actuation of `its particular independent mechanism, and manually operated means for effecting a greater separation of the inking rollers and the plate cylinder.

l ALEXANDER T. KOPPE.