US2085908A

US2085908A - Printing plate beveling machine

Info

Publication number: US2085908A
Application number: US641442A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Huck
Original assignee: R Hoe and Co Inc
Current assignee: R Hoe and Co Inc
Priority date: 1932-11-05
Filing date: 1932-11-05
Publication date: 1937-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1954-07-06

Description

July 6, 1937. HUCK 2,085,908

PRINTING PLATE BEVELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.I.

INVENTOR.

July 6, 1937. w; F. HUCK PRINTING BLATE BEVELING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1932 INV ENTOR." 52 a; '4 Z ZA Q July ,1 w. F. HUCK 2,085,908

PRINTING PLATE BEVELING MACHXNE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ENVENTOR.

WwA /Q i W w;

ATTY.

y 6, 37- w. F. HUCK 2,085,908

PRINTING PLATE BEVELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n; y//// rm- O T I I I v BNVENTOR.

.Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PLATE BEVELING MACHINE Application November 5, 1932, Serial No. 641,442

29 Claims.

This invention relates to printing plate trimming machines having for its object the provision of an improved machine of the kind indicated that will permit a more convenient and expeditious trimming and beveling of printing plates.

Another object is to provide a novel trimming and beveling machine for printing plates particularly designed and adapted to simultaneously trim and/or bevel the edges on two of the curved sides or ends of a printing plate and then simultaneously trim and/or bevel the two straight edges of the said printing plate in a continuous sequence without manual attention.

Another object is to provide a novel combination of adjustable means in a printing plate trimming machine for variably trimming and beveling the edges of a printing machine on two sides or ends at once.

Another object is the provision of novel pressure means for retaining a printing plate on a plate trimming and beveling machine so that all four sides or edges of the said plate may be trimmed or beveled-without removal from the r machine.

A further object is a novel combination and coordination of plate trimming and beveling means with atmospheric pressure actuated means for simultaneously trimming and beveling the two curved edges of a printing plate and then in un- 30 broken sequence simultaneously trimming and beveling the two straight edges of the printing plate.

It is also an object of the invention to pro- Br vide a printing plate trimming machine of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efiicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

45 The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is. an end elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device, partly in section, with parts broken away, as seen in the direction of the arrow 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device, partly 55 in section, with the printing plate removed, as

seen in the direction of the arrow 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, as seen on the line and in the direction of the arrow 4 of Figure 2.

In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views of the preferred form of the invention, the numeral l indicates generally the frame of the device which is suitably supported on standards or pedestals H and braced by the members 12. In the upper portion of the frame ID, a rock shaft I3 is secured on which a printing plate supporting member or table I4 is fastened by supporting members or arms, hereinafter described, through which the shaft l3 extends. A gear segment |5 is secured or keyed to the said shaft l3, one portion of the said gear segment having a plane surface adapted to abut against or be engaged by the end of an adjustable stop or pin l6 threaded into the frame Ill. The hub of the gear segment also has fastened thereto by a screw I! one end of a chain or flexible strip [8 which passes over a sheave or pulley I 9, the other end of the chain l8 being secured to a spring 2| which is fastened at a lower end to a link 22 adjustably secured to the frame Ill and adapted to vary the tension of the spring 2| to the desired degree in order to return the rock table I4 on which the printing plate P is secured. to normal vertical position.

The gear segment i5 engages a gear segment 23 formed on a lever or arm 24 rockably or turnably mounted on a stud 25 secured to the frame ID, the lever 24 having a roller 26 securedthereto (as best shown in Figure 1) which is engaged with a cam 21 in order to rock the lever 24 and consequently the printing plate supporting table M for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The cam 21 is fastened to a shaft 28 which is rotatably supported in a portion of the frame in and in a casing 3| secured to the same frame. Arranged within the casing 3| and keyed to the shaft 28 is a worm wheel 32 which is engaged by a Worm 33, secured to or forming apart of a shaft 34, rotatably mounted in the casing 3| and having at one end a sprocket 35 which is operatively connected by a chain 36 to another sprocket 31 forming a part of conventional gear reduction means housed Within the casing of a motor 38 serving as the source of power for moving or sliding the motor-driven cutting assemblies which cut or bevel the straight edges of 'the printing plate to be operated upon, as hereinafter set forth.

The cam 21 is'also engaged with a roller 39 rotatably secured to an arm 4| rotatably mounted on a shaft 42 journaled in the front framing l0, and otherwise held by a bracket 40, secured to one of the members |2. A mitre gear 43 is fastened upon the shaft 42, the said gear 43 meshing with a similar mitre gear 44 keyed on a shaft 45 rotatably supported in the lower portion of the frame II]. To the ends of the lastmentioned shaft 45, arms 46, 46' having yokes 41 in each of which latter, blocks 48 are slidably secured, the said blocks 48 being in turn secured to platform-supporting brackets 49, 43' which are slidably mounted on opposed pairs of bars or shafts 5|land 5| respectively arranged on opposite sides of the frame l0.

Each of the platforms secured to the

brackets

49 and 49 has mounted thereon an electric motor 52 and 52' respectively. Each motor is provided with a cutter or saw 53 which is adapted to engage and bevelingly cut one of the straight sides of the curved printing plate P which is secured to the rock table [4 by atmospheric pressure actuated or vacuum-controlled means constituting another important feature of the present invention, which will now be described.

The top of the said rock table I4 is provided with openings as at 54 with which communicates a channel or passageway 55 provided in one of the supporting arms of the table M. The channel 55 communicates through the connecting

pipes

56, 51 and 58 with vacuum-creating means (not shown) when the control handle 59, of a valve connected to pipe 58 and shown generally at 60,

is turned to operating position, the pipe 51 being of a flexible nature to allow for the movement of the plate supporting table l4.

The rock table I4 is also preferably provided with the pins or studs M which latter are adapted to be received in small holes (not shown) that may be formed in printing plates in order to quickly and accurately locate or register the said printing plates on the rock table l4 and prevent any slippage of same while being trimmed and beveled therein.

Each of the

lever arms

46, 46 has secured thereto, in any suitable manner, as by a poppet 6|, (see Figure 4) one end of a spring 62, 62' designated respectively; the other ends of which are also fastened to poppets 63, arranged on the framing Ill. The pair of springs 62, 62' serve to return the motor supports 49, 49 to the normal operating position shown in Figure 2.

As hereinafter described, a limit switch of conventional design indicated at 64 has an operating arm 65 which engages with an arm 66 secured on the shaft 28. When the machine has completed its cycle of operations, this limit switch operates to de-energize the several electric motors. The electrical circuits are not shown as such circuits are well-known to those versed in the art.

The curved edges of the printing plate P which preferably are operated upon before the straight edges thereof, are trimmed or beveled by a pair of cutters or saws 61, 61' secured to a shaft 66 rotatably supported in

bearings

69, 69, formed on a yoke member 10, fastened to any convenient part of the framing Ill. On one end of the shaft 68, a sheave 1| is secured which is operatively connected to another sheave 12 by belts 13. The last-mentioned sheave 12 is keyed to the shaft of a motor 14 which serves to rotate the cutters 61, 61'. As mentioned above, the limit switch 64, is adapted to simultaneously ole-energize all or a part of the motors employed in the normal operation of the machine; i. e., the

motors

38, 52, 52'

and 14 so that the device may be put into immediate operation by a single push-button, and automatically brought to a stop by the limit switch 64, after each plate trimming operation, or one complete revolution of the cam 21, which causes the alternate rocking of the lever arms 24 and 4| and the respective consequent alternate and rocking of the plate holder l4 carrying the printing plate P thereby engaging same with the cutters 61, 61' or the movement or travel of the revolving cutters 53.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a suitable guard 16 to prevent shavings, etc. from getting into the driving units may be secured to any convenient portion of the frame It).

It is tobe observed that the combination and coordination of the atmospheric pressure actuated or vacuum-controlled means with the trimming and beveling instrumentalities make possible, in a most convenient form the trimming and beveling simultaneously of two curved edges of a printing plate and the trimming and beveling simultaneously of the two straight edges of the same printing plate. Were it not for the coaction of vacuum-controlled means with the pins l4 whereby the said plate is firmly held in accurate register on the rock table without the aid of clamping fingers or rollers, it would be necessary to devise mechanism which would retain the printing plate to the rock table while two of its edges were being trimmed, and then automatically release its grip in order to permit the other two edges of the same plate to be acted upon simultaneously.

The function and general manner of operation of the device have been in large measure indicated by the foregoing details but will be more fully understood from the following brief description.

Assuming the smooth side of a printing plate P has been placed on the rockable table I4 and the control handle 59 has been turned to evacuate air from the

pipes

56, 51 and 58, thus clamping the said printing plate to the perforated top 54 of the said rock table by atmospheric pressure, and further assuming all the motors have been energized by a suitable controller (not shown). The motor 38 by the chain connected

sprockets

35, 31, worm 33, worm wheel 32, and shaft 28 will rotate the cam 21 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, consequently, first thrusting the long lever arm 24 to the left, thereby progressively rocking the table M to the right, as viewed in Figure l, and thus subjecting the plate P to the action of the cutters or saws 61, '61 which are now being rotated by motor 14, for simultaneously trimming and for beveling the curved edges of two sides of the said plate P. The first degrees of rotation of the cam 21 from the position shown in Figure 1 will swing or rock the plate-supporting table I4, sufficiently to effect the complete trimming of the two curved edges of the plate P, while the second 90 degrees of rotation of the said cam will cause the return of the arm 24 and the table l4 to normal vertical position.

I'he short lever arm 4| meanwhile will remain in fixed vertical position'until the cam 21 has swept around approximately from the position shown in Figure 1, by which time the curved edges of the printing plate will have been trimmed and the rock table l4 turned to its original position. Further movement of the cam 21 will now progressively thrust the lever arm 4| to the right, thereby turning the gear 43 which meshes with gear 44 on shaft 45 and consequently angling the arms 46, 46' to slide the motor operated cutters against the two straight edges of the printing plate P.

After the cam 21 has covered the third 90 of travel, the said straight edges will have trimmed, while the fourth 90 of travel of the cam will return the

arms

46, 46 to the normal position shown in Figure 2, the arm 65 of the limit switch 64 mentioned above, as it engages the finger 66 on shaft 28, now bringing all or a part of the motors of the device to a stop and in position to again go through the same cycle of operations. The machine is now in condition to be again operated by the push button alluded to above.

It is to be noted that the operating cycle of the machine is substantially automatic in that no manual attention is required, after the controller or switch (not shown) is initially actuated for the energization of the electric motors. After the curved edges of the printing plate are trimmed and the rock table 14 supporting same has been .returned to its original position through the instrumentality of the continuously rotating cam (21) the latter will next swing the arm 4| which through the elements mentioned above, will slide the motor driven cutters 53 against the straight longitudinal edges of the printing plate which are trimmed thereby. Both the curved edges and the straight edges of the printing plate are therefore trimmed in one rotation of the cam 2'|,'while the rock table i4 is meanwhile rocked through 90 and returned to its original position. In short, therefore, after a printing plate has been placed upon a rock table l4 and the air evacuated from the

pipes

51, 58 enumerated above and in the manner described, the operator, upon actuating the above-mentioned switch mechanism (not shown) will permit the device to perform the double function of first trimming the curved edges of the printing plate, and subsequently, trimming the straight edges of the plate in an unbroken sequence,the cutting elements and the rock table being finally returned to their original positions ready for the reception of another plate without any manual attention whatsoever in the meantime.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than'to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

The function may be interchanged so that the table moves in a straight line and the cutters are rocked or swung around the curved edges of the plate, or that the table remains stationary and both cutting means successively trim a pair of opposite edges of plate, or that all cutting means are stationary and-the table in succession rotates for trimming the curved edges and slides (straight) for trimming the straight edges.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, a. support for the plate, cutters, a single cam for rocking the support to subject the said plate to the action of said cutters for simultaneously trimming the curved edges of the plate when the support is rocked, ways, and other cutting means slidably arranged on said ways and adapted to simultaneously trim the straight edges of. the plate, said cutters and other cutting means being actuated while the said cam is making one cycle.

2. In a machine for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, a support for the plate. cam 'means for rocking the support to engage the plate with cutters for trimming curved edges of said plate, motor driven cutters for trimming straight edges of the plate after said curved edges have been trimmed, said motorv driven cutters being actuated by said cam means subsequently to the trimming of the curved edges of the plate by the cutters and in an unbroken sequence of operations without manual attention.

3. In a machine for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, power driven means, a support for the plate, a single cam for rocking the support to trim first the curved edges of the plate and subsequently sliding the power driven means for trimming the straight edges of the said plate, and means including a switch for bringing said machine to a stop after the said curved and straight edges have been trimmed.

4. Ina device of the character described the combination of means for simultaneously trimming two edges of a curved printing plate, other means for trimming two straight edges of the said plate, a support with means for operatively retaining the plate on said support while being trimmed, said last-mentioned means being actuated by atmospheric pressure, said first mentioned means being actuated through a single driven cam, and power operated means for operating said cam.

5. In a machine for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, the combination of a support for the plate, cam-actuated means for simultaneously trimming the curved edges of the plate and then trimming the straight edges of the plate, with vacuum-controlled means for operatively holding the said plate while being trimmed, said first mentioned means including cutting means for the said curved edgesand separate cutting means for the straight edges.

6. In a printing plate trimming machine of the character described, the combination of means operative for simultaneously trimming two' curved edges of a printing plate, other means operative to simultaneously trim two straight edges of said printing plate, means for automatically bringing said machine to a stop after the said curved and straight edges of the printing plate have been trimmed, a single cam coactable with both of said first mentioned means for effecting the operation of same in a timed sequence.

7. In a printing machine of the character described, a frame, a printing plate supporting table rockably mounted on said frame, cutting instrumentalities, a single cam effective during 180 of its rotation for causing the engagement of the said cutting instrumentalities with two straight edges of a printing plate secured on said table, and other cutting instrumentalities; said cam first rocking said table to bring said printing plate into engagement with said last mentioned instrumentalities for trimming two curved edges of the plate.

8. In a device of the character described, a frame, a table movably mounted on said frame and having means for supporting printing plates thereon, cutting instrumentalities, and cam means for rocking said table to subject said plate to said cutting means, said cutting means including instrumentalities made effective during 180 rotation of the cam means for first trimming the two curvedi edges of said printing plates and effective in the next 180 rotation of the cam means for trimming: the straightedges of said plate.

9. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a frame, a cutting instrumentality mounted on said frame, a cam, a printing plate supporting table rockably mounted on said frame, resilient means for normally maintaining said table in upright position, and means operated by said cam for applying said cutting instrumentality simultaneously to two edges of a plate mounted on said table, a second cutting instrumentality, said cam serving to rock said table against said second cutting instrumentality for simultaneously trimming two other edges of the plate.

10. In a device of the character described, a frame, a printing plate supporting table movably mounted on said frame and adapted to retain a printing plate thereon, a plurality of cutting means slidably mounted on the frame and engageable with said printing plate for cutting straight edges of same, a plurality of other cutting means secured to a shaft rotatably mounted in the frame and engageable with the said printing plate when the table is moved for trimming curved edges of the plate, and a single cam for moving all of said means in a timed sequence to engage the cutting instrumentalities for successively trimming the curved and straight edges of said plate.

11. In a device of'the character described, the combination of a frame, a plate supporting member rockably mounted on said frame and adapted to support a plate having curved and straight edges, plate cutting means fastened to said frame and adapted to trim the curved edges of said plate when said support is rocked, other cutting means slidably mounted on said frame for cutting the straight edges of the plate, a single cam mounted on the frame, and power driven means for actuating said cam, all of said cutting means being made effective in timed sequence by said cam.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame, a plate supporting member pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to support a plate having curved and straight edges, means for maintaining said supporting member in normal raised position for receiving a plate preparatory to operating upon same, plate cutting means rotatably mounted on the frame and adapted to trim the curved edges of said plate when the support is rocked, other cutting means slidably mounted on the frame for cutting the curved edges of the plate, and a single cam rotatably mounted on the frame, said cam being effective for actuating all of said cutting means in timed sequence.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein the plate supporting means is maintained in normal plate-receiving position by resilient instrumentalities,

14. In a machine for trimming the curved and straight edges of a printing plate, a support for the plate, a plurality of cutting means effective for trimming the said curved and straight edges of the plate, and atmospheric pressure controlled means effective for operatively holding said plate to the support while the said curved and straight edges are being'trimmed and when said support is being moved, without interfering with the operation of the cutting means or the moving of the table.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plate support, an actuating cam,

first and second rollers arranged on opposite sides of the cam, a rock shaft, said first roller being connected to said rock shaft and adapted to swing the plate support, a second rock shaft, the second roller being connected to said second rock shaft, and cutting means, said second rock shaft being arranged to move said cutting means lengthwise of the plate.

16. An arrangement as specified in claim 15 wherein a printing plate is secured to the plate support by vacuum controlled means.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plate support, a shaft having an actuating cam, a first roller engaging the cam,

a rock shaft connected to the first roller and arranged to rock the plate support, a second roller engaging the cam, a cutter, and a second rock shaft connected to the second roller and adapted to move said cutter lengthwise of the plate.

18. An arrangement as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said rock shafts is provided with a roller, said cam engaging each of said rollers.

19. The combination described in claim 17 wherein vacuum controlled means are employed for operatively securing a plate on the plate support while said plate support is moving and the plate is being trimmed.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plate support, a cam, a pair of means engaged with different portions of the cam, one of said means being connected to the said plate support and adapted to swing the same, a rock shaft, the other of said means being connected to said rock shaft and adapted to swing the latter, and cutting instrumentalities, said rock shaft being connected to said cutting instrumentalities.

21. An arrangement as set forth in claim 20 having vacuum controlled means for operatively retaining a printing plate on said plate support while the plate support is moving and the printing plate is being trimmed.

22. In a machine for trimming printing plates having two straight and two curved edges, a support engaging one side of the plate and adapted to secure it thereto by engagement with its under surface when pressure is applied to the upper surface, a pair of cutters for trimming the straight edges of the plate, a separate motor fastened directly to each of said cutters, a second pair of cutters for trimming the curved edges of the plate, and means effective to make each of said pair of cutters operative in sequence to trim the curved edges of the plate and then the straight edges of the plate.

23. In a machine for trimming the edges of a printing plate, a support for the plate, means engaging one side of the plate for securing it to the support when pressure is applied to the other side so that said plate will be immovably held to the support while all of its edges are being trimmed, motor driven cutters adapted to trim two opposite edges of the plate, other motor driven cutters for trimming two other opposite edges of the plate, said last mentioned cutters being directly connected to the shafts of a pair of motors and control means to insure that one set of said motor driven cutters is in operation to trim the plate when the other set is not.

24. In a machine for trimming the four edges of a printing plate, a support adapted to engage one side of the plate for operatively securing it thereto when pressure is applied to the other side, a pair of rotary cutters adapted to be bodily moved into engagement with two opposite edges of the plate, a pair of motors, each having a shaft directly fastened to one of said cutters; a second pair of cutters, a shaft whereon both, of said last mentioned cutters are fastened, a motor operatively connected to said last mentioned shaft, and an additional motor for rocking said support; whereby the curved edges of the printing plate may first be trimmed, and then the straight edges thereof.

25. In a device for trimming the edges of a curved printing plate, a support on which one side of the plate rests, said plate being retained on the support by pressure on its opposite side, a pair of individual cutters for trimming the straight edges of the plate, each of said cutters being directly fastened to one of a pair of motors, means for sliding each motor and its cutter relatively to the plate in order to trim the straight edges of the plate, a second pair of cutters adapted to cut the curved edges of the plate, and means for swinging the support to subject the curved edges of the plate to the last mentioned cutters.

26. In a machine for trimming plates, a plate support, atmospherically actuated means to hol a plate onto said support, rotary cutting meant for simultaneously cutting two sides of a plate, rotary cutting means for simultaneously cutting two other sides of the plate, and common timing means operable to control the operation of both of said cutting means, and insure successive cutting operations of, first one and then the other cutting means.

27. In a machine trimming the four edges of a rectangular printing plate, the combination of a support for the plate to which the said plate is immovably held, cutting means for first trimming two opposite edges of the plate, other cutting means for subsequently trimming the other opposite edges of the plate, and means effective to make each of said cutting means operative in thesequence indicated, whereby the plate will be fixed to the support while each of the said cutting means are in operation.

28. In a machine for trimming plates, a plate support to which a plate is immovably held, rotary cutting means for simultaneously cutting two sides of the plate, rotary cutting means for simultaneously cutting two other sides of the plate, and

common timing means efiective to make each of said cutting means operative to insure successive cutting operations of first one and then the other cutting means.

29. In a machine for trimming plates, a plate support to which a plate is immovably held, rotary cutting means for simultaneously cutting two sides of the plate, rotary cutting means for simultaneously cutting two other sides of the plate, common timing means effective to make operative each of said cutting means in sequence to insure successive cutting operations of, first one and then the other cutting means, and common means to stop further operations of both cutting means after they have been actuated.

WILLIAM F. HUCK.