US2095542A

US2095542A - Means for registering printing plates

Info

Publication number: US2095542A
Application number: US16646A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leslie W Claybourn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: CB Cottrell and Sons Co
Priority date: 1935-04-16
Filing date: 1935-04-16
Publication date: 1937-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1954-10-12

Description

0t.12,19s7.* L. w, CLAYBOURN 1 2,095 54 MEANS FOR REGISTERING PRINTING PLATES Filed April 16. 1955 '5 Sheets-Shet 2 Oct 12 1937. w v.

, I L. CLAYBOURN 22 5542 MEANS FOR REGISTERING PRINTING PLATES Filed April l6, 193,5 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 7P6 NSP/IPENT JPHEENT E E 7'5 Patented on. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR REGISTERING PRINTING PLATES Application April is, 1935, Serial No. 16,646

15 Claims.

The term printing plate herein is to be understood as including printing plates for mounting on so-called bases, type high printing plates, and stones and other plates, sheets and blocks on which matter to be transferred by impression is located.

The present invention is exemplified in connection with curved printing plates less than type high, and the support for the printing plates is exemplified as a plate cylinder, although it is obvious that certain parts of the invention are also applicable to registering flat printing plates. It is the object of the invention to provide novel means for determining the proper position f of a printing plate on its support; further, to

provide novel means for determining proper related positions of printing plates on their support; further, to provide novel means whereby printing plates for successive printings are positioned rela- 20 tively to each other so that the printing lines for printing, for instance, various colors of a multi-color subject, are properly related in the successive printings.

The invention consists in novel means for attaining these objects and in novel parts and arrangements of parts for attaining the results desired. p

The invention consists further in providing novel means for mounting an indicator or indicators for indicating the correct position of the printing plate or plates; further, in providing novel means for properly relating the indicator or indicators and the support of the printing plate or plates; further, in providing novel means for obtaining correct linear placement of the printing plates; further, in providing novel means for supporting registering means for a printing plate or plates; and further, in providing novel control means for controlling the correct positions between the registering means and the support for the printing plate or plates.

' The invention consists, further, in providing novel means whereby a printing plate or plates can be registered directly on a printing press; further, in providing novel means which can be temporarily attached to a printing press for registering the printing plate or plates on the printing press; further, in providing novelmeans for positioning and adjusting the relati'onbetween the registering portions of the device and the support of the printing plate or plates; further, in providing novel registering means empioyabie in registering curved printing plates; and, further, in providing novel means for lateral positioning of a register frame.

The invention is exemplified in connection with a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press, only so much of the printing press being shown as is necessary to illustrate the invention. Such plate cylinder may be a single plate cylinder of the printing press or one of a number of plate cylinders, for instance, of a multi-color printing machine. The printing machine is assumed to contain the usual parts, features and functions of a machine of this character.

The term cylinder includes any cylinder or sector of a cylinder capable of supporting a curved printing plate or plates being registered.

While the invention is exemplified as applied to a plate cylinder as the support for the printing plate or plates, it is of course obvious that certain parts of the invention are applicable to a flat printing plate'or plates mounted on a flat support or bed of a printing press.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an end view 01 a portion of a rotary printing press having the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the improved device, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one end of the same, partly broken away, with the cross-frame removed.

Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of one of the heads of the cross-frame.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of the improved device, partly broken away.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same, partly broken away.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line 8 B of Fig. 6, and partly broken away, the yoke. being shown in clamping position in full lines and in release relation in dotted lines.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the auxiliary slide.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of a detail of the clamping means for the main slide, taken on the line IDI0 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a curved printing plate having register marks thereon.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation, partly broken away, showing a modification of the device.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section and partly broken away.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line H-M of Fig. 12, and partly broken away.

Fig. is a cross-section of the same, taken in the plane of the line iB-IS of Fig. 14; and,

Fig. 16 is an end elevation of a detail of the cross frame.

A support 2| exemplified as a cylinder is arranged to support a printing plate 22, shown as a curved printing plate. The printing plate is shown rectangular and is provided with suitable register marks 23, (Figs. 2 and 11), which may be notches or incisions made on the beveled edges 24 of the printing plate, as explained in letters Pat ent No. 1,839,886, granted to me January 5, 1932, for means for registering printing plates, although the register marks may be of any suitable character.

The register marks on opposite edges are in spaced apart relation, the register marks on edges at angles to each other being respectively in lines at right angles to each other on the center lines of the key plate, and on the center lines of the printing portions of other printing plates. The printing plates may be of different sizes and of different shapes, but the register marks are coincidentally placed on all the printing plates gaged by their printing lines, so that printing portions of a plurality of multi-color printing plates for color printing of a given subject may be registered in corelated positions.

The support may be the usual plate cylinder of the printing press, a portion of the frame of the printing press being shown at 25. Figs. 1 and 2.) The plate cylinder is journaled in usual bearings 26 of the frame and coacts with a usual impression cylinder to form a printing couple. There may be a number of such plate cylinders about-the impression cylinder, as, for instance, in a multi-color rotary printing machine, and a number of the printing plates may be registered and secured in registered position to each cylinder.

The printing plate is arranged to be adjusted and secured in adjusted position to the plate cylinder by suitable so-called register hooks 3i (Figs. 6 and 7) respectively provided with a pivoted hook member 32 pivoted to a body 33 arranged to be adjusted and held lengthwise in undercut or dovetailed grooves 34 in the support, all as more fully shown and described in letters Patent No. 1,486,323, granted me March 11, 1924, for printing plate securing means. The hook member is provided with an undercut beveled face arranged to impinge the beveled edge of the printing plate, the printing plate being shifted and secured firmly to its support by register hooks coacting with the respective beveled edges of the same.

The cylinder is provided with a scale 31 about its circumference concentric with its axis. (Figs. 6, 7 and 8.) This scale in practice has very finely divided graduations for delicacy of adjustment. There are preferably two of these scales respectively at the ends of the cylinder. They are shown on hands, for instance of steel, which are let into rabbets 38 at the inner ends of the usual bearers 39 at the respective ends of the cylinder. The graduations of the respective scales are accurately placed with relation to each other, so that similar marks denoting equal values are 00- incidentally in the same radial plane of the cylinder when the scale bands are secured to the cylinder, as by screws 40.

A cross frame 43 is provided with a linear indicator 44, extending parallel with the supporting face 45 of the cylinder, in a radial plane of the cylinder. (Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7.) Adjustment is provided between the cylinder and the indi cator for desired relation between the scales and the indicator. In the present exemplification the cross frame is shown adjustably mounted on the cylinder, each end of the cross frame being provided with a pointer 46 arranged to coact with the graduations of the scales 31. The points of these pointers and the linear indicator 44 are preferably in coincident positions with relation to the graduations on the scales.

The cross frame comprises a head ii at each of its ends, arranged to be secured in adjusted position about the circumference of the cylinder. (Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8.) The pointers are located on these heads. The heads are arranged to be clamped to the respective bearers. Each head is provided with an arcuate bearing face 52, arranged to ride on the cylindrical surface of the bearer, a lip 53 at each inner corner thereof, and an apron 54 at the outer end thereof. There is a recess 55 in the bottom of the head, the arcuate bearing face 52 being at the outer margin and the ends of this recess, so as to reduce width of contact between the arcuate face and the bearer, to insure accuracy.

The apron is provided with a boss 56, which has a threaded hole 51 for receiving a clamp bolt 58 having a knurled head 59. The lips 53 bear against the inner edge 60 of the bearer and the apron laps over the outer end face of the bearer, the clamp bolt fixing the head in adjusted position to the bearer.

The clamp bolt extends only part way into the threaded hole. The threaded hole has an unthreadcd extension 6i. (Fig. 8.) A plunger 62 is located in this extension, and has a reduced portion extending through a reduced hole 63 at the inner end of the extension hole 6i. An annular shoulder 65 is formed at the inner end of the hole GI and an annular shoulder 66 is formed on the plunger. A helical spring 61 is received about the reduced portion of the plunger between these shoulders for normally urging the plunger outwardly so that when the bolt 53 is unscrewed, the plunger will move away from its coacting clamping face into the hole 63 for releasing the head and preventing injury to the bearer in placing and replacing the head. This construction also avoids rotation of the plunger during the clamping to avoid wear and defacing of the end of the bearer.

The pointer 46 is in the form of a plate received in a slot 1| in the under face of the head and fixed therein by screws 12. (Figs. 4 and 5.)

Each of the heads is provided with separated outwardly projecting lugs 13, having a recess 14 between them, (Figs. 1, 4 and 8), this recess being shown provided with right angular walls for receiving a similarly formed stub 15 at the end of a cross member 16 of the cross frame for accurately positioning the cross member with relation to the heads, the stub being rigidly secured in the recess. The inner corners of the stubs are beveled, as shown at 11, for ready entry of the stubs into their recesses on the heads.

The stub at each end of the cross member is shown clamped in its recess by a clamp bolt 18, threaded in a threaded hole 19 of the yoke 80, pivoted by pivot pins iii to the lugs. The stub is provided with a hardened bearing piece 82 which receives the impact of the clamp bolt 18.

If it is desired to release the cross member,

the respective clamp bolts, which are provided with knurled heads 83, are unscrewed, and the yokes swung on their pivots across the outer ends v ance of the slide along the cylinder.

of the stubs for permitting lifting of the cross member away from the heads.

One of the stubs is provided with a locating pin 95, (Figs. '7 and 8), received in a locating hole 86 in one ofthe heads for positioning the cross member endwise from one of its ends, the other end of the cross member being preferablyfree of and positioning means.

The middle portion of the inner end of the head is provided with a recess 81 for exposing the pointing end of the pointer 46 and the relation between it and the scale.

The cross member includes rods 9|, 92, which are parallel with each other, and form a guide for a slide 93. (Figs. 2, 3, 6, '7 and 8.) The rods are shown in the form of pipes which are rigidly secured together in definite relation to each other, as by separating pads 94 located between the pipes and rivets passing through the pipes and said pads. A suitable number of these pads is located lengthwise of the pipes.

The outer peripheries of the pipes for portions of their circumferences form bearing surfaces for the slide. These bearing surfaces are made accurately parallel for straight line guid- The respective ends of the pipes are received in sockets 96 of end pieces 91, from which the stubs 15 project outwardly. The ends of the pipes are snugly received in the sockets and are fixed therein,

as by pins 98.

The linear indicator 44 on the cross frame is exemplified as a line placed in line with the pointing ends of the pointers 46. (Figs. 4 and 6.) It is shown as a locating line on a transparent sheet IOI, this line being exemplified as a scribe line on the sheet. The sheet may be a sheet of suitable preferably non-frangible flexible transparent substance, for instance, so-called pyralin,

that the laterally disposed register marks on the printing plate may be brought into registry with the indicator line. The transparent sheet may be secured to the auxiliary slide I02 by screws I04. (Fig. 3.)

Guide strips I05 are secured in a recess I06 in the main slide 93, as by screws I01, and together form a guideway having grooves I08 in which 3 tongues I09 on the auxiliary slide I02 are received. (Fig. 3.)

The main slide 93 is provided with a recess I I0 in which a spring I II is received, one end thereof being secured to the slide 93 by a screw II2. (Figs. 3 and 8.) This spring has a central bend II3 which bears upon the auxiliary slide I02 for normally causing the slides to move together, but permitting manual lengthwise movement of the auxiliary slide I02 on the main slide 93 if desired for clearer vision of the register marks on the printing plates. The slide I02 has stop pins H4 at its respective ends for preventing accidental movement thereof out of its guideway.

The main slide 93 is provided with bearings H8, H9, in end walls of the main slide, (Figs. 3 and .8), the proximate walls of the bores of the bearings having a space I20 between them so that the slide may passthe separating pads 94 between the rods. The slide 93 is arranged to be clamped in suitable positions to the cross member of'the cross frame, as by means of a set screw I2I (Figs. 6 and 10) threaded in a threaded hole I22 of the slide and having a knurled head I23, the inner end of the set screw bearing upon a shoe I24 in a slot I25 of the wall of the bore of the bearing N9, the shoe having upturned ends I26 to maintain the shoe in said slot.

The cross frame is provided with a scale I3I. (Figs. 2, 3 and 6.) This scale has finely divided graduations for delicate adjustment of the slide 93. The scale I3I isshown located on a band, asof steel, secured to a fiat face I92 of the rod 9| by means of screws I33.

The main slide 93 is provided with arms I36, I31 projecting therefrom at right angles to the scale I3I. (Figs. 3, 6 and 7.) These arms project preferably from the lower portions of the main body of the slide, the under faces of the slide and its arms being preferably concentric with the supporting face for the printing plates. They are shown arcuate about the cylinder and are located close to the cylinder with preferably just sufilcient space between the supporting surface of the cylinder and the inner faces of the arms and slide to accommodate the thickness of the printing plate or plates on said supporting surface.

The main body of the slide has a clearance space I38 therein above the rods and the scale thereon. (Figs. 3, 6 and 8.) There is an indicator on this portion of the body readable in relation to the scale I3I and in close adjacency to said scale, and there are linear indicators on the arms closely adjacent to the printing plate so as to be readable in connection with register marks on said printing plate. These latter indicators are in line with the indicator readable in connection with the scale. Thus a transparent sheet I, which may be similar in structure to the transparent sheet IOI, has a scribed line I42 thereon, and is secured so as to span the space I38 and is fixed to ledges I43 of said slide by means of screws I44 for accurately locating the indicator line thereon .and placing the same truly perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder.

Transparent sheets I45, I46 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6) are provided with the scribed lines I41, I48 and are arranged arcuately against the inner faces of the slide 93, extending along the inner arcuate faces of the arms thereon. These sheets are secured in place by screws I49, with the linear indicators or scribed lines thereon truly perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder and in the same transverse plane perpendicular to said axis in which the scribed line or linear indicator I42.

is located. The linear indicators I41, I48, which coact with the upper and lower register marks on the printing plate, are in definite cross plane relation to the scale I3I as indicated by the linear indicator I42. These transparent sheets may be similar in structure to the transparent sheet The arms I36, I31 are provided with viewing slots I5I, I52, through which the linear indicators I41, I48 and the register marks on the printing plate to coact therewith may be viewed.

In the modification shown in Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive similar parts are designated by similar but primed reference numerals.

This modification is essentially the same as the device shown in its preferred form, the principal diiferences being the form of the linear indicator extending lengthwise of the cylinder, and the means for securing the cross frame to the heads.

In this modification the linear indicator is represented as a stretched line I55. It may be a string, cord, line or wire, and is hereinafter designated a wire. Means are provided for stretching the wire lengthwise of the cross frame so that all parts thereof may be located parallel with the axis of the cylinder and spaced equidistantly from the supporting surface of the cylinder.

The respective ends of the wire are secured to the inner ends of locating pins I56, I51, having adjustment between them for stretching the wire. One of these pins is shown adjustable and the other stationary. Each of the end members of the cross frame is provided with a hole I58 in which the pin is located. These holes preferably slant inwardly toward each other. The inner ends of the pins are provided with hooks I59, about which the respective ends of the wire are twisted. The end members of the cross frame have radially inwardly extending lugs I60 provided with positioning slots ISI in line with each other, in which the wire is received.

The pin I51 is provided with a head I65, and the pin I56 is provided with a threaded end I66, about which nuts I61, I63 are threaded for adjusting the pin I56 endwise in order to stretch the wire and for holding the adjusted pin in place. The pins are removable through the outside ends of the holes.

Each of the heads 5| is provided with a hole "I, in which a clamp bolt I12 is located. The clamp bolts have square heads I13 located in similarly shaped recesses I14 in the inner faces of the heads for preventing rotation of the bolts. The stubs 15' of the end pieces 91 of the cross member 16' are provided with holes I15, I16 respectively, through which the clamp bolts are received.

The hole I15 is of the diameter of the bolt for positioning the cross member endwise at one of its ends. The hole I16 is elongated, so that the other end of the cross member is unrestrained endwise in positioning the same. The threaded ends of the bolts extend outwardly and have clamp nuts I11 thereover, for clamping the cross member to the heads of the cross frame.

In operating this improvement to register the printing plates of a form on a printing cylinder of a rotary printing press, the printing plates are registered according to dimensions given on a lay-out sheet, on which the desired positions of the register marks of the various printing plates are denoted at given distances from the zero points of the respective scales.

The zero points of the scales 31 about the cylinder are preferably in a line close to but free of the outer extremities of the sheet gripping ends of the grippers on the impression cylinder when at closest approach to the plate cylinder in their revolutions. This line is known as the dead line in printing parlance. In the present improvement the distances for the respective printing plates about the cylinder are marked on the lay-out sheet as distances of the register marks thereon from said line.

The zero point for the scale I3I is at the outside edge of the scale band 31 at the feed end or operator's end of the plate cylinder, although the notations on this scale begin at 2 (Fig. 6)

because less values on this scale are seldom used. The desired positions of the printing plates arranged lengthwise of the cylinder are marked on the lay-out sheet as distances of their register marks from such zero point corresponding with graduations on the scale III. I

The scales may be in inches or other kinds of linear measurement. They are represented in inches, and in practice have very small subdivisions for accuracy in adjusting the positions of the printing plates.

The heads II are secured in adjusted positions to the respective bearers of the plate cylinder so that their pointers register with a given value on the scales 31, corresponding with the value denoted on the lay-out sheet for the position of a printing plate or row of printing plates lengthwise of the cylinder. The heads are adjustable on the bearers of the cylinder and may be manually shifted along the same around the cylinder, or tapped to bring the pointers into accurate registry with the desired denominations of value on the scales 31, whereupon the head is clamped to the bearer by manipulation of the clamp bolt 58. When both heads have been thus secured in place, the cross member is secured to the heads.

The scale on this cross frame reads progressively from the feed end or operator's end of the cylinder. The scales 31 around the cylinder read progressively upward from the dead line thereof in the direction in which the cylinder rotates in the printing operation.

The end of the cross member toward the feed end or operator's end of the cylinder is accurately positioned endwise, as by the locating pin 85, the other end of the cross member being permitted to take its natural lengthwise position on the head 5| at the gear end of the cylinder, so as to make all readings on the scale I3I accurate from the feed end or operator's end of the cylinder.

Clamping the heads in adjusted positions about the cylinder with their pointers in registry with the desired value on the scales 31, places the indicator line extending lengthwise of the cross member automatically in corresponding value relation to the scales 31 when the cross member is secured to the heads. This gives the proper location of the printing plate or plates in one dimension.

The slide is then adjusted laterally on the cross frame so that its register line I42 registers with the desired value on the scale I3I, whereupon the cross slide is secured to the cross frame. This automatically places the register lines I41, I46 on the slide in similar registered position with the scale value of. the scale I3I, and in proper registered position for registry of the spaced apart upper and lower register marks 23 on the printing plate therewith.

The printing plate is then shifted on its support as by means of the register hooks so as to register its register marks 23 accurately with the crossing register lines 44 and I41, I48, whereupon the printing plate is clamped in such position by means of the register hooks.

The slide is then shifted to the next desired registry position for the next printing plate lengthwise of the cylinder by registry of its register line I42 with the predetermined value on the scale I3I marked on the lay-out sheet. The next printing plate which has been either temporarily located and held on its support or has been slipped under the register frame, is then shifted into registry position by means of the register hooks and secured in place.

The register marks on the printing plate are observed through the transparent sheets on which the register lines of the device are located and which are closely adjacent to the printing surface of the printing plate, these observations taking place through the spaces or windows between the rods of the cross frame and the viewing slots or windows in the auxiliary slide I02, and through the viewing slots or windows in the arms of the slide.

The slide is shiftable crosswise along the cylinder to desired positions for registry of the print ing plates thereon, and the register lines lengthwise of the cross frame are preferably located on the supplemental frame I02, which is shiftable lengthwise of the cross frame, so as to place its observation slots above the register marks of the printing plate. This also enables observation of register marks on a plurality of printing plates without intermediate adjustment of the slide 93.

Either the cross frame or the slide may be shifted between registry of lines of printing plates about the'cylinder or lengthwise of the cylinder. For adjustment of the cross frame about the cylinder the clamp bolts 58 are released and the cross frame may be shifted about the bearers on their arcuate faces into desired new position for registry of the pointers of its heads with the scale values of the scales 31 observed through the space between the rods of the cross member and under the end pieces thereof, or the cross member may be removed from the heads and the heads independently adjusted into new positions about the cylinder. The cylinder may in the meantime be suificiently rotated to place the part thereof which is to receive the printing plates in convenient position for observation by the operator.

The operation may be repeated on the various plate cylinders of the printing press, and if used in multicolor printing, the printing plates for the various cylinders printing the various colors will be placed with their register marks in coincident positions on the various plate cylinders for registry of the printing lines for different colored printings with each other.

I claim:

1. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame provided with an indicator adapted for registry with selective graduations of a scale extending fixedly along a dimension of an article supporting surface, said cross frame comprising a rod and a head at each end of said rod; a releasable clamp between each end of said rod and one of said heads, and releasable connecting means for fixedly connecting said respective heads with opposite margins of said supporting surface, and said releasable clamps including guiding means so constructed that upon releasing of said clamps said rod is removable from said head by movement solely substantially perpendicular to said supporting surface whilst said heads remain fixedly connected with said supporting surface.

2. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame provided with an indicator adapted for registry with a scale extending along a dimension of an article supporting surface, said cross frame comprising. a rod and a head at each end of said rod; a releasable clamp between each end of said rod and one of said heads for fixed relations of said ends and said heads and including guides for removal of said rod from said 3. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with scales extending along a dimension thereof at opposite margins of said surface; said cross frame comprising a pair of spaced-apart rods, an end piece at each end of the rods rigidly connecting said rods and a head under said end piece at each end of said rods at said respective scales; releas able securing means between said end pieces and said respective heads, said heads adjustable along said margins, each of said heads provided with an indicator spaced from said end piece thereat and registering with one of said scales and positioned in the radial plane of the space between said rods and'with a recess under said end piece thereat and between said indicator and said space to visually expose said indicator and the relation between said indicator and said one of said scales through said space.

4. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with scales extending along a dimension thereof at opposite margins of said surface along which bearers extend, said cross frame comprising a pair of spaced apart rods and an end piece and a head at each end of said rods at said respective bearers and scales, releasable securing means between said respective end pieces and said heads; each of said heads provided with spaced apart inner shoulders and an outer clamp arranged to be located at the respective sides of said respective bearers and scales, said heads adjustable along said margins, each of said heads provided with an indicator below said end piece thereat and between said spaced apart inner shoulders registering with one of said scales and positioned in the radial plane of the space between said rods and with a recess between said spaced apart shoulders and between said indicator and said space to visually expose said indicator and the relation between said indicator and said one of said scales through said space.

5. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with a scale extending along a dimension of said supporting surface, a slide slidable on said cross frame lengthwise of said cross frame, and an indicator frame extending lengthwise of said cross frame and slidable lengthwise of said cross frame on said slide and provided with an elongated indicator extending lengthwise of said cross frame and arranged for registry with graduations of said scale and forming an extension of said respective graduations.

6. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with a scale ex tending along a dimension of said supporting surface, a slide slidable on said cross frame lengthwise of said cross frame, an indicator frame extending lengthwise of said cross frame and adjustable on said slide lengthwise of said cross frame independent of movement of said slide and provided with an elongated indicator extending lengthwise of said cross frame for registry with graduations of said scale and forming an extension of said respective graduations, and resilient means to hold said indicator frame in adjusted positions on said slide.

7. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with a. scale extending along a dimension of said supporting surface, said cross frame comprising end pieces and a plurality of spaced apart rods on said end pieces extending lengthwise of said cross frame, said end pieces supported at opposite margins of said supporting surface, and a linear indicator supported on said cross frame, below said rods and visible through the space between said rods and registering with graduations of said scale.

8. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with a scale extending along a dimension of said supporting surface, said cross frame comprising end pieces and a plurality of spaced apart rods on said end pieces and extending lengthwise of said cross frame and forming guides, a scale on said cross frame extending lengthwise of said rods, a linear indicator supported by said cross frame and extending lengthwise of said cross frame below said rods and visible through the space between said rods and arranged for registry with said firstnamed scale, and a, slide slidable on said rods and provided with an indicator arranged to be registered with said second-named scale.

9. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with a scale extending along a dimension of said supporting surface, said cross frame provided with a scale and a window, both of which extend lengthwise thereof, a linear indicator supported by said cross frame extending lengthwise of said cross frame at the under side of said cross frame and visible through said window and arranged for registry with said first-named scale, and a slide slidable on said cross frame lengthwise of said cross frame and provided with a window and an indicator arranged to be registered with said second-named scale, said last-named indicator being at the under side of said slide and visible through said last-named window.

10. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with a scale extending along a dimension of said supporting surface; a scale, a window and a linear indicator under said window supported by said cross frame and extending lengthwise of said cross frame; said linearindicator visible through said window and arranged for registry with said first-named scale, a slide slidable on said cross frame, and an indicator thereon arranged to be registered with said second-named scale.

11. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with a scale extending along a dimension of said supporting surface; a scale, a window and a linear indicator under said window supported by said cross frame and extending lengthwise of said cross frame; said linear indicator visible through said window and arranged for registry with said firstnamed scale, a slide slidable on said cross frame, an indicator on said slide arranged to be registered with said second-named scale, and a linear indicator in line with said last-named indicator and a window thereabove on 'said slide through which said last-named linear indicator is visible.

12. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with a scale extending along a dimension -of said supportiing surface, a scale on said cross frame extending lengthwise thereof, a slide slidable on said cross frame, and linear indicators on the under portions of said cross frame and said slide respectively arranged for registry with graduations of said respective scales, and said cross frame and said slide respectively provided with windows above said respective linear indicators through which said respective linear indicators are visually exposed.

13. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame arranged to extend crosswise of an article supporting surface provided with a scale extending along a dimension of said supporting surface, said cross frame comprising a plurality of spaced apart rods extending lengthwise of said cross frame and forming guides, at scale on said cross frame extending lengthwise of said rods. a linear indicator supported by and extending lengthwise of said cross frame below said rods and visible through the space between said rods and arranged for registry with said first-named scale, a slide slidable on said rods, and an indicator thereon arranged to be registered with said second-named scale, said slide comprising an arm extending laterally to said cross frame and provided with a linear extension of said indicator thereon.

14. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame provided with an indicator extended as a linear indicator and adapted for registry with selective graduations of a scale extending along a dimension of a printing plate supporting surface, a scale on said cross frame at substantial right angles to said first-named scale, a longitudinal frame on said cross frame at substantially right angles to said cross frame, and a linear indicator thereon at substantial right angles to said first-named linear indicator, said longitudinal frame adjustable along said cross frame for registry of said second-named linear indicator with selected graduations of said secondnamed scale, and thereby placing said linear indicators in proper positions for having register marks on a rectangular printing plate registered with said respective linear indicators throughout the clamping of the four edges of said printing plate.

15. In registering means, the combination of a cross frame comprising a rod and a head at each end of said rod on which said rod is supported, an indicator on each of said heads adapted for registry with the respective scales extending along opposite margins of an article supporting surface, releasable connecting means for fixedly connecting said respective heads with said opposite margins of said supporting surface with said respective indicators in registry with selective graduations of said respective scales, an indicator on said rod, and releasable connecting means including positioning parts between said respective ends of said rod and said respective heads for locating said last-named indicator in registry with said first-named indicators and for placement of said rod on said heads after connection of said heads with said supporting surface.

LESLIE W. CLAYBOURN.