US2150522A

US2150522A - Registration of articles for multicolor printing

Info

Publication number: US2150522A
Application number: US132604A
Authority: US
Inventors: Shurley Frederick; Shurley Queenic Halford
Original assignee: CERAMIC MACHINERY DISTRIBUTORS
Current assignee: CERAMIC MACHINERY DISTRIBUTORS; CERAMIC MACHINERY DISTRIBUTORS Ltd
Priority date: 1937-02-08
Filing date: 1937-03-23
Publication date: 1939-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1956-03-14

Description

F. SHURLEY ET AL March 14, 1939.

REGISTRATION OF ARTICLES FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING Filed March 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 14, 1939. F. SHURLEY ET AL 2,150,522

REGISTRATION OF ARTICLES FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING Filed March 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March l4 1939. 4 F SHURLEY ET AL 2,150,522

REGISTRATION OF ARTICLES FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING Filed March 23, 192 5' Sheets-Sheet 5 T'rec/eric/r J'Z urle Queenie H Jiwrz j March 14, 1939. F SHURLEY U AL 2,150,522 I REGISTRATION OF ARTICLES FOR MULTIGOLOR PRINTING Filed March 23, 135? 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 14, 1939.

F. SH'URLEY' ET AL REGISTRATION ARTICLES FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING Filed March 25,

1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES VPATENT' OFFICE REGISTRATION OF ARTICLES FOB MULTI- COLOR- PRINTING Application March 23, 1937, Serial No. 132,604 In Canada February 8, 1937 18 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrical device for the registration of articles for multi-color printing, or the consecutive printing" of one or more colors, and is particularly adaptable for use with 5 the multi-color printing machines fully described inv our prior U. S. Patents Nos. 2,060,385 and 2,085,126, respectively. This device may be attached to, or form part of, any other type of printing machine, press or screen machine, or

in equipment for printing on cylindrical articles, such as bottles, cans, bulbs, tumblers and the like.

The principal object of our invention is to automatically rotate a cylindrical article and to 15 hold said article in a pre-selccted registration position, said position being obtained by use of a photo-electric relay or similar unit actuated by means oflight beams and by registering from an opaque design first printed on the article.

20 A further object of the invention is to provide means in association with the foregoing whereby said cylindrical article may be held non-rotatable while being moved from the so-called registration position to the printing position.

25 With these and other objects in view that may appear while the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the ac- 30 companying drawings forming part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation, partially in cross section of our invention showing the rotatable holding means for the cylindrical articles to 35 beprinted.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the rotatable carriage showing the brake mechanism for the chucks.

Fig. 3 is a further fragmentary sectionalele- 4o vation of the machine showing the photo-electric unit attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine showing the photo-electric relay unit.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the machine show- 45 ing a modification of the. rotating device.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the mercury switch operating device, and the Geneva gear wheel.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the co-operating spring actuated clutch. means for holding the article 50 while being printed.

Referring more in' detail to the drawingswherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, it will be seen that the invention comprises 65 a printing machine as fully detailed in our United States patents, as previously stated, and comprising in part a frame structure I having a printing frame ll mounted thereon. A transverse shaft i2 is rotated by 9. Geneva gear I3, actuated by chain drive means l4 and arranged to intermittently rotate said shaft l2 through an angle of 90 or the fourth part of a circle. A pawl I5 is provided to prevent inadvertent movement of the said gear and engages one of four equi-distantly spaced notches '6 in the gear. 10 The pawl is lifted by lugs l'i positioned in predetermined positions on the chain and arranged; to lift the said pawl when the actuating means on said chain engage the gear to partially rotate the same.

A pair of discs or wheels l8 and I9 are mounted on the shaft i 2 and constitute a rotatable carriage having a plurality of rotatable chucks and 2| respectively, carried thereby. The former are rotatable only with spindles 22 while the lat- 20 ter are rotatable with the spindles 23 and slidably mounted thereon. Said chucks 2| are normally urged toward the center of the machine by spiral coil springs 24, in amanner toyieldably grip the article to be printed between a 5 corresponding pair. A light source 25 is provided adjacent to the revolving transverse shaft l2 and is supported in a fixed stationary bracket 26. The photoelectric tube holder 2! is mounted on the machine in such a position that the light beam from the light source to the said photo-electric tube 21' will be intercepted by an object on the article 28 at the precise moment of registration to actuate the photo-electric tube 21 which in turn will actuate the relay mechanism associated therewith. The object on the article being printed as mentioned, may be the first color printing on a bottle or other article which will'be previously printed thereon without the aid of the register- 40 ing mechanism. When the article 28 arrives at this registering position, a revolving friction wheel 29 engages a friction collar 30 on the chuck 20 or the chuck may be engaged directly. Said friction wheel is driven by a motor 3| po-. sitioned adjacent thereto. This motor is adapted to be connected in an electric circuit in such manner that the current shall be cut off when the photo-electric tube 21 actuates the mechanism through the medium of the photo-electric 5 relay unit 32 whereupon the motor is stopped.

-At the same time a brake mechanism is actuated by the photo-electric tube through the medium of the relay, so that when the light beam is intercepted the brake will be applied in co-ordidrives friction wheel 29. This brake is a solenoidoperated brake which, when the solenoid is deenerg'lzedrgrips the shaft on which the friction wheel 29 is mounted, thus overcoming the momentum of the motor and causing a quicker or more accurate stopping of the friction wheel.

The brake means comprise brake arms 33 pivoted on pins 34 in the discs l8 and I9 and extend therefrom to engage brake drums 35 on the chucks 20 and 2|. The arms 33 are connected together by a circular band 36. One end of the band is connected to an electric solenoid 31 operating in a container 38 fixed stationary on the discs l8 and I9. When .the current is applied to the solenoid the band actuates the brake arms to engage the brake drums and thereby hold the chucks temporarily non-rotatable.

In Fig. 6 is shown means of applying the foregoing brake mechanism. An arm 40 is constructed on the pawl l5 and is connected to an arm ll of the mercury switch 42 which is positioned so that the raising of the pawl will tilt the mercury container causing the switch to be actuated to apply the current of the solenoid circuit in which it is connected and thereby apply the brakes. the mercury switch is actuated to cut off the cur-.-

rent to the solenoid and thereby release the brakes.

In Fig. 5 is shown an alternative frictifonal drive mechanism operated by a solenoid 45 which comprises two solenoid coils 45a. and 45b and havlng electric connections with the photoelectric 1 turn moves the friction wheel 29 away from chuck relay unit. The solenoid plunger 450 is connected to a rocker arm 46, which is in turn connected with the shaft 48 of the friction wheel 29-by the

links

49 and 50. The wheel is mounted on a pivoted support 5|, and arranged to move forward andbackward from the collar 30 which forms part of the chuck 2|, by the action of the solenoid.

Mounted on shaft 48 alongside the friction wheel 29 is a sprocket wheel 29a which is driven by a chain drive 48a connected to the reduction gear unit 28a Fig. 4 of the machine. Thus, thefriction wheel 29 is in continual rotation and when in a forward position it rotates the chuck it and brings the article into registering position as previously explained.

when the opaque spot comes opposite the phototube the front coil 45a of solenoid 45 is de-energized and the rear coil 45b becomes energized thus pulling the solenoid plunger So back which in 2| and holds it away until the article registered in its proper position leaves for the printing position.

The operation of our improved registering mechanism may be stated as follows. The .bottle, having received the first color or background of the label is delivered by means of the conveyor shown and described in our prior Patents Nos. 2,060,385 and 2,085,126 to the spaced discs constituting the rotatable carriage, where it is picked up and held between the coacting chucks. The carriage brings the bottle held between the chucks into a position before the photo-electric tube.

When the beam of light from the light source,

which'is focused on the photo-electric tube is; interrupted by the predetermined opaque spot or design initially printed on the bottle and'forming the background of the label, the friction wheel which has been rotating the chucks and revolving the bottle brought into position adjacent to the photo-electric tube will be drawn away from enk 9,150,099 nation with the stopping of the motor 3| which When the pawl drops into the notch l6,

gagement with the chuck. Thereupon the bottle or article being registered will not rotate and the friction wheel will not come forward'again to engage the next advanced chuck until the next bottle to be registered has been brought into position adjacent the photo-electric tube. The chucks carrying the properly positioned bottle will-be held against rotation by the brake mechanism to insure the delivery of the bottle to the printing means in its proper registered position.

When the bottle has been properly registered it is carried upwardly by the rotating carriage to such position where the second color or design is printed in proper relation onto the opaque background by the printing mechanism disclosed in our aforementioned prior patents.

Attention is directed to the fact that in some cases, the action may be reversed and a transparent spot in a design used to operate the photodevice are rotatable and it is understood that such details as circular contact rings and brushes co-acting' therewith which are common to all such mechanism have been omitted for the sake of clarity. To permit the more lucid explanation or description of the more salient features of the device which are detailed herein in a more or less broad and general way it is quite apparent certain mechanical details will lend themselves to various methods of construction and it is understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of cooperating elements may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In combination, means for printing on an article having an imprint previously arranged thereon, a carriage for delivering the article in a predetermined position to the printing means, article receiving and supporting means rotatably mounted on the carriage, and'automatic means controlled by the initial imprint for rotating the article in the carriage to a predetermined positionwhereby the article will receive a further imprint from the printing means in correct relation to the initial imprint.

2. In combination, means for printing on an article having an initial imprint previously arranged thereon, a carriage for delivering the article in a predetermined position to the printing means, a photo-electric unit, va source of light focused on the photo-electric unit, the article in the carriage being movable between the photoelectric unit and the light source and adapted to intercept the beam of light, and mechanism controlled by the photo-electric unit for maintaining whereby the printing means will make a subsequent imprint in correct relation to the initial imprint when the article isdelivered thereto.

3. In combination, means for printing on an article having an initial imprint previously arranged thereon, a carriage for delivering the article to the printing means, article receiving and supporting means on the carriage and capable of rotation, a photo-electric unit, a light source focused on the photo-electric unit, the article in I the carriage being movable through the beam of light between the light source and said photoelectric unit, and mechanism automatically controlled by the photo-electric unit for rotating the article in the carriage to a position whereby the initial imprint will intercept the light beam, and additional means for rendering the last mentioned mechanism operative when the article has been rotated to such light intercepting position, whereby the article will be delivered by the carriage to the printing means in such position, so that the printing means will make a further imprint on-the article in correct relation to the initial imprint. v

4. In combination, means for printing on an article having an initial imprint previously arranged thereon, a carriage for delivering the article to the printing means, article receiving and supporting means on the carriage and capable of rotation, a photo-electric unit, a light source focused on the photo-electric unit, the article in the carriage being movable through the beam of light between the light source and said photoelectric unit, mechanism automatically controlled by the photo-electric unit for rotating the article in the carriage to a position whereby the initial imprint will intercept the light beam, additional means for rendering the last mentionedmechanism operative when the article has been rotated to such light intercepting position, whereby the article will be delivered by the carriage to the printing means in such position, so that the printing means will make a further imprint on the article in proper relation to ,the initial imprint,

and brake means associated with the article receiving' and supporting means for holding the article in said predetermined position.

5. In combination, means for printing on.- an article having an initial imprint previously arranged thereon, an intermittently rotatable carriage for delivering the article in a predetermined position to the printing means, pairs of chucks for receiving and holding articles'in the carriage,

automatic means for rotating the chucks to move the articles supported thereby to a predetermined registering position,-when the articles have been placed in the chucks in an improper position, the carriage delivering the articles successively to the printing means in their predetermined registering position so that the printing means will make a further imprint on each article in corranged thereon, an intermittently rotatable carriage for delivering the article in a predetermined position to the'printing means, pairs of chucks for receiving and holding articles in the carriage, automatic means for rotating the chucks to move the articles supported thereby to a predetermined registering position, when the articles have been placed in the chucks in an improper position, the carriage delivering the articles successively to the printing means in their predetermined registering position so that the printing means will make a further imprint on each article in correct relation to the initial imprint, and brake means for cooperation with the chucks to retain the articles in their predetermined registering position as they are delivered to said printing means.

7. In combination, means for printing on an article having an initial imprint previously arranged thereon, an intermittently rotatable carriage for delivering the article in a predetermined position to the printing means, pairs of chucksranged thereon, an intermittently rotatable carriage for delivering the article in a predetermined position to the printing means, pairs of chucks for receiving and holding articles in the carriage, automatic means for rotating the chucks to move the articles supported thereby to a predetermined registering position, when the articles have been placed in the' chucks in an improper position, the carriage delivering-the articles successively to the printing means initheirpredetermined registeringpositionso that the printing-means will make a further imprint oneach article in correct relation to the initial imprint, a photo-electric unit for controlling the chuck rotating means, and a light source for cooperation with the photo-electric unit, the light beam from the light source being intercepted by the initial imprint on the article passing therethrough.

9. In combination, means for printing on an that have been improperly positioned in the chucks in a predetermined position so that the printing means will make a further imprint in correct relation to the initial imprint on each article delivered thereto by the rotatable carriage.

10. In combination, means for printing on an article having an initial imprint previously ar-' ranged thereon, an intermittently rotatable carriage including a pair of spaced discs, pairs of chucks carried by the discs for receiving and supporting the articles, and capable of independent rotation, and registration mechanism controlled by the initial iniprint on the articles for moving the chucks and arranging the articles that have been improperly positioned in the chucks in a predetermined position so that the printing means will make a further imprint in correct relation to the initial imprint on each article delivered thereto by the rotatable carriage, and brake means for the chucks to return the articles in their properly predetermined positions after being acted upon by said registration mechanism.

11. In combination, means for printing on an article having an initial imprint previously arranged thereon, an intermittently rotatablecarriage including a pair of spaced discs, pairs of chucks carried by the discs for receiving and supporting the articles, and capable of independent rotation, registration mechanism controlled by the initial imprint on the articles for moving the chucks and arranging the articles that have been improperly positioned in the chucks in a-predetermined position so that the printing means will make a further imprint in correct relation to the initial imprint on each article delivered thereto by the rotatable carriage, said registration mechanism including a clutch engaging rotating wheel, a photo-electric unit cooperating therewith, and a light source having its light beam directed onto said photo-electric unit, the articles adapted to pass through the light beam.

12. In combination, means for printing on an article having a background previously formed thereon, an intermittently rotatable carriage including a pair of spaceddiscs, pairs of chucks carried by the discs for receiving and supporting the articles, and capable of independent rotation, registration mechanism controlled by the background on the articles for moving the chucks and arranging the articles that have been improperly positioned in the chucks in a predetermined position so that the printing means will print directly upon the background of each article delivered thereto by the rotatable carriage, said registration mechanism including a clutch engaging rotating wheel, a photo-electric unit cooperating therewith, and alight source having its light beam directed onto said photo-electric unit, the articles adapted to pass through the light beam.

13. In combination, means for printing on an article having an imprint previously arranged thereon, a carriage for delivering the article in a predetermined position to the printing means, means controlled by the initial imprint for rotating an improperly placed article in the carriage to position the article so that it will receive a further imprint in correct relation to the initial imprint, and additional means for holdingthe article in its properly placed position during the movement of the carriage to a printing position.

14. In combination, means for printing on an article having an initial imprint of one color previously arranged thereon, a carriage for delivering the articlein a predetermined position to the printing means, means controlled by the initial imprint for automatically positioning an article that has been improperly placed in the carriage in the aforesaid predetermined position so that it will receive an imprint of another color in correct relation to the initial difierent colored imprint by said printing means, and additional means for holding the article in its proper place in the carriage during the movement of the latter to a printing position. "a

15. In a printing machine a plurality of sup porting means for supporting and conveying articles irom a-receiving zone to a printing zone, means operable while said articles are held by supporting means for rotating each article in turn about its axis, and electrically controlled means including a photo-electric cell for arresting each oi the articles in a predetermined rotary posieach unit being mounted for rotation, means operable during the travel of said articles and their units between the receiving and printing zones for rotating saidarticles and their units successively about their axis, and electrically controlled means including a photo-electric cellior arresting the rotation of each article and unit as each article reaches a predetermined rotary position.

18. In a printing machine, a plurality of supporting units mounted radially about a common axis, means supporting said units for rotation about said axis, said units supporting and conveying articles from a receiving to a printing zone during their travel, means operable during the travel of said articles for rotating each article in turn about its own axis, and electrically controlled means including a photo-electric cell for arresting the rotation of each article at a predetermined rotary position.

FREDERICK SHURLEY.

QUEENIE HALFORD SHURLEY.