US2267100A - Printing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, 1941. w. HUCK PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR William E Hut/n".

ATTO NEY Dec. 23, 1941. w. F. HucK PRINTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 30, 1940 IN VENT0RI mlhamIf'Huc/r.

ATT N EY Dec. 23, 1941. w. F. HUCK PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MllhmEHuc/r,

ATT NEY Dec. 23, 1941. w. F. HUCK PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1940 45heets-Shee'h 4 INYENTOR WzZlzamIi-Hu eh.

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 PRINTING MACHINE William F. Huck, Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignor to R. Hoe & 80., Inc., New York, N.

tion of New York Y., a corpora.-

Application July 30, 1940, Serial No. 348,356

19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rotary printing machines and more-particularly to a printing machine wherein one of the printing cylinders and certain of the ink cylinders are arranged to rotate on fixed axes while another printing cylinder and certain of the ink-rollers are mounted in movable bearings so as to be readily tripped, or separated from coacting cylinders. i

It has been found to be desirable in order to increase the efiiciency of such printing machines and to reduce the attention required tooperate them, to provide anoil-tight casing about the driving gears, which interconnect the various driven cylinders and rollers, which casing will ers having movable bearings, whereby they may be tripped, interconnecting gears for driving the driven members, an oil-tight casing enclosing the gears, and means to circulate oil through the casing.

Another object is to provide in a printing machine of the above or analogoustype, means to drive each of a plurality .of printing units from a also enclose the outer and open end of the bearings of such cylinders and .rollers as well as other operative parts of the machine, such as actuating cams, cam rollers, and an oil pump for causing a circulation of oil through" the casing,

In ofiset lithographic and other printing machines that are arranged to trip the printing cylinders and at times the inking mechanism, into and out of operating position, difiiculty has been experienced in fully enclosing the gearing that drives the cylinders that are tripped. This difficulty is not so pronounced with respect to the main printing cylinders because such of these as are tripped, are usuallysupported by eccentric bearing bushings which are rotated to trip the cylinders. However, it has been found impractical to use such means for tripping the ink cylinders, of which there are generally several that must be moved simultaneously and in varying degree. In consequence, the ink cylinders have usually been carried in bearings, all of which are secured to a separate frame that is moved as necessary to trip the inking mechanism. Such an arrangement can not readily be provided with an oil tight enclosure because there would be many sliding joints through which the oil would leak. With the arrangement herein disclosed, the ink cylinders rotate on fixed axes and their bearings common source of power and to enclose this driving means in a housing, which is associated with the aforesaid gear casing as a part thereof.

Still another object is to provide improved clutch means to connect and disconnect any one of a plurality of units from the aforesaid common source of power, and which is operable from outside of the oil-tight gear casing and does not interfere with the actuation of the other units.

A further object is to provide in a printing machine of the above nature, a casing enclosing all of the gears and which rigidly supports a section of a main drive shaft adapted to be connected to those of adjacent units by universal couplings.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a rotary printing machine of generally improved construction, whereby the same will be relatively simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical,

serviceable, and emcientln use.

are mounted directly in the main frame of the machine. This arrangement in combination with other mechanism herein shown provides a inder mounted to rotate on a fixed axis, ink roll--.

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.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, reference being made toan application Serial No. 261,480, filed March 13, 1939, by the present applicant, for the disclosure of structure and details as hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings: I i

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatical illustration showing portions of a multicolor lithographic web printing machine, having a plurality of printing units each embodying the features and principles of this-invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the printing units with the gear casing and the drive shaft housing sectioned and showing the positions of the interconnected driving gears, which are indicated by dot and dash pitch circles;

Figure 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the gear casing looking in the direction of arrow 3 in shaft housing and universal joints taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of part of a cylinder and ink roller tripping mechanism adapted for use in the printing machine and taken on the line 11 of Figure 8:

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure '7; and

Figure 9 is a top views! the mechanism shown in Figures 7 and 8 looking in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of Figure '1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to Figure 1, the reference numeral M denotes a frame which supports a motor 2 geared to a main drive shaft |3 by bevel gears l4 and I5. The main drive shaft l3 extends from the frame II to the first printing unit of a plurality of such units l6, |1, i8 and I8, spaced apart and connected together by space bars 2|.

The printing units l6, |1, I8 and I8 are su stantially identical in structure and include side frames 22 and 23, between which coacting printing cylinders in this instance known as blanket cylinders 24 and 25 extend, which respectively coact with plate or form cylinders 26 and 21. Coacting, and in contact with each of the form cylinders 26 and 21, are two pairs of ink rollers 28 and 29 which receive ink from axially reciprocable ink cylinders 3|. In Figure 8, the extent of their axial movement is indicated by dotted lines. Each upper and each lower pair of ink cylinders 3| is supplied with ink from an ink fountain 32, through a fountain roller 33,a ductor roller 34, a reciprocable roller 35, and rollers 36 and 31. A moisture fountain 38 is provided for each form cylinder 26 and 21, from which moisture is supplied to the respective cylinder through a fountain roller 38, a' ductor roller 4|, a reciprocable moisture cylinder 42, and rollers 46 and 44.

Conditions occasionally arise requiring that the printing, or blanket, cylinder 25 be tripped, or separated from the coacting cylinder 24, that the form cylinders 26 and 21 be tripped, or separated from the respective coacting printing cylinders 24 and 25, and the ink rollers 28 and 28 be tripped, or separated from the form cylinder contacted thereby. A mechanism for so tripping .the cylinders 25, 26 and 21 and the rollers 28 and 28 is fully shown and described as is also the means to reciprocate the ink and moisture cylinders. 3|, 35 and 42 in the application referred to above.

Fi ures 7, 8 and 9 disclose the above mentioned tripping mechanism and show the same as applied to the form cylinder 26, the ink rollers 28 and 28, and the ink cylinder 3|. By reference to the above referred to application, it will be understood that the tripping actuation is accomplished by manipulation of tripping shafts 45 and 46, shaft 46 being tubular and surrounding the shaft 45. Lever arms 41 and 48 are secured to the shafts 45 and 46, respectively, and may be secured together by disconnecting means not herein shown, but fully disclosed in the application previously mentioned, whereby they may be caused to act in unison, or individually, as desired.

The cylinder 26 is journaled in eccentric bearing bushings 48, rotatably supported in the frames 22 and 23. Each of the bushings 48 has a ring 5| secured upon the end of its hub 52, which ring 5| is pivotally connected by a link 53 to the lever arm 48 insuch a manner that when the shaft 46 is rocked, the bushings 48 will be rotated to separate the form cylinder from its coacting printing cylinder 24. Another ring 55 is rotatably mounted on the hub 52 and is pivotally connected by links 56 to the lever arm 41,

whereby it will be rotated when the shaft 45 is rocked. Rotation of the ring 55 through an cecentric surface 51 formed thereon, will cause a plate 58a, which rides on the surface 51 to be moved transversely to its axis, and through links 58a and 6|a, to rotate bearings 62a and 63a for the ink rollers 28 and 28, about the axis of the ink cylinder 3|. Rotation of the plate 52a about the ring 55 is prevented by links 54 pivotally connected to the plate and to the frame of the machine. When the lever arms 41 and 48 act simultaneously due to being joined, the cylinder 26 is tripped, and the ink rollers 28 and 28 are moved about the axes of the ink cylinders 3! and out of contact with the plate cylinder 26.

Each printing unit |6, |1, I8 and I8 is provided with a main drive shaft section 58 (see Figures 2, 4 and 5), the section 58 of the unit l6 being connected to the main drive shaft portion l3 from the motor It by a universal joint 58, and to a main drive shaft portion 6| extending between the units l6 and H by a universal joint 62. Similar drive connecting means is provided for the main drive shaft sections of the units 1, l8 and I8, whereby a common drive is provided for all of them.v At each unit, a bevel pinion .63 is keyed to the shaft section 58 and preferably has the well known Hypoid form of spiral teeth,

Ages! 66 (see Figures 2 'and 5), adapted to be connected to the bevel gear 64 by the above mentioned clutch mechanism, rotates with the cylinder shaft end 65 and meshes with a gear 61, secured on a shaft end 68 of the form cylinder 26, and with a gear 68 on a shaft end 1| of the other printing cylinder 25. The gear 68 is in mesh with a gear 12 on a shaft end 13 of the form cylinder 21. The reciprocating ink and moisture cylinders 3|, 35 and 42 respectively, for each form cylinder 26 and 21, are driven from the gears 61 and 12 respectively, through two series of gearing, one gear series being disposed on each side of each of the gears 61 and 12. In addition to driving the reciprocating cylinders, one of each gear series, associated with gears 61 and 12, also drives a. cam shaft 14, whereby the ink ductor roller 34 is oscillated.

The gear series at one side of each of the gears 61 and 12 includes a gear '15 in mesh with the gear 61 or 12, and having a gear 16 rotatable therewith, the latter gear 16 being in mesh with a gear 11, which in turn is in mesh with a gear 18. The gear 16 is in mesh with a gear 18 on the shaft 6| of one of the ink cylinders 3|. The gear 18 is in mesh with a gear 82 which is in mesh with a gear 83. The gear 83 is in mesh with a gear 84 on the shaft 85 of the ink cylinder 35. In the series of gears associated with the gear 61, the gear 82 also meshes with a. gear 86 on the drive shaft of an oil pump 81.

The other gear series associated with each of mesh with a gear 9|. x

with a gear 92, which is in mesh with a gear 93- on the shaft 94- of the other ink cylinder 3|. A

associated with the gear I2.

casing section I is relatively narrow, and ex-- tends between the upper and-lower sections I03 the gears 61 and I2 includes, a gear 88 mesh with the gear' 61 or I2, and having a gear 89 rotatable therewith, the latter gear 89 being in The gear 9I is in me'sh pinion 95 rotatable with the gear 92 is in mesh with a gear 96 having -a pinion 91 rotatable therewith, which is in mesh with a gear 90 on the cam shaft I4. The gear 9| also meshes with a gear 99, which is in mesh with a gear IOI secured on the shaft I02 of the reciprocating moisture cylinder 42. 1

An oil-tight casing for convenience in manufacture made up of an upper section I03, a lower.

section I04, and an intermediate section I05, the sections being sealed and bolted together, is provided to enclose all of the above mentioned gears and pinions. A housing I06 extends axially over and about the main drive shaft section 58 at each unit. The housing I06 has end bearings I01 and I08 in which the shaft section 58 is rigidly joumaled, and is in this instance, made integral with the intermediate section I05 of the gear enclosing casing. The housing I06 is provided with a cover I09. The casing sections I03, I04 and I05 are arranged to be securely sealed and bolted to the side frame 22 of the printing machine under consideration, and an outlet pipe III leads from the oil pulp 81, through the frame22, and then upwardly, passing through the frame 22 above the gear casing section I03, and into the same to discharge oil into the casing upon the gears and pinions therein. An inlet pipe H2 is also provided, by which the oil pump 81 receives oil from the bottom of the lower casing section I04.

The upper casing section I03 flares outwardly to embrace the various pinions and the cam gear 98, and extends downwardly to cover the lower gear IOI of the series of gears associated with the gear 12. A drain pipe II3 leads from the lower portion of the upper casing section I03, surrounding the aforesaid gear IM to the upper portion of the lower casing section I04, surrounding the corresponding gear IN. The pipe II3 could be omitted by slightly changing the form of the upper casing section I03 to avoid the pocket formed about the aforesaid gear IOI of the'gear series The intermediate and I04 respectively, to embrace the gears 66 and 69. Suitable openings 4 are located about the casing sections in their sides to permit access.-

The openings I I4 are provided with sealed covers II5. Suitable access openings are also provided in the face of the casing sections and these as shown in Figures 1 and 3, are provided with covers I16. A wall I" is arranged in the upper casing section I03, whereby the oil is deflected toward each of the gear series therein, and a like wall H8 is arranged in the lower casing section I04 for a similar purpose.

The clutch'mechanism for connecting the "Hypoid gear with the shaft end 65 of the printing cylinder 24, and to the gear 66 (see Figures 4, 5 and 6), includes a hub portion I I9 formed bars I21 are adapted to slide. Where the bars I21 pass through the cut-outs I26 in the ring I24, they are inclined, as at I28. to correspond with inclined surfaces I29, formed on thering I24 in the cut-outs I20. The corresponding inclined surfaces I23 and I29 are so arranged that a radially outward movement of the bars I21 will force the ring I24 against the discs I23 to bind them together and against the bevel gear 64. Suitable springs I30 acting on the ring I24 tend to maintain it in disc releasing position.

An extension I3I'is provided for, and is secured to, each of the bars I21, and these extensions pass through radial openings I32 provided in the shaft end 65. The inner ends of the bar extensions I3I are inclined, as at I33, to correspond with a taper I34 formed adjacent the inner end of a spindle I35, the inner'endof which is journaled inthe shaft end 65. The inclined surface I33 and the taper I34 are so arranged that movement of the spindle inwardly and axially of the shaft end 65 will force the bar extensions I3I and thus the bars I2'I radially outward. The spindle I35'is provided with a screw threaded portion I36, which is screw threaded through a plate' I3Isecured to the end of the shaft end 65, and which overlies the bevel gear 64 to hold it axially in place on the hub portion II9 of the whereby it may be rotated from. outside of the casing to actuate the bars I2'I. to connect the bevel gear 64 to the shaft end 65 and to the gear 66.

The use of Hypoid"-shaped gear teeth on the bevel gears 63 and 64, permits the centers of the shafts 58 and 65 to be offset in respect to each other, whereby the spindle I35 may be disposed in axial alignment with the shaft 65 and the driven gear 64. In the improved form of clutch disclosed, the pitch lines of the bevel gears 63 and 64 mesh when the clutch discs I23 are tight together, and they separate slightly when the clutch is loosened, whereby the bevel gear 64 will rotate more freely when the unit is silenced.

The provision in a rotary printing machine having driven coacting printing cylinders and driven reciprocating ink cylinders on fixed axes,

of driving means such as the interconnecting' gears and pinions above described, enclosed in.

an oil-tight casing, insures constant and sumcient lubrication of these gears and pinions in the gear 65 bycounterboring the same, as at without requiring the time consuming attention of a machine operator. To further insure eflicient lubrication of rotating machine parts, the printing cylinder bearings I44 mounted in the machine frame 22 (see Figure 5 as an example),

open into the oil casing, whereby they are constantly and suflic ently lubricated, also without any attention of the machine operator. Likewise, the bearings I45 (see Figure3) for the re ciprocating ink cylinders 3 I, mounted in the machine frame 22, also open into the oil-tight casing, and thus are automatically lubricated. The intermediate gears, such as I1, I8, and 82, 83 are rotatably mounted on studs I46, secured to the machine frame 22 (see Figure 3), and'by the use of ball, or like bearings I41, which are open for casing,

bevel pinion 53 may be disconnected from the universal joint 62 and drawn through and out of the housing Hi6, for instance to the left in Figure 4. The universal joints 59 and 62 as shown, are preferably of the well known gear type couplings having a member I52 with external teeth meshing with the internal teeth of a part I53.

It will be understood that the invention herein disclosed may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is. therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and it will be further understood that each and every novel feature and combination present in or possessed by the mechanism, herein shown and described, forms a part of the invention included in this specification.

What -I claim is: W

1. In a printing machine having a form cylto rotate on a fixed axis in the machine frame,

intermeshing gears on one side of the machine for driving the said form, printing and ink cylinders in timed relation, an oil-tight casing enclosing the gears, and an oil circulating system having an outlet arranged to feed oil to the up-v inder and a coacting printing cylinder, an ink cylinder, and an ink roller arranged to transfer ink from the ink cylinder to a form on the form cylinder, bearings for the said ink cylinder supporting it to rotate on a fixed axis in the machine frame, intermeshing gears on one side of the machine for driving the said form, printing and ink cylinders in timed relation, an oil-tight casing enclosing the gears, and an oil circulating system having an outlet arranged to feed oil to the upper portion of thecasing for lubricating the gears as oil flows downwardly through the easing by gravity, movable bearings for the form per portion of the casing for lubricating the gears as oil flows downwardly through the casing by gravity, movable bearings for the form cylinder whereby it may be moved away from the printing cylinder, and bearings for the inbroller associated with movable supports, whereby the ink roller is maintained in contact with the ink cylinder and the form while permitting movement of the form cylinder, all of said form, printing and ink cylinder bearings being open to the said casing to be automatically lubricated by the oil circulating downwardly through the housing.

4. In a printing machine, a printing unit having a form cylinder and a coacting printing-cylinder, a bearing for the printing cylinder, a movable bearing for the form cylinder, whereby it may be moved away from the printing-cylinder, an ink cylinder, bearings for the ink cylinder arranged to support the cylinder'to rotate on a fixed axis and to axially reciprocate, an ink roller to transfer ink from the ink cylinder to a form on the form cylinder, movable bearings for the ink roller whereby it may move with and away from the form cylinder, intermeshing gears on one side of the machine for driving the said form, printing and ink cylinders in timed relation, an oil-tight casing enclosing the gears, and an oil circulating system having an outlet arranged to feed oil to the upper portion of the casing associated therewith, a main drive shaft section extending through the casing, and bear-,

ings for the main drive shaft rigidly supported by the casing to support the said drive shaft section for rotation on a fixed axis, the casing being open its entire length from its upper portion to cylinder whereby it may be moved away from the printing cylinder, and bearings for the ink roller associated with movable supports, whereby the ink roller is maintained in contact with the ink cylinder and the form while permitting movement of the form cylinder.

2. In a printing machine, a printing unit having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, a bearing for rotatably supporting the printing cylinder, a movable bearing for the form cylinder, whereby it may be moved away from the printing cylinder, an ink cylinder, bearings for the ink cylinder arranged to support the with, the bearings for the form, printing and 'ink cylinders being open into the casing to be lubricated by the oil as it flows downwardly due to gravity through the casing over the gears.

'3. In a printing machine having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, an ink cylinder, bearings for the cqacting'printing cylinder, an ink roller arranged to transfer ink from the ink cylinder to a form on the form cylinder,

bearings for the said ink cylinder supporting it below the bearings for the main drive shaft section whereby oil flowing downwardly due to gravity through the casing will lubricate the gears and the bearings for the form, printing and ink cylinders and the main drive shaft section.

5. In a printing machine, a printing unit having a form cylinder'and a coacting printing cylinder, a bearing for the printing cylinder, a movable bearing for the form cylinder, whereby it may be moved away from the printing cylinder, an ink cylinder, bearings for the ink cylinder arranged to support the cylinder to rotate on a fixed axis and to reciprocate axially, an ink roller to transfer ink from the ink cylinder to a form on the form cylinder, movable bearings for the ink roller whereby it may move with and away from the form cylinder, intermeshing gears on one side of the machine for driving the said form, printing and ink cylinders in timed relation, an oil-tight casing enclosing the gears, and anoil circulating system having an outlet arranged to feed oil-to the upper portion of the casing associated therewith, a main drive shaft section ex-.

tendingthrough the casing, and bearings for the main drive shaft rigidly supported by the casing to support said shaft section for rotation on a fixed-axis, all of said bearings for the form, printing and ink cylinders and for the shaft section being open into said casing to be lubricated by the oil'as it flows downwardly due to gravity through the casing over the gears.

6. In a printing machine, a printing unit having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, a bearing for the printing cylinder whereby it will rotate on a fixed axis, a movable bearing for the form cylinder, whereby it may be moved away from the printing cylinder, an ink cylinder, bearings for the ink cylinder arranged to support the cylinder to rotate on a fixed axis and to reciprocate axially, an ink roller to transfer ink from the ink cylinder to a form on the form cylinder, movable bearings for the ink roller whereby it may move with and away from the form cylinder, intermeshing gears on one side of the machine for driving the said form, printing and ink cylinders in timed relation, an oil-tight casing enclosing the gears, and an. oil circulating system having an outlet arranged to feed oil to the upper portion of .the casing associated therewith, a main drive shaft section extending through the casing, bearings for the main drive shaft rigidly supported by the casing to support the shaft section for rotation on a fixed axis, a bevel pinion within the casing and secured on the said shaft section, a bevel gear within the inder, means to move the movable bearings for casing and mounted for free rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder and in mesh with said bevel pinion, and means within the casing to drivingly connect and disconnect the bevel gear with the printing cylinder and the intermeshing gears in the casing, the said means being operable from the outside of the casing.

7. In a printing machine, a printing unit having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, a bearing for the printing cylinder whereby it will rotate on a fixed axis, a movable bearing for the form cylinder, whereby it may be moved away from, the printing cylinder, an ink cylinder, bearings for the ink cylinder arranged to support the cylinder to rotate on a fixed axis and to axially reciprocate, an ink roller to transfer ink from the ink cylinderto a form on the from the ink cylinder to a form on theform cylinder, movable bearings for the inkroller whereby it may move with and away from the form cylthe form cylinder and for the ink roller both simultaneously and separately, intermeshing gears on one side of the machine forvdriving all the said form, printing and ink cylinders in timed relation, an oil-tight casing enclosing the gears, and an oil circulating system having an outlet arranged to feed oil to the upper portion of the casing associated therewith, a main drive shaft section extending through the casing, bearings for the main drive shaft rigidly supported by the casing to support the shaft section for rotation on a fixed axis, the casing being interiorly formed to provide a path for and to guide oil entering at the upper portion thereof over the gears and to below the bearings of th drive shaft section. I 9. In a printing machine, a printing unit having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, a bearing for the printing cylinder whereby it will rotate on a fixed axis, a movable bearing for the form cylinder, whereby it may be moved away from the printing cylinder, an ink cylinder, bearings for the ink cylinder arranged to support the cylinder to rotate on a fixed axis and to axially reciprocate, an ink roller to transfer ings for the form cylinder and for the ink when both simultaneouslyand separately, intermeshing gears on one side of the machine for driving oil to the upper portion of the casing associated therewith, a main drive shaft section extending through the casing, bearings for the main drive shaft rigidly supported by the casing to support the shaft section for rotation on a fixed axis, a bevel pinion in the casing secured on the shaft section, a bevel gear'in the casing and mounted for free rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder and in mesh with the bevel pinion, and means operable from outside the casing to drivingly connect and disconnect the bevel gear with the printing cylinder and the intermeshing gears in the casing, all .of the said bearings for the the several cylinders in timed relation, an oiltight casing enclosing the gears, and an oil circulating system having an outlet arranged to feed oil to the upper portion of the casing associated therewith, a main drive shaft section extending transversely through the casing, and bearings for the main drive shaft rigidly supported by the casing to support the shaft section for rotation on a fixed axis, the casing being interiorly formed to provide a path for and to guide 011 entering atwthe upper portion thereof over the gears and to belowthe bearingsof the drive shaft section, all of the form, printing and ink cylinders and shaft bearings being open into the casing to be lubricated .by the oil as it flows downwardly due to gravitythrough the casing over the gears therein.

10. In a printing machine, a printing unit having a form cylinder and a coasting printing cylinder, a bearing for the printing cylinder where by it will rotate on a fixed axis, a movable bearing for the form cylinder, whereby it may be moved away from the printing cylinder, an ink form, printing and ink cylinders, and the bevel gear and cylinder connecting means being open into the casing to be lubricated by the oil as it flows downwardly due to gravity through the casing over the intermeshing gears, the bevel pinion and the bevel gear.

8. In a printing machine, a printing unit having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, a bearing for the printing cylinder whereby it will rotate on a fixed axis, a movable bearing gar the form cylinder, whereby it may be moved away from the printing cylinder, an ink cylinder, bearings for the ink cylinder arranged to support the cylinder to rotate on a fixed axis and to reciprocate axially, an ink roller to transfer ink tem having an outlet arranged to feed oil to the upperportion of the casing and an inlet in communication with the bottom of the casing associated therewith, a main drive shaft section rotation on a fixed axis, a bevel gear inthe casing secured on the shaft section, a bevel gear in the casing and mounted for free: rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder and in mesh with the bevel pinion on the shaft section, the casing communication with the bottom of the casing associated therewith, a main drive shaft section extending through the casing, bearings for the main drive shaft rigidly supported by the casing to support the shaft section for rotation on a fixed axis, a bevel pinion in the casing secured being interiorly formed to provide a path for and to guide oil entering the upper portion thereof over the intermeshing and bevel gears and to 'below the bearings of the drive shaft section, and means operable from the outside of the casing, to drivingly connect and disconnect the bevel gear with the cylinder and the intermeshing gears in the casing.

11. In a printing machine, a printing unit having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, a bearing for the printing cylinder whereby it will rotate on a fixed axis, a movable bearing for the form cylinder, whereby it may be moved .away from the printing cylinder, an ink cylinder,

bearings for the ink cylinder arranged to support the cylinder to rotate on a fixed axis and to reciprocate axially, an ink roller to transferv ink from the ink cylinder to a form on a form cylinder, movable bearings for the ink roller whereby it may move with, and away from the form cylinder, means to move the movable bearings for the form cylinder and for the. ink roller both simultaneously and separately, intermeshing gears for driving the cylinders in timed relation, and an oil-tight casing enclosing the gears, and an oil circulating system having an outlet arranged to feed oil to the upper portion of the casing and an inlet in communication with the bottom of the casing associated therewith, a main drive shaft section extending transversely through the casing, bearingsfor the main drive shaft rigidly supported by the casing to support the shaft section for, rotation on a fixed axis, a bevel pinion in the casing secured on the shaft section, a bevel gear in the casing and mounted for free rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder and in mesh with the bevel pinion on the shaft section, and means to drivingly connect and disconnect the bevel gear with the cylinder and the intermeshing gears in the casing, the means being operable from the outside of the casing, the casing being interiorly formed to provide a path for and to guide oil entering the upper portion thereof over the intermeshing gears, the pinion and the gear, all of the form, printing and ink cylinders and shaft bearings and the bevel gear and cylinder connecting means being open into the casing to be lubricated by the oil guideddownwardly by the casing over the gears therein.

7 -12. In a printingmachine, a printing unit having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, a bearing for the printing cylinder whereby it will rotate on a fixed axis, a movable bearseveral'cylinders in timed relation, an oil-tight.

casing enclosing the gears, and an oil circulating systemhavinganoutletarrangedtofeedoilto the upper portion of the casing and an inlet in on the shaft section, a bevel gear in the casing and mounted for free rotation about the axis of the printing cylinder and in mesh with the bevel pinion on the shaft section, the casing being interiorly formed to provide a path for and to guide oil entering the upper portion'thereof over the intermeshing gears, the pinion and the gear, and means to drivingly connect and disconnect the bevel gear with the cylinder, and the intermeshing gears in the casing, the said means including a means operating spindle in axial alignment with the printing cylinder and extending outwardly through the casing to be actuated from 4 with the first bevel gear, and means to clutch the second bevel gear to a gear secured to one of the cylinders, the said means having an operating part extending outwardly through the casing.

14. In a printing machine, a plurality of coacting printing cylinders, intermeshing gears for driving the cylinders and secured thereto, an oiltight casing enclosing the gears, a drive shaft section extending through and being rotatably supported by the casing, to rotate on a fixed axis, a first bevel gear in the casing and secured on the shaft section, a second bevel gear in the casing and mounted to freely rotate about the axis of the said one of the cylinders and beingin mesh with the first bevel gear, and means to clutch the second bevel gear to a gear secured to one of the cylinders, the said means having an operating part extending outwardly through the casing, and the said shaft section with the first bevel gear thereon being removable axially from the casing.

15. In a printing machine, a plurality of coacting printing cylinders, intermeshing gears, for

driving the cylinders and secured thereto, an oilcasing and mounted to freely rotate about the axis of one of the cylinders and being in mesh with the first bevel gear, and means to clutch the second bevel gear to a spur gear secured to one of the cylinders, the said means including clutch surfaces between the second bevel gear and the spur gear, a clutch operating ring in the spur gear and having an inclined surface, a radially movable bar havin an inclined surface corresponding to that on the ring and positioned radially to the axis of the spur gear, and an operating spindle extending axially of the ringand adapted to move the bar radially, to engage the clutch and connect the second bevel gear with the spur gear, the said spindle extending through the casing for manipulation from the outside thereof.

16. In a multi-unit printing machine, a plurality of printing units, a main drive shaft adapted to drive all or the units, a plurality of main bevel gears on the main drive shaft, each of said printing units having a unit shaft rotatable to drive it and a unit bevel gear on said unit shaft and being-1n mesh with a main bevel gear, and a clutch member arranged to couple one o! the gears to its shaft, and to simultaneously press a unit gear and a main gear into pitch line engagement.

17. In a multi-unit printing machine, a plurality of units each having a unit shaft rotatable to drive it, a main shaft adapted to drive auor the units, a plurality of main bevel gears secured to the main shaft, a unit bevel gear rotatable on each unit shaft and being in mesh with a main bevel gear, and a clutch member movable axially of each unit shaft to couple its unit gear to its unit shaft; each of the said clutch members being arranged to press its unit gear into pitch line engagement with its main bevel gear when the clutch is engaged, and to relieve the pressure between the gears when it is disengaged.

18. In a printing machine having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, ink cylinders beside the form cylinder, an inking roller to transfer ink from each ink cylinder to the form cylinder. a gear connected to the form cylinder in mesh with a gear connected to the printing cylinder, a series of intermeshing gears drivingly connected to the form cylinder gear for driving each oi the ink cylinders, an oil-tight casing enclosing all of the gears, an oil circulating system arranged to carry oil to the upper portion oi the casing wherebyfgravity will cause the oil to flow downwardly through the casing, the casing being interiorly formed to provide a path for the oil entering its upper portion to direct the oil toward and onto the gears of each series and to the form cylinder gear. a

19. In sprinting machine having a form cylinder and a coacting printing cylinder, ink cylindersbeside the form cylinder, an inking roller to transfer ink from each ink cylinder to the form cylinder, a gear connected to the form cylinder in mesh with a gear connected to the printing cylinder, a series of intermeshing gears drivingly' connected to the form cylinder gear for driving each of the ink cylinders, a main'drive shaft section, a bevel pinion on the shaft section, a bevel gear in mesh wi h the pinion and adapted to be drivingly connected to the printing cylinder gear, an oil-tight casing enclosing all of the gears, including the bevel pinion, and through which the shaft section extends and in' which it is journaled, an oil circulating system adapted-to teed ,oil into the casing at its upper portion whereby gravity will cause the oil to flow downwardly through the casing, the casing being interiorly iormed to-provide a path for the oil entering at its top to direct it toward and onto the gears of each series, including the form cylinder gear and the bevel pinion and gear.

WILLIAM F. HUCK..

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