US2277724A

US2277724A - Apparatus for cleaning rolls

Info

Publication number: US2277724A
Application number: US179469A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Smith
Original assignee: Rapid Roller Co
Current assignee: Rapid Roller Co
Priority date: 1937-12-13
Filing date: 1937-12-13
Publication date: 1942-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1959-03-31

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. F. SMITH QM m APPARATUS FOR CLEANING IROLLS Filed Dec.

hfimmw M L- -.L H W M 3 R 1' 1 II I I I I HHLFMLIMF H H IHII II Illa". III I I I I I l l I IL 4 :LHHILI! ch31, 1m

m 1942- c. F. SMITH APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Dec. 13, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 5. CHARLES E SMITH March 31, 1942.

c. F. SMITH APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Dec. 13, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 VE" CHARLES E SMITH u M March 31 1 ,9452;

6;. E. SMITH 2,277,724

AEPARATIISS KERR CLEANING ROLLS Ei-Llied 15, 19.37

4 Sheets-$1196.11

CHARLES E SMITH &

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 one!) STAT,

ru'r orricr erratum FQR CLEANING ROLLS Charles F. Smith, Cicero, 11]., assignor to Rapid 11., a corporation of Illinois Roller 60., GhicagoJ 9 Claims.

the apparatus embodies a construction such as to enable the practice .of a novel cleansing method, to the end that the rolls may be rehabilitated and used again.

Rolls such as utilized in printing may be constructed of different materials, "for example, rubber, synthetic materials, vulcanized oil and glueeglycer-ine composition. These rolls are accurately finished within relatively close limits to predetermined diameters, and are provided with a highly polished surface for taking the ink.

could be safely used without injury to the roll was to simply wash the roll by hand with a cleaning fluid. Sincethe rolls have a high affinity for ink, the hand cleaning of the rolls was objectionable in that s to clean them thoroughly by hand; Also, the

various inks utilized caused the rolls to become sticky and tacky. Such a condition could 'not be eliminated by" the usual hand washing method.

Another condition of the roll which could not hand washing method was due to the glazing which formed on the roll due to its use. The only way the glaze could be removed was by a grinding or polishing operation on the'roll surface. 7 festly injurious to the roll, and in order to restore the roll, it became necessary to remove an amount of the roll material each time it was ground or polished. With repeated treatments of this nature, the smaller until reduced to such size that it was beyond the roll adjustments of the press and had to be discarded. l

The herein described invention proposes to overcome the di-fliculties and in the foregoing methods of cleaning inking rolls by providing improved apparatus of such construction as to enable the practice-of an entirely new method, whereby a roll may be thoroughly cleaned and rehabilitated, without injury, to the same condition as when new.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide apparatus for thoroughly cleaning the roll and restoring it to its original condition without in way injuring the roll surface or decreasing its diameter, whereby the life of the roll is materially increased.

A further object of the herein described invention is to provide be corrected by the apparatus for cleaning a roll, which is of such construction that any ink which it wasdifiicult if not impossible Such a procedure was maniroll became smaller and objections inherent Heretofore, the only cleaning method which penetrates the roll or has been absorbed during use will be brought to the surface during the cleaning operation and washed off, leaving the surface as smooth and velvety as originally, and with as great ailinity for the ink as when the roll was now.

A still further object of the invention isto provide roll cleaning apparatus of such construction that a plurality of different cleaning operations may be carried on'simultaneously.

Anotherobject of the herein described invention is to provide rollcleaning apparatus wherein my novel cleaning process may be carried out quickly and automatically without the aid of expensive skilled labor.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, it is proposed to provide -a chuck and adjustable tails'tock arrangement by means of which the roll to be cleaned may be supported and rotated about its longitudinal axis. Adjacently disposed to the roll thus mounted is an adjustable carriage arranged to be fed along the roll. This carriage has mounted thereon a pair of spaced idler rollers adapted to engage the roll surface as it is being rotated. Oneof these rollers is provided with a curved surface so that it will have a kneading action as it rolls over the roll surface. This kneading action of the roller will cause any ink which has penetrated or been absorbed by the roll material to come to the surface of the roll.

Disposed between the spaced rollers is a buffing disc of felt material which is arranged to bun the surface of the roll after it 'hasbeen kneaded by the kneading roller. Simultaneously with the buffing operation, a stream of cleaning fluid or solvent is played on the roll'surface. Thus, any ink which has been brought to the surface or may be disposed on the surface of the roll is acted upon by the cleaning fluid and buffed off by means of the bufiing wheel.

Following the bufiing operation as the carriage is moved along the roll, the other roller, which is termed a squeeze roller is passed over the surface of the ,roll. This roller is shaped to have a frusto-conical or tapered surface. The action of. this roller is to squeeze out the ink and cleaning fluid remaining on the roll, and leaves the surface clean and velvety.

The carriage, in addition to being arranged for longitudinal feed along the roll, is also arranged to permit its adjustment in a direction at right angles to the feed movement, so that the kneading and squeeze rollers, together with the bufiing wheel, may be moved towards and away from the roll being cleaned, thus enabling the cleaning of rolls of different diameters.

Other objects and features of the present invention will more fully appear from the detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of apparatus embodying the features of the herein described invention, parts being cut away to show the cooperative relationship of certain of the parts of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the apparatus showing the operative relationship between the cleaning instrumentalities and the roll, and also the arrangement for supplying cleaning fluid to the roll during cleaning operation, taken substantially on line I.IIIII of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in section to show the engagement of the various cleaning instrumentalities with the roll, and the manner in which the roll surface is affected thereby, taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially on line VV of Figure 3, to show the manner in which the carriage is mounted for sliding adjustment towards and away from the roll being cleaned; and

Figure 6 is a detail view in section, taken substantially on line VIVI of Figure 3, to show the mechanism for clutching and unclutching the carriage relative to its feed screw.

As shown on the drawings:

In general, the apparatus embodies a frame work, roll supporting structure, a carriage with the cleaning instrumentalities operatively mounted thereon, a carriage feeding mechanism, cleaning fluid supply system and power means for operating the apparatus.

The frame structure comprises spaced end frames I and H which are rearwardly-interconnected at their upper ends by means of an angle member I2. In the present instance, this angle member is integrally formed with the end frames. However. the angle member may be separately fabricated and have its ends secured in any appropriate manner to the end frames.

Forwardly disposed of the angle member I2 is a main guide rail I 3 of circular cross section having its ends respectively connected and supported in the end frames I0 and I I'.

The end frames are each forwardly extended at their upper ends to form confronting substantially semi-circular wall portions I4 and I5, the curved edges of these extensions being disposed downwardly and provided with inwardly extending arcuate peripheral flanges I6 and I 1 respectively along their curved edges.

The Wall portions I4 and I form a supporting structure for means whereby the roll to be cleaned may be rotatably supported. For this purpose, the extension walls I4 and I5 are interconnected by means of a pair of horizontally spaced guide rails I 8 and I9 having their ends secured in the wall extensions. These rails are in parallel relation and have slidably mounted thereon an adjustable tailstock generally indicated at 20.

This tailstock is of taining a spindle 2| 22. The spindle is means of the usual the usual construction conwhich supports a dead center longitudinally adjustable by hand wheel 23. The tailstock may be secured in adjusted position on the guide rails or ways I8 and I9 by means of a set screw as shown at 24.

Associated with the wall extension I4, there is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing 24 a chuck 25 which is arranged to be driven by means of a stepped driving pulley as shown at 26.

For driving the chuck, the stepped pulley 26 is connected through a belt 21 to a stepped pulley 28 which is interconnected and rotatably supported with a pulley 29 and sprocket wheel 30 upon a dead countershaft or spindle 3| supported on the end frame ID. The pulley 29 is in turn connected through a belt 32 to a driving pulley 33 on the drive shaft of an electric motor or other power means 34. This motor is supported on a suitable bracket 35 affixed to the end frame I0.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ink roll to be cleaned comprises a cylindrical body 36 which may be constructed of rubber, synthetic material, vulcanized oil, or other materials such as commonly employed in rollers of this type. The cylindrical body is mounted upon a centrally disposed elongate-axle 31 having its end portions projecting beyond the ends of the roll body. The inherent construction of the roll admits of its being easily supported in cleaning position. This is accomplished simply by supporting one end of the axle in the chuck, this end being gripped by the chuck jaws, while the other end is rotatably supported at its center on the tailstock center 22. With this arrangement the roll may be readily rotated in a manner similar to the workpiece in a lathe.

Secured to the top of the angular rail I2 is an elongate base plate 38 which cooperates with the guide rail I 3 to form guide ways for a carriage 39 supported thereon for sliding movement on the ways between the end frames I0 and II.

Adjustably supported on the carriage for movement in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the carriage along the ways I3 and 38 is a frame 40. This frame, as shown in Figure 5, is provided with a tongue portion 4| which disposed in and slidably associated with a groove 42. A screw 43 is rotatably connected at one end to the frame 40 and is in threaded engagement with a nut 44 which is integrally formed with the carriage 39. This screw may be actuated by means of a hand wheel 45 at its other end. By rotating the screw 43, the frame 40 may be adjustably shifted transversely of the carriage 39.

The end of the frame 40 which is opposite the end thereof that is connected to the screw 43 is shaped to form a combination hood 46 and support for the various cleaning instrumentalitles.

The hood 46 is formed by spaced side walls 4'! and 48 of generally sector shape, the curved edges of the walls being joined and interconnected by a curved wall 49. Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that this housing opens toward the ink roll supported in position to be cleaned.

Supported substantially at the center of the housing or hood 46 is a spindle 50 having its ends rotatably supported in suitable bearings 5| and 52 respectively formed in the

side walls

41 and 48 of the hood. The spindle 50 extends through a sleeve 53 inside the hood, this sleeve having one end abutting the inside of wall 41, and its other end formed with an abutment flange 54 which abuts the wall 48 of the hood. This sleeve is secured to the spindle in any appropriate manner and for this purpose a set screw 55 may be provided.

Intermediate the .ends .of the sleeve, the sleeve is threaded externally as -shownLat-"56 forassociation with a nut 51. The nut :1 and flange 54 serve as clamping members by means of which a plurality of .buffing discs 58 of felt or other suitable material may be clamped therebetween for rotation with the sleeve 53.

With the arrangement just described, the buffing discs and sleeve 53 form a bufiing wheel which may readily be removed as a unit from the hood housing, simply by loosening the set screw -55. With the set screw loosened, the spindle 50 may be withdrawn from its bearing supports and from the sleeve 53, whereupon the .bufiing wheel may readily be removed from the hood for replacing the bufilng discs or for any ether reason.

The walls 41 and 4,8 of the hood are respectively provided with oppositely extending stub shafts 59 and BB. These stub shafts extend outwardly from the walls to which they are secured. The shaft 59 has rotatably supported thereon a roller 3| having a transversely curved peripheral surface, as shown. The shaft BIlsuppOrts-a roller 52 having a frusto-conical surface. The roller is disposed on the shaft 60 with its larger end outermost. The rollers may be retained on their respective shafts in any desired manner. For this purpose it has been found convenient to provide the shaft with inwardly disposed abutment shoulders and secure the roller against removal from the shaft by means of a washer 63 disposed :betweenthe outer end of the roller and a cotter key 64 extending through theend of the shaft.

By reference :to Figure 4, it will be observed that the size of the rQllers 6!, B2, and the buffer Whe l 15.8 ar s cho e r lati o t eircente s f rotat on, th t e ments ma 1 e sa e t e c lin i b dy 36 o th p tin r l and act thereon simultaneously in a manner which will subsequently be described in .detail.

One end of the spindle it is provided with a sprocket Wheel ,55 which is connected through a chain drive 66 1to,a, sp ro,cket wheel .6] mountedon the driving shaft of an electric motor or other power means 68'. The motor 68 is supported on the frame so, and, of course, will be movable with the frame during any adjustment thereof ,on the carriage 39.

The carriage is arranged to be automatically fed along the ways [3 and "38. For thispurpose, a feed screw 69 is supported for rotativemovement in the end frames Ill and l I, and as shown in Figure 3 extends through a portion of the carriage frame 39. The screw does not, however, make threaded engagement with the carriage where it extends therethrough. Means will subseguently be described for establishing connection between the carriage and the feed screw. I

The feed screw is provided at one end with a sprocket wheel Ell which is connected by means of a chain 1! to the sprocket wheel 3%] on the countershaft 3 I.

In order to permit a more rapid adjustment of the carriage along its ways, independently of the feed screw. a clutch generally indicated at 'lZ is provided for making clutched and unclutched connection between the carriage and the feed screw.

As shown in detail in Figure 6, there is provided in connection with the carriage a cylindrical housing'lS which defines a socket M for receiving a spring l5 therein. This spring surrounds a rod 16 which is supported for longitudinal shifting movement.

This rod is supported 7 at one end of the housing by means of a plug 11 screwed into the open end of the housing socket, and at the other end the rod is provided with an end porti0n'18 of square cross section which is disposed in a square opening I9 in the bottom end .of the housing. The juncture of the square portion 18 with the round portion ofthe rod de fines an abutment shoulder against which a washer .BI .is pressed by virtue of its being engaged by one end of the spring. The other end of this spring engages the plug 11. The square portion"!!! terminates at its outer end in a sector nut '82 which is normally actuated by the sprin 7 5 into engagement with the threads of the feed screw 69. The outer end of the rod lfihas swivelly mounted thereon a hand wheel '83 by meansof which the rod may be longitudinally moved in such direction as to carry the sector nut 82 out of threaded engagement with the threads of the feed screw. The hand wheel carries a projecting lug 84 which is movable therewith and extends substantially parallel to the axis of the rod 16. The outer end of the lug 84 is adapted to be moved into and out of a suitable aperture disposed in the plug H. Thus, when the sector nut 82 is disengaged from the feed screw, the hand wheel 83 may be rotated to move the lug 84 to a position wherein its outer end will abut the outer surface of plug 11 and hold the rod 16 against longitudinal movement to carry the sector. nut into meshed relation with the feed screw. However, when it is desired to engage the sector nut with the feed screw, the hand wheel 83 may be rotated to a position wherein the .lug may pass into its aperture in the plug ll thus enabling movement of the rod under the influence of spring 15 to force the sector nut into meshed engegement with the feed screw.

By means of the clutch just described, the carriage may be released when desired for free movement on its ways independently of the feed screw. On the other hand, when the carriage is in desired position, the clutch may be actuated to bring the sector nut into engagement with the feed screw and by operating the feed screw the carriage will be fed automatically along its ways. During the cleaning of a roll by means of my improved method, a cleaning fluid is applied to the roll. This fluid may constitute any mixture which is-not injurious to the roll material. For example, mixtures which have been successfully used comprise kerosene and naptha, water and caustics, qand benzene and carbon tetrachloride.

A tank 585 for the cleaning fluid is supported on a depending frame structure 39, this frame structure being connected to and movablewith the carriage 39. Supported on the frame structure and having its inlet connected with the tank 85, is asuitable pump 8'1.

The outlet side of the pump is connected to a conduit -83 which conducts the fluid to a nozzle 89 where it may 'be discharged between the buffer-wheel and the roll.

In order that the fluid utilized in the cleaning operation may be returned to the tank 35 and used over again, a catch basin is providedbelow the-roll andthe cleaning instrumentalities. This tank is formed by a metal sheet 95 which is of arcuateform. The sheet '9!) is supported. at its ends on the flanges .15 and I? of the wall extensions and IS. The walls It and iii provide ends for the catch basin, and it-is preferable to make 'a fluid :tight joint between the sheet ;90 and the end walls. I-Iingedly connected to the outermost edge of the sheet 90 is a hinged cover 9! which may be swingably moved to a position extending over the roll and cleaning instrumentalities or may be swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 to afford ready access to the roll and permit its being easily removed and put into the device.

The cleaning fluid is returned through a conduit 92 having one end connected to the bottom of the catch basin, and its other end connected to the tank. At the point where the conduit 92 connects with the tank 85, it is desirable to provide a suitable filter as generally shown in dotted lines at 93, for cleaning the fluid before it re-enters the tank.

Although the pump 81 may, if desired, be driven by a separate electric motor or power means, in the present instance the pump is shown as being provided with a driving pulley 94 which is connected through a belt 95 to a drive pulley 96 on the drive shaft of the motor 68. Intermediate the

pulleys

94 and 96, the belt 95 may be trained over a pair of guide pulleys 91 and 98 which form a part of a belt tensioning device.

Since the supply conduit for the cleaning fluid is rigidly supported adjacent its nozzle end on the hood 46 by means of a bracket 99, it will be evident that the nozzle 99 will be moved with the hood as the carriage moves along its ways during the cleaning operation. Moreover, since the tank 85 moves with the carriage and the outlet conduit 92 is connected to the drain basin, it will be appreciated that the supply and return

conduits

88 and 92 respectively should be provided with flexible sections to permit free movement of the carriage and the frame 40 of the carriage structure.

The operation and method of my invention will now be described.

The roll which is to be cleaned is supported in the chuck and tailstock as shown in Figure 2. The rollers 6| and 62, and the bufling wheel 58 are then adjusted by means of the hand wheel 45 until the rollers are pressing into the roll cylinder and the bufiing Wheel is just in engagement with the surface of the roll cylinder. Having determined the proper adjustment of the cleaning instrumentalities with reference to the cylinder roll, the carriage is moved so that the roll 6| will start its operation at the extreme end, in this instance the right end of the roll when the cleaning operation is begun. The

motors

34 and 68 may then be started, and as soon as liquid is flowing from the nozzle 89, the clutch 12 may be actuated to connect the carriage to the automatic feed screw 69.

With the motors running, the roll will be rotated and the buffing wheel revolved. As the carriage moves along to carry the cleaning instrumentalities along the roll cylinder, the roll 6 I, which will be rotated by virtue of the rotation of the cylinder roll, will operate to knead the roll material and cause anyink which has penetrated the same or which has been absorbed to be brought to the surface.

Following the kneading action of the roller 6|, the buffer wheel will buff the surface of the roll cylinder and coact with the cleaning solution to remove any ink which may be thereon.

Following the bufling operation, the roller 62 moves over the roll surface and acts to squeeze out any remaining fluid thereon and dry the surface. This roller is also revolved by virtue of its engagement with the roll cylinder.

The foregoing steps of my improved method are automatically carried out in definite order as the cleaning of the roll progresses. The cleaning operation does not in any way injure the roll and leaves the roll perfectly cleaned with its surface in as smooth and velvety condition as originally.

As the roller 62 passes off the left end of the roll, the clutch 12 may be disengaged relative to the feed screw, whereupon the movement of the carriage is terminated. Should it be desired to repeat the cleaning operation on the roll, this may easily be accomplished by moving the carriage toward the right end of the apparatu and following the same procedure as previously explained. In some cases, it may only be necessary to perform one cleaning operation, whereas in cases where a roll has not been cleaned for a considerable time or due to the particular use to which it has been subjected, it may be necessary to repeat the operation several times before the roll is perfectly clean.

The use of the apparatus is not confined to any particular size roll, as it may be adjusted to not only take rolls of different length by varying the position of the tail stock, but may also be used with rolls of different diameters by properly adjusting the position of the cleaning instrumentalities by the hand wheel 45.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved method for the cleaning of rolls such as utilized in printing presses; novel apparatus for carrying out the steps of the method; a roll cleaning method which will thoroughly clean the roll and restore it to its original condition without in any way injurin the roll surface or decreasing its diameter, thu materially increasing the life of the roll; which effectively removes any ink which has penetrated or been absorbed by the roll; an apparatus wherein a plurality of different cleaning operations may be carried on simultaneously and in proper sequence to carry out the method of my invention; and in which the process may be carried out quickly and automatically without the aid of expensive skilled labor.

It is, of course, to be understood that although I have described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, the invention is not to be thus limited, but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for the reconditioning of rolls of resilient surface characteristics comprising means for rotating the roll about its longitudinal axis, a pair of spaced idler rollers, power driven buffer means disposed between said rollers, said rollers and buffer means being supported for unitary movement axially of the roll and engaging spaced portions of the roll surface which are substantially aligned longitudinally of the roll, and means for applying a cleansing fluid to said roll.

2. Apparatus for reconditioning a roll comprising means for supporting the roll, a buffer wheel disposed in surface engagement with the surface of the roll, means for rotating said buffer wheel, means for changing the surface on said roll engaged by said buffer wheel in a direction circumferentially of said roll, mean for changing the surface on said roll engaged by the buffer wheel in a direction axially of the roll, and means for supplying a stream of cleaning liquid between the roll and buffer wheel.

3. Apparatus for reconditioning a roll comprising means for rotatably supporting the roll, a buffer wheel disposed in surface engagement with the surface of the roll, means for rotating the roll and buffer wheel, means for feeding the buffer wheel in a direction axially of the roll, and. means movable with the feeding movement of the buffer wheel for applying a stream of cleaning fluid to the roll during the buffing operation.

4. In apparatus of the character described, means for supporting a roll having resilient surface characteristics, means for kneading the roll surface, means for applying a cleaning fluid to the surface of the roll, and means including an idler roller of frusto-conical shape for drying the roll.

5. Reconditioning apparatus for rolls comprising means for rotatably supporting a roll, a carriage supported for movement along said roll, a container for a cleaning fluid supported below the roll for movement with the carriage, means including a pumpfor applying fluid from the container in a stream to the roll surface, and means carried by said carriage for successively performing reconditioning operations on the roll surface as the carriage is moved along the roll.

6. Reconditioning apparatus for rolls comprising means for rotating a roll to be reconditioned, a carriage supported for independent movement along said roll, instrumentalities carried by said carriage for successively performing reconditioning operations on the roll surface as the carriage is moved along the roll, fluid nozzle means on the carriage for directing a fluid stream onto the roll surface, means for collecting said fluid including a tank carried by and movable with said carriage, and means for supplying fluid from the tank to said fluid nozzle means.

7. Reconditioning apparatus for rolls comprising means for rotating a roll to be reconditioned,

a carriage supported for independent movement along said roll, instrumentalities carried by said carriage for successively performing reconditioning operations on the roll surface as the carriage is moved along the roll, fluid nozzle means on the carriage for directing a fluid stream onto the roll surface, a catch basin for collecting the fluid from said roll, a storage tank carried by and movable with said carriage, said tank having a gravity flow connection from the catch basin, and means for elevating fluid from the tank to said nozzle means.

8. Reconditioning apparatus for rolls comprising means for rotating a roll to be reconditioned, a, carriage supported for independent movement along said roll, instrumentalities carried by said carriage for successively performing reconditioning operations on the roll surface as the carriage is moved along the roll, fluid nozzle means on the carriage for directing a fluid stream onto the roll surface, a catch basin for collecting the fluid from said roll, a storage tank carried by and movable with said carriage, said tank having a gravity flow path for fluid from the catch basin, fluid filtering means in said path, and means for elevating flltered fluid from the tank to said nozzle means.

9. Apparatus for the reconditioning of rolls of resilient surface characteristics comprising means for rotating the roll about its longitudinal axis, a pair of spaced idler presser rollers, power driven buffer means disposed between said rollers, a common carriage support for the presser rollers and buffer means, means for feeding the carriage to simultaneously move the presser rollers and buifer means longitudinally along the roll surface, and a single adjusting means for simultaneously moving the presser rollers and buffer means towards and away from the roll surface to vary their pressure thereagainst.

CHARLES F. SMITH.