US2301039A

US2301039A - Printing machine

Info

Publication number: US2301039A
Application number: US400181A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morris S Gudger
Original assignee: R Hoe and Co Inc
Current assignee: R Hoe and Co Inc
Priority date: 1941-06-28
Filing date: 1941-06-28
Publication date: 1942-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1959-11-03

Description

INav. 3, 1942. M; s, GUDGER 2,301,039

PRINTING MAGHINE f y Filed June 2s, 1'941 2 snails-sheet 2 ["0 kg mm INVENTOR /Vlarrls S Gudger:

w I ATTO NEY Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING MACHINE Morris S. Gudger, New York, N. Y., assigner to It. Hoe & Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 15 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines and more particularly to improvements in mechanism for rotating the fountain rollers of such machines.

, Printing plates carried by the plate cylinders of printing machines are commonly supplied with ink, and in the case of lithographie machines, with moistening fluid also, from suitably located fountains through the instrumentality of. fountain rollers rotating in fountains from which they pick up the ink or moisture. From these fountain rollers the ink is transferred by ductor rollers to a plurality of cooperating ink or moisture distributing rollers arranged in series, the last of which are in contact with the printing plates, to which the ink or moisture is supplied.

` The ink and moisture distributing rollers commonly rotate at the same surface speed` as the printing cylinders. Some of them are driven by the cylinder driving means, while others are driven by contact with .the driving rollers and with the printing plates on the cylinders. The

fountain rollers, however, are usually rotated at a relatively slow speed, and the ductor roller,

which transfers the ink from the fountain roller to the first ink roller must rotate at a slow speed when it is in contact with the fountain roller, and at a high speed when it is in contact with the first ink roller.` When the ductor roller is moved away from the ink roller, `which is rotating at high speed, it has considerable momentum,

and when it is moved into contact with the slowly moving fountain roller, it tends to move the latter at a much higher speed, which seriously interferes with the regulation of the ink supply by transferring a greater amount of ink to the ductor roller than is desired;` i

An object of the present invention is to provide means to prevent the overrunningof a fountain roller, and a driving mechanism for the fountain roller that will operate it at any desired speed within a desired range, and will maintain the speed substantially constant.

when such speed reduction is effected, will `be automatically released. v

It is also an object of this invention to pro vide a fountain roller driving and speed control mechanism of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and `arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein dis`A closed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

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

Figure l is a diagrammatic side View of a printing machine of a type with which mechanism having the features and principles of this invention, may be advantageously associated;

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken side View of a' portion of the printing machine shown in Figure l and showing the novel and improved fountain roller driving and speed control mechanism `of this invention applied to the moisture fountain,

' roller;

Figure 3 is a horizontal View partly broken away, with certain portions in section as seen on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and i Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the mechanism, taken mainly on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts through-,-` out the several views, and` especially to Figures l and 2, the reference numeral I I denotes a sheet, passing between a blanket cylinder I2 and an im' pression cylinder I3 of a rotary offset lithographic printing machine, to have impressions printed thereon. The blanket cylinder I2 receives impressions from a printing plate carried by a plate cylinder It and which has been moistened and inked in theusual manner.

Ink is supplied from an ink fountain I5 through the instrumentality of a fountain roller I1, which `is rotated therein, and a ductor roller I9 transfers the ink from the ink roller I1 to an ink distributing cylinder 26, from which it is transferred by a second ductor roller 2| to an ink distributing cylinder 21, which forms the first element of an inking system including rollers 23 and 24, rollers 23 being in contact with the printing plate and known as form rollers. Similarly, moisture is supplied from a moisture fountain I6 having a fountain roller I8 rotated therein, and a ductor roller 22 transfers the moistening fluid from the fountain roller I8 to a moisture distributing cylinder 28, which in turn, transfers the uid to rollers 25 that are in contact with the printing plate.

The ductor rollers I6 and 22 are arranged to rock upon shafts 29 and 3l respectively to al-V ternately engage the respective ink and moisture fountain rollers I1 and I8 and the respective ink and

moisture cylinders

26 and 28. When in engagement with the ink and

moisture cylinders

26 and 28 the ductor rollers I9 and 22 are given a rotative movement equal to that of these cylinders, which movement is faster than that at which the fountain rollers I1 and I6 are rotated. When the ductor rollers, rotating at this faster speed engage the fountain rollers, there is a tendency for the speed of the latter to be increased, which as hereinbefore explained, is objectionable.

To avoid this undesirable action, the ink and moisture fountain rollers I1 and I8 are preferably arranged to be rotated at a substantially constant predetermined speed. As the same or similar driving and speed control mechanism is contemplated for the ink fountain roll-er I1 as is employed for the moisture fountain roller I6, the mechanism operably associated with the moisture fountain roller I8 has been selected for descriptive purposes and is shown in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

As herein disclosed, means is provided to separately rotate each fountain roller at a constant and uniform predetermined speed, and includes electric motor 32 (Figure 3) preferably of fractional horsepower, which is connected through a known small variable speed mechanism enclosed within aV casing 33, to a known form of speed reducing gear device, Within a casing 34. The variable Speed mechanism is adjustable by means of a handwheel 35, projecting from the casing 34. An output shaft 36 of the speed reducing gear carries an externally screw threaded sleeve 31, which as herein shown, has triple threads 38. This sleeve is secured to the shaft end 36 by a key 3!)y (Figure 4), a washer 4I, a lock washer 42, and a screw 43. The threaded sleeve 31 is engaged by an internally and correspondingly threaded nut 44 formed integral with (or otherwise suitably secured to) one end of a short shaft 45 that is journaled in a ball bearing 46 in a side frame member 41 of the printing machine.

The other end of the short shaft 45 as herein shown has one member 49 of a sprocket type flexible coupling secured thereto by a key I and an end plate 52 secured to the shaft end by a screw 53. A similar coupling member 54 is secured to one end of the fountain roller shaft 55 by a key 56 and an end plate 51 secured to the shaft end by a screw 56. The two coupling members 49 and 54 are flexibly connected by the links of a chain 59. The coupling end of the fountain roller shaft 55 is journaled in a ball bearing 6I supported in a bracket 62 secured to the machine side frame member 41 by screws 63. The other end of the fountain roller shaft 55 is journaled in the other machine side frame mem-v ber 48 (Figure 3).

As best shown in Figure 4, a brake disc 64 is secured to the short shaft 45 by a key 65 in position to have an axially projecting annular rim 66 formed thereon, normally revolve freely and outl of engagement with a brake plate 61 secured to the frame member 41 by screws 68, when the motor 32 is rotating the fountain roller I8 at the desired speed. During such operation the cooperating threads 38 of the sleeve 31 and of the nut 44 constantly act to maintain the annular brake rim 66 out of braking engagement with the brake plate 61 and also form a driving connection between the motor 32 and the fountain roller I8.

Should the fountain roller be given an impetus when engaged by the ductor roller and its speed be increased, the nut 44 will ride along the threads 38 on the threaded sleeve 31 and draw the brake disc rim 66 against the brake plate 61, as shown in Figure 3. This braking action will immediately reduce the speed of the roller I8 to its normal speed as driven by the motor 32. When the tendency of the fountain roller to overrun has been checked and it is being driven by the motor, the nut 44 is automatically moved axially to release the rim 66 out of braking engagement with the plate 61. Provision is made in the mounting of the ball bearing 46 and in the coupling chain 59, to permit the small axial movement required to apply and release the brake member 64.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

What I claim is:

1. In a printing machine, a fountain, a fountain roller, means for continuously rotating the fountain roller, a brake for the fountain roller, and means to apply the brake if the fountain roller tends to rotate faster than it is being driven by the rotating means.`

2. In a printing machine, a fountain, a fountain roller, means for continuously rotating the fountain roller, a brake for the fountain roller, means to apply the brake if the fountain roller tends to rotate faster than it is being driven by the roller rotating means, and being operable by the roller rotating means to release the brake.

.3. In a printing machine, a fountain roller, a fountain, a driven shaft, means connecting the driven shaft to the roller to drive it, including a rst means rotatable with the shaft and cooperating with a second means rotatable with the roller, said first and second means being relatively rotatable, brake means rotatable with the roller and adapted to cooperate with a stationary part to apply a braking action to the roller when the first and second means rotate relatively to each other in one direction.

4. In a printing machine, a fountain, a rotatable fountain roller, a driven shaft, an axially movable brake member rotatable with the roller and adapted to engage a cooperating brake member, and cooperating means to drivingly connect the roller to the driven shaft and to axially move the brake member to apply a braking action on the roller when the roller speed exceeds that of the driven shaft.

5. In a printing machine, a fountain, a roller arranged to rotate in the fountain, a driven shaft, a brake member rotatable with the roller and adapted for axial movement into engagement with a stationary brake part and relatively rotatablc means drivingly connecting the driven shaft and the roller and adapted to maintain the brake member separated from the brake part when the shaft is driving the roller and to axially move the brake member to engage the brake part when the roller rotates faster than the driven shaft.

6. In a printing machine, a fountain, a fountain roller having a shaft, a kdriven shaft, a iirst brake member rotatable with one of the shafts and adapted for axial movement into engagement with a second brake member, and cooperating relatively rotatable means drivingly connecting the shafts and adapted to maintain the brake members separated when the shafts are rotating at substantially the same speed and to axially move the first brake member into engagement With the second one when the shaft with which the rst brake member rotates is rotating faster than the other shaft.

7. In a printing machine, a fountain, a fountain roller having a shaft, a driven shaft, a first brake member adapted for axial movement and being operably associated with one of the shafts to effect a braking action thereon when axially moved into engagement with a second brake member, and cooperating relatively rotatable means drivingly connecting the shafts and adapted to maintain the brake member out of braking engagement when the shafts are rotating at subM stantially the same speed and to axially move the first brake member into engagement with the second brake member when one shaft rotates faster than the other.

8. In a printing machine, a fountain, a fountain roller, means for rotating the fountain roller, a brake for the roller including an axially movable part, and means to axially move the brake part to apply the brake when the roller tends to rotate faster than it is normally driven by the rotating means.

9. In a printing machine, a fountain, a fountain roller, means for rotating the fountain roller, a brake for the roller including an axially movable part, means to axially move the brake part in one direction to apply the brake when the roller tends to rotate faster than it is normally driven by the rotating means, and being operable by the rotating means to axially move the brake part in the opposite direction when the speed of the roller is reduced to release the braking action.

10. In a printing machine, a fountain, a fountain roller, means for rotating the fountain roller, a brake for the roller including an axially movable part, and a threaded sleeve driven by the roller rotating means in cooperating relation with an interiorly threaded part to axially move the brake part to apply the brake when the roller tends to rotate faster than it is normally driven by the rotating means.

11. In a printing machine, a fountain roller adapted to rotate in a fountain, means to rotate the roller including a driven shaft, the roller having a shaft end extending therefrom, a short shaft between said driven shaft and the roller shaft, a exible coupling connecting the roller shaft to the short shaft and permitting slight axial movement of the latter, cooperating relatively rotatable and axially movable members respectively carried by the driven shaft and the short shaft to drivingly connect them, a brake for the roller having a part axially movable with the short shaft to engage a stationary brake part and adapted to be moved axially to apply the brake when one of the cooperating members rotates relatively to the other.

12. In aprinting machine, a fountain roller adapted to rotate in a fountain, means to rotate the roller including a driven shaft, the roller having a shaft end extending therefrom, -a short shaft between said driven shaft and the roller shaft, a flexible coupling connecting the roller shaft to the short shaft and permitting slight axial movement of the latter, a first brake member on the short shaft :adapted to move axially therewith into engagement with a second brake member to impose a braking action on the roller, a screw threaded sleeve on the driven shaft and a threaded nut on the short shaft, said sleeve and nut cooperating to drivingly connect the short shaft to the driven shaft and to axially move the first brake member into engagement with the second brake member when the roller tends to rotate faster than the driven shaft to apply a braking action thereto.

13. In a printing machine, a fountain having a fountain roller therein, driving means to rotate the fountain roller continuously at a predetermined speed, coupling means interposed between the driving means and the fountain roller, the said coupling means permitting a limited amount of lost motion between the driving means and the fountain roller, and braking means associated with the coupling means, the

said braking means being operable to apply a brake if the roller overruns the driving means.

14. In a printing machine, a fountain having a fountain roller therein, driving means to rotate the fountain roller continuously at a predetermined speed, coupling means interposed between the driving means and the fountain roller, the said coupling means permitting a limited amount of lost motion between the driving means :and the fountain roller, and braking means associated with the coupling means, the said braking means being operable to apply a brake if the roller overruns the driving means and to release the brake when the fountain roller is being rotated by the driving means. 15. In a printing machine, a rst inking roller, a second and rotating inking roller adapted to engage the first roller at intervals, means to continuously rotate the first roller at a constant predetermined speed, and means operable to apply a braking action to the first roller, should its rotating speed increase when it is engaged by the second roller.

16. In a printing machine, a rst inking roller, a second and rotating inking roller adapted to engage the nrst roller at intervals, means to continuously rotate the first roller at a constant predetermined speed, a brake operably connected to the rst roller to act thereon, and means operable by an increase in speed of the first roller, due to its engagement with the rotating second roller, to apply the brake.

MORRIS S. GUDGER.