US2369814A

US2369814A - Rotary printing press

Info

Publication number: US2369814A
Application number: US365575A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emory W Worthington
Original assignee: GOSS PRINTING PRESS CO Ltd
Current assignee: GOSS PRINTING PRESS Co; GOSS PRINTING PRESS CO Ltd
Priority date: 1940-11-14
Filing date: 1940-11-14
Publication date: 1945-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1962-02-20

Description

E. w. WORTHINGTON 2,369,814

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed. Nov. 14, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1945- E. w. WORTHINGTON 2,369,314

ROTARY PRINT ING PRES S 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY $1M 3M4. Z'rTYS Filed Nov. 14, 1940 1945- E. w. WORTHINGTON 2,369,314

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed Nov. 14, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR' Patented Feb. 20, 1945 2,369,814 ROTARY rnm'rmc PRESS Emory W; Worthington, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 14, 1940, Serial No. 365,575 7 Claims. (01.101-350) The present invention relates to novel and improved inking mechanism particularly adapted for use with high speed rotary printing presses.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumehtalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view of a typical and illustrative embodiment of the invention; 1

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of a bearing support for one end of the ink supplying and controlling roller; Figure 3 is a side elevation, with certain parts broken away, of an ink supplying andcontrolling roller in accordance with the present invention and its supporting bearings;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form of roller mounting in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a central fragmentary sectional view of the bearings which may be used in connection with the inking roller;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, with certain parts broken away, of a further form of inking roller in accordance with the present invention;

Figure '7 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a modified embodiment of the invention as applied to the inking of a rotary newspaper press; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the fountain and ink supplying and controlling rollers shown in Figure 7.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel and improved inking system particularly adapted for use with high speed rotary printing presses A further object of the invention is the provision of a rotary inking system in which there is a minimum number n of parts, which are of exceedingly simple con-' amount of mechanical vibration. The invention also provides an inking system which will produce umrorm inking at exceedingly mgn speeds and will hold color even at threading speeds without changes in adjustment. Still another obJect of the invention is the provision of an inking mechanism which requires only a small amount of power for its operation and in which the ink 18 supplied continuously from the fountain roller to the plate cylinder under accurate control without the excessive friction of those parts customarily bearing against the fountain rollers.

In accordance with the present invention and the illustrative embodiment, a fountain roller is slowly rotated in a fountain partially filled with ink to be supplied to ,the plate cylinder of a rotary printing press. Cooperating with the fountain roller but out of contact therewith is a roller for receiving ink from the'surface of the fountain roller and transmitting it to the ink distributing and form inking rollers and drums. The receiving roller also serves to accurately control the amount of ink fed to the distributing drums and inking rollers as well as to reduce the rate at which ink is fed so that a thin uniform film of ink may be maintained on the distributing drums and the form inking rollers notwithstanding the unusually thick film of ink which is picked up from the fountain by the fountain roller.

The roller for receiving ink from the fountain roller consists of a roller rotating at substantially the surface speed of the plate on the plate cylinder and if desired may be driven by frictional engagement with an inking roller which is driven frictionally from one of the ink distributing drums, but is preferably driven by gearing from the fountain roller or one of the ink drums. The surface of this roller capable of transferring ink is preferably greatly reduced and may comprise one or more relatively narrow helical ribs or hands raised above the surface of the roller, only the upper portion of these bands serving to contact with the inking roller and with the ink on the fountain roller and thereby to transfer ink to the ink distributing system.

For additionally controlling the amount of ink fed from the fountain to the plates, a gate knife is provided which may be variably positioned to vary the gap between it and the surface of the fountain roller, thereby serving to maintain constant the thickness of the substantial film of ink on the surface of the fountain roller. Means are also provided for regulating the degree of contact of the helical stripes with the relatively thick film of ink on the fountain roller, and for this purpose the roller may be mounted for free rotation in eccentric bearings so as to be movable towards and from the fountain roller, or the roller may be mounted in a pivoted fram on the fountain and the position of the roller accurately determined by shims which are positioned between one end of the pivoted frame.

Thu the invention makes possible the use of a relatively thick film of ink which can be easily controlled in thickness and the transfer of a limited amount of this ink film to a more rapidly moving ink distributing surface which works the ink into a thin film of uniform thickness for application to the printing plates.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well, are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings showing a typical and illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the invention is shown as applied to a highspeed rotary newspaper press. The ink fountain comprises 'a trough in extending from one side frame of the press to the other, in which is suitably journalled a fountain roller ll driven at a slow rate from the press so that its speed is proportional thereto. Means are provided for removing excess ink from the surface ofthe rotating fountain roller M to maintain constant the amount of ink thereon and the thickness of the film of ink on the fountain roller. As embodied, there is provided a flexible blade it which extends the length of the fountain roller it and is positioned to extend towards the roller above the surface of the ink in the fountain and on the side of the roller which is moving upwardly. This blade H is mounted on a support i3 extending from one of the fountain ends to the other and secured thereto, and adjusting screws it, preferably one for each col umn width of the roller are provided to contact with the upper surface of the blade l2 near its free edge and adjacent to the roller and press it towards the roller against the normal resiliency of the blade tending to move the blade away from the roller.

For receiving ink from the surface of the fountain roller H and transferring it to the ink distributing system a roller having a reduced peripheral surface is provided and is positioned for free rotation out of contact with the fountain roller but at a fixed minute distance therefrom. This roller may have a continuous surface in the I form of a narrow raised helical stripe, or it may comprise a plurality of elements raised above its surface, and is preferably variably positionable with respect to the fountain roller so as to vary the space between the surface of the raised helical ribs and the surface of the fountain roller, thereby varying the degree of immersion of these ribs in the film of ink carried by the rotating fountain roller.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the helically ribbed transfer roller 20 is mounted for rotation by means of eccentrically adjustable bearings at its shaft ends, and by rotation of these eccentrics the distance between the transfer roller 20 and the fountain roller H may be easily and accurately changed at will. Roller 20 is provided witha shaft 2|, the ends of which are rotatably supported in ball bearings 22 eccentrically seated in eccentrics 23, and each eccentric is provided with an interrupted flange 24 and ears 25. Each of the eccentrics is closely fitted into the frame members 26 mounted on the top of the fountain and at the ends of the roller, and the eccentrics are held against rotation by means of the cap screws 28 passing through the arcuate slots 28 in flange 24 and threaded into the frame members 26. Projecting from the frame members 26 and into the interruptions of the flange 26 are lugs 3| threaded to receive the set screws 32 which bear against the face of ears 25 and serve for the rotational adjustment of the eccentric after the cap screws 28 have been loosened, thereby giving an accurate, minute adjustment of the spacing of the roller 20 with respect to the fountain roller ll.

Figure 3 illustrates a preferred construction of the roller 20 and as there shown roller 2t comprises an axially alined tubular shell 35 formed with narrow helical ribs 36 which are raised slightly above the surface of the roller 2b. This tubular portion 35 is mounted on the shaft 20 by means of the cylindrical plugs 38 which are tightly fitted to the interior of the shell and may be keyed to the shaft by keys 3Q. Preferably, the tubular roller section is held against axial movement and this is accomplished by the set screws 44 which pass through the end plugs into contact with the shaft 2!.

Figures 4 and 6 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention in which the proper spacing of the transfer roller 20 from the fountain roller l I is accomplished by means of shims, and for this purpose the roller 2% is mounted by means of the shaft 25 in pivoted frame members 59). Each of the frame members 50 is pivoted on a shaft 5i extending longitudinally of the fountain and supported by lugs 52 projecting from the blade supporting member it, while at the forward ends these frame members it are apertured to receive a cap screw 55 threaded into the forward edge 56 of the fountain and spaced therefrom by means of the shims 5i. By varying the thickness of the shims between the forward end of the frame members 50 and the fountain edge 56, the correct spacing of the roller 253 from the fountain roller M is accomplished, and once the proper spacing has been ascertained, it need not be varied for a constant quality of ink and throughout wide variations in the setting of the blade if. I

Illustratively, the roller of Fig. 6 is shown as formed of a plurality of hollow, alined sections 35 mounted by their plugs 38 on the shaft 2!! and provided with a central bearing 40 which is secured to the shaft 2! by means of the taper collar 42 so that the bearing is seated in the cylindrical portion 43 of the central support it. The ends of the sections 35 preferably project over the ends of the cylindrical portion 43 to reduce the gap between the sections 35.

As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the various alined sections of the fountain roller 28 may be independently rotatable and their shafts 25 do not extend from one roller section into another roller section, and separate ball bearings til are provided for each roller section between the roller sections. Preferably, the ends El of shafts 25 are reduced and may be slid in and out of the inner race of their bearings 60 to facilitate removal of on or more individual roller sections, and as these roller sections are preferably of page width, the removal of any particular roller section silences the inking mechanism for that portion of the printing press.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the

inking mechanism of the present invention may conveniently be provided with page cut-off means to prevent the feeding of ink to any page width of the ink distributing drums, and for this purpose blades 18, each a page in width, are mounted on individual arms II which are pivotally mounted on pivots 12 near the rear edge of the fountain I8. Each of these arms is slotted as at 13 to receive the supporting head I4 of a thumb screw 15 threaded into the blade supports '18 and provided with a lock nut 11. In the raised position as shown the blade 18 does not interfere with the normal supply of ink to the press, but as these blades are lowered into contact with the ink on the surface of the roller I I, the thin film of ink on this roller is reduced so that it is not sufficiently thick to transfer to the ribs on roller 28. This apparatus is more fully illustrated and described in my copending application Serial Number 271,001,

Means are preferably provided for rotating the fountain roller II, the transfer roller 28' and th drum contacting transfer roller 88 at predetermined relative speeds. Transfer roller 28' and fountain roller I I are preferably geared together and, if desired, may be geared to the transfer roller 88 in frictional contact with the press driven ink distributing drum, and separate positiv drivare geared to cylinder 83 to be driven thereby,

and the form inking rollers 88, the transfer rollers 81 and the distributing rollers 88 are driven by frictional engagement with these various members, all in the conventional manner. Transfer roller 88 is preferably made of resilient material, like the other transfer and distributing

rollers

86, 81 and 88, and roller 88 bears against the distributing drum 85 with considerable pressure. At one end, roller 88 is provided with a pinion 98 which meshes with a double faced gear 9| driving the gear 92 on the end of the shaft or transfer roller 28', and this gear 92 also meshes with the double faced gear 94 driving gear 95 on the end of the fountain roller shaft so that the fountain roller II, which is driven at a very low speed by the press, drives the transfer roller 28' at an intermediate speed, and the transfer roller 88 is driven faster and at the same surface speed as the distributing drum 85, thereby gradually and continuously thinning the film of ink as it is trans-.

ferred to faster running rollers and finally to the distributing drum for thorough distribution and eventual application to the plates on printing cylinder 83.

Figures '7 and 8 also illustrate a modified form of transfer roller for applying interrupted patches of ink from the fountain roll II to the transfer roller 88, as distinguished from the narrow but continuous stripe of ink applied by the rollers of Figures 3 and 6. As embodied, roller 28' is formed with raised longitudinal portions 91, which extend from one end of the roller to the other,- and are separated from each other by the intervening portions 98 of reduced diameter. The difference in diameter between th portions 91 an 98 is sufficient to insure that the reduced po tions 98 do not contact with the film of ink on the fountain roller II, at the same time insuring good co tact between the portions 91 and that film of iii; Thus, longitudinal stripes or patches of ink are picked up by the surface of the transfer roller 28' and are transferred to the faster moving surface of the transfer roller 88, thereby supplying ink to the roller 88 and the upper portion of the inking mechanism once every several revolutions of the transfer roller 88.

As is usual with rotary ink distributing mechanisms, various of the

ink rollers

86, 81, 88 and the inking

drums

84 and 85 are reciprocated or vibrated during their rotation so that the ink is not only evenly distributed circumferentially of these various rotary members, but is also evenly distributed axially of these members, and whether the ink is applied in circumferentially interrupted patches or stripes, or is applied in a helical stripe, it will be uniformly mixed and distributed on the form rollers 86 for application to the printing plates by the time the ink has reached that point in the inking system. Also the speed of the fountain roller is greatly less than the speed of the web W, while the speed of the intermediate inking rollers is progressively increased from the fountain roller to the form rollers 86.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the inventibn and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. In an inking mechanism of the rotary, continuous feed type, the combination of a fountain roller, a doctor blade spaced therefrom to leave a substantial film on the roller, and a transfer roller having raised helical peripheral portions to receive ink from the fountain roller, said portions being oppositely inclined at the two ends of the rollers.

2. In an inking mechanism of the rotary, continuous feed type, the combination of a fountain roller, a doctor blade spaced therefrom to leave a substantial film on the roller, a transfer roller having a reduced peripheral surface to receive ink from the fountain roller, the peripheral surface of the transfer roller contacting the ink and not the fountain roller, an ink distributing drum, an ink roller in peripheral surface contact with the ink distributing drum and the transfer roller, and means for driving the transfer roller at a higher peripheral speed than the fountain roller.

3. An inking mechanism for rotary printing presses including in combination an ink fountain, having a fountain roller and a doctor blade spaced from the roller to leave a substantial film of ink on the roller, a transfer roller having the major portion of its surface cut away to leave raised peripheral portions, said peripheral portions contacting with the ink on the fountain roller but not bearing against the fountain roller, an ink distributing drum, and an ink roller in peripheral surface contact with the ink distributing drum and the peripheral portion of the transfer roller.

4. An inking mechanism for rotary printing presses including in combination an ink fountain having a fountain roller and a doctor blade spaced from the roller to leave a substantial film of ink on the roller, a transfer roller having the major portion of its surface cut away to leave raised helical peripheral portions, said transfer roller contacting with the ink on the fountain roller but not bearing against the fountain roller, an ink distributing drum driven from the printing press driving means, an ink roller in peripheral surface contact with the transfer roller and the ink distributing drum, and gearing interconnecting the ink roller and the transfer roller whereby the transfer roller is driven from the ink distributing drum.

5. An inking mechanism for rotary printing presses including in combination an ink fountain having a fountain roller and a doctor blade spaced from the roller to leave a substantial film of ink on the roller, a transfer roller having the major portion of its surface cut away to leave raised helical peripheral portions, said transfer roller contacting with the ink on the fountain roller but not bearing against the fountain roller, an ink distributing drum, an ink roller in peripheral contact with the ink drum and transfer roller, and means for driving the fountain roller at a slow speed, the ink roller at a fast speed and the transfer roller at an intermediate speed.

6. In an inking mechanism of the rotary, continuous feed type, the combination of a fountain roller, a doctor blade spaced therefrom to leave a substantial film on the roller, a transfer roller having raised peripheral portions contacting with the ink on the fountain roller but not bearing against the fountain roller and means for varying the distance between the peripheral surface of the fountain roller and the raised peripheral portions.

7. In an inking mechanism of the rotary, continuous feed type, the combination of a fountain roller, a doctor blade spaced therefrom to leave a substantial film on the roller, and a transfer roller having a reduced peripheral surface to receive ink, from the fountain roller, the peripheral surface of the transfer roller contacting the ink and not the fountain roller, and means for driving the transfer roller at a higher peripheral speed than the fountain roller.

EMORY W. WORTHINGTON.