US2409368A - Combined printing press and conveyer means - Google Patents

Description

M. LIPTON Oct. 15, 1946.

COMBINED PRINTING PRESS'AND CONVEYER MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1941 W M M ATTORNEYS r M. LIPTON Oct. 1 5, 1946.

COMBINED PRINTING PRESS AND CONVEYER MEANS Filed Nov. 29, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M a M' A TORNEYS llllIi ll FIIIIPI M: LIPTON COI BINED PRINTING PRESS AND CONVEYER MEANS Filed Nov.

mg 0 g 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. MOEEISL/PTOM Oct. 15, 1946. M, LIPTQN COMBINED PRINTING PRESS AND CONYEYER MEANS Filed Nov. 29, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. M02215 L IPTON.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 15, 1946 COMBINED PRINTING PRESS AND CONVEYER MEANS Morris Lipton, Rutherford, N. J assignor to Sun Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 29, 1941, Serial No. 420,948

Claims. 1

My invention relates to a conveyer means for transporting articles into, through and from a printing zone; more particularly, the aforesaid conveyer means comprises article-supporting chucks mounted on an intermittently movable disk and an endless conveyer movable step-bystep for receiving printed articles from the re spective chucks.

In accordance with my invention, a printing impression is applied by rolling contact to an article having a wall surface capable of resisting the thrust of the printing member without deformation.

Further in accordance with my invention, there is provided an intermittently movable disk with which is associated a plurality of duplicate chucks of novel construction, each of these chucks serving as a means for conveying an article through the printing zone of a printing press.

Further in accordance with my invention. a conveyer comprising an in .ermittently movable disk as referred to above is combined with an endless ccnveyer which receives the printed articles and transports them from the printing press.

Various other objects, advantages and tea tures of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the combined printing press and conveyer means, chuck construction, combined conveyers, features and arrangements of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view showing the combined printing press and conveyer means of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse, vertical sectional views, partly in elevation, taken on the respective lines 55 and 66 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view, partly in elevation, showing details of my novel chuck;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View, partly in elevation, taken on the line 8+8 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevational View, partly in section, showing features of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, P represents a suitable printing press which is herein shown as comprising a base I on which is journalled a blanket cylinder 2 carrying an arcuate rubber blanket 3. Disposed adjacent the blanket cylinder 2 and in driven relation with respect thereto is a plate cylinder 4 which carries a printing plate, not shown, to which ink is applied by any suitable inking arrangement, not shown.

A printing arrangement of the general character hereinbefore described is illustrated in a detailed manner in U. 8. Letters Patent to A. J. Ford, No. 1.092,830. More specifically, the aforesaid printing arrangement is of the type under present commercial production by the Rutherford Machinery Co. and known as a Tube printing machine.

I When the operating motor for the printing press P is energized, the blanket cylinder 2 is caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 1, at a desired constant speed. Responsive to the rotation of the blanket cylinder 2, the plate cylinder 4 rotates in a clockwise direction, Fig. l, to thereby apply an impression of the printing plate to the rubber blanket 3 once for each rotative cycle of the blanket cylinder 2, these impressions always being applied to the same area of said rubber blanket 3.

As shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, a shaft 5 is journalled in bearings 6 upstanding from an extension Ia of the aforesaid base i. Under the control of the known Geneva movement mechanism forming a part of the printing press, steps of rotative movement are applied to the shaft 5, each step of rotative movement, in the form of the invention herein shown, being through an angle of sixty degrees. Secured to one end of the shaft 5 is a disk which, with the form of the invention herein shown, carries six chucks C of duplicate character as hereinafter described.

Each of the chucks C comprises a plate 8 secured to the disk I by a pin 9 and a screw 9a, or

equivalent, Fig. 7. The plate 8 supports a member H) which extends at right angles to the plane of the disk I. The member It! carries two pairs of split collars H, I! and i2, 12, each collar being held ina desired adjusted position on the member iii by a locking screw it. Each of the aforesaid collars comprises a plane surface, the plane surfaces of the respective collars I l l I being located substantially at opposite sides or the member l3 and the plane surfaces of the respective collars I2, I2 being located in the same manner.

A screw I4 is threaded into the plane surface of each of the collars II, II and I2, I2, The screws I4 which are associated with the respective outer collars II and I2 secure bars I5 thereto, respectively, each bar I5 being provided with a. slot through which the attaching screw I4 extends and these slots preferably being elongated so that the pair of bars I5 may be adjusted transversely with respect to the member I!) while they are maintained in parallel relation with each other, Fig. '7. Each of the bars I5, when positioned as shown in Fig. 8, carries a metal roller I6 at the upper end thereof.

The screws I 4 which are associated with the respective inner collars II and I2 secure bars I! thereto, respectively, the bars I! being adjustably mounted in the same manner as described above with respect to the bars I5. The bars I I, when positioned as shown in Fig. 8, carry the respective metal rollers I8 at the upper ends thereof and said last named end of each of the bars I5 has an article-supporting member I9 secured thereto by screws 20.

As shown in Fig. 7, the member ID, between the chuck C and the plate 8, has secured thereto a split collar 2i which comprises a radial arm 22 having a passage within which is clamped the shank of a bolt 23 having a head 24.

The member I0, at the side of the chuck C opposite the arm 22, has secured thereto a split collar 25 in which is clamped one end of an arm 26 having a recess alined longitudinally with the aforesaid bolt 23. Disposed within this recess is an anti-friction structure 21, the rotatable element of which has secured thereto a disk 28 utilizable as hereinafter described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the base extension I a is shown as having a pair of members 29 secured thereto and projecting therefrom in parallel relation, these members 29 being disposed closely adiacent the periphery of the disk I, Fig. l. Carried by the upper member 29 are a pair of curved tracks 30, the upper ends of the tracks 30 terminating in the respective sleeves 3011 which are freely slidable on said upper member 29, each sleeve 30a being maintained in a desired adjusted position by a locking screw 30b. As shown in Fig. 1, the tracks 30 extend downwardly and terminate just short of the blanket cylinder 2.

Supported by the lower member 29 are a pair of .curved tracks 3| carrying, approximately midway between the ends thereof, the respective sleeves 3Ia which are freely slidable on said lower member 29, each sleeve 3Ia being maintained in a desired adjusted position by a locking screw 3| b. The tracks 3! extend upwardly and terminate just short of the blanket cylinder 2. In addition, the tracks 3I extend downwardly and terminate in a discharge position as hereinafter described.

In accordance with my invention, articles of any suitable character may receive printed impressions. In general, such articles are containers such as cans or bottles having side wall structures which receive the printing impressions and which are capable, inherently, of resisting the thrust of the printing member without becoming deformed. I have herein illustrated a bottle B as the article which receives the printing impression and. as the term bottle is used hereinafter in this specification and in the appended claims, it shall be understood that the same is generically descriptive of true bottles, cans, containers or the like.

In operation, the disk 'I rotates by sixty-degree steps in a clockwise direction, Fig. 1. As each chuck C remains stationary in a loading position L, Fig. 1, a bottle B is deposited by an operator on the four metal rollers I6 and I8 of that chuck C in the loading position. Each chuck 0 comprises a pair of the supporting members I9 which serve to prevent accidental or unintended dislocation of the bottle B from the rollers I6 and I8.

After a bottle B has been loaded onto a chuck C, the latter moves to an idle position I, Fig. 1, and then to the printing position P. While moving between the positions I and P, the bottle B is opposite the tracks 39 which should have been so adjusted on the upper member 29 that the vertical surfaces 3&0 are opposite the respective ends of the body of the bottle B. Accordingly, as the bottle moves from the position I toward the position P, the track surfaces 300 serve to prevent movement of the bottle from its chuck in case that action should tend to occur.

When the bottle B reaches the position P, it remains stationary in that position while the printing operation proceeds. While in the position P and as shown in Fig. 4, the surface or element of the bottle which faces the blanket cylinder 2 should be tangent with respect thereto and should extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of said blanket cylinder 2. The bottle is caused to take this proper position in its chuck C by adjustment previously effected on the chuck bars I5 and II.

The bottle B herein illustrated is one which has a conical body and, therefore, as shown in Fig. 7, it is necessary to open the set of bars I5, I! at the left to somewhat greater extent than the opening defined by the set of bars IE, IT at the right. This is accomplished by retracting the locking screws I3 of the collars H and II, adjusting these collars circumferentially, and longitudinally if necessary, of the member I0 to properly position said first named set of bars I5 and I I, and. then tightening said locking screws I3. Should adjustment be required of the set of bars I5, II at the right, Fig. '7, that operation may be effected in a manner similar to that described above. Further, if necessary or desirable, any or all of the screws I4 may be retracted whereupon any or all of the bars I5 and I1 may be adjusted with respect to the supporting collars therefor. After this has been done, the previously retracted screws I4 should be tightened.

Assuming that the chuck bars have been properly adjusted in the general manner described above, the bottle B, when in the printing position P, is supported as shown in Figs. 4 and 8. The timing is such that, soon after the bottle B takes this position, the printing blanket 3 of the blanket cylinder 2, which rotates constantly in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 1, engages the bottle and causes the same to rotate in a clockwise direction, Fig. 8. In so doing, the blanket 3 contacts with the entire outer surface of the body of the bottle B to thereby apply the printing representation thereto.

As will be observed from Fig. 8, the rollers IS and H3, in effect, form a cradle by which the bottle is supported while pressure and rotative movement is applied thereto by the blan ret 3. The glass wall structure of the bottle B is of such character that fracture or deformation does not occur as a result of the applied pressure from the blanket 3.

The bolt 23 and the disk 28 are positioned opposite the bottle bottom and top, respectively, so as to form stop surfaces preventing undesired longitudinal movement of the bottle while the printing operation proceeds. When the bottle is of conical shape as illustrated, the pressure of the printing blanket 3 causes the same to move from left to right, Fig. '7. In so doing, the neck of the bottle engages the freely rotatable disk 28 which effectively prevents further longitudinal movement of the bottle. With non-conical bottles, this action is not so important.

After the printing blanket 3 passes beyond the printing position, the chuck C containing the printed bottle is given two steps of movement by the disk I, the first step ending in the idle position I1 and the second step ending in the discharge position D. While moving from the position P to the position D, the bottle is retained in its chuck C by the vertical surfaces 3lc of the tracks 3! which are positioned in parallel relation with respect to the tracks 30 when the latter are positioned as described above.

It will be understood that the chucks C all have the same adjustments applied thereto for a given lot of duplicate bottles B each of which is to receive a printed impression. The disk 1 moves step-by-step in a clockwise direction, Fig. l, and, after each chuck arrives at the position L, a bottle is deposited therein. The loaded chuck then carries the bottle to the first idle position I, then to the printing position P, then to the second idle position I1, and then to the discharge position D where the bottle is removed from the chuck. Thereafter, the last named chuck moves to another idle position I2 and then returns to the loading position L.

With the form'of the invention herein disclosed, each bottle, as it is removed from its chuck at the discharge position D, is automatically passed onto a conveyer of a character hereinafter to be described.

As shown in Fig. 1, the base I supports a standard structure 33 and, in longitudinal alinement therewith, a U-shaped' bracket 34 rests upon the floor or other supporting surface. Suitably secured to the bracket 34 are the parallel upstanding standards 35, Fig. 2. The standard structure 33 and the standards 35 have secured .iereto in suitable manner a channel beam 35 extending generally in a horizontal direction.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, the channel beam 36, at the end thereof toward the right, Fig. 1, is shown as supporting a U- shaped bracket 3'! having vertical arms which form bearings for a horizontal shaft 38 carrying a gear wheel 59 at one end thereof. The gear wheel 55 meshes with a gear wheel 46, Fig. 4, which is carried by one end of a shaft 4| journalled in bearings formed in the aforesaid base extension is. The shaft 41, at the end thereof opposite the gear wheel 45, carries a sprocket wheel 42 which is disposed in the same vertical plane with a sprocket wheel 43 carried by the hereinbefore described shaft 5. An endless p et Chain 44 engaged by a tightener sprocket wheel 45, Fig. coacts with the sprocket Wheels 42 and 43.

A hereinbefore stated, the shaft is rotated in a step-by-step manner under the control of the printing press motor. The shaft 5, by the sprocket chain 44, rotates the shaft 4| insimilar fashion and, by the gear wheels 40 and 35, the

6 shaft 38 is rotated in step-by-step manner under the control of the shaft 4|.

As shown in Fig. 5, the shaft 38 carries a pair of sprocket wheels 4'5, 45 each of which comprises a member which is slidable in a slot 38a extending longitudinally of the shaft 38 whereby said sprocket wheels 46, 46 may be freely adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 35 in the manner hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the channel beam 35, at the end thereof toward the left, Fig. 1, is shown as supporting a second U-shaped bracket 41 having a base 41a which, as hereinafter described, is adjustable longitudinally of the channel beam 35, said bracket 41 having vertical arms which form bearings for a horizontal shaft 48. Carried by the shaft 48 are a pair of sprocket wheels 49, 49 each of which, the same as the aforesaid sprocket wheel 46 and 46, are splined to the shaft 48 whereby said sprocket wheels 49, 49 may be freely adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 48 in unison with the respective sprocket wheels 46, 46 as hereinafter described.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1, 4 and 6, the channel beam 35 supports third and fourth U- shaped brackets 56 and 5| which are disposed adjacent the respective brackets 31 and 41. Each of the brackets 56 and 51 carries a horizontal rod 52, these rods 52 serving as supports on which parallel channel members 53, 53 are freely movable for adjustment transversely of the conveyer.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, each end of each of the channel members 53, 53 carries a plate member 54 each of which terminates in a fork-shaped end 54a freely receivable in a groove formed in the periphery of the hub of the adjacent sprocket wheel 46 or 49.

In accordance with the invention, the brackets 4'2, 55 and 56 have a pair of parallel shafts 55, 55 journalled therein, these shafts being disposed outwardly of the respective channel members 53, 53. Each shaft 55 has a pair of arms 55 secured thereto for oscillatory movement therewith, these arms 55 being located closely adjacent the respective brackets 56 and 5!, Fig. 1. The upper end of each arm 56 is connected by a pair of links 51 with an ear 53a formed integrally with the adjacent channel member 53. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, each shaft 55 terminates in a worm wheel 58.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the channel member 36 is shown as having a plate 59 secured thereto, this plate 59, at opposite ends thereof, carrying the respective U-shaped brackets 66 in each of which is journalled a shaft 5! having a hand wheel 62 secured to one end thereof, said shaft 5|, intermediate its ends, carrying a worm gear 63 which meshes with the adjacent worm wheel 58. The plate 59, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, has two pairs of blocks 54 and 65 secured thereto by screws 65, or equivalent. The blocks 64 extend above the upper level of the plate 59 and each block 54 carries a screw 51, the screws 61 being threaded, respectively, into passages provided therefor in the above described base 41a of the bracket 41.

The sprocket wheels 46, 46 and 49, 49 are longitudinally alined in pairs for the reception of the endless sprocket chains 58 and 68, respectively. In order to prevent the upper spans of the chains 58, 66 from sagging, bars 69, 59 are secured to the upper surfaces of the respective channel members 53, 53 by bolts 15. Similarly, to prevent the lower spans of the chains 68, 68

from sagging, supporting angle members H are secured to the lower surfaces of the channel members 53 and 53, the angle members H carrying the angle members 12 and 12, the lower horizontal surfaces of which are engaged by bottle-supporting members carried by the respective sprocket chains a hereinafter more particularly described. It will be understood that the bars 69, 69 together with the angle members 12, 12 extend substantially the entire distance between the pairs of sprocket wheels 45, 45 and 49, 69.

In view of the foregoin description, it will be understood that the conveyer mechanism of my invention consists of two duplicate assemblies, each of which comprises a channel member 53, sprocket wheels 45 and 49, a sprocket chain 68 together with the sag-preventing supports for the upper and lower spans thereof. Further, these assemblies are freely movable toward or from each other by reason of the fact, first, that the sprocket wheels 46 and 39 are freely movable longitudinally of the respective shafts 38 and 48 and, second, that the channel members 53, 53 are freely movable on and with respect to their supporting rods 52.

In order to move one of the aforesaid assemblies with respect to the other assembly, the operator rotates that hand wheel 62 which is associated with the assembly to be moved to thereby rotate the associated shaft 55 by energy transmitted thereto through the intermeshed gear wheels 58 and 53. As a result, the arms 55 are moved either clockwise or counter-clockwise, Fig. 6, depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand wheel 62, to thereby move the channel member 53 either toward or from the other channel member 53. Obviously, the other assembly may be adjusted either toward or from the first named assembly by effecting movement of its hand wheel 62 in the proper direction. In this manner, the sprocket chains 68, 68 are positioned a desired distance from each other.

The sprocket chains 68, 68 may be tightened or loosened as desired by rotating the screws 6'1 in the proper direction, these screws coacting with the bracket base 41a whereby the bracket 41 and the pair of sprocket wheels carried thereby are moved either from or toward the other pair of sprocket wheels.

As indicated particularly in Fig. 9, each third link of each of the sprocket chains 68, 58 comprises an outwardly extending supporting member E3 to which, by screws or the like 14, is secured a V-shaped member having a tube 16 formed from rubber or the like on each leg thereof. As indicated in Fig. 4, the members 15 on the two sprocket chains 68, 68 are alined in pairs transversely of the machine.

In accordance with the invention, the conveyer comprising the chains 68, 68 is so positioned that the pairs of members 15 pass beneath the discharge position D as the upper spans of the sprocket chains move step-by-step from right to left, Fig. 1. Further, the timing is such that each transversely alined pair of the members 15 arrives at the position D at the same time as a chuck C. As shown in Figs. 1 and 9, the tracks 3i terminate at the position D in such manner that a bottle 13 drops from the chuck with which it has been associated and comes to rest upon a pair .of the transversely alined members 15 as the latter come to rest in said position D. In response to the next succeeding steps of the disk 1 and the conveyer chains 68 and 68, the bottle B which has just been deposited on said last named members 15 moves one step on its journey from right to left, Figs. 1 and 9, and the next pair of transversely alined members 15 move into the position D and receive a bottle B from the following chuck on the disk 8. In this manner, the bottles which receive printing impressions in the printing zone are removed individually from the chucks and deposited upon the conveyer chains 63 and 68, the latter serving to move the bottles from right to left, Fig. 1, so that an operator may conveniently remove and dispose of them as desired.

It will be understood that the hereinbefore described assemblies each of which comprises a channel member 53, sprocket wheels 46 and 49 and a sprocket chain 68 are transversely adjustable so that the V-shaped members 15 will arrive at the position D in proper relation with respect to each other and with respect to a bottle B as it descends from its chuck so that said bottle will be properly supported for movement from right to left, Fig. 1.

From a consideration of Fig. 6, it will be understood that the rubber tubes 16 associated with the V-shaped members 15 rest upon the angle members 12 to prevent sag of the lower spans of the sprocket chains 86, 86 as such lower spans move from left to right, Fig. 1.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A chuck for supporting a bottle in a printing position, said chuck comprising a supporting member, pairs of side-by-side collars secured to said supporting member, arms secured to the respective collars and cooperating to form a pocket for said bottle, and means operable at will whereby said collars may be adjusted circumferentially of said supporting member.

2. A chuck for supporting a bottle in a printing position, said chuck comprising a supporting member, pairs of side-by-side collars secured to said supporting member, arms secured to the respective collars and cooperating to form a pocket for said bottle, rollers carried by the respective arms for engagement with the exterior surface of said bottle, and means operable at will whereby said collars may be adjusted ciroumferentially of said supporting member to thereby vary the dimensions of said pocket.

3. The combination in a printing press with the printing cylinder and the thereby carried printing blanket, and means for continuously rotating said cylinder, of means coactable with the exterior surface of a bottle for rotatably supporting the same in a printing position, said bottle being engaged and rotated solely by said printing blanket during rotation of said printing cylinder to thereby apply the printing impression.

4. The combination in a printing press with the printing cylinder and the thereby-carried printing blanket, and means for continuously rotating said cylinder, of means coactable with the exterior surface of a bottle for rotatably supporting the same in a printing position, said last named means comprising pairs of arms disposed adjacent the respective opposite ends of and forming a pocket for the bottle, and rollers carried by the respective rams for direct engagement with the bottle, said bottle being engaged and rotated solely by said printing blanket during rotation of said printing cylinder to thereby apply the printing impression.

5. The combination in a printing press with the printing cylinder and the thereby-carried blanket, and means for continuously rotating said cylinder, of a support, means carried by said support and coactable with the exterior surface of a bottle for rotatably supporting the same in a printing position, said bottle being engaged and rotated solely by said printing blanket during rotation of said printing cylinder to thereby apply the printing impression, and means timed With the printing press for moving said support into and from the printing position.

6. In combination, a printing press having a printing cylinder on which a printing blanket is disposed, means for continuously rotating said cylinder, rotatable means for carrying bottles in succession to a printing position adjacent said cylinder and then to a discharge position, said printing blanket, during rotation of said printing cylinder, engaging, rotating and applying the printing impression to each bottle, each bottle, during the operation specified, being rotated solely by said printing cylinder, and a conveyer timed with said rotatable means for transporting the 10 porting the bottles in succession from said discharge position.

8. In combination, a printing press having a printing cylinder on which a printing blanket is disposed, means for continuously rotating said cylinder, rotatable means movable step-by-step for carrying bottles in succession to a printing position adjacent said cylinder and then to a discharge position, said rotatable means being journaled on an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said printing cylinder, said printing blanket, during rotation of said printing cylinder, engaging, rotating and applying the printing impression to each bottle, each bottle, during the operation specified, being rotated solely by said printing cylinder, and a conveyer movable step-bystep and timed with said rotatable means for transporting the bottles in succession from said discharge position.

9. A chuck for supporting a bottle in a printing position, said chuck comprisin a supporting member, pairs of arms extending from said supporting member in diverging relation and cooperating With each other to form a pocket in which a bottle is adapted to be received, rollers carried by the respective arms for engagement with the exterior surface of said bottle, and means operable at will whereby the extent of divergence between the arms of each pair of arms may be changed.

10. A chuck for supporting a bottle in a printing position, said chuck comprising a supporting member, pairs of arms extending from said supporting member in diverging relation and cooperating with each other to form a pocket in which a bottle is adapted to be received, rollers carried by the respective arms for engagement with the exterior surface of said bottle, and means comprising bottle-engaging members eifective at the respective ends of said bottle for preventing longitudinal movement thereof while it is supported on said rollers, said bottle-engaging members being spaced from said arms and the respective rollers carried thereby.

MORRIS LIPTON.

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