US2625099A - Adjustable work supporting member - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1953 L. T. COOKSON ADJUSTABLE WORK SUPPORTING MEMBER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1945 LEONARD T.

BY ATTORNEY L. T. cooKsoN ADJUSTABLE WORK SUPPORTING MEMBER Jan. 13, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1945 w B 0 0 S Y M "J 4 n a Km u m O R f I m XA\ Cm /A 8 0w. 9 W v A n 3 fiU W /7 v n m a \m m 3 Q 7 y a a I Q E 7 4 a |\A 9 s ffllx: p, 4 4: HI 87w !U z 4 z w. 9 0 54a 9 L 4 a V q 6 k E .7 2 Q E 3 9 2 c a. u .2 Ma a a 9 I. 1 6 3 6 5 2 6 Patented Jan. 13, 1953 I 2,625,099 ADJUSTABLE WORK SUPPORTING MEMBER Leonard T. Cooksom, Kalamaz00,,Mich., assignor to lThe Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich a corpo a ion of Michi Application October 17, 1945, Serial No. 622,745

2 Claims.

This invention is concerned with an. improved device for transferring printed matter directly upon rounded or cylindrical glass objects, such as a pharmaceutical ampoule and particularly to adjustable means therein for holding said objects.

A principal object of this invention is to pro.- vide a device for the direct printing of small cylindrical articles such as glass ampoules for therapeutic use, which device includes an improved means for holding such articles in the desired degree of cooperation with, a printing roller, such means being manually adjustable to accommodate various sizes thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for evenly distributing ink onto a pr nting o ler- A still further object ofthis invention is to provide an improved means for inking a printing roller, whereby small ink applying rollers used interaxially to transfer ink from the ink spreading roller to the printing; roller, are maintained in cooperation with the said adjoining rollers by a simplified and improved manually adjustable device.

In the accompanying drawing the reference n mb s refer to s milar pa ts in. the difierent views, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the. line I I of F gure Fig re 3 s a cro sectional view taken on. the line III-.III of Figure 1 Y Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line Iv -IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line V-V of' Figure 1 showing part of the platform adjusting mechen i Figure 6 is a section, taken on. line.- VI -VI. of Figure 1 show other p a orm, adjust ng mechanism.

Figure 7 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line VII VIIw in Figure 2..

Figure 8 is a section taken on. the line lZIII-I-VIII of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line IX-IX of Figure 8. a The present invention, pertains especially to that class of printing presses wherein; an offset printing roller contacts a cylindrical lass Object and transfers an inscription or other marking thereupon. Such a press is shown in. th various views of the accompanying drawings, wherein a series of rollers are supported by side frame members, i is d s r e o sai roll rs. and, is transmitt d through. suitable means. to; cy indrical glass object held by a novel adjustable support.

In an illustrative device wherein the present invention is applied, a base A supports a pair of side frame members B and C.

A pair of ink receiving rollers l and la and supporting shafts are journalled in bearings 2 supported by blocks 3 which are suitably supported by the side frame members so that the rollers are revoluble but do not reciprocate axially. An ink distributing roller 6 contacts the receiving rollers l and la and acts to spread the ink smoothly onto the next rollers. This distributing rollers is fitted with a mechanism for the even spreading of ink thereon. In this mechanism, the shaft 1 of the roller 6 is journalled in bearings 8 and 9, so that one end l0 moves freely axially and the other end I! is passed through the center of an otherwise solid wheel !2 which has a circumscribed transversely scored channel I3. A solid boss 14 supports a downwardly extending guide roller l5 which fits into the scored portion l3 of the wheel. This roller being-on a stationary mounting, remains a constant distance from the side frame C of the press. so that as. the wheel l2 rotates the guide roller [5 remains inthe scored track l3 and causes the wheel l2 and the shaft 1 to reciprocate; along'the axis of said shaft I. This motion is transmitted to the ink distributing; roller 6 and produces a rubbing effect between the surfaces of it and the ink receiving rollers l and la. These combined movements of rotation and horizontal rubbing cause an evendistribution of ink between the two rollers and a minimum of streaking thereon. Any suitable means are provided so that the. distributing roller 8 will follow the horizontal action of the shaft 1 without slippage.

A pair of ink applying rollers l9 and 19a move in cooperation with the distributing roller 6v and a type carrying roller 20, and are fitted with a manually controlled means so that the surfaces of the respective rollers l9 and, I9a. are easily adjusted to the desired degree of cooperation with the rollers 6 and 23. The ink applying rollers l9 and [9a are supported on. shafts which extend through suitable openings in the side frame members B and C, and are journalled in bearings 2| mounted on the inner side of blocks 23. These blocks are grooved and fitted to slide on guides 24a. of the holder 24 as shown in detail in Figures 1 and 3. A thumb screw 26 held by the crossbar l1, threaded into a collar on the side of said cross-bar and bearing against the said block 23, is provided for the purpose of; manual adjustment of said block and by it moves the ink applying roller l9 along the guides 24a of the holder 24. It acts against a force imparted to the block 23 by a spring 21 supported by the holder 24. Thus this roller supporting block is movable along a line which passes through the geometrical centers of both the ink applying roller l9 and the distributing roller 6 and can be manually adjusted along that line to the desired degree of cooperation with the distributing roller 6.

Adjustment to place the ink applying roller IS in the desirabl relationship with the type carrying roller is provided by a screw acting on the side of the holder 26 (Figures 8 and 9). Movement of this screw will cause the holder 24 to move laterally and thus cause it to follow an arcuate path about the axis of the roller 6. This screw is threaded through a support 3! immovably mounted on a wing shaped arm 32 which is, in turn, supported by and parallel to the side frame member B in any convenient manner as by studs of which-one is indicated at 33. It acts against a tension exerted upon the holder 24 by a spring 34 connected to the tip of the arm 32 by a hook end and to the outwardly extending end of the holder 2 1 by a loop connection 36 fitted onto a stud bolt 3! (Figure 9). After first being adjusted along a line comprising an extended radius of roller 6 to bring the roller l9 into cooperation with the ink distributing roller 6, lateral adjustment may be made and the. ink applying roller 19 moved arouately around the axis of roller 6 and thus brought into any desired cooperation with the type roller 26. justing the roller lSa. Further similar means are provided for supporting and adjusting the other ends of both ink applying rollers.

Thus, it can readily be seen that fine adjustments of thes ink applying rollers can be made easily by a mechanism which is of convenient construction, is readily available to the operator, has few movable parts and requires a minimum of maintenance.

Ink is transferred directly from the type roller 20 to the offset printing roller 39, both of which are journalled in conventional roller bearings 40 and Al mounted on respectively adjacent parts of the side frame members B and C. The olfset roller 39 is mounted on cantilevers 9i and 92, and may be provided with a standard inch adjustment along a plane passing through the respective axes of said oiiset roller 39 and the type roller 20 by conventional means not shown) The ofi'set roller is driven by any conventional positiv means, as a train of gears of which one is partially shown at 83.

A motor 42 provides a convenient source of rotary power and is connected to the type roller 20 through any suitable means which may include a chain 45 and sprocket 9:3. This drives the shaft mounting the roller 2t and through it the gears 46, 41 and 48. These are connected to the several rollers by direct screw connections shown at two points 59 and and impart desired rotation to all rollers.

The oifset roller 39 is fitted with a conventional applicator 5 I, the surface of which is raised somewhat above the surface of the roller. One inscription is printed on each revolution of the roller, the ampoule or similar object being replaced each time by hand. This applicator E3! is removable for repair or replacement. When the printing applicator 5| of the offset roller 39 is directed downwardly it comes into contact with Similar means are provided for likewise ad- 4 and prints directly upon the cylindrical glass object to be printed, such as an ampoule 52.

This ampoule, or similar object, is held longitudinally between two pairs of rollers 53 and 53a (Figure l) at one end and and 65a (Figure 7) at the other end, which are constructed of a suitable resilient material, such as hard rubber, which will compress under th pressure of the printing roller sufiiciently to protect the glass object from breakage, yet which is sufficiently firm to hold the glass object without slipping. The two rollers 53 and 53a are separately journalled in suitable bearings mounted on the housing 55, which is immovably supported by a platform 58 by any convenient means, as the bolt and nut assembly 86 (Figure 2). The two rollers 65 and 65a are constructed similarly to the rollers 53 and 53a and are rotatably mounted in a movable support 54. This support (Figure 7) has a base part 66 and side recesses 6'! and 6B. The base 65 is received in a groove 59 and held therein for sliding across the platform 56 by the guides it and H supported on spacers l2 and 13.

To provid for variations in the length of the ampoules, or similar objects being printed, the movable sets of rollers 65 and 65a may be moved axially toward or away from the corresponding axially immovable rollers 53 and 53a. A hand wheel 52 (Figure 2) directly operates a screw shaft 63 which extends through an internally threaded opening 64 of the support 54 and efiects movement of this support horizontally. This shaft is supported at its one end by a bearing 82 in the support 55 and at its other end by the bearing 83 in the block 84 which is supported by the platform 58 and held in position with respect thereto by the bolt and nut assembly 85.

A part 74 (Figure 6) of this platformextending through an opening 11 in a front guide plate '18 has an internally threaded opening 15 which receives therein a correspondingly threaded shaft 58. This is turned by a hand crank 59 (Figures 1 and 5) operating through the bevel gears 69 and 1B. As the screw shaft 58 revolves, the platform 55 is raised or lowered to accommodate the desired size of ampoule and this movement is suitably guided by the guides 19 and 86 (Figure 6) acting against the vertical slide at thereof. The range of the apparatus here specifically shown extends from the illustrative ampoule 52 shown to the smallest as shown in dotted lines 61. The rollers 53, 53a, 65 and 65a will be replaced by others of size appropriate to the platform height and the size of ampoul being handled. Further variation in ampoule size is permitted by only moderate change in the size and/or shape of the roller supporting parts.

In operation the motor 22 acting through the above described chain and gears rotates the various rollers by which ink applied to each of the ink receiving rollers l and la is ultimately spread in'a smooth and even coating onto the ink applying rollers l9 and Wet. The type roller 20 is inked by contact with said inking roller 19 and in the known manner of offset printing transfers the impression onto the applicator 5| of the offset roller 39.

By suitably selecting the ampoule supporting rollers of a size appropriate to the ampoule which is to be printed and rotating the hand crank 59 and/or the hand wheel 62, the ampoule carrying rollers are adjusted in such a manner that the ampoule will be contacted by the offset roller 39 with the proper printing pressure but itwlll be cleared by all other parts of said offset roller. Since the ampoule supporting rollers are open for free access thereto from three sides it will be easy for an operator to remove each ampoule as it is printed and place a new one in position for printin with each rotation of the offset roller. When it is desired to print an ampoule of a different size, adjustment for same may quickly be made. If an ampoule of different diameter is to be used the crank 59 is operated to raise or lower the platform 56 and thereby the supporting rollers. To adjust the supports for variations in length of the ampoule it will be equally easy to rotate the hand wheel 62 to move the support 54 and the rollers carried thereby toward or away from the fixed sup-port 55 and the rollers 53 and 53a carried thereon. It will be necessary to change the rollers themselves and their supporting blocks only when extremely wide variations in ampoule size are to be made, and even then the change can be made quite readily. For changing the movable support 54 it is necessary only to loosen the bolt and nut assembly 85, withdraw the threaded screw shaft 63 and withdraw the said support. The immovable cradle 55 may be removed for replacement by one of a different size merely by removing the nut from the nut and bolt assembly 86 and withdrawing the support 55 as soon as the screw shaft 63 is removed therefrom. Because of the free access available to these rollers and the roller supports this will be a relatively easy operation.

Accordingly, I have disclosed and described an ampoule printing machine which is sufficiently like prior known printing devices of its general type that workers familiar with the formerly known kinds will have no difficulty in operating my improved printer and one in which there is provided great flexibility in its adjustment for receiving ampoules of different sizes. Thus, the machine can be freely used to print ampoules of many different sizes within only a short period of time and at lower expense even though only a few of each size are involved.

Various modifications of my printer will be apparent to those acquainted with equipment of this type but all of such modifications will be included within the scope of my hereinafter appended claims, excepting as such claims by their own terms expressly provided otherwise.

I claim:

1. In a machine for printing on cylindrical articles, such as an ampoule for therapeutic use, adjustable means holding said cylindrical article in print receiving position under a printing roll, the improvement comprising: a vertically guided platform having a threaded opening therein; a selectively rotatable threaded member within said threaded opening whereby rotation of said member will move said platform vertically in a selected direction; fixed means on said paltform supporting a pair of spaced rollers whose axes are parallel with and equidistant from the axis of said printing roll; an elongated groove in said platform aligned parallel with the axis of said printing roll; a threaded shaft spaced from and parallel with said groove; movable means received within said groove and having a threaded opening therein receiving said shaft; a pair of spaced rollers mounted upon said movable means, the axes of said rollers being parallel with and equidistant from the axis of said printing roll; means operable for manual rotation of said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft will move said movable means longitudinally within said groove toward and away from said fixed means.

2. In a machine for printing on cylindrical articles, the improvement in means for adjustably and rotatably supporting a wide variety of sizes of said articles in print receiving position beneath a printing roll comprising: a frame; a substantially horizontal platform and means vertically, slidably, mounting said platform upon said frame and having a threaded openin therethrough; a vertical threaded member rotatably supported upon said frame and operably engaged with said threaded opening means for effecting rotation of said member, whereby said platform is raised and lowered; a fixed support secured upon said platform and a first .pair of spaced rollers rotatably supported upon said support the axes of said rollers being parallel with, and substantially equidistant from, the axis of said printing roll; a movable support slidably mounted upon said platform and a second pair of spaced rollers rotatably supported upon said movable support, the axes of said second rollers being parallel with, and substantially equidistant from, the axis of said printing roll; guide means on said platform restricting movement of said movable support to movement toward and away from said fixed support and in a direction parallel with the axis of said printing roll; and manually operable screw means for efiecting said movement of said movable support.

LEONARD T. COOKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 966,481 Silverman Aug. 9, 1910 1,167,004 Magna Jan. 4, 1916 1,665,099 Kiesling Apr. 3, 1928 1,733,876 Halvorsen Oct. 29, 1929 1,773,673 Halvorsen Aug. 19, 1930 1,843,377 Wickwire Feb. 2, 1932 2,015,086 Paynter Sept. 24, 1935 2,146,773 Sloan Feb. 14, 1939 2,177,261 Lembcke Oct. 24, 1939 2,183,230 Treece Dec. 12, 1939 2,264,475 Learnard Dec. 2, 1941 2,253,109 Casto Aug. 19, 1941 2,341,409 McDonell Feb. 8, 1944 2,362,206 Kronquest Nov. 7, 1944 2,377,662 Barber June 5, 1945 2,421,260 Greenleaf May 27, 1947

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