US2651992A - Web printing press - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1953 w. sAuaERLlci-l WEB PRINTING PRES S 3 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed May 25, 1950 I r ya nt or: MLLY Savasnuw Sept. 15, 1953 ,w. SAUBERLICH WEB PRINTING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1950 mmllllnurl In ve nf or' W/LL Y SAl/BERLICH r-f 'wi w M 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 23, 1950 f O t n a v n I W SAUBEHMQH Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE.

WEB PRINTING PRESS many Application May 23, 1950, Serial No. 163,637 In: Germany March 5, 1949 Claims.

This invention relates to. improvements in design and construction of rotary intaglioor gravure printing machines, particularly that type of machines provided for printing and perfecting a web of any suitable material, by means of two or more printing unitsand has for its object certain. new and useful improvements in the construction and arrangement of the mechanism of such machines and particularly of the drying arrangementspecified below- It has been common practice to. direct the web, upon leaving the printing units, upwards to an open or closed chamber for exposureto a. drying process. During the drying, the chiefly toxic solvents of the printing inks are volatilized. To prevent escape of fumes and odors into the machine room, they are exhausted, and, in most cases, led to a recuperating plant.

The dangerous mixture of air and fumes and odors in question has a greaterspecific weight than the air in the machine room. Therefore, it is a considerable disadvantage of drying chambers placed above the printing units that this mixture, in spite of. exhaustion, easily escapes through the slots provided at the bottom side of the drying chambers necessary for the passage of the web, causing detrimental effects upon the health of operating personnel. This type of construction furthermore must be ofconsiderable height and provided with means such as galleries to allow machine operators tothread the web into the drying chamber. Lastly, service and inspection. of, as well as accessibility toprinting. units are rendered more difficult by said arrangement of the drying chambers and by guiding the web between these elevated parts of the machine.

Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to completely encasev the drying chamber and to arrange the latter not above the printing. units as before, but underneath them, andto' construct the drying chambers as an entirely closed room extending. along the whole length of the machine.

This invention has for another object an improved construction, whereby the. casing of the machine is enclosing printing units and drying chamber altogether, the printing units being separated from. the drying. chamber though, by separating walls or metal sheets provided; with slots for the passing of the web.

The invention has for a further object the arrangement of hinged hoods inthe casing fitted to or above the printing heads and madepreferably of transparent material such. as glass, Plexiglas, &c., to allow inspection of the printing process alsowhile the hood is turn-eddown.

A further object oftheinvention isto connect one or several pipes leadin from the bottom part of the drying chamber to the exhausting device.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be more readilyunderstoodby reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1- is av longitudinal sectional view showing the general arrangement of the printing machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail. View showing one of the printing units and a part of the drying chamber;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of themachine taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the rear elevation of one of the printing units, the hood being opened;

Fig. i is a longitudinal sectional. view of a modified arrangement of the printing machine.

The continuous web 5 which is fed into the press is drawn from the original roll 6 the removable shaft of which is journalled' in the upright side frames 1 ofthe machine.

On the-same shaft a brake disc 8 is fixed which is braked through the effect of the brake band 9. The braking power is delivered by a spring 10, one end of which is fixedto the end of the brake band", and the other end to: a bracket ll fitted to the machine frame.

By fixing the brake band 9 directly to the machine frame the roll 63 is always under the infiuence of the same braking power. In some cases, it is desired, to regulatethe braking power proportionally to the diameter of the original roll. In this case, the other end of the brake band 9: is; fixed. to. a lever l2 which is arranged reversible in the side frame of the machine. It carries at its other: end a rotating idler roll 13 which is pressed through the brake band 9 under the influence. of: thespring it against the original roll 5;.

If the diameter of the original roll is large, a sufficiently large brake power is transmitted to the brake disc 8. The mor the original roll diminishes, the more the brake band 9 i released, and in this way the brake power is diminished.

From the roll 6 the web travels over the guide rollers It to the two brushing devices It, consisting each of a brush on one side and an idler roll on the other side of the web. Hereafter, the web travels horizontally and enters through a slot into the drying chamber of the machine, this latter being composed chiefly of the machine frames 1 on both sides and the covering plates connecting the edges of both side frames throughout. Herein, the web is guided by means of the guide roller I6 into vertical direction and enters through a further slot in the separating wall I! into the printing unit. Here, the direction of the paper web is altered first by a guide roller l8 and, on its further run, by a guide roller Hi. It then passes between the forme cylinder 20 and the pressure cylinder 2| where printing is effected. Hereupon, the web leaves the printing unit through another slot in the separating wall I! and gets into the drying chamber. The drying of the web is effected by air blown to the printed side through the nozzles 22. To obtain maximum drying results the blowing process should afiect the web on a sufficiently long travel. For this reason, the web is not guided directly to the next printing unit for printing of the next colour but over several guide rollers 23, 24, and 25 which cause the web to form several turns. Guiding is done in such a manner that, during the first part of the run, the printed side of the material is not touched by the rollers. Only after sufiicient progress of the drying process has been made, the printed side of the web is touched by guide roller 26 and runs first along its former turns and then to the next printing unit.

To avoid that the web, when passing in front of the blowing nozzles, be not too much diverted from its provided travel by the air stream, plates or other suitable guides 21, 28, and 29 are fixed to the side walls opposite to the nozzles on the other side of the web, thus assuring the correct run of the web.

The printing process is repeated in the second printing unit in exactly the same manner as in the first, and drying is effected again in the same manner as described above. In both cases the same arrangement is used. For this reason, these parts are given the same numbers, marked by an added prime suffix In the third printing unit and in the third part of the drying chamber, this process is repeated; these installations have consequently been marked in the drawing with the same numbers by adding two suffixes After having travelled through the last part of the drying chamber, the web leaves this chamber through a slot and, after having been guided by the guide rollers 3i and 32, it is rewound to a rewinding shaft, thus forming the winding roll 33. The shaft is placed in bearings 34, capable of sliding in a vertical guide of the machine frame. The winding roll itself is carried on its circumference by the two supporting rollers 35. With increasing diameter of the roll, the bearings 34 vertically slide upward together with the rewinding shaft.

Between the web exit from the drying chamber and the roll 33 conventional devices for rotary presses can be fitted, such as slitters, sheeters, folders, and/or perforators. Considering that these units are not within the scope of the invention, they are not shown in the drawing.

4 Those skilled in the art will have no diificulty to fit into the machine well known additional devices of various designs.

To illustrate more clearly the main object of my invention, the drying chamber extending beneath the printing units and the arrangement of the pressure and suction pipes belonging to it are represented in a larger scale as per Figs. 2 and 3, including simultaneously the printing units, the construction of which is not an object of this invention, however.

From the drawings it can clearly be recognized that the forme cylinder 20 is supported from the side frames 1 of the machine in suitable journals 36 which slide in vertical guides of the machine frames. By these guides, the forme cylinder can be placed in or removed and can be fixed in the working position by means of a spindle not shown in the drawing. In this position, the forme cylinder touches the inking roller 31 which, with its lower part, dips into the ink fountain 38 partly filled with ink. If the forme cylinder rotates, the inking roller also turns and inks the cylinder the surface of which is scraped by the doctor blade 39 in the well known manner. The ink fountain is supported on both sides by spindles adjustable by means of a hand wheel 40 fitted at the outside. and by two screw wheels 4! and 42 fitted to the same shaft.

The pressure necessary for the printing process is effected by the pressure cylinder 2| which, on both sides, rests in a sliding piece each which can slide horizontally in a space left open for this purpose in the machine frames. Two further sliding pieces, one arranged at each machine frame, form the journals for a further pressure cylinder 43 which, with the aid of a spindle and a hand wheel 44 is pressed against the pressure cylinder 2| which transmits this pressure over the web to the forme cylinder 20. The pressure cylinders can be arranged also in levers. It is advisable to provide the separating wall l1, being underneath the ink fountain 38 in such a manner'that possible ink splashes or overflowing ink are received by this separating wall to avoid soiling of the web. For this purpose, the separating wall is curved in vertical direction towards the top, as shown in the drawing, thus forming a flat tub.

To enable the operator to reach the individual parts of the printing unit during the printing operation, it is advisable to provide the possibility of opening the casing enclosing the printing unit. For this reason, said part of the casing has the form of a hood 45 fitted to the casing by means of hinges 46, and can therefore be turned up, as shown in the drawing. With the hood turned up, the operator of the machine is able to survey all parts of the printing unit during its run, and, if necessary, to make little ad- J'ustments. For this purpose he steps on the platform 41, and it is a main advantage of the invention that he is hindered from such inspection neither by the travel of the web nor by any parts on the top of the machine since drying chamber as well as travel of the web are located underneath the printing units.

If it is intended to inspect the printing process without making any adjustments, part of the hood can be made of transparent material such as glass, Plexiglas, &c. The inspection can thus be effected without any danger for the operator; no fumes or odors arising in the printing units are streaming into the workshop.

The drive of the printing units is effected from the main driveshaft 48 extending along the machine and actuated by a motor not shown in the raw At a pr ng. unit. the. drivin movement is transmittedover abevel gearing to a. vertical shaft 39' whi h, over. another bevel gearing, drives a horizontal shaft to which a gear is fitted, meshing with gear- 59. The latter is fixed to the shaft of the forme cylinder 28 driving it. The drivingshaft 49, over another bevel gearing, is driving-aspiral-'gearingE-t which on its part turns an eccentric; making'the lever 52 reciprocate. This lever is connected to another lever 53 which, in its approximate middle, is journalled in a fulcrum. The upper end of said lever is connected to the head 54 of a rod 54' moving the doctor blade 39 to and fro in the axial direction of the forme cylinder, avoiding difficulties arising from a fixed doctor blade.

The blowing nozzles 22 arranged in the drying chamber have the approximate form of tubes with lengthwise slots for air escape. With one end they are connected to a tubing system 55 following the way of the web. This tubing is connected to the main blowing piping 56 by a short joint penetrating the machine frame.

It is of particular importance and represents the main advantage of my invention that exhausting can be effected at the bottom part of the drying chamber since, as mentioned before, the fumes arising from the volatilization of the solvents are heavier than the atmospheric air and thus will deposit in the bottom part of the drying chamber. At the known arrangement of the drying chambers on the top of printing units, the provision of several slots is not to be avoided in their lowest part for the passage of the web; exhausting is generally effected in the higher part of the chamber. That is why fumes are escaping through the slots into the workshop, causing detrimental effects upon the health of the operating staff. By my invention, however, the drying chamber is completely closed, and the fumes can be exhausted directly in the bottom part, too. For this purpose, the main suction piping 5! is guided in such a manner that its connecting branches 5%, after having gone through the machine frame, reach the lower part of the drying chamber, thus avoiding all disadvantages of the known arrangements. Considering, that in this case the exhausted air mixture contains a considerable part of fumes and solvents, recuperation of the available solvents is particularly economical, if the exhausted mixture is led to a recuperation plant.

The arrangement of the printing machine described before is such, that the whole machine frame is resting on the floor. The printing units are arranged somewhat higher therefore and are easily accessible only from a platform. Another construction, without departing from the scope of the invention, consists in arranging the drying chamber, extending in this case also over the whole length of the machine, in the storey below. This construction is schematically represented in Fig. 4, whereby details fully covered by the above described arrangement have not been repeated.

The printing machine comprises the two lateral frames 59 together with the covering plates across the machine forming a completely closed casing for the drying chamber and the printing units which are, however, separated from each other by separating walls, similar to the above description. The lower part of the machine,

however, does not standuponthe; floor butpeneratesthe floor. insuch. amanner, tha o ly the printing, unitstogether with the upper parts of the. drying chamber. are. positioned above the floor... The main, part, of the drying chamber enters, into, the, storey. below. To, obtain a vibrationlesafoundation.ofthe machine it is advisable to.supportthe.bottom of; the. machine by the. pillarsv 611.. The, original. roll lil' is, with its shaft-ipurnalled at both. ends in. the frame 62,. The same. frame includes also, bearings for the guide rollers 63 and the brushing device t l. After the webhastravelled through the latter it runs towards the top and, after reversing at the roller 65, enters into the drying chamber of the machine. Its travel through the different printing and drying devices is the same as described above. In the same manner it is rewound to the roll 66 which can be provided in the upper floor. The arrangement of the blowing pipes 81 connected to the nozzles and of the suction pipes 68 is the same as indicated in Figs. 1 to 3. The advantage of this somewhat modified construction of the machine is due to the fact that in this case the printing units are still more easily accessible than when erecting the machine frame upon the floor.

In some cases it may be desirable to divide the large drying chamber into individual compartments. This division is very simple by inserting corresponding separating walls as shown in Fig. 2. It is best suitable in this case to separate the drying chamber in such a manner that each printing unit is provided with its individual and fully closed part of the drying chamber. For the passage of the web only one slot has to be provided in each separating wall.

Having now described my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art after understanding my invention that other changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a web printing press, a plurality of printing units for multi-color printing arranged in series, drying means arranged below and for each printing unit and extending parallel a certain distance along the path of travel of the web adjacent the printing side of the paper web, guide plates arranged adjacent the paper web extending the length of the drying means and on the side of the paper opposite the printing side to restrict the amount of diversion of the paper web due to the effect of th drying means, rollers for guiding the web arranged in the press so that the web leaving each printing unit is guided downwards to its drying means arranged beneath its printing unit, and a main casing commonly enclosing all of said units and drying means, said casing comprising a plurality of upper compartments each encasing in its top portion one of the printing units, and a lower compartment extending along the base of the press underneath the compartments of the printing units and connected therewith and encasing all of the drying means.

2. A web printing press according to claim 1, in which means are provided in each drying means for blowing a stream of air against the web and means for exhausting fumes out of the lower compartment of the main casing.

3. A web printing press according to claim 1, in which separation walls are provided in the interior of the main casing between the compartments of the printing units and the compartment of the drying means.

4. A web printing press according to claim 1, in which separation walls are provided in the interior of the main casing between the compartments of the printing units and the compartment of the drying means, and in which at least one series of nozzles is provided in each drying means to blow streams of air against said web.

5. A web printing press according to claim 1, in which the top portions of the compartments for the printing units are provided with hinged hoods.

WILLY SAUBERLICH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 5 2,022,593 2,115,725 2,201,008

10 Number Name Date Fuykers 1 Nov. 26, 1935 Koch May 3, 1938 MacArthur May 14, 1940 FQREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Apr. 28, 1933 Great Britain Feb, 7, 1938,

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