US2748697A

US2748697A - Web feed control for printing and die-cutting press

Info

Publication number: US2748697A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles E Smith
Original assignee: Avery Adhesive Label Corp
Current assignee: Avery Adhesive Label Corp
Priority date: 1954-01-04
Filing date: 1954-01-04
Publication date: 1956-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-05

Description

June 5, 1956 c. E. SMITH 2,748,697

was FEED CONTROL FOR PRINTING AND DIE-CUTTING PRESS Filed Jan. 4, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. (HIP/.55 i, 5/7/771 June 5, 1956 Q SMITH 2,748,697

WEB FEED CONTROL FOR PRINTING AND DIE-CUTTING PRESS Filed Jan. 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG- 4 1M 'EN TOR.

C. E. SMITH June 5, 1956 WEB FEED CONTROL FOR PRINTING AND DIE-CUTTING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 4, 1954 INVEN TOR. (#4245517 iM T W MM United States Patent WEB FEED CONTROL FOR PRINTING AND DIE-CUTTING PRESS Charles E. Smith, Monrovia, Calif assignor to Avery Adhesive Label Corporation, Monrovia, Califi, a corporation of California Application January 4, 1954, Serial No. 402,091

Claims. (Cl. 101-227) This invention relates to printing and die-cutting presses, and particularly to a mechanism for intermittently feeding a continuous web past rotating and/ or diecutting cylinders.

In the operation of printing and die-cutting presses, the rotary type of press is desirable because of the relatively great printing and die-cutting pressures that may be obtained with lightweight equipment, and for smoothness, speed and continuity of operation during long runs. However, in some types of service, as, for example, the printing and cutting or perforating of labels, numerous short runs must be made wherein the size, subject matter, pattern of cuts and perforations, and related factors, change from run to run. In such service, conventional rotary press equipment presents a number of disadvantages. Thus, the plates and dies must be made up so that successive impressions will follow in regularly spaced sequence as the cylinders are rotated and a continuous web is moved continuously therepast. Where a single plate is to be used, the printing plates and cutting dies must conform to the size of the cylinder, so that the impressions will be properly spaced along the Web, and different sizes of plates require different sizes of cylinders. Again, where a plate or die includes a number of separate forms printed or cut successively during each full rotation of the press cylinders, the impressions must be made to come out even so as to prevent overlapping or an excessive spacing at the end of each revolution. This sometimes involves frequent change from one size of press cylinder to another, and numerous other adjustments of a costly, time-consuming nature are also required.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved printing and die-cutting press wherein a continuous web is advanced intermittently during the printing and die-cutting movement of'rotating printing and diecutting cylinders, and is held against advance movement while the cylinders are further rotated through an additive reset cycle to advance the printing and die-cutting plates or forms to starting position for the next operative cycle.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a mechanism by which printing and die-cutting forms of different size may be mounted upon and actuated by cylinders of a single size which are actuated through additive reset cycles into position for making each impression in desired spaced sequence with respect to the preceding impression, without overlapping or leaving an unprinted gap between successive impressions.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of the character described in which the size of the plates or forms need not conform to the circumference of the cylinder, and in which a plurality of forms may be mounted upon a single cylinder without requiring that the forms come out even, that is, with the start of each form positioned in desired spaced relation to the end point of a preceding impression on a web fed past the rotating cylinders.

Another object is to provide feed and actuating means whereby printing and die-cutting cylinders are actuated simultaneously with a web feeding mechanism during 2,748,697 Patented June 5, 1956 operative printing and die-cutting cycles, and independently of the web feeding mechanism during an additive reset cycle of movement following each operative cycle.

A further object is to provide drive mechanism for printing and die-cutting cylinders and for a web feeding cylinder therefor, provided with one-way clutches arranged to actuate the feed and printing cylinders together through a portion of a rotation, and to rotate the printing cylinders only during further rotation.

Another object is to provide a machine of the. character described in which the operating and reset cycles may be varied to conform to varying sizes and arrangements of printing and die-cutting plates and forms.

A still further object is to provide a machine in which, printing and die-cutting cylinders may be secured in variously spaced relationship to conform to different sizes and arrangements of printing and die-cutting forms thereon, and to insure accurate registry of the die-cutting forms with the printing forms during operation of the press without requiring that those forms come out even upon the printing cylinders.

A still further object is to provide mechanism for restoring the printing and die-cutting cylinders of a press to registering starting positions with respect to a continuous web intermittently fed to the press.

The invention has other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing will be explained in the following description of that form of the invention illustrated in the drawings. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings as it may be otherwise embodied within the definition of the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental side elcvational view, partly in longitudinal section, of a portion of a printing and diecutting press embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away, and parts being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental end elevation, partly in transverse section, showing parts of the mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modified arrangement of the printing and cutting cylinders,

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of the drive cranks, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of part of the drive mechanism, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the cycles of operation of the printing and die-cutting cylinders of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating the cycles of the modification shown in Fig. 4.

In terms of broad inclusion, the press of the present invention comprises printing and die cutting cylinders operated by a common drive shaft to print successive areas along a continuous web, and to perforate and/or die-cut the printed areas of the web as it is moved through the press. Drive means is provided for first rotating the cylinders through an operating cycle to print and die-cut predetermined areas of the web, and thereafter for rotating the cylinders through an additive reset cycle such as to advance the cylinders to their respective positions in registry for starting the next printing and die-cutting operation in desired relationship to the area previously printed upon the web. Feed mechanism is operated by and in timed relation to the cylinder actuating means for advancing the web during the operating cycle, and for holding the web against advance movement during the reset cycle, so that the leading edge of each printing form and die will be advanced after each printing and cutting operation to engage the web in desired relation to the trailing edge of a preceding 1m pression or die-cut. The invention also contemplates means for varying the spacing of the cylinders and the relative amount of movement of the mechanism during the operating and reset cycles, so as to conform to different sizes and arrangements of printing and die-cutting forms upon the cylinders, and to insure that the cutting dies will register with the printed areas.

In terms of greater detail, the press of the present invention comprises a printing cylinder 1 and a die-cutting cylinder 2, rotatably mounted in journals 3, adjustably secured to a supporting frame 4. The printing cylinder 1 operates in association with a backing roll 6 journaled n the frame 4 below and in parallel relation to the printing cylinder. Likewise, the die-cutting cylinder 2 operates in association with a backing and mating roll 7 journaled upon the frame 4 below and in parallel relation to the die-cutting cylinder. One or both of the printing and die-cutting cylinders, and the corresponding backing cylinders 6 and 7 may be shifted along the frame 4 to vary the space between the cylinders to conform to the various requirements encountered in practice. This adjustment may be accomplished in any convenient manner, as, for example, by means of slots 8 arranged to receive anchor bolts 9 by which the journals 3 may be secured to the frame 4 in a desired spaced re lationship.

The printing cylinder 1 is of the conventional character commonly used in cylinder presses to receive a printing plate or form 10 attached thereto and movable therewith for printing impressions upon a web 11 of paper or other suitable printing material fed between the printing cylinder and the backing roll 6. In like manner, the die-cutting cylinder 2 is of conventional construction arranged to receive and move a cutting-die plate 12 secured to the cylinder 2, and operated thereby in conjunction with the backing cylinder 7 for perforating or cutting through the web or for severing the printed areas therefrom. The printing plate 10 may be of any desired size, and may extend over any desired portion of the circumferential surface of the cylinder 1. If desired, a plurality of printing plates 10 may be provided, either as separate units, or as separate areas spaced along a single printing plate carried by the printing cylinder in accordance with conventional practice.

An inking roll 13 is provided for inking the printing surface of the printing plate 10. Ink for the roll 13 may be supplied from a fountain in any conventional manner, not illustrated.

The cutting die 12 conforms in size and arrangement to the printing area of the plate 10. The dies are positioned upon the cylinder 2 to register with the printed areas of the web 11 as the web is advanced from the printing cylinder 1 past the die-cutting cylinder 2;

The cylinders 1 and 2 are actuated simultaneously by a single drive shaft 14 provided with bevel gears 15 meshing with corresponding bevel gears 17 secured to the shafts 16 by which the cylinders are mounted in the journals 3. The bevel gears 15 are adjustably movable along the drive shaft 14 to conform to the spacing of the cylinders 1 and 2. The shaft 14 is journaled in bearings 18 suitably supported upon the main frame 4 of the machine.

The web 11 is fed to the printing cylinder 1 and the die-cutting cylinder 2 by means of a feed roll 21 journaled upon the frame 4 in suitable bearings 22. The feed roll is actuated by means of a bevel gear 23 meshing with a corresponding bevel gear 24 secured upon a feed drive shaft 25 journaled in bearings 26. The feed drive shaft 25 is positioned in spaced parallel relation to the cylinder drive shaft 14, and is arranged to be driven therefrom by means of meshing spur gears 27 and 28 mounted upon the

shafts

14 and 25 respectively.

The cylinder drive shaft 14 and the feed drive shaft 25 are arranged to be actuated together through a portion of each rotation of the printing and die-cutting cylinders 1 and 2, and the drive shaft 14 is arranged to be actuated alone during a succeeding portion of the rotation while the feed drive shaft 25 remains stationary. In the embodiment illustrated, this is accomplished by means of a pair of reciprocating racks 30 and 31 meshing with drive gears 32 and 33 respectively upon the cylinder drive shaft 14. The racks 30 and 31 are reciprocated by means of crank pins 35 and 36 positioned apart with respect to a main power shaft 37 through which power is delivered to the machine from a motor or other source of energy, not shown.

The crank pin 35 is secured to a slide 38 adjustably mounted within a guideway 39 formed in the face of a crank plate 41 secured to the power shaft 37. The slide 38 is movable along the guideway 39 to position the axis of the crank pin 35 at a desired distance (A) from the axis of the power shaft 37. The throw of the crank pin, as the shaft 37 is rotated, is equal to twice the mcasurement (A), and may be varied as desired within the limits of the crank plate.

The crank pin 36 is secured to a mounting slide 43 adjustable within a guideway 44 formed in a face of a crank plate 45 journaled upon a bearing 46 in axial alignment with the power shaft 37. The throw of the crank pin 36 of course varies with the distance (B) at which it is spaced from the axis of the shaft 37.

The guideway 44 is arranged opposite the guideway 39 of the crank plate 41, and parallel thereto. The mounting slides 38 and 43 are positioned upon opposite sides of the axis of the power shaft so that the crank pins 35 and 36 will operate alternately 180 apart. The power stroke of each crank pin continues through 180 of angular movement of the shaft 37 and crank plates 41 and 45. Suitable securing means, such as set screws 47, are provided for securing the mounting slides 38 and 43 in adjusted position upon the crank plates 41 and 45 so as to actuate the printing and die-cutting cylinders through operating cycles and reset cycles in conformity with the requirements of each particular run. Instead of varying the throw of the crank pins 35 and 36, gears 32 and 33 of selected size may be interchangeably mounted upon the shaft 14 for engagement by the racks 30 and 31 to vary the degree of angular movement through the cycles.

A connecting plate 48 is secured to the crank pin 35 and is actuated thereby to rotate with the power shaft 37. The connecting plate 48 is provided with a recessed guideway 49 opposite the guideway 44 of the crank plate 45, and parallel thereto. A block 51 is secured to the crank pin 36 and is engaged within the guide recess 49 for transmitting power from the shaft 37 and crank pin 35 to the crank pin 36 and reciprocating the rack 31 as the power shaft 37 is rotated.

After the block 51 has been adjusted relative to the connecting plate 48 to adjust the initial spacing of the cranks 35 and 36 to produce one revolution of the drive shaft 14, the block 51 is locked relative to the plate 48 by a lock screw 51a. During subsequent adjustment to change the relationship between the printing and reset portions of the cycle for various size printing and dieeutting plates, the cranks 35 and 36 and the connecting

members

48 and 51 are moved as a single unit assembly, thus always resulting in one complete revolution of the printing and die-cutting rollers for each revolution of the power shaft 37 The drive gears 32 and 33 are mounted in association with one-way clutch mechanisms 52 and 53 associated with the shaft 14 and arranged to impart rotation to said shaft 14 in one direction only. The clutches drive the shaft 14 as the racks 30 and 31 are moved through their respective power strokes, and disengage the shaft 14 as the racks 30 and 31 are moved along their recovery strokes. The drive gear 32 is arranged to actuate the gears 27 and 28 for driving the feed roll shaft 25 simultaneously with the shaft 14 during the power stroke of the rack 30, but not during the power stroke of the rack 31. The clutches 52 and 53 may be of the over-running type, or of any ratchet or other type operable to transmit power in one direction only. Since such clutches are of conventional form, they are indicated only diagrammatically in the drawings.

The gear 27 is actuated with the gear 32 by means of a suitable ratchet or over-running clutch 54 whereby the gear 27 is moved to drive the shaft during the power stroke of the rack and gear 32, and to permit the gears 27 and 28 to remain stationary as the rack 30 and gear 32 return to starting position. The clutch 53 operates independently of the clutch 52, and is arranged to impart driving movement to the shaft 14 from the rack 31 during the power stroke of that rack while the rack 30 is moved idly back to its starting position. The racks 30 and 31 are held in meshing engagement with the drive gears 32 and 33 by

suitable guides

56 and 57 arranged to permit the oscillating action of the racks 30 and 31 as they are actuated by the movement of the crank pins 35 and 36 around the axis of the shaft 37, as best indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The device of the present invention is especially useful for printing labels and similar units of small area which must be printed in various sizes and in relatively small lots. As applied to such service, the device of the present invention operates to drive the printing and diecutting cylinders through an operating cycle during which the printing cylinder causes a printed impression to be made upon the web, and the die cutting cylinder perforates and/or cuts out an area on which an impression has been printed. The operating cycle is followed by a reset cycle during which the printing cylinder and the die-cutting cylinder are rotated to advance the next printing form to starting position with its leading edge engaging the web 11 adjacent to the trailing edge of the preceding printed impression, and providing only a desired margin therebetween. During the operating cycle, the feed roller 21 is actuated in timed relation to the movement of the printing and die-cutting cylinders to advance the web at the rate required for proper printing and die-cutting. During the succeeding additive reset cycle the feed roll remains stationary, and holds the web 11 against forward movement while the printing and die-cutting cylinders are rotated through an angle sufificient to bring the printing and die-cutting plates into position for the next operative cycle.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a single printing plate 10 is positioned upon the printing roller 1 and corresponding die-cutting plate 12 is positioned upon the cylinder 2. Upward movement of the rack 30 from the starting position shown in Fig. 1 rotates the shaft 14 in a counterclockwise direction for printing the web. At the same time, the gear 27 is actuated by and with the rack 30 and drive gear 32 to rotate the shaft 25 and thereby actuate the feed roller 21 to properly advance the web 11 to the printing cylinder.

The duration of the operative stroke varies with the size of the printing plate It), and the stroke of the crank pin 35 is adjusted to rotate the shaft 14 only through an angle sufficient to cause the plate It) to make a complete impression upon the web 11. The die-cutting cylinder 2 is spaced from the printing cylinder 1 a distance equal to the circumferential length of the printing plate 10, so that during each operating cycle, a printed area will be advanced to a starting position for engagement by the die-cutting cylinder 2 with the die plate 12 positioned to register with an impression previously made by the printing plate 19 of the cylinder 1. After the printing operation, the rack 30 is restored idly to its starting position at the bottom of its stroke; and the

shafts

14 and 25 are disengaged and remain unaffected during the recovery movement of the rack 30 and its drive gear 32. At this moment, however, the second rack 31 begins its operative stroke for moving the printing cylinder and die-cutting cylinder through their additive reset cycle. During the phase of the operation, the cylinders 1 and 2 are rotated through a reset cycle while the web feeding roll 21 remains stationary and prevents advance movement of the web. During this reset cycle, the cylinders 1 and 2 rotate freely past the web 11 which is held stationary by the feed roll 21. The duration of the additive reset cycle is regulated by adjustment of the crank pin 36 to advance the cylinders 1 and 2 only through the distance required to bring them to position for the next operative cycle.

Where only a single printing form 10 is set upon the cylinder 1, as indicated in Fig. 1, the operating cycle corresponds to the length of the form 10, and is indicated by the arrow (C) of Figure 7. The additive reset cycle corresponds to the further movement of the cylinders 1 and 2 required to reset the plates 10 and 12 to starting position. This cycle is indicated by the arrow (D) of Figure 7.

By appropriate adjustment of the length of the crank arm (dimension A, Fig. 1), the operative cycle of rack 3% can be adjusted to conform to any size of plate 10 on the cylinder. Since the spacing between the cranks 35 and 36 has been previously adjusted and locked, the length of the crank arm (dimension B, Fig. 1) will automatically be adjusted so that the additive reset cycle of rack 31 will complete the full revolution of the cylinders 1 and 2 and thereby advance the plates 10 and 12 to positions for starting the next operating cycle. The rack 31 starts its driving stroke coincidentally with the end of the driving stroke of the rack 30. Consequently, rotation of the cylinders 1 and 2 continues with a harmonic movement without material interruption between operating and reset cycles. Rotation of the feed roll 21, however, stops at the end of the driving stroke of the rack 30, and is not resumed until the start of the next operating cycle. This results in an intermittent feeding movement of the web to the continuously rotating printing and diecutting cylinders.

in Fig. 4 of the drawings, an arrangement is illustrated wherein three separate printing forms 10 are secured at reguiar intervals around the circumference of the printing cylinder 1, and corresponding die plates 11 are positioned along the die-cutting cylinder 2. In this arrangement, the die-cutting cylinder is spaced from the printing cylinder a distance equal to a multiple (3, as illustrated) of the circumferential length of each of print ing plates 1! As the web is advanced through equal intervals of movement during successive operative cycles, the printed forms will be brought successively into registry with the cutting plates 12 of the cylinder 2.

In this arrangement, each operative cycle extends through only a fraction of a rotation of the printing cylinder 1, and the succeeding reset cycle is limited to an angular movement sufilcient to bring the next succeeding plate It) to its starting position adjacent the trailing edge of the impression made by the preceding plate form 10. Any number of separate plates 10 may be mounted on the cylinder 1 so long as all of the printing areas are of the same circumferential length, and the spacing between adjacent areas is kept equal. This arrangement is an alternative to the use of a single printing plate 10 made up to print a succession of unitary areas extending along the circumferential length of the plate 10, and requiring only a single additive cycle to reset the printing cylinder in its starting position for the next operating cycle. In this arrangement the bevel gear sets 15, 17 are changed from from a l to 1 ratio to a set giving a 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 ratio, depending upon the number of printing and die-cutting plates spaced around the printing and diecutting rollers 1 and 2. If two plates are used, a 2 to 1 gear set is used to produce /2 revolution of the rollers 1 and 2 for each revolution of the drive shaft 14. Similarly, if three plates are used, a 3 to 1 set is used to produce /3 revolution of the rollers 1 and 2 per revolution of shaft 14.

The feed rolls, as herein disclosed, may of course be replaced by feed mechanism operating to pull the web past the printing and die-cutting mechanism, rather than to push the web forward. A plurality of printing heads may be provided; and additional equipment for punching, numbering, sheeting, and similar operations, may of course be mounted in association with the mechanism, for operation during periods when the Web is stationary, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An intermittent feed mechanism for a rotary printing and die-cutting press comprising a power shaft, a cylinder actuating shaft geared to the printing and diecutting cylinders, a pair of drive gears upon the actuating shaft, over-running clutch means for transmitting power from each gear to the actuating shaft, a crank plate upon the power shaft, a second crank plate journalled in axial alignment with the power shaft in spaced relation to the first crank plate, crank pins radially adjustable upon the crank plates in angularly spaced relation to each other, racks meshing with the gears and reciprocated by the crank pins, and a connecting plate positioned between the crank plates in engagement with the crank pins and actuated by one crank plate to transmit power to the other, the racks being actuated alternately to drive the gears and cylinder actuating shaft through successive operating cycles and reset cycles.

2. An intermittent feed mechanism for a rotary printing and die-cutting press comprising a power shaft, a cylinder actuating shaft geared to the printing and dieeutting cylinders, a pair of drive gears upon the actuating shaft, over-running clutch means for transmitting power from each gear to the actuating shaft, a crank plate upon the power shaft, a second crank plate journalled in axial alignment with the power shaft in spaced relation to the first crank plate, crank pins radially adjustable upon the crank plates in angularly spaced relation to each other, racks meshing with the gears and reciprocated by the crank pins, a connecting plate positioned between the crank plates in engagement with the crank pins and actuated by one crank plate to transmit power to the other, the racks being actuated alternately to drive the gears and cylinder actuating shaft through successive operating cycles and reset cycles, and means driven from the cylinder actuating shaft for advancing the web during the operating cycles only.

3. In a press for printing and die-cutting a continuous web comprising spaced printing and diecutting cylinders, a common line shaft geared to each of said cylinders for rotating the same, a power input shaft, a first means connected between said power shaft and said line shaft for rotating said line shaft through a predetermined angular amount 360 or less for each revolution of the power shaft, a second means connected between said power shaft and said line shaft for rotating said line shaft through a predetermined angular amount 360 or less for each revolution of the power shaft, the sum of said angular amounts always being equal to 360, and adjustable means between said first and second means and said power shaft for varying the angular rotation of said line shaft caused by each of said first and second means without changing the additive angular effect of both.

4. In a press for printing and die-cutting a continuous web comprising spaced printing and die-cutting cylinders, a common line shaft geared to each of said cylinders for rotating the same, a power input shaft, a first means connected between said power shaft and said line shaft for rotating said line shaft through a predetermined angular amount 360 or less for each revolution of the power shaft, a second means connected between said power shaft and said line shaft for rotating said line shaft through a predetermined angular amount 360 or less for each revolution of the power shaft, the sum of said angular amounts always being equal to 360, adjustable means between said first and second means and said power shaft for varying the angular rotation of said line shaft caused by each of said first and second means without changing the additive angular efiect of both, a feed roller adapted to advance said web past said printing and dic-cutting rollers, a feed shaft connected to said feed roller, and means adapted to connect said feed shaft to said first means only when said first means is driving said line shaft.

5. In a press for printing and die-cutting a continuous web comprising spaced printing and die-cutting cylinders, means for adjusting the spacing between said cylinders, a common line shaft geared to each of said cylinders for rotating the same, a power input shaft, a first means connee-ted between said power shaft and said line shaft for rotating said line shaft through a predetermined angular amount 360 or less, a second means connected between said power shaft and said line shaft for rotating said line shaft through a predetermined angular amount 360 or less, the sum of said angular amounts always being equal to 360, adjustable means between said first and second means and said power shaft for varying the angular rotation of said line shaft caused by each of said first and second means without changing the additive angular effect of both, a feed roller adapted to advance said web past said printing and die-cutting rollers, a feed shaft connected to said feed roller, and means adapted to connect said feed shaft to said first means only when said first means is driving said line shaft.

6. A press for printing and die-cutting a continuous web comprising spaced printing and die-cutting cylinders, a line shaft geared to each of said printing and die-cutting cylinders for rotating the same, a power shaft, two diametrically opposed crank pins connected to said power shaft, means for shifting said crank pins as a unit along the diametrical line therebetween to change the relative crank lengths of each while maintaining the same spacing therebetween, a pair of racks one connected to each of said crank pins, means for alternately connecting said racks to said line shaft whereby said line shaft is driven first by one and then the other of said racks, feeding means for feeding said web to said printing and die-cutting cylinders, a feed shaft for driving said feeding means, and means for connecting one of said racks to said feed shaft when said one rack is connected to said line shaft.

7. A process for printing and die-cutting a continuous web comprising spaced printing and die-cutting cylinders, a line shaft geared to each of said printing and die-cutting cylinders for rotating the same, a power shaft, two diametrically opposed crank pins connected to said drive shaft. means for shifting said crank pins as a unit along the diametrical line therebetween to change the relative crank lengths of each while maintaining the same spacing therebetween, a pair of racks one connected to each of said crank pins, and means for alternately connecting said racks to said line shaft whereby said line shaft is driven first by one and then the other of said racks, and whereby the angular amount that said line shaft is driven by each of said racks may be changed without changing the total angular amount that said line shaft is driven during one revolution of said power shaft.

8. A press for printing and die-cutting a continuous web comprising spaced printing and die-cutting cylinders, a line shaft geared to each of said printing and die-cutting cylinders for rotating the same. a power shaft, two diametrically opposed crank pins connected to said power shaft, means for shifting said crank pins as a unit along the diametrical line therebetween to change the relative crank lengths of each while maintaining the same spacing therebetween, a pair of racks one connected to each of said crank pins, a pair of drive gears freely rotatably mounted on said line shaft, and a pair of over-running clutches for transmitting power from said gears to said line shaft in one direction whereby said line shaft is driven first by one and then the other of said racks, and whereby the angular amount that said line shaft is driven by each of said racks may be changed without changing the total angular amount that said line shaft is driven during one revolution of said power shaft.

9. A press for printing and die-cutting a continuous web comprising spaced printing and die-cutting cylinders, a line shaft geared to each of said printing and die-cutting cylinders for rotating the same, a power shaft, two diametrically opposed crank pins connected to said power shaft, means for shifting said crank pins as a unit along the diametrical line therebetween to change the relative crank lengths of each while maintaining the same spacing therebetween, a pair of racks one connected to each of said crank pins, a pair of drive gears freely rotatably mounted on said line shaft, a pair of over-running clutches for transmitting power from said gears to said line shaft in one direction whereby said line shaft is driven first by one and then the other of said racks, feeding means for feeding said web to said printing and die-cutting cylinders, a feed shaft for driving said feeding means, and an overrunning clutch for transmitting power in one direction between one of said gears and said feed shaft.

10. A press for printing and die-cutting a continuous web comprising spaced printing and die-cutting cylinders, means for adjusting the spacing between said cylinders, a line shaft geared to each of said printing and die-cutting cylinders for rotating the same, a power shaft, two diametrically opposed crank pins connected to said power shaft, means for shifting said crank pins as a unit along the diametrical line therebetween to change the relative crank lengths of each while maintaining the same spacing therebetween, a pair of racks one connected to each of said crank pins, a pair of drive gears freely rotatably mounted on said line shaft, a pair of over-running clutches for transmitting power from said gears to said line shaft in one direction whereby said line shaft is driven first by one and then the other of said racks, feeding means for feeding said web to said printing and die-cutting cylinders, a feed shaft for driving said feeding means, and an over-running clutch for transmitting power in one direction between one of said gears and said feed shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,282,131 Smith Oct. 22, 1918 1,588,955 Ewers June 15, 1926 1,744,292 Young Jan. 21, 1930 1,819,751 La Bombard et al Aug. 18, 1931 1,858,403 Littel May 17, 1932 1,858,934 Neurath May 17, 1932 1,909,831 Jensen May 16, 1933 2,029,996 Furman Feb. 4, 1936 2,115,975 Harrold May 3, 1938