US2801584A - Adjustable cylinder support for rotary printing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

J. T. DAVIDSON I Aug. 6, 1957 ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER SUPPORT FOR ROTARY PRINTING MECHANISM Filed May 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l n- J In INVENTOR JOHN T. DAVIDSON 1957 J. T. DAVIDSON 2,801,584

ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER SUPPORT FOR ROTARY PRINTING MECHANISM Filed May 2a, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN T. DAVIDSON United States atent Cfilice 2,801,584 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER SUPPORT FOR ROTARY PRINTING MECHANISM This invention relates to adjustable cylinder support for rotary imprinting machines, and more particularly to a mounting for the printing roll or cylinder facilitating installation and interchange thereof.

A roll imprinter of a kind to which the invention is particularly adapted imprints business forms and is required to operate upon forms of different length. It must, therefore, be capable of a wide range of adjustment for a change of imprint subject matter and for a change in the effective length thereof.

The instant invention proposes to achieve this flexibility of adjustment by an interchange of printing cylinders, and it is the purpose of the invention to enable a quick and easy exchange of cylinders of the same size, as well as the substitution ofa cylinder of one size for a cylinder of another size.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of imprinting machines whereby they may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient in use uniform in operation, capable of adjustment over a. wide range, having a minimum number of working parts, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel support for the printing cylinder, adjustable to compen- ;sate for the installation of printing cylinders of different diameters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively rigid support for the printing cylinder, including a part accessible for swinging movement to a position exposing the printing cylinder for convenient installation in :and removal from the imprinting machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide support means for the printing cylinder including a bearing :assembly comprising in unitary form with the bearing :elemen'ts quick acting lock and release means whereby .the bearing assembly may be quickly and easily installed in the machine in following relation to the cylinder and :similarly removed to free the cylinder for removal.

Ajfurther object of the invention is to provide an imprinting machine embodying the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and mode of operation herein set forth, or their equivalents.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in 'view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent con- :sists of the features of construction, the parts and com lbina't'ions thereof, and the mode of operation, as herein- :afterdes cribed or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

'In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodimentof the invention,

Fig. 1 is a detail view in front elevation, partly broken away, showing a printing cylinder and mounting therefor, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of'the invention;

Fig; 2 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, of a locating means for the cylinder support;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of one end of the printing cylinder and mounting means;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, in longitudinal section, of a quick release bearing assembly for the printing cylinder;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view, in perspective, of the other end of the printing cylinder and mounting means therefor.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, roll imprinting apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, includes a printing roll or cylinder 10 having a longitudinal through bore 11 and interchangeable printingxelements (not shown) recessed in its surface. At itsone end the bore 11 terminates in an outwardly flaring surface 12 and at its other end terminates in a counterbore 13. The former receives a tapered nose member 14 of a bearing assembly 15. The latter receives the body of a gear member 16 which meshes with suitable driving means, as for example a gear 17 on a tympan roll 18 supported between side frames 19 (one shown).

An outwardly facing surface 21 on the gear member 16 is flared like the surface 12 at the opposite end of the cylinder and receives the tapered nose 22 of a bearing assembly 23.

The bearing assemblies 15 and 23 thus engage and mutually support the cylinder 10, with the several described elements being concentrically mounted on a varying diameter shaft 24. The bearing assembly 15 is mounted on the shaft 24 inthe manner shown in Fig. 4 and to be described.

The bearing assembly 23 is mounted on a guide race 7 25 on the shaft 24. In adjacent parallel relation to the guide race 25, and normal to the axis of shaft 24, is a support plate 26 through which the shaft 24 passes in a manner precluding relative bodily shifting motion of the shaft and support plate. The shaft 24 continues on beyond the plate 26 and projects through a slot 27 in the frame 19, the projecting end of the shaft. being threaded and mounting a hand wheel sleeve 28 and. a collar 29. It will be apparent that by turning the sleeve 28, the collar 29 may be pressed into frictional engagement with the frame 19, or released therefrom, thereby inhibiting or permitting bodily shifting movement of the shaft 24 and plate 26 relatively to the frame 19.

In order to accurately locate the shaft 24 relatively to the frame 19 there is pivotally mounted on the frame 19 an irregularly shaped disc or cam plate 31 with which is associated a knurled knob 32 for hand adjustment thereof. The plate 31 is in adjacent relation to the shaft 24 in the slot 27. The shaft is held in the position defined by the plate 31 through the frictional pressure of collar 29against the frame 19.

Elevating and lowering movements of the shaft 24 are effected and controlled by a hand wheel 33 on top of a screw post 34; The, post 34 is screw threaded at its opposite end in a socket 35 forming a unitary part of an auxiliary plate 36 bolted or otherwise secured to the support plate. 26. Intermediate the hand wheel 33 and the socket 35' the post 34 is connected to a frame mounted bracket 37 in a manner to preclude relative axial motion of the post. Accordingly, rotary turning motion of the hand wheel 33 results in a raising and lowering of the auxiliary plate 36, support plate 26, shaft 24 and associated parts. 7

Also forming a unitary part of the auxiliary plate 36 is a hanger member 38 extending in parallel spaced apart relation to the shaft 24 toward the opposite end thereof. The member 38 is constructed as a beam o'f ri'gid cross section and high tensile strength; It has in its outer a I I. 3 3 free end an integral, longitudinal socket 39 receiving a stub shaft 41. The shaft 41 extends outside the socket 39 and has an arm or bearing plate 42 attached thereto, at its one end. Near its other end, the arm-or bearing plate 42 has an opening 43 receiving the reduced diameter, projecting end of the shaft 24. It will be understood that the beam 38 is, through the plate 42, in supporting relation to the outer end of the shaft 24 or that end opposite the plate 26. The assembly comprising the shaft 24, plate 26; auxiliary plate 36, beam 38 and plate 42 is adjustable as a unit, as described, through manipulation of the hand wheel 33.

The arm or bearing plate 42 is pinned or otherwise detachably connected to the stub shaft 41 which has a slidable and rotatable mounting in the socket 39. By pulling on the plate 42, the shaft 41 may be partly withdrawn from the socket 39 a distance sufficient for opening 43 to move awayfrom and clear the end of the shaft 24. Then the plate 42 and stub shaft 41 may be rocked or swung about the axis of socket 39, to expose the end of the shaft 24 for access to the bearing assembly 15 and the printing cylinder 10. The stub shaft and bearing plate may be released for such an adjustment by manipulation of a clamp device 44 installed on the side of the beam 38 and projecting laterally into the socket 39.

For use with respect to relatively heavy cylinder installations, there may be provided additional support for the outer end of the shaft 24 in the form of an arm 45, one end of which is pivotally mounted at 46 to a frame mounted bracket 47. The other end of arm 45 is bifurcated and engages a rod 48 having an enlargement 49 on one'end. The rod 48 passes through the bearing plate 42 and has a. finger piece 51 attached to its other end whereby the enlargement 49 may be turned to locking or releasing position with respect to the arm 45. Engaged with the rod 48, the arm 45 supplements the beam 38 in supporting the outer end of the shaft 24.

Turning now to the bearing assembly 15, and referring to Figs. 4 and 5, such assembly comprises a sleeve 52 in surrounding relation to the shaft 24, upon which a ball bearing unit 53 is pressed and held by a retainer ring 54 having a screw threaded connection with the sleeve 52. The tapered nose member 14 has a rotatable mounting on the unit 53. Outwardly of the unit 53, the sleeve 52 is formed with a radial flange 55 having an annular groove 56 in its periphery. A knurled knob or collar 57 surrounds the flange 55 and has pins 58 received in the groove 56 whereby the knob 57 is connected to the sleeve 52 for unison axial but relative rotary motions.

The knob 57 has an eccentric bore 59 in which is installed a nut 61. The nut 61 has a relatively elongated central opening 62, having screw threads 63 at one side thereof. The shaft 24 passes through opening 62 in the nut, the area thereofsurrounded by the nut 61 having continuous screw threads 64 thereon. As indicated in Fig. 5, the nut 61 is approximately oval shaped, and the transverse thickness thereof in the region of the screw threads 63 is slightly greater than the minimum distance between the wall of bore 59 in knob 57 and the shaft 24. Thus, according to the construction and arrangement of the parts an oscillating motion of the knob 57 raises and lowers the nut 61 respectively to disengage and' engage the threaded portions 63 and 64. It will be understood that when such portions are engaged, the bearing assembly is effectively locked to the shaft 24.

It will further be understood that as relative rotary motion of the knob 57 is limited by reactance of the nut 61 upon the threads 64, continued rotary motion of the knob in the same direction results in the knob and nut turning as a unit and advancing along the threads 64 of the shaft in response to such motion. The latter described motion of the knob 57 and nut 61 is partaken of by the sleeve 52 and associated parts since the nut 4 61 is connected to the sleeve 52 for unison rotary motion by means of tongues 65 on the nut received in grooves 66 in the sleeve.

In changing to a different size printing cylinder, and assuming the arm 45 is in use, the finger piece 51 is turned to release the arm 45 which then takes or is caused to take the disengaged position of Fig. 6. The bearing plate 42 then is pulled out and swung from cooperative relation with the shaft 24, the clamp device 44 being first loosened to permit this adjustment. The hand wheel sleeve 28 then is turned to loosen the gripping engagement of the collar 29 with the frame 19, and, following this, the several elements of the cylinder supporting apparatus are raised by rotating the hand wheel 33. When this has been done the cam plate 31 is turned to a new position appropriate to the diameter of the new cylinder to be substituted, and it will be noted in this connection that the adjusment knob 32 is marked with numerals indicating that each peripheral flat on the plate 31 corresponds to a particular form size.

The parts being so conditioned for removal and re= placement of the printing cylinder, the knob 57 of assembly 15 is turned approximately one-half a revolution in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 5) which serves to raise the nut 61 out of engagement with the threads 64. The entire assembly 15 then may be slipped axially off of the outer free end of the shaft 24, following which the cylinder 16 may be similarly removed.

A newly selected cylinder is then installed on the shaft 24 in a reverse manner and the inner end or that first on the shaft is applied to the tapered nose bearing 22 which tends to center the cylinder on the shaft. In following relation to the printing cylinder the bearing assemblylS is returned to position on the shaft and moved quickly therealong by hand until the nose portion 14 abuts the flared surface 12 of the cylinder. Rotating the knurled knob 57 clockwise, the nut 61 is returned to engagement with the threads 64, and rotation of the knob in the same direction may be continued to turn the nut 61 on the threads 64 and thereby advance the bearing assembly relatively slowly to seat the printing cylinder firmly upon the respective bearing assemblies 15 and 23.

The bearing plate 42 may now be returned to cooperative relation with the shaft 24, and, in companion operations the arm 45 is reengaged with rod 48 and the hand wheel 33 is turned to lower the cylinder supporting apparatus until the collar 29 limits against the cam plate 31. The hand wheel sleeve 28 finally is adjusted to maintain the position of the parts.

In substituting a cylinder of the same size as the one removed, the procedure is the same as above described, except that it is not necessary to change the setting of the cam plate 31.

As indicated in Fig. 3, the illustrative embodiment of the invention, a substantially duplicate cylinder supporting system 67 is used. The second system or train of apparatus is arranged for printing on the reverse side of the forms, it being contemplated that by the instant mechanism forms may be imprinted on the front or on the back, or on both sides at the same time.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the inv ention is not limited to the specific features shown, but

that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but oneof several modes of putting the invention into effect. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a roll imprinter or like device, a frame, a printing roll including a shaft, a mounting for one end of said shaft in said frame, a frame mounted hanger member in. parallel spaced apart relation to said shaft, a plate suspended from said hanger member and providing a bearing for the other end of said shaft, said plate'being disengageable from said shaft andadjustable out of co operative relation therewith, a printing cylinder in surrounding relation to said shaft, bearing assemblies on said shaft engaging the ends of said cylinder, one of said assemblies being interposed between said cylinder and said bearing plate, and a releasable coupling between said one assembly and said shaft.

2. In a roll imprinter or like device, a shaft, longitudinally spaced apart bearing assemblies on said shaft, a cylinder in surrounding relation to said shaft and having its ends cooperatively engaged with said bearing assemblies, a relatively stationary support for one end of said shaft, a support for the other end of said shaft adjustable into and out of cooperative relation with said other end of the shaft, and a detachable coupling connecting the bearing assembly, nearer said last named support to said shaft for quick release therefrom, said last named means being independent of said adjustable support and being exposed for access by adjustment of said adjustable support out of cooperative relation with said other end of the shaft.

3. In a roll imprinter or like device, a shaft, a cylinder in surrounding relation to said shaft, said cylinder having open ends, bearing assemblies on said shaft in side by side relation to said cylinder, each of said assemblies including a tapered bearing member received in an adjacent end of said cylinder, a quick connect and disconnect coupling between one of said bearing assemblies and said shaft whereby said one assembly may be removed from said shaft by way of one end thereof in order that said cylinder may be similarly removed and replaced, and supporting means for said shaft including a bearing plate adjustable into and out of cooperative relation with said one end of the shaft.

4. In a roll imprinter or like device, a shaft, a cylinder freely mounted on said shaft, a swingable bearing plate for one end of the shaft adjustable into and out of cooperative relation with said one end of the shaft for selective withdrawal and replacement of said cylinder, another plate providing a common support for said bearing plate and for the other end of the shaft, a frame, and means for adjusting said other plate relatively to said frame.

5. A roll imprinter or like device according to claim 4, characterized by means for holding said other plate in selected positions of adjustment.

6. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft, a support for said shaft, a relatively stationary frame, a connection between said frame and said support for elfecting bodily adjustments of the assembly comprising said support and said shaft relatively to said frame, and means on said frame independent of said connection limiting motion of said assembly in one direction only and adjustable to maintain motion limiting contact with said assembly in each position of bodily adjustment thereof.

7. A roll imprinter or like device according to claim 6, characterized in that said last named means is an irregularly shaped disc rotatably mounted on said frame with its peripheral edge in cooperative relation to said assembly.

8. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft, a plate member mounting one end of said shaft and lying in a plane normal to said shaft, a frame member in adjacent parallel relation to said plate member, a connection between said frame member and said plate member for making relative bodily adjustments of said plate member, a hanger member forming a unitary part of said plate member and extending in parallel relation to said shaft toward the opposite end thereof, a bearing plate carried by said hanger member providing a support for the saidopposite end of said shaft, and a cylinder freely mounted on said shaft. i

9. A roll imprinter according to claim 3, characterized in that said bearing plate is carried for relative sliding and rocking motions by said hanger member, said plate being adjustable into and out of supporting relation to the said opposite end of said shaft in a manner permitting removal and replacement of said cylinder upon said shaft by an axial sliding motion over the said opposite end of said shaft.

10. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft, a plate member mounting one end of said shaft and lying in a plane normal to said shaft, a hanger member forming a unitary part of said plate member and extending in parallel relation to said shaft, a bearing plate mounting the other end of said shaft and supported by said hanger member for relative sliding and rocking motions, and an auxiliary frame mounted support for the said opposite end of said shaft detachably engaged with said bearing plate.

11. In a roll imprinter, a cylinder shaft having its one end relatively stationarily installed and its opposite end accessible for removal and replacement. of a printing cylinder thereover, a bearing on said shaft adjacent to its said opposite end, lock-nut means connecting said bearing to said shaft, and means for releasing said lock nut for removal of said hearing from said shaft, said bearing, said lock nut and said last named means: comprising an assembly removable from and replaceable on said shaft as a unit.

12. In a roll imprinter, a cylinder shaft having a relatively free end over which a cylinder may be removed from and replaced on the shaft, screw threads on the said free end of said shaft, and a bearing assembly installed on said shaft in following relation to the cylinder and including a lock nut laterally adjustable into and out of meshing engagement with said screw threads, and eccentric means for adjusting said lock nut.

13. In a roll imprinter, a shaft having a relatively free end, a cylinder installed on and removed from said shaft over said free end, a bearing assembly installed on said shaft between said cylinder and its opposite end, another bearing assembly installed on said shaft between said cylinder and said free end of the shaft, and means for alternatively locking and releasing said other bearing assembly relatively to said shaft, said means being operable in the locked position of said other assembly to advance said other assembly axially along said shaft to clamp said cylinder between the said bearing assemblies.

14. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft having a relatively free end over which a cylinder may be removed from and installed on said shaft, screw threads on the said free end of the shaft, and a bearing assembly installed on said shaft in following relation to the cylinder and including a lock nut adjustable laterally to engage the screw threads on the shaft to lock the hearing assembly to the shaft and rotatable While engaged with said threads to advance said bearing assembly axially upon the adjacent end of the cylinder.

15. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft having a relatively free end over which a cylinder may be installed on and removed from the shaft, screw threads on the said free end of said shaft, a bearing installed on said shaft in following relation to the cylinder, a mounting sleeve for said bearing rotatably mounted on said shaft, a lock nut connected to said sleeve for unison rotary and relative sliding motions and in surrounding relation to said screw threads, and a manipulative member rotatably mounted on said sleeve and having an accentric recess receiving said lock nut, said member being adjustable toshift said lock nut laterally into and out of locking engagement with said screw threads.

16. A roll imprinter according to claim 15, characterized in that said lock nut and said eccentric recess have complementary surfaces operating in response to an ini tial motionof rotary adjustment of said manipulative member to engage said lock nut with said screw threads, the assembly comprising said member, said .lock nut, said sleeve and said bearing being adjustable axially along said screw threads by continued rotary motion of saidv manipulative member after engagement of said lock nut with said screw threads.

References Cited in the file of this patent -UN1TED STATES PATENTS 570,928 Harding et Nov. 10, 1896 Stephenson Mar. 2, 1954

Images