US2845864A - Inking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 1958 J. T. DAVIDSON 2,845,864

INKING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 21, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JOHN T. DAVIDSON ATTORNEY Aug. 5, 1958 J. T. DAVIDSON 2,845,864

INKING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1953 INVENTOR JOHN T. DAVIDSON nmwum A TORNEY 5, 1958 J. 'r. DAVIDSON 2,845,864

INKING MECHANISM Filed n- 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. JOHN T. DAVIDSON BY mm m AT ORNEY United States Patent INKING MECHANISM John T. Davidson, Dayton, Ohio, assiguor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation ofOhio Application January 21, 1953, Serial No. 332,213

1 Claim. (Cl. 101-350) This invention relates to roll imprinters, and particularly to self contained apparatus in such devices for inking the printing cylinder.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of inking mechanisms whereby such mechanisms may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efiicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of printing rolls, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

An object of the invention is to achieve uniform ink feeding and distribution in connection with printing cylinders of varying size.

Another object of the invention is to provide for controlled ink feeding in such manner that the ink applying means may receive, at will, greater or lesser amounts of ink.

A further object of the invention is to enable an adjustment of parallelism of the ink applying means relatively to the printing cylinder.

Still another object of the invention is to contain the inking apparatus in an assembly of parts, which can be installed in and removed from the imprinter as a unit.

A still further object of the invention is to mount the inking apparatus on a carriage for adjustment to and from engaged position with respect to the printing cylinder.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for defining an engaged position of the inking apparatus, such means being adjustable to vary the engaged position in accordance with the diameter of the printing cylinder.

Still another object of the invention is to connect and disconnect the inking apparatus from its operating power source, in conjunction with the movements thereof to the aforementioned engaged and disengaged positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide inking mechanism possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

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 consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one, but obviously not necessarily the only embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a view in perspective, and partly broken away, of inking apparatus in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing the inking unit installed in the imprinter in conjunction with adjustment means therefor;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, in side elevation, of elements of the ink feeding mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a partly diagrammatic view, showing the drive to and within the inking unit;

Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing the means for making parallel adjustments of the Contact roll;

Fig. 6 is a detail view, in perspective, of the means for releasably locking the inking unit to the adjustable carriage;

Fig. 7 is a detail view, in side elevation, of a pawl and ratchet mechanism for advancing the fountain roll;

Fig. 8 is a detail view, in plan, of the means for reciprocating the power roll;

Fig. 9 is a detail view in side elevation, and partly diagrammatic, of the devices of Fig. 8;

Fig. l0is a fragmentary view, partly broken away, of an adjustment control for the devices shown in Fig. 3.

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

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 2, the roll imprinter in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, comprises spaced apart stationary side frames 15 (one shown). Also forming a part of the roll imprinting machine is a printing cylinder 16, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2 and shown also in Fig. 4. The side frames 15 provide a recessed slideway 17 in the adjacent facing side walls thereof. The slideways 17 receive laterally projecting rails on a mounting plate or carriage 19 which is thus supported for longitudinal sliding movements between the side frames 15, the permitted movement of the carriage 19 being in advancing and retracting directions relative to the printing cylinder 16.

Each rail 18 has a stud 21 projecting laterally therefrom through a slot 22 in the adjacent side frame 15. A lock nut 23 is installed on the stud 21 externally of the frame 15 and can be adjusted into and out of frictional engagement with the wall or frame 15, to hold the carriage 19 in selected adjusted positions in the slideways 17.

To effect movement thereof, the carriage or mounting plate 19 has a rack 24 fastened to its underside. In meshing engagement with the rack 24 is a pinion 25 on a shaft 26. The shaft 26 is journaled in the sideframes 15. It projects through and beyond one of the frames 15 and on such projecting end is secured a knob 27 for hand rotation of the shaft 26. It will be apparent that by turning the knob 27 in a leftward or counterclockwise direction the carriage 19 may be advanced toward the printing cylinder 16 and that by turning the knob in the opposite or clockwise direction an opposed or retracting motion of the carriage 19 will result.

Performing a locating function in connection with the carriage adjustment mechanism is a stop arm 28 made fast to the shaft 26 intermedite the knob 27 and frame 15, and a cooperating lock plate 29 mounted on the frame 15 for relative arcuate swinging motion by reason of a pinin-slot connection indicated at 31. Clamp means 32 are provided for holding the locking plate 29 in a selected position of arcuate adjustment. It will be apparent that if the locking means 32 is loosened, and if the 'nuts 23 are loosened, then the shaft 26 may be turned freely in a counterclockwise direction to advance the carriage 19 toward the printing cylinder 16. When a selected location of the carriage 19 relative to the printing cylinder has been achieved, the advancing motion of the carriage is stopped and the lock nuts 23 are turned down to hold the carriage in such selected position. Further, the lock plate 29 may be brought to engagement with a turned over end 33 on the arm 28, if it is not already soengaged, and the clamp means 32 can be reapplied to hold the plate 29 so positioned. The plate 29 serves to'positively define theselected advanced position of the carriage 19, and the carriage can at will be retracted from and re- 3 advanced to such position with the assurance that it can always be returned accurately to the initially defined position.

The lock plate 29 may, if desired, be placed under the influence of a suitable spring, urging it to engagement with the turned over end 33' of the arm 28. The plate 29 thereby assumes the status of a. follower relatively to the arm 28, and is automatically set to adjusted position by turning of the arm 28.

The carriage 19 supports an assembly of elements for applying ink to the printing cylinder 16, or more particularly to the type or other printing elements 34 (Fig. 4) set in the periphery thereof. The inking assembly includes a contact roll 35 which is moved by the aforementioned adjustments of the carriage 19 to engaged and disengaged positions relative to the printing cylinder. It will be understood that the locking adjustment afforded by the plate 29 previously described, has reference to and is used to define the engaged position of the contact roll 35 with respect to the cylinder 16. It will be further understood that such engaged position will vary with variations in the diameter of the cylinder 16.

The assembly of elements comprising the inking apparatus is supported by a pair of auxiliary side frames 36 and 37 secured to a base plate 38. The plate 38 rests ,upon and is detachably connected to the carriage 19 for motion with the carriage. The arrangement accordingly is such that the inking apparatus is advanceable and retractable as a unit in the imprinting machine. Further, when it is desired to change inking units in the machine, as for purposes of a color change, the one inking unit can be removed from the machine simply by turning the knob 27 in a clockwise direction to retract the carriage 19 and by then lifting the plate 38 from the carriage, a new or another inking unit being replaced in the machine by following the same steps in inverse order.

For purposes of a quick connect and disconnect of the plate 38 relative to the carriage 19, there is provided a latch mechansm between the devices, as shown in Fig. 6. Thus, the plate 38 supports a bracket 39 which in turn mounts a rod or plunger 41 in perpendicular sliding relation to the plate 38. The lower end of the plunger 41 extends through and beyond the plate 38 and has an irregularly shaped plate 42 fastened thereteo. At the upper end of the plunger 41 is a finger operated lever 43, and a compression spring 44 urges the plunger 41 in an axially upward direction. The carriage plate 19 has an opening 45 therein corresponding in shape to the plate 42. By depressing the plunger 41 axially,

against the resistance of spring 44, the plate 42 may be passed through the opening 45. The lever 43 then is turned to move the plate 42 out of registry with the opening 45, and when released, the plate 38 and the carriage 19 are locked together. The lock mechanism described may be released merely by turning the lever 43 until the plate 42 against registers with the opening 45. The spring 44 then will cause the plate 42 to rise in the opening 45, and the plate 38 may be simply lifted from the carriage 19.

The elements of the inking assembly include, in addition to the contact roll 35, a power roll 46, a fountain roll 47, idler rolls 48 and 49 and a transmission roll 51. The rolls 35, 48, 49 and 51 are made of steel but present relatively soft peripheral surfaces by reason of rubber or rubber-like coverings. The rolls 46 and 47 are made of uncovered steel.

The fountain roll 47 is journaled between the side frames 36 and 37. As shown in Fig. 4, it defines in conjunction with a tray 52 an ink well 53. The relationship between the fountain roll 47 and the tray 52 is variable by movement of adjustment screws 54, through the adjustments of which flow out of the well 53 upon the sur face of the fountain roll 47 may be variably constricted.

The transmission roll 51 is rotatably mounted between the outer ends of a pair of arms 55 connected at their 4' inner ends to a shaft 56 supported between the frames 36 and 37. ,The arms 55 are of two-part construction to provide for a relative rocking adjustment under control of a pair of set screws 57. A roller 58 on each arm 55 rides on the surface of a cam 59 on a shaft 61 journaled in the frames 36 and 37. The earns 59 are similarly shaped so that the arms 55, and roll 51 supported thereby,

- may be raised and lowered in a cycle of motion once during each revolution of the shaft 61.

Each cam 59 includes a pair of arcuate segments 62 (Fig. 3) pivotally connected to one another at their one ends and interconnected by a spring 63 at their other ends. A pair of pins 64 (Fig. 10) are installed in the hub of the cam in position to be spread apart by a screw 65 received in the tapped outer end of shaft 61. In this manner the diameter of the cam 59 may, in effect, be varied in the interests of obtaining the proper pressural engagement of the roll 51 with the roll 47. The adjustment screws 57 serve a similar purpose, rocking one part of the arm relatively to the other part for contact of the roll 51 with the roll 47 at an earlier or later point in the rotation of shaft 61.

While in engagement with the roll 47, the roll 51 receives ink which has been deposited on the surface of the roll 47 by reason of its rotation relative to the tray 52. Descending into contact with the roll 49, the roll 51 transfers the ink to the surface of this roll and thence to the power roll 46 and the contact roll 35. The roll 48 serves a smoothing or leveling function in connection with the film of ink on the power roll just prior to its reaching the contact roll 35.

The drive of the inking apparatus, whereby the above described operations are carried out, is derived from the printing cylinder 16 which is positively rotated, in a suitable manner, during operation of the imprinting machine. As shown in Fig. 4, the cylinder 16 has a gear 66 thereon meshing with a gear 67 rotatably mounted on the frame 36. In the previously defined engaged position of the inking unit, the gears 66 and 67 are meshed and an effective drive is established from the printing cylinder to the inking unit. In the disengaged position, however, the gears 66 and 67 are separated and such drive is interrupted. It may be said, therefore, that the driving connection to the inking unit is enabled and disabled in correspondenc with and as a result of the engaging and disengaging of the contact roll 35 with respect to the cylinder 16.

The gear 67 is continuously meshed with a gear 68, fast on one end of the power roll 46, and also is continuously meshed with a gear 69 on one end of a shaft 71 supported between the frames 36 and 37. Rotation of the gear 67, therefore, is directly effective to rotate the power roll 46 and the shaft 71. The opposite end of the shaft 71 has a bevel gear 72 thereon meshing with a like gear 73 on one end of a shaft 74 rotatably mounted on the plate 38 in parallel relation to the side frame 37. Formed on the shaft 74 are first and second worms 75 and 76, the former meshing with a gear 77 fast on a stub shaft 78 set in the frame 37. Also fast on the stub shaft 78 is a gear 79 meshing with another gear 81 on the cam shaft 61. Rotation of the cam shaft 61 accordingly is effected by the direct drive initiated from the cylinder 16', and it will be observed that the construction and arrangement of parts is such that the roll 46', the stub shaft 78 and the cam shaft 61 rotate continuously with rotation of the printing cylinder 16, in the engaged position of the inking unit. The idler rolls 35, 48 and 49 also rotate continuously due to their frictional contact with the power roll 46.

The worm 76 meshes'with a gear 82 fast on a stub shaft 83 rotatably mounted in the frame 37. A crank disc 84 also is secured to the shaft 83 and carries an eccentrically located pin 85. Connected to the pin 85 is one end of an escapement type linkage 86 terminating at its other end in a pivoted pawl 87. The pawl 87 is cooperable with a ratchet 88, fast on the shaft of roll 47, to advance or turn the roll 47 in step by step fashion in response to rotation of the crank disc 84. The latter, since it is directly connected to the worm shaft 74, turns continuously in the operation of the inking unit. The extent of advance of the roll 47 during each revolution of the crank disc 84 is predetermined, and may, for example, correspond to the distance of three tooth spaces of the ratchet 88. Means for varying the length of the step by step movements of the fountain roll 47 is represented by a longitudinally slotted sleeve 89 rotatably adjustable on the roll 47. In the manner .of substantially equivalent line spacing devices of typewriters, the sleeve 89 holds the pawl 87 up out of engagement with the teeth of ratchet 88 during greater or lesser parts of the ratchet feeding movement. By adjustment of the sleeve 89, therefore, the increments of motion of the fountain roll 47 may be selectively lengthened or reduced.

The cams 59 for raising and lowering the transmission roll 51 are made to hold the roll 51 in contact with the roll 47 for a period at least as long as is required for the maximum length step of the fountain roll, and it will be understood that the period of dwell of the transmission roll on the fountain roll is made to coincide with the period of advance of the fountain roll. In any event, a ribbon or band of ink of variable length is deposited on the fountain roll 47 and transmitted to the roll 51 once for each oscillatory cycle of the roll 51. Such ink is transferred to the roll 49 and then reaches the contact roll 35 in response to continued operation of the unit, in the manner before described.

As an aid to distribution of the ink over the power roll 46 and on the contact roll 35, the roll 46 is given a compound motion wherein it is reciprocated axially as well as rotated. To effect this operation the roll 46 has an extension 92 thereon projecting through and beyond the frame 37. Secured to the extension 92 is a sleeve 93 having a circumferential groove 94 therein. A similar sleeve 95 is mounted on an extension 96 of the constantly rotating stub shaft 78, but has an eccentric groove 97. Received in the grooves 94 and 97 are respective rollers 98 and 99 on a lever 101 pivotally mounted on a stud 102. The latter has an upstanding mounting in the plate 38 and is surrounded by a bushing 103 which is in directly supporting relation to the lever 101. It will be evident that in response to rotation of the stub shaft 78, the described construction and arrangement of parts is such as to reciprocate the power roll 46 on its longitudinal axis.

There is further provided in the inking unit an adjustment for tilting the contact roll 35 relatively to the printing cylinder 16' to insure an even and uniform inking of the cylinder over its full width. To this end the roll 35 is mounted in bifurcated arms 10'4 pivotally mounted on a reduced diameter shaft portion of roll 46'. Rotatably mounted on the same shaft portion, and connected to respective arms 104 are worm gears 105. Engaged with each gear 105 is a worm 106 on an adjustment stud 107, the respective studs 107 extending upward in the unit for hand rotation. In response to such rotation the arms 104 move to effect approaching and with drawing motions of the roll 35 relative to the printing cylinder. By turning one of the studs 107 a greater or lesser distance than the other, it will be understood that a compensating adjustment for parallelism of the contact roll relative to the printing cylinder may be effected.

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 invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a roll imprinter, a relatively stationary frame having an opening to receive an inking assembly, a mounting plate for said assembly received in said opening for sliding movement relatively to said frame, a toothed rack on said plate, a shaft rotatably supported by said frame and extending in transverse adjacent relation to said rack, a pinion on said shaft engaging said rack, a handle on one end of said shaft for manual oscillation of said shaft to effect to and fro movements of said mounting plate, means on said frame adjustable positively to define a variable limit of motion of said mounting plate in one direction, said limit means includes a stop arm on said shaft, a stop member on said frame engageable by said arm, and means for releasably securing said stop member in multiple positions of adjustment relatively to said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,558,108 Marquardt Oct. 20, 1925 1,683,243 Blaine Sept. 4, 1928 1,733,168 Pritchard Oct. 29, 1929 1,376,982 Walser et al May 3, 1921 1,945,498 Avery et a1. Jan. 30, 1934 1,963,042 Avery June 12, 1934 2,004,801 Sheppard June 11, 1935 2,054,830 Osborn Sept. 22, 1936 2,128,343 Bemis et al Aug. 30, 1938 2,206,712 Babson July 2, 1940 2,333,962 Terry Nov. 9, 1943 2,347,619 Taylor et a1 Apr. 25, 1944 2,406,928 Taylor et a1. Sept. 3, 1946 2,425,529 Harless Aug. 12 ,1947 2,467,199 Faeber Apr. 12, 1949 2,588,470 Bassist Mar. 11, 1952

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