US2925032A - Rotary offset printing machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1960 P. J. E. GLOGAUD 2,925,032

ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet l l PlEg Ra J. E. G-LoerAuD \1 Feb. 16, 1960 P. J. E. GLOGAUD 2,925,032

ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1958 1s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

' PIERRE d.E.G-L.o&AuD

Feb. 16, 1960. P. J. E. GLOGAUD 2,925,032

ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. '13, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet a Pier-4 IN V EN TOR.

I PlERRE J. E. G'LOG-AU'D Feb. 16, 1960 P. J. E. GLOGAUD ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 15, 1958 IN V EN TOR.

P. J. E. GLOGAUD ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 15, 1958 Feb. 16, 1960 P. J. E. GLOGAUD ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE 13 She ets-Sheet "6 Filed Feb. 13, 1958 Rm .m Ww g 0 w w w m, I. J. u m u F m F 2 M H t 5- u 7 w a a M; 3 w m 2 w m w, a 4 w I Feb. 16, 1960' g e p 2 2,925,032

ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, '1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. Dumas E. CrLocwAuD BY v "Filed Feb. 13, 1958 Feb. 1960 P. J. E. GLOGAUD 2,925,032

' ROTARY OFFSET PRINTiNG MACHINE 1s Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. PnEg RE J. E. GrLoa-Auo Feb. 16, 1960 P. J. E. GLOGAUD 2,925,032

ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE 7 Filed Feb. 13, '1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Fier. I3

INVENTOR. PIERYRE J. E G'LOG-AUD B MMM Feb. 16, 1960 Filed Feb. 15,

P. L E. GLOGAUD Fla I4 13 Sheets-Sheet 1O PRODUCTION ORDER DATE. Ass'n NO- pws. mrLsPzc. scHEm/zE I57 :1-4-57 01234 A-5678 B,-90l2 \-6-5s QUANTITY IDENTIF/C'AT/O/V FACTORY I00 SPECIAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY 3 PART/r0. MACH. DESCRIPTION 004M SET-0P MFG. v

[8 0000 0 oocoOoo--Oo OoooOc qooncmm \55 A-7 SPACE SLEEVE, wrYH 1 TAPPED AND SHOULDERED 2 ENDS 300 I 24 3 \53/ 5-4 SCREW 300 4 4 V55 /52- I54- A-l ACTUATING KNOB WITH 5 sPRme RECESS 100 6' 17 6 L55 A-e ACTUATlNG SHAFT I00 1 2- I4 7 i56 PURCH. PIN\ON GEAR IOO 8 \5'7 PURCH. BIAS sPRme IOO 9 INVENTOR.

' PIERRE J. E. GrLOG-AUD HTT Ys.

b- 1960 P. J. E. GLOGAUD 2,925,032

' ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 I80 PRODUCTION ORDER ROUTE SHEET DATE Ass'x 4 0. 0W6. MAT/4. spec. saw-004E n-4-s7 o|2a4 A-5678 B-QOIZ l-6-53 own/rm lDEA/T/HCAT/d/V FACTORY I00 SPECIAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY 3 PARr/mmm DEscR/PT/0A 00AM sir-4P MP I53 A-7 SPACER SLEEVE, wm-\ I TAPPED AND SHOULDERED 2 ENDS 300 Z4 3 \55A 5-4 SCREW 300 4 4 I54 A-l AcTuATme KNOB wrru' 5 SPRING- RECESS I00 5? l7 6 \55 A-6 ACTUATING' SHAFT 10o li' 14' 7 \56 PURCH PINION GEAR IOO 6 I57 PURCH. BIAS SPR\NG-' loo w 9 INVENTOR.

Feb. 16, 1960 P, J, E,- GLOGAUD 2,925,032

ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 ia l7 $4 I I PRODUCTION ORDER JOB TICKET DATE ASs'Y/VO. 0W6. M472. 5P5: sax/500:5 11-4-57 01234 A-5678 5-9012 l-6-58 am/vr/rr /0A/T/F/CA7'/0/V FAcTa/er I00 SPECIAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY 3 min 21 mm DESCRIPT/d/I/ a/AMafl-W n/ a \53 A-7 SPACER SLEEVE,WITH

TAPPED AND SHOULDERED v 2 suns 300 I 24 3' PRODUCTION ORDER JOB'TICKET 047! Assam/a. an/a vwrl. s in sax/004! H-4-5'7 01254 A-5678 B-9mz 1 6-58 awn/wry IDENTIFICATION FACTOR) IOo SPECIAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY 3 Mirna/ 1m. @[SCi/PT/O/V a m/M 517% 110% 553A 5-4 SCREW 300 24 4 INVENTOR.

Pa e J. E. (irLoeAuo ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE Pierre James Etienne Glogaud, Paris, France, assignor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware 7 Application February 13, 1958, Serial No. 715,084

18 Claims. (Cl. 101-142 This invention relates to a new and improved oifset printing machine and more particularly to an offset printing machine Which permits printing, in a single operation, of both variable and fixed data. The invention further relates to a method of printing'a series of related documents by otfset printing and to the work sheets used in that method.

The popularity of offset printing machines is well known. Machines of this kind are widely utilized for general duplicating requirements, including the preparation of circulars, inter-ofiice communications, reports, charts, and the like. Because of the ease and facility of operation and the high quality of prints produced, planographic offset duplicating machines have also been Widely used for printing letterheads, drawings, and even for three-color process work. Copy reproduced on machinesof this kind lasts indefinitely, each duplicate copy retaining the appearance and the qualities of the original.

The lithographic masters utilized in offset printing machines, although originally made of Zinc or aluminum, :are now'to a great extent made of specially prepared paper The paper masters afford many important ad- 'vantages, including easier typing, proof reading; and correcting, and also are moderate in price as compared with metal masters. Paper masters of this kind comprise a high wet strength paper to which an appropriate coating is applied; a preferred form of lithographic master and the method of preparing such masters is described in detail in United States Letters Patent No. 2,534,650, to TS. Worthen, issued December 19, 1950. These paper- :base lithographic masters may be provided with perforated areas permitting detachment of portions thereof to afford a means for removing a part of the master in the reproduction of certain kinds 'of data. There are also stick on and overlay masters which may" be attached to an original master at certain places where it is desired to add to or to alter portions of the original copy, The versatility of ofiset printing machines is also enhanced by devices for automatically, applying thestarting solution to the master and for applying a cleaner solution to the offset cylinder blanket immediately upon the completion ofa printing run. Other known arrangements permit the mounting of two or more 'masters on the form cylinder of the offset printing machine, thereby affording another means for adding or deleting portions of the printed information.

The relatively versatile operation made possible by the aforementioned devices and developments with respect to rotary planographic printing machines makes possible their use for highly variable and exacting. applications, provided some means may be afforded tor the selection of different areas or lines of data on consecutive printing operations. Thus, an oifset printing machine which incorporates means for selecting particular portions of the data on the master cylinder for successive printing operations may be utilized in the preparation of'production orders and in other short-run printing operations in which it is necessary to reproduce some of the data con- United States Patent H 2,925,032- Patented Feb. .16, 1960 sistently and to change other portions of the data. Of course, the offset printing machine affords the same advantages in connection with applications of this kind as in more conventional duplicating and priting operations.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is a new and improved offset printing method and apparatus which provides for effective and convenient variation of the content of the printed data.

Another object of the invention is a new and improved offset printing machine and methods which afford a convenient and automatic means for modifying a portion of the printing data with each printing operation or upon occurrence of a predetermined number of printing operations.

A further object of the invention is a new and improved method of printing a series of related but different documents from a single lithographic master.

A more specific object of the invention is a new and improved offset printing machine including a blanket cylinder comprising automatic means for changing the data printed from a given master.

Another'object of the invention is a new and improved oifset printing machine including a blanket cylinder which affords means for mounting two separate blankets thereon, one of which may be utilized to reproduce fixed or repetitive data and the other of which may be adjusted to reproduce difierent portions of variable information.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode for applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same .or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention. a i In the drawings: k f Fig. 1 is a-perspective view of a planographic offset printing machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the inyention; i

Fig. 2 is a substantially simplified elevation view of the printing machine of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the blanket cylinder of the planographic printing machine ,of Fig. 1 Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the blanket cylinder of Fig. 3; i 'Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section-view taken along line 5 5 in Fig. 4; a" 'f Fig. 6 is an end view .of the blanket cylinder, illus trating .the blanket drive mechanism .and k a mechanism for adjusting blanket tension;

Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating blanket drive mechanism; k Fig. 8 is a detail view, similar to Fig- ,fli lustrating the blanket drive mechanism in another operating corn dition; J;

Fig. 9 is an elevation view of the blanket drive mecha: nism; a Fig. 10 is a detail viewillustrating a change in operat ing conditions in the blanket drive mechanism; Fig. 11 illustrates the blanket feed mechanism of the printing machine in its On position;

Fig. 12 illustrates the blanket feed mechanism in its Off position, portions of the device having been omitted to clarify the relationship of certain parts;

a portion of the Fig. 13 illustrates the means employed to reset the .theexternal blanket cylinder "surface.

utilized in the offset printing machine of the invention in connection with a particular kind of'systems job;

Figs. A and 15B illustrate the blankets of the ofiset printing machine having ink im ges thereon'taken from the. master shown in Fig. 14;.

Fig. 16 illustrates one printed form which may be reproduced in the printing machine utilizing the master of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 illustrates another printed form which may be reproduced using the master of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 18 shows yet another printed form which may be reproduced from the master of Fig. 14.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a rotary planographic offset printing machine 20 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The printing machine 29 comprises a pair of spaced frame plates 22 which are mounted upon a suitable base 21. A form cylinder 25, a blanket or offset cylinder 26, and a platen or impression cylinder 27 are rotatably mounted between the frame plates 22 for co-operation with each other in the usual manner. A paper feed table 28 may be provided to afford a means for introducing work sheets into the nipv of the offset and platen cylinders 26 and 27. The several cylinders may be driven by a suitable motor through driving belts, pulleys, and like means in conventional manner. I

A planographic form or master is mounted upon the cylinder and is inked by a suitableinking mechanism which may, for example, include a pair of form rolls 3-5'whjc'n receive ink from an ink fountain (not shown) mounted within the housing 36 and which transfer the ink to the planographic plate inconventional manner by a repellent applicator roll 38 which is supplied with the ink repellent by a supply system (not shown) mounted within a housing 39. It will of course be understood that the above described general organization of parts of the printing machine is provided solely for the purpose of illustration and that the location and construction of the several different parts 'of the printing machine may be varied substantially without in any sense departing from the invention.

- The blanket cylinder 26' illustrated in Fig; 3 is provided with a fixed blanket 92 and movable blanket 93. One end of the fixed blanket '92 is attached to the blanket cylinder by suitable means such as a hook bar 94 (see Fig. 4) having a length approximately equal to the width of the blanket. The opposite end of the fixed blanket 92 may be clamped to the blanket cylinder by a notched retainer strip 95 which is secured to the cylinder by suitable means such as a plurality of clamp screws 96. The movable blanket 93 has its two ends held together with a fastener clamp 97. This movable blanket, as indicated in Figs. 1. andZ, covers one circumferential ment for the pressure-roller 99 further includes a pair-of biasing springs 116 which individually engage the two sliding blocks 1'14 and a pair of mounting plates 117. Thus, the springs 116 urge the sliding blocks 114 downwardly, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, maintaining a constant pressure between the pressure roller 99 and the drive roller 98.

The drive roller 98, on the other hand, is supported upon a shaft 118 which is journalled in the side plates of the blanket cylinder 26. A pinion 119 is afiixed to one end of the shaft 118 for rotation therewith to afford a means for rotating the shaft 118 and the drive roller 98 mounted thereon. The pinion 119 is mounted in meshing engagement with a spur gear '120, the spur gear 120 being affixed to the pressure roller shaft 113.

A spur gear 121 is affixed to the shaft 118 at the end thereof opposite gear 119, the two gears being located outside of the end plates of the blanket cylinder 26. A semicircular end cap 122 is also secured to the shaft 118 adjacent the gear 121. Any suitable means may be utilized to affix the gear 121 and the cap 122 to the shaft 118 for rotation therewith. The gear 121 is disposed in meshing engagement with a spur gear 124 which is journalled upon a bearing stud 123, the bearing stud being afiixed to the end wall of the blanket cylinder. A ratchet member 1'25 is secured to the gear 124 for rotation therewith with respect to the bearing stud 123.

A ratchet pawl lever 126 is also pivotally mounted upon the bearing stud or shaft 123. The gear 124, the ratchet wheel 125, and the pawl lever 126 may be held in position on the shaft 123 by any suitable means such as the retainer stud 127 (see Figs. 5 and 6') g The pawl lever 12 6 is biased toward engagement with a stop 12% by means of a spring 129, one end of the spring 129 being connected to the pawl lever and the other end being connected to a pin 109 which is secured to theend wall of the blanket cylinder 26. A pawl 130 is pivotally mounted on the pawl lever 126 as by means of a stud 131. A torsion spring 132 is mounted upon the pawl lever 126 and extends into engagement with the pawl 130; this spring 132 normally biases the pawl 130 toward Contact with the ratchet wheel 12-5. The spring 129, however, normally maintainsrthe pawl lever 126 in a position in which the pawl 130 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 125.

The tightener roll 112 (Fig. 4) is afl'ixed to a shaft 135 which extends longitudinally of the blanket cylinder 26. The opposite ends of the shaft 135 are journalled in a pair of sliding blocks 136 which are individually mounted in recesses in a pair of brackets 137, the two brackets 13'! being afiixed to the inner sides of the end 7 walls of the blanket cylinder 26.

or arcuate portion of the blanket cylinder 26, whereas the fixed blanket 92 is mounted upon a different portion of I The movable blanket 93 extends into theblanket cylinder 26 through a slot in the surface of the cylinder and passes between a feed roller 98 and a pressure roller 99. A blanket return stop. 100 is provided to afford a mean'sfor accurately positioning the movable blanket at the start of a printing operation, as is described more fully hereinafter. The movable blanket 93 extends beyond the stop 1% and over a portion of the outer surface of an idler roller 111 which is loosely mounted upon a shaft 110. From the roller 111, the movable blanket 93 extends into engagement with a tightener roller 112 and back tothe outer surface of the blanket cylinder 26. V

The pressure roller 99 is 'affixed to a shaft 113 for rotation therewith (see Figs. 4 and 5). The ends of the shaft'113 are freely rotatably mounted in a pair of sliding blocks 114 located adjacent opposite ends of the blanket cylinder. The sliding blocks'114 are main tained in position andin alignment with the feed roller 98 by two sets of guides'll'i The m unting arrang The positions of the two sliding blocks 136 are controlled in one direction by the movable blanket 93, which limits the movement of the tightener roll 112 by its engagement therewith as best illustrated in Fig. 4.

Movement of the blocks 136 in the opposite direction is limited by a'pair of rolls 138, only one of which is illustrated in Fig; 4. The rolls 138 are individually respectively attached to a pair of arms 139 which are afiixed to a rod 140 for rotation therewith. The rod 140 is journalled in the end plates of the blanket cylinder and is provided at one end with an arm 141, the arm 141 being secured to the rod 140 for rotation therewith. As best of the blanket cylinder by. suitable means such as a bolt 143.

On one of the frame members 22 of the printing 7 machine; there is located a plunger 134 which is semicircular in ress sect onal co fig rat n (We i 5&4

. 5. 7.-12). This plunger 134, whichcon'trols pivotal movement of the ratchet pawl lever 126 during rotation of the blanket cylinder 26, is constructed to have a throw-out position, the throwout position being illustrated in Fig. 9. As indicated therein, the plunger 134 is slidably mounted within a bushing 144 which is secured to the frame member 22 of the printing machine. A biasing spring 145 is mounted within the bushing 144 in engagement with the plunger 134 and urges the plunger outwardly of the frame member 22, the biasing force being exerted to the. plunger as illustrated in Fig. 9. A pivotally movable handle 146 is included in the printing machine and is utilized to actuate the plunger 134 into its operational position as illustrated in Fig. 10. The end of the handle 146 adjacent the plunger 134 is provided with 'a bevel, as best indicated in Figs. 5, 9 and 10. The handle is secured to a bell crank 147, the bell crank being pivotally mounted upon a stud 148 which is affixed to and extends outwardly from the frame member 22 of the printing machine. A cam follower 150 is mounted upon one arm of the bell crank 147 and engages a cam 149, the cam being pivotally mounted upon the frame member 22. The handle 146 is provided with a stabilizer 151 of known construction having a steel ball 151A resiliently fixed at the end thereof; the steel ball engages in suitable apertures or depressions 151B in the bell crank 147 to define the operating positions of the handle 146. The blanketreset mechanism of the printing machine, which is best illustrated in Fig. 13, comprises a bracket 152 which is afiixed to the left-hand frame member 22 of the printing machine, the bracket being spaced from the frame member by means of a pair of spacing collars 153. The bracket 152 is utilized in mounting a shaft 155 at the vside 'of the printing-machine, the shaft extending through an aperture in the frame member 22. A pinion gear 156 is aflixed to-the shaft;155, being located intermediate the bracket 152 and the frame member22, and a handle knob 154 is secured to the external end of the shaft 155. The shaft 155 is adapted for rotational and sliding movement in the two apertures provided in the bracket 152 and the frame member 22. p A compression spring 157 is disposed in encompassing relation to the shaft 155 and engages the bracket 152 and the handle 154. This spring 157 exerts a biasing force on the shaft assembly, urging the handle 154 and the shaft 155 outwardly of the printing machine. The shaft assembly is maintained in the assembled position shown in Fig. 13 by abutment of a shoulder on the pinion 156 against the bracket 152. Q

A second stud or shaft 158 is incorporated in the reset mechanism and is mounted in parallel spaced relation to the shaft 155, being rotatably and slidably mounted in suitable bearing apertures in the bracket 152 and in the frame member 22. ,A spur gear 159 is afiixed to the shaft 158. in meshing engagement with the pinion 156. The spur gear 159 is provided with two flanges which engage the sides of the pinion 156 and make it possible to move the shaft 158 in an axial direction without disengaging the two gears. Consequently, longitudinal movement of the knob 154 and the shaft 155 to which it is aflixed imparts a similaraxial movement to the shaft 158. Similarly, whenever the shaft assembly comprising the knob 154, the stud 155 and the gear 156 is moved outwardly by action of the biasing spring 157, the resulting axial movement of the shaft 155 is imparted to the shaft'158 through the engagement of the flanges on the gear 159 with the sides of the pinion 156. It is thus seen that the assemblies comprising the two studs or shafts 155 and 158 are interconnected for both angular and axial movements.

A socket member 160 is affixed to the shaft 158 at the end thereof adjacent the blanket cylinder 26. This socket member is provided with a suitable opening for receiving the end cap 122 of the feed roller shaft 118. Qonsequentlynthe; knob 154,may. be actuatedeby the printing machine operator to efiect manual rotation of the. drive roller 98 and thereby move the blanket 93 with respect to the blanket cylinder 26 as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 4. vRotation of the knob 154 may be employed to drive the feed roller 98 in either direction; this part of the printing machine is primarily provided, however, to restore the movable blanket 93 to its initial or starting position. For this purpose, the knob 154 may be pressed inwardly and rotated to move the driving roller 118 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 4, until the clamp 97 engages the blanket return stop 100. Thus, the clamp member 97 and the stop define the starting position of the movable blanket 93.

A similar stop member 161 is also provided to limit movement of the blanket 93 in the opposite direction in the event that the blanket is not returned to its starting position at the end of a given printing operation. In the event that the clamp 97 engages the stop 161, movement of the blanket is arrested, causing the blanket to slip with respect to the drive roll 98 and the pressure roll 99. Thus, the stop 161 constitutes a safety device and prevents the clamp member 97 from moving onto the periphery of the blanket cylinder 26. In normal operation of the machine, of course, the stop 161 is not utilized, since the operator ordinarily resets the movable blanket 93 to its starting position before a printing operation is initiated and the blanket does not ordinarily move to an extent sufficient to bring the clamp into engagement with the safety step.

The operation of the blanket cylinder 26 and of its associated actuated and controlled members is relatively simple and may be conveniently controlled by an operator having a minimum amount of training. The basic machine operation is essentially the same as in a conven-. tional planographic offset printing machine. A planegraphic master is affixed to the form cylinder 25 and the form cylinder, the blanket cylinder, and the impression cylinder are set into rotation. As the form cylinder 25 rotates, the master mounted thereon is inked from the form rolls 35 and the usual aqueous in repellent solution is applied thereto from the roll 38. The resulting ink image on the planographic master is transferred to the two blankets 92 and 93 mounted upon the blanket cylinder 26 and is then impressed upon a work sheet, usually paper or thin cardboard, fed into the nip of the blanket and impression cylinders from the paper feed table 28. Thus, the basic mode of operation of the printing machine 20 is essentially similar to that of a conventional offset printing machine.

At the start of the printing operation, the movable blanket 93 is moved to its starting position with respect to the blanket cylinder 26, the operator of the machine actuating the knob 154 to drive the blanket into a position in which the clamp 97 engages the stop 100. I Kit is assumed that the handle 146 is disposed in the position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 9, the printing machine operates in conventional manner, the two blankets 92 and 93 remaining in their initial positions upon the blanket cylinder 26. The printing machine is used in this manner to reproduce fully the data from the planographic master mounted therein, as is described more fully hereinafter in connection with a typical systems printing application.

Subsequently, however, the handle 146 may be shifted to its second stable position in engagement with the plunger 134, as illustrated in Fig. 10. Under these conditions, the plunger 134 is moved to a position in which. it intercepts the path of movement of the pawl lever 126 upon each revolution of the blanket cylinder. Consequentiy, as the blanket cylinder rotates, the plunger 134 engages the ratchet pawl lever 126, causing the ratchet. pawl lever to pivot about the stud 123. This pivotal movement of the ratchet pawl lever 126 displaces the pawl 130 from its normal position in engagement with the stop 128. The pawl 130 is urged by its operatingspring 132 into engagement with the, ratchet wheel and causes the ratchet wheel to rotate through a prede-' termined angular distance (see Fig. 8). Since the ratchet wheel 125 is connected to the gear 124, the latter also rotates and imparts a similar angular movement to the gear 121, the shaft 118 and the drive roll 98. At the same time, the meshing engagement of the gears 119 and 128 causes the gear 120 to be rotated, thereby driving the pressure roller 99 simultaneously with the drive roll 98. Accordingly, each revolution of the blanket cylinder 26 brings the ratchet pawl lever 126 into engagement with the plunger 134, causing the ratchet pawl lever to rotate and thereby driving the two rollers 98 and 99 to advance the movable blanket 93 a predetermined distance along the periphery of the blanket cylinder. Of course, when the ratchet pawl lever 126 is released from engagement with the plunger 134 and returns to normal position in contact with the stop 128, the stop engages the drive pawl 130 and disengages the pawl from the ratchet wheel 125.

The idler roller 111, around which the movable blanket 93 is extended, is not utilized as a driving element with respect to the movable blanket 93. Rather, this part of the blanket cylinder serves only to increase the length-of the movable blanket within the blanket cylinder, thereby affording a relatively large range of movements for the movable blanket. The tightener roll 112, on theother hand, is utilized to apply tension to the movable blanket 93 so that the latter may be maintained in contact with the blanket cylinder surface throughout its length. This tensioning of the movable blanket is highly desirable, since any buckling or looseness in the blanket may cause substantial deterioration in the reproduced image. Adjustment of the blanket tension is effected by angular displacement of the arm 14-1, the location of which is determined by theeccentric 142. The length of the movable blanket 93 is so selected that the lever 141 should always engage the eccentric 142, as shown in Fig. 6, this engagement being maintained by the connection of the tightener roll 112 to the lever 141 through the rollers 138, the roll arm 139, and the rod 140 (Figs. 4 and 6). To adjust the tension on the movable blanket, the eccentric 142 may be rotated about the screw 143, thereby displacing the arm 141 about its shaft 140 and, through the linkage just described, similarly displacing the tightener roll 112. This displacement of the tightener roll increases or decreases the travel of the movable blanket and therefore varies the tension applied to the blanket. After adjustment, of course, the eccentric 142 is locked in the desired position by means of the screw 143 to maintain the tension constant.

The handle 146 may also be utilized to select entries. For this purpose, the handle 146 may be positioned in its actuated or operating position (Fig. 1G) and the machine may be continued in operation without feeding any paper or other work sheets through the machine. When this is done, the movable blanket 93 advances through a predetermined distance at each revolution of the blanket cylinder and, when the movable blanket presents the data in printing position, paper feeding may be resumed. In the same manner, the handle 146 may be shifted to its unactuated position (Fig. 9) whenever it is desired to repeat a particular printing operation one or more times without advancing the movable blanket to change the data in printing position. It is thus seen that the printing machine includes an effective and simple arrangement for varying the number of copies made of different portions of the data. 8

When the movable blanket has advanced the required number of spaces for the particular printing job being carried out, it is again reset to its initial or starting position by the operator, using the knob 154 as described hereinabove to return the clamp 97 into engagement with the 'stop 100. The master on the form cylinder 25 is then changed, the blankets are cleaned and the printing machine is ready for the next operation.

For abetter understanding of the advantages offered by the fixed and movable blanket mechanism of the in- .vention, reference may be had to a particular printing application which may be carried out by the machine.

One such application, in which the invention is highly.

advantageous, is the printing of production orders for the manufacture of a particular machine or device.

in many instances, the manufacture of the various parts of a given device, or the assembly of the parts constituting a device, involves the preparation of a series of different forms. In some instances, only one copy of each form may be required, whereas in others duplicate or other multiple copies may be necessary, depending toa substantial extent upon the prevailing system in the factory in which the device-is manufactured. In general, however, the system requires one or several copies of a repetitive document (Fig. 16), commonly known as a route sheet or job sheet, which may include a description 181 of the item to be manufactured, referred to hereinafter as repetitive data, and a list 182 of the individual operations which must be performed in the different manufacturing departments of the factory, referred to hereinafter as variable data. The route sheet or sheets 180 are accompanied by a set of smaller sheets or tickets, usually known as labor tickets or job tickets, each corresponding to a particular operation to be performed in one factory department; examples of such job'tickets, comprising the printed cards 184 and 185, are illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18. vFor control purposes, however, the job tickets such as cards 184 and 185 should also show at least some description of the work piece; that is, the job tickets should include at least a portion of the repetitive data 181. Using the improved blanket cylinder arrangement of the present invention, the copies required for initiating particular manufacturing activity areprOcessed as follows:

A plano'graphic master 186, preferably a paper master of the kind described in the aforementioned Worthen patent, is first prepared. As indicated in Fig. 14, the master includes two data sections on which information is typed or otherwise inscribed. The upper section 187 of the master receives the repetitive data 181 including, for example, a description of the device to be manufactured, an identifying number for the device being manufactured, a drawing number, the starting date for the manufacturing activity, the scheduled finishing date, the quantity of devices to be manufactured, specifications for the materials to be employed, and other like information. The lower section 188 of the master, which may, for example be separated from the upper section 187 by a perforated line 189, receives the variable data comprising the list of individual operations 182. Each of the items in the variable data may include, for example, an operation identification number, a work shop number, a description of the operation to be performed, a' machine tool code number, the set-up time for the machine tool, the work time for fabrication per piece, and other like data. Each of these entries in the operation list 182 may comprise one or several lines; the space required for each line corresponds to the distance which the movableblanket 93 is advanced by the automatic shifting mechanism described hereinabove upon each revolution of the blanket cylinder.

After the master 186 has been prepared, it is mounted upon the form cylinder 25 and inked in the usual manner. The ink from the planographic master is then transferred to the two blankets 92 and 93. As illustrated in Figs. 15A and 15B, the repetitive data is transferred to the fixed blanket 92, whereas the variable information appears on the movable blanket 93. V

To print the route sheets 180, work sheets comprising blank or pre-printed paper are automatically fed through the printing machine 20, the number of work sheets corresponding to thenumber of documents required for dist-ribution to various departments of the manufacturing company. For this portion: of the printing operation, the handle 146 is maintained in its unactuated position (Figs. and 9) leaving the plunger 134 displaced from the path of movement of the pawl lever 126 and thus maintaining the blanket-advancing mechanism in disengaged or inactive condition. Consequently, the movable blanket 93 remains stationary upon the cylinder 26, permitting the reproduction of the repetitive data 181 andof all of the variable data 182 upon each of the route sheets 180.

Thereafter, the variable data section 188 of the master 186 is detached therefrom and the operator moves the handle 146 to its actuated position (Fig. 10). The work tickets, as exemplified by job tickets 184 and 185 (Figs. 17 and 18) are then fed into the printing machine 20. The height of these job tickets 184 and 185 is such that the repetitive data 181 is reproduced on each of the job tickets together with one entry from the variable data 182. In order to achieve accurate printing of the job-tickets, with only one variable data entry on each ticket, it is necessary to utilize work sheets of a particular size and configuration related to the line spacing of the variable data entries. As indicated herein above, eachof the work "sheets comprising the job tickets must include repetitive data areas of given length upon which the data 181 may be printed. In addition,- each job ticket work sheet must afford a variable data area having a length determined by the number of lines of variable data 01116 printed thereon. 'The job ticket 'work sheets should beprepared in advance and shouldconsist of' a plurality of different orders or sizes which differ from each other only'in the length of the variable data areas and by distances equal to an integral number of 'line spaces. Moreover, the job tickets should be color coated or' otherwise identified' by order to enable the operator to select ajob ticket having a length corresponding to the length of a particular variable data entry in a rapid and expeditious" manner. The importance: of the fea' ture of this invention is evident from the fact that the length of the job ticket work sheets determines the amount of variable information printed thereon and thus constitutes one of the means for selecting the individual data entries for printing.

I With each revolution of the machine, in printing of the job tickets, therepetitive data on the fixed blanket 92 is re-inked from the master 186. After each machine cycle, the'rnovableblanket 93 is automatically advanced by a distance corresponding to one line, thereby positioning ajin'evv line of the variable data adjacent the repetitive data on the fixed blanket92 and effectively masking the preceding entries. After printing of a multi-line job ticket, such as the job ticket 184 of Fig. 17, the machine may be continued in operation without feeding-any work sheets, thereinto for a number. of cycles'sufficient to bring the desired variable data entry into printing position. i i a It willbe noted that the transfer of the repetitive data frorn the master to. the fixed blanket is carried out at every machine cycle, whereas the-variable data is transferred to the movable blanket only once after;completion of the route sheets since the variable data section 188: of the master is thereafter detached from the form cylinder. When duplicate copiesof the work tickets 184 and, 185 are required, the machine operator may conv'eniently disengage the handle 146 for the required numberzof duplicateprintingoperations on thejob tickets.

The single inking of the movable blanket 93 has been found to be sufiicient for the satisfactory reproduction of as many as four or five copies of each of the job tickets. When all of the copies required fora given printing operation. have been prepared, the movable,

blanket is returned'to its, initial position as described hereinabove, the blankets, are cleaned, and the printing machine is ready for a subsequent operation'upon insera ties at. a new mastsr e g in o- I th eve t h t t printing machine is accidentally or'negligently left unattended'in operation, the safety device comprising the stop 161 prevents the clamp 97 from reaching the external surface of the blanket cylinder, thereby avoiding damage to the printing machine from this source.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification. Accordingly, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such variations and modifications as may fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an offset printing machine of the kind comprising a form cylinder adapted to mount a lithographic master having a first area containing repetitive data and a second area containing variable data, an impression cylinder, and a blanket cylinder interposed between the form and impression cylinders to transfer an ink image from a master mounted on said form cylinder to a print-receiving sheet positioned between said blanket and impression cylinders, means for mounting a first blanket in fixed position upon a given portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder to receive an ink image from the second area of said master, means for mountinga second blanket upon a different portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder to receive an ink image from the second area of said master, means for advancing said second blanket along the surface of said blanket cylinder, and drive means engaging said advancing means for actuating said advancing means to move said second blanket through a predetermined distance upon occurrence of a preselected number of printing cycles. 2. In an offset printing machine of the kind comprisin a form cylinder adapted to mount a lithographic master having a first area containing repetitivedata and a second area containing variable data, an impression cylinder,,and a blanket cylinder interposed between the form and impression cylinders to transfer an ink image from a master mounted on said form cylinder to a print-receiving sheet passed between said blanket and impression cylinders, means for mounting a first blanket in fixed position upon a given arcuate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder to receive an ink image from the second area of said master, means for mounting a second blanket upon a different arcuate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder to receive an ink image from the second area of said master, means for advancing said second blanket circumferentially of said-blanket cylinder,

' and drive means actuatable between a first operating po sition disengaged from said advancing means and a second operating position in which said drive means engages said advancing means for actuating said advancing means through a predetermined distance upon occurrence of a preselected number of printing cycles.

3. In an offset printing-machine of the kind comprising a form cylinder adapted to mount a lithographic master having a first area containingrepetitive data and a second area containingvariable data, an impression cylinder, and a blanket cylinder interposed between the form and impression cylinders to transfer an ink image from a master mounted on said form cylinder to a print-receiving sheet passed between said blanket and impression cylinders, means for mounting a first blanket in fixed position upon a given arcuate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder to receive an ink image from the second area of said master, means for mounting an endless second blanket upon a different arcuate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder to receive an ink image from the second area of said master, said second blanket extending into the interior of said blanket cylinder, means for. advancing said second blanket circumferentially of said blanket cylinder, and drive means engaging said advancing means for actuating said advancing means to move saidsecond blanket through a predetermined distance npon occurrence of a preselected number of prints cy les...

4. In an offset printing machine of the kind comprising a form cylinder adapted to mount a lithographic master having a first area containing repetitive data and a second area containing variable data, an impression cylinder, and a blanket cylinder interposed between the form and impression cylinders to transfer an ink image from a master mounted on said form cylinder to a print-receiving sheet positioned between said blanket and impression cylinders, means for mounting a first blanket in fixed position upon a given arcuate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder to receive an ink image from the first area of said master, means for mounting a second blanket upon a different arcuate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder to receive an ink image from'the second area of said master, means for advancing said second blanket circumferentially of said blanket cylinder, drive means releasably engageable with said advancing means for actuating said advancing means through a pre: determined distance upon occurrence of each printing cycle, and an indexing mechanism for limiting return movement of said second blanket to a given starting position. a

5. In an offset printing machine of the kind comprising a form cylinder adapted to mount a lithographic master, an impression cylinder, and a blanket cylinder interposed between the form and impression cylinders to transfer an ink image from a master having a repetitive data portion and a variable data portion and mounted on'said v form cylinder to a print-receiving sheet passed-between said blanket and impression cylinders, means for mount ing a first blanket in fixed position upon a given arcuate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder, means, including a pair of drive rollers, an idler roller, and a tensioning roller all mounted within said blanket cylinder and extending longitudinally thereof, for-mounting anendless second blanket' upon a different arcnate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder with said second blanket extending through the interior of said blanket'cylinder, means connected to one of said drive rollers for advancing said second blanket circumferentially of said blanket cylinder, and drive means engaging said advancing means for actuating said advancing means to move said second blanket through a predetermined distance upon occurrence of a preselected number of printing cycles, removal of a variable data portion of a master from the form cylinder enabling said two blankets to present a different ink image to each printreceiving sheet on each advancement of the second blanket. J a

6. In an offset printing machine of the kind comprising a form cylinder adapted to mount a lithographic master, an impression cylinder, and a blanket cylinder interposed between the form'and impression cylinders to transfer an' ink image from a master having a repetitive data portion and a variable data portion and mounted on said form cylinder to a print-receiving sheet passed between said blanket and impression cylinders, means for mounting a first blanket in fixed position upon a given arcuate p'o-rtion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder, means, including a drive roller mounted within said blanket cylinder and extending longitudinally thereof, for mounting an endless second blanket upon a different arcu ate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder-with said second blanket extending through the interior of said blanket cylinder, means for advancing said second blanket circumferentially of said blanket cylinder, said advancing means including a ratchet atfixed to said drive roller for rotation therewith, a pawl for engaging said ratchet to rot-ate, and biasing means normally maintaining said pawl disengaged from said ratchet, and drive means for effectively engaging said advancing means pawl to actuate said advancing means and move said second blanket through a predetermined distance upon occur rence of each printing cycle, removal of a variable data portion of a master from the form cylinder enabling said two blankets to present a different ink image to each print- 12 receiving sheet on each advancement of the second blanket.

7. The method of printing a series of related documents comprising the following steps: applying repetitive and variable ink-receptive data to first and second discrete areas of alithographic master; inking the images on the master; transferring the resultant ink images of said repetitive and variable data to first and second offset blanket areas, respectively; impressing said blanket areas, in sequence, upon a work sheet to print a first document including said repetitive data and only a preselected portion of saidvariable data; renewing the ink image on the first blanket area; advancing said second blanket area with respect to said first blanket area to change the variable data for the next subsequent document; and repeating the last three steps until documents relating to all desired portions of the variable data have been printed.

8. The method of printing a series of related dQCU: ments comprising the following steps: applying repetitive and variable inkereceptive data to first and second discrete nareas of a lithographic master, said variable data being arranged in a series of equally spaced lines; inking the images on the master; transferring the resulting ink images of said repetitive and-variable data to first and second offset blanket areas, respectively; impressing said blanket areas, in sequence, upon a work sheet to print a first document including said repetitive data and only a preselected number of lines of said variable data from the portion of said second blanket area adjacent said first blanket area; renewing the ink image on the first blanket area; advancing said second blanket area with respect to said first blanket area .by a distancetequal to said number of lines .of variable data on said first document; and repeating the last three steps until documents relating to all desired portions of the variable data have been printed. t l i t 9; The method of printing a. series of related (106111 ments comprising the following steps: applying repetitive and variable ink-receptive data to first and second discrete areas of a lithographic master, said variable data being arranged in a series of equally spaced lines; inking the images on the master; transferring the resultant ink images of said repetitive and variable data to first and second offset blankets, respectively; impressing said blanket areas, in sequence, upon a work sheet to print a'first document including said repetitive data and only a preselected number of lines of said variable data from the portion of said second blanket adjacent said first blanket; removing the second area of said lithographic master; re-inking the first area of said master; again transferring the repetitive data image to said first blanket; advancing said second blanket with respect to said first blanket by a distance equal to said number of lines of variable data on said first documeat; and repeating the last four steps until documents relating to all desired portions of the variable data have been printed. t

10. The method of printing a series of related documents comprising the following steps: applying repetitive and variable ink-receptive data to first and second discrete areas of a lithographic master, said variable data being arranged in'a series of equally spaced lines; inking the entire master; transferring the resultant 'ink images of said repetitive and variable data to fixed and movable offset blankets, respectively, mounted on a single cylinder engaging said blankets, in sequence, with a work sheet to print a'first document including said repetitive data and only a preselected number of lines of said variable data from the portion of said movable blanket adjacent said fixed blanket; renewing the ink image on the first blanket area; advancing said second blanket line-by-line around said cylinder with respect to said first blanket through a distance equal to said number of lines of variable data onsaid first document; and repeatingthe last three steps until documents relating to all portions of the variable data have been printed. i m

11. The method of printing aprincipal document and a series'of subsidiary documents from a single lithographic master comprising the following steps: applying repetitive and variable ink-receptive data to first and second discrete areas of a lithographic master; inking the images on the master; transferring the resultant ink images of said repetitive and variable data to a first and a second offset blanket, respectively; impressing both blankets, in sequence, upon a first work sheet to print a principal document, including both the repetitive and the variable data;'renewing the-ink images on the two blankets impressing said blankets, in sequence, upon a second work sheet having a'length substantially shorter than the total length of the data areas of the master to print a first subsidiary document including the repetitive data and only a preselected portion of the variable data from the portion of said second blanket adjacent said first blanket; again renewing the ink image on the first blanket only; advancing said second blanket with respect to said first blanket by a distance equal to said number of lines of data on said first subsidiary document; and repeating the last three steps until subsidiary documents relating to all desired portions of the variable data have been printed.

12. The method of printing a principal document and a series of subsidiary documents from a single lithographic master comprising the following steps: applying repetitive and variable ink-receptive data to first and second discrete areas of a lithographic master said variable data being arranged in a series of equally spaced lines; inking the images on the master; transferringthe resultant ink images of said repetitive and variable data to a first and a second ofiset blanket, respectively; impressing both blankets, in sequence, upon a first work sheet to print a principal document, including both the repetitive and the variable data; inking the images on the master again; again transferring the resultant ink images of said repetitive and variable data to said first and second blankets respectively;'removing the second data area of the master; impressing said blankets, in sequence, upon a second work sheet having a length substantially shorter than the total length of the data areas of the master to print a first subsidiary document including the repetitive data and only a preselected number of lines of variable data from the portion of said second blanket adjacent said first blanket; again inking the image on the first area of the master; again transferring the resultant ink image of said repetitive data to said first blanket; advancing said second blanket with respect to said first blanket by a distance equal to said number of lines of data on said first subsidiary document; and repeating the last four steps until subsidiary documents relating to all desired portions of the variable data have been printed.

13. The method of printing a principal document and a series of subsidiary documents from a single lithographic master comprising the following steps: applying repetitive and variable ink-receptive data to first and second discrete areas of a lithographic master by typing, printing, or like process, said variable data being arranged in a series of equally spaced lines; inking the images on the master; transferring the resultant ink images of said repetitive and variable data to a fixed and a movable offset blanket, respectively, mounted on a single cylinder; impressing both blankets, in sequence, upon a first work sheet to print a principal document, including both the repetitive and the variable data; inking the images on the master again; again transferring the resultant ink images of said repetitive and variable data to said fixed and movable blankets respectively; removing the second data area of the master; impressing said blankets, in sequence, upon a second worksheet having a length substantially shorter than the total length of the data areas of the master to print a first subsidiary document including the repetitive data and only a preselected number of lines of variable data from the portionof said second'blanket adjacent said first blanket-g.

again inking theimage on the first area of the master;

- again transferring the resultant ink image of said repetitive data to said first blanket; advancing said second blanket line-by-line with respect to said first blanket througha distanceequal to said number of lines of data on said first subsidiary document; and repeating the last four steps untiljsubsidiary documents relating to all desired portions of the variable data have been printed.

14. In an offset printing machine of the kind comprising a' form cylinder adapted to mount a lithographic master, an impression cylinder, and a blanket cylinder interposed between the form and impression cylinders to transfer an ink imagefrom a master mounted on said form cylinder to a print-receiving sheet passed between said blanket and impression cylinders, means for mounting. a first blanket in fixed position upon a given arcuate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder, means for mounting second blanket upon a different arcuate portion of the external surface of said blanket cylinder with the ends of said second blanket extending into the interior of said blanket cylinder, clamp means securing the ends of said second blanket together to define an endless blanket, means for advancing said second blanket circumferentially of said blanket cylinder, a pair of stops mounted within said blanket cylinder in position to engage said clamp means and limit the total range of movement of said second blanket, and drive means engaging said advancing means for actuating said advancing means to move said second blanket through a predetermined distance substantially smaller than said range upon occurrence of a preselected number of printing operations.

15. The method of printing a series of related documents comprising the following steps: applying repetitive and variable ink-receptive data to first and second discrete areas of a lithographic master; inking the images on the master; transferring the resultant ink images of said repetitive and variable data to first and second offset blanket areas, respectively; impressing said blanket areas, sequentially, upon a work sheet to print a first document including said repetitive data and only a preselected initial portion of said variable data; elfectively masking the part of said blanket bearing said initial portion of said variable data; and repeating the last two steps until documents relating to all desired portions of the variable data have been printed.

16. The method of printing a series of related documents comprising the following steps: applying variable ink-receptive data images to a preselected area of a lithographic master, said variable data being arranged in a series of equally spaced lines with individual entries occupying one or more lines; mounting said master on a form cylinder; inking the images on the master;

rotating the form cylinder in ink-transferring contact with a cylindrical blanket; and feeding work sheets having lengths correlated to the data on the master oneby-one between said blanket and a platen cylinder, while simultaneously effectively masking diiferent predetermined portions of said blanket at one side only of the work sheet, to imprint only one item of variable data on each work sheet.

17. The method of printing a series of related documents comprising the following steps: applying variable ink-receptive data images to a preselected area of a lithographic master, said variable data being arranged in a series of equally spaced lines with individual entries occupying one or more lines; mounting said master on a

Images