US2945436A - Vertical printing - Google Patents

Description

.J. D; VAN BUSKIRK 2,945,436

VERTICAL PRINTING .Faaiy 1%, $60

Filed July 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

J21 Jo/zrz D Van Eu ski/K MAM 14 TTORNEXS 2,945,436 Patented July 19, 1960 VERTICAL P a" =l= lNG Filed ,luly 6, 1956, Ser. No. 596,329 13 Claims. (Cl. 101-350) This invention relates to printing and especially to improved ink-handling means for printing machines.

In the printing of articles such as packages which are moved past a printing station by means of a conveyor, it is frequently convenient to print on surfaces which are disposed in upright position using a rotary printing drum. When this is the case it is impractical to use the ordinary dip and transfer roller arrangement for carrying ink from the ink reservoir to the surface of the inking roller, inasmuch as the axis of the latter, in order to parallel the axis of the printing drum, must be normal to the surface of the ink in the reservoir.

Some inking devices heretofore have been devised for this purpose, using a pump which raises the ink from a reservoir and discharges it at a high point on a roller in the vertical ink system so that gravity will distribute it over the surface of such roller. However, the drawbacks of such an arrangement have been of such nature as to make these proposed arrangements impractical for many purposes. It has been found, for example that, especially Where pigmented inks are being used, the ink, being circulated by the pump, tends to become aerated and dries out with excessive rapidity. In addition, an inking assembly cannot be shut down for any length of time without complete emptying and prompt, thorough cleaning. Whether the shut-down occurs because printing is stopped, during the night for example, or due to necessity for a temporary change in color, this tedious cleaning process has been found essential, with the devices heretofore known, to insure proper operation of the inking mechanism the next time it is put to use. As a result it has been the practice, when using pigmented quick-drying ink, invariably on shut-down, to empty the inking mechanism, clean it thoroughly, and if color change is the object, recharge with the new color, with resulting delay in the production line which the printer serves. Furthermore, the pump and motor systems employed have made the inking system so costly that even had one been designed for interchange it would not have proved economical for most users to own extra systems. This is especially the case when they are found to require prompt cleaning in any event. In certain applications the fiarnmable character of the ink solvents is critical so that explosion-proof motors are mandatory, which also greatly increases the objectionably high cost factor.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a vertical rotary inking system which is economical in first cost, permitting the owning of stand-by or color-change units by any user whose work requires it.

It is another object of the invention to provide a vertical rotary inking system which is so arranged that ink delivery in the very small flows usually required can be brought about, and can'be adjusted to the actual need to prevent circulation, aeration and drying of the ink in the system.

It is another object of the invention to provide a demountable inking system for pigmented, fast-drying inks, which system is capable of storage for reasonable periods of time without emptying or clean-out, and which can be returned to use at once substantially without preliminary conditioning.

It is another object of the invention to provide a vertical rotary inking system of such a nature that ink may be allowed to stand in the inking unit without drying out and clogging the same, whereby interchange of colors can be economically effected by interchange of inking units.

It is another object of the invention to provide a vertical rotary inking system constructed so that when interchange is used, one motor only is required to serve all of the units, thus further reducing the cost of the individual interchange units, and further rendering the in terchange units of a character which can be dropped bodily into a cleaning solvent bath for a quick and easy cleaning treatment after the ink reservoir has been emptied, Whenever such cleaning becomes necessary.

A further object of the invention is the arrangement of the inking system so as to be electrically driven, yet achieve explosion-proof properties without the extraordinary expense usually attendant upon the replacement of motors by those of the usual explosion-proof type.

A feature of the invention is the use of a small reciprocating stroke-type pump of the piston, plunger or diaphragm variety powered by a solenoid and provided with a readily releasable connection therebetween.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby the pump stroke can be readily adjusted to supply ink in the quantities needed.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a spring urged swivel mounting for the ink roller where: by the same may accurately follow the motions of a movably mounted printing drum.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision for ready dernountability of the inking unit as a whole to provide for rapid interchange of colors and for easy cleaning of the unit, when necessary, off the machine and without inker disassembly.

A further feature of the invention consists in the arrangement of parts in such manner that if any dripping of ink should occur, it will find its way directly back to the reservoir without being deposited upon parts of the machine where it would introduce cleaning problems.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a package printing head illustrating an inking assembly according to the present invention, with parts broken away to show detail structure.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the device of Fig. 1, showing a package adjacent the same in printing position, and with parts broken away for clarity.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail section of the inking assembly taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the inking assembly 11 of the invention is shown in connection with a printing head 12 of a machine for marking on the sides of articles or packages P as the same are moved past thehead 12 by suitable conveyor means (not shown). The head. 12 includes a frame 13 rotatably carrying a printing drum 15 in a substantially vertical position, and the surface of the drum is arranged to carry type 17 for making the required mark. In the form of printer to which the invention is most directly applicable, the type used is of resilient material such as rubber, and the inks used are of the quick-drying kind, usually pigmented. The printing drum maybe rotated in any suitablefashion. This printing rotation is normally effected by frictional contact with the package although suitable power means for rotating the drum, either during printing or merely as a home return agency after printing, may be employed without altering the effectiveness of the present invention. It is preferable, however, that drum rotation, by whatever system, shall be effected by means which depends upon the presence of a package to be printed for its functioning, so that idle rotations will not occur. When printing rotation is brought about by frictional contact, a resilient tire 19 at the upper part of the drum and substantially flush with the type surface serves to provide initial driving connection with the package. The tire 19 may also furnish the driving power for the inker as will presently appear.

The drum is preferably resiliently supported as by bearing blocks 21 and 23 slidable on complementary tracks 25 and 27 respectively, which blocks are urged by springs 29 and 31 respectively towards the path of the package P. The drum 15 includes a shaft 33 whose ends are rotatably received and supported by the bearing blocks 21 and 23 so that the drum will be urged into printing contact with each of the packages P regardless of minor variations in their dimensions. Suitable adjustable stop means such as nuts 34 on slide rods 35 may be provided to inhibit excess lateral travel of the drum under the in fluence of the springs 29 and 31 at times when no package is being printed.

Beneath the frame 13 is suspended a motive power source, here shown as an electrically operated solenoid 37 having a plunger 39 terminating in a clevis 41 closed by a threaded pin 43. The solenoid 37 is controlled by a circuit 45, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, which includes a source 47 of electrical energy and a switch 49 arranged to be closed periodically by any suitable element timed to operate in correlation with the rotations of the printing drum. The switch 49 is here shown as closed by a suitable cam projection 51 on the drum itself. The function of the solenoid will appear more fully hereinafter as the description proceeds.

The inking assembly 11 includes a base element 53 which embodies an ink reservoir 55, and means such as the slotted ear 57 by which it can be quickly mounted on or released from the frame 13, for example by the winghead screw 59. The base element further includes an upright post 61 which forms the support for the ink distributing system. The latter comprises a rockable member of bracket 63, rockable in a horizontal plane about the axis of post 61 and held at proper elevation by a collar 64. While the bracket 63 is normally freely rockable, means are provided for holding the same in a predetermined position when desired. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, this comprises flats 65 formed on post 61, and a fork 66 slidable on the bracket into and out of locking relation to said flats when the bracket is turned in the proper direction. The purpose for the holding means '65, 66 will subsequently appear. From one end of the bracket 63 projects a horizontal pin 67 (Fig. 4) having a retaining head 69, and which may be held in place in the bracket by a set screw 71 (Figs. 1 and 2). A rigid vertical yoke 73 with horizontal arms 75 and 77 has a central opening 79 which receives the pin 67 and serves to rockably mount the yoke 73 on the same between the head 69 and the end of bracket 63. The ink distributing elements are mounted between the arms 75 and 77 of the yoke and include a vertical inking roller 81 on a shaft 83 supported for rotation by bearings 85 and 87 in the ends of arms 75 and 77 respectively. The inking roller 81 preferably has an engraved surface, and for the purposes of the invention this may be conveniently achieved by cutting a fine 60 degree V -groove thread about .002 inch deep and about 200 threads to the inch. The inking roller 81 is designed to cooperate with the printing drum 15 and in order that they may rotate in concert, the drum carries a knurled wheel 89 which has firm frictional engagement with the tire 19 on the printing drum 15. Proper spacing between the surfaces of the printing drum and inking roller for inking engagement with the type 17 is maintained by the knurled wheel 89' and a spacing finger 91 carried by the lower bearing block 23 and contacting the side face of the lower arm .77 of the yoke 73.

Spring means is provided for urging the roller 81 into inking position. In the form shown a strong spring 93 is adjustably connected at one end to the head 69 by a screw 95 and wingsnut 97 while the other end is fastened to an upright anchor post 99 on the mounting ear 57. The inking pressure can be adjusted as desired by rotating the nut 97.

It can be seen that the roller 81 remains in inking position with its axis parallel to the axis of the printing drum 15 due to the action of spring 93 and the swiveling action of yoke 73 on pin 67. Moreover the inking roller 81, by reason of the swinging action of bracket 63 on post 61, retains its proper inking position regardless of the slight in-and-out movement of the printing drum.

Doctor means for smoothly distributing the ink on the surface of the inking roller is shown in the form of a doctor blade 101 which may be of any suitable resilient plastic material such as rubber, neoprene, or nylon. The blade 101 is carried by a holder 103 which is rotatable on a shaft 105, but may be clamped thereto by a set screw 107'. The shaft has ends, shown as flattened, which slide in slots 109 and 11 1 in the arms 75 and 77 respectively. Adjustment screws 113 and 115 make threaded engagement with the ends of shaft 105 and provide for moving the same towards and away from the inking roller 81. Stiff compression springs 117 and 119 surround the adjustment screws 113 and 115 respectively between the rod end and the end of the corresponding slot, and serve to take up any backlash and to maintain the screw heads firmly against the end surfaces of the arms 75 and 77 respectively.

Mounted on the base element 53 is a small pump or ink propulsion element including the cylinder 121 and plunger 123. An intake line 125 leads from near the bottom of the reservoir 55 through an intake check valve 127, preferably a ball check, as shown in Fig. 6, arranged to permit flow only on the outward or suction stroke of the plunger, to the interior of the cylinder 121. An exhaust 'line 129 leads from the cylinder 121, and includes an exhaust check valve 131 arranged to permit ink flow only on the inward or compression stroke of the plunger. The exhaust line also includes a manually adjustable flow control valve 133 by means of which the duration of each pulsation of ink flow and consequently the speed of ink flow can be determined. The upper end of conduit 129 is shaped to form a flattened spout 135 by which the ink is directed against the meeting line of the inking roller 81 and the doctor 101 at the upper portions thereof so as to fall by gravity and form a bead extending the length of the inking roller. The plunger 123 is operated on suction stroke by a pull rod 137 which has a bent end 139 engageable behind the clevis pin 43 of the solenoid 37 and on compression stroke by a tension spring 141 which acts between a pin 143 on the piston and a spring perch 145 on the cylinder body.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that the line 125, the ink propulsion element 121, 123, the body of valve 131, line 129 and spout 135 together form a continuous enclosed conduit leading from the reservoir 55 to the ink distributing system 81, 101.

The operation is preferably arranged as shown, with the spring controlling the ejection of ink, inasmuch as the su'ddenness of the solenoid operation would tend to cause a spurt of ink of such force that splashing or spattering' is apt to result; The effectof the spring 141 is much more moderate, and when the speed of flow is controlled by the proper setting of valve 133 an ink stream issuing fromnozzle 135 and impinging on the parts without spattering can be achieved.

As presently shown, the solenoid is operated once for each rotation of the printing drum and this is found to provide adequate inking in most instances. If, however, the length and diameter of the drum and the quantity of type used should require additional ink, it will be understood that cams similar to 51 may be readily arranged to operate the solenoid two or more times for each revolution of the printing drum to provide more ink. For accurate adjustment of the ink supply to the inking roller the stroke of plunger 123 may be shortened by any desired amount. For this purpose an adjustable stop 147 held in adjusted position by a clamp screw 149 is provided. The stop 147 is arranged to engage the pin 143 at any desired spot in the plunger travel and thereby accurately control the amount of ink fed.

While the pump 121, 123 has been described as a plunger pump it will be understood that any small stroketype pump, such as a diaphragm pump, will work substantially as well for most purposes. However the plunger pump as shown is presently preferred since it involves a minimum number of parts and a minimum of complications when cleaning 'or' replacement is under consideration.

Since the ink supply can be accurately gauged to the needs of the printing drum, and since operation of the ink feed is correlated directly to printing'drum movement, there is normally noexcess of ink and the question of dripping of ink does not usually cause any concern. However, to take care of the possibility of improper adjustment and the like, the parts are so arranged that an excess supply of ink will not normally reach points where clogging or other damage can occur. Thus the portion of the arm 77 underlying a part of the inking roller 81 and the end of the doctor blade 101 is cut away on a slope to form a ramp 151 which will lead any ink dropping from these parts directly back into the reservoir 55. It will also be noted that even though the printing drum and inking roller are mounted for self adjusting movement, they are still arranged with friction driving connection only at the top where its effectiveness cannot be impaired by dripping ink and where the need for cleaning of a driving tire to prevent an unwanted print on the package P will not be a continuing possibility. If excess ink should form a bead at the bottom periphery of the inking roller 81, the interior portion is hollowed to provide a vertical wall as indicated by numeral 153 in Fig. 5 to act as a gravity barrier against ink which might tend to creep down the shaft 83 to bearing 87. Moreover, the doctor blade 101 is provided with a shallow downwardly-extending peak 155 at its lower end (see especially Figs. 3 and 5) to draw off any such accumulation of ink and place it accurately on the return ramp 15 1 where it will be returned to the reservoir without danger of causing inconvenience.

Aststated heretofore, however, it is not contemplated that ink will normally be returned to the reservoir, since the mechanism provided is signally adapted for supplying the exact ink requirement, with the result that no more ink is handled, agitated or aerated than is absolutely necessary to the immediate printing. Thus, in use, the ink supply in the reservoir is held in prime condition over long periods of time without replacement. In this connection it will be noted that the parts are so arranged that the ink reservoir 55 is rather deep and has a small surface area in proportion to its volume. Due to its depending, position, if additional volume is required it can be achieved by merely providing a reservoir with lengthened vertical walls, and with no change in surface area.

In operation, assuming the inking assembly 11 to be in place on the frame 13 and the reservoir 55 filled with ink, the printing drum 15 is rotated a few times to prime the system by 1) closing circuit 45 via cam 51 to operate the solenoid 37 and hence pump 121, 123 and thus eject ink from nozzle 135 against the upper portion of inking roller 81 and doctor blade 101 so that, by gravity it forms a bead along their meeting line, (2) rotating the inking roller 81 via tire 19 and knurled wheel 89 to spread the ink evenly on theinking roller surface due to the cooperative action of the doctor blade 101, and (3) inking the type 17 from the surface of the inking roller 81.

When a package P is to be printed it is moved past the printing drum 15 and comes into contact with the tire 19 to thereby rotate the same and ultimately effect a printing impression of the type 17 on the side of the package. At the same time, the foregoing inking steps are automatically repeated to ready the type for the next printing.

It will be noted that during the foregoing printing operation, if the drum 15 and its bearing blocks 21 and 23 are nudged aside slightly by the package, and then returned to normal position by springs 29 and 31, this motion is accurately followed by the inking roller 81 due to the rocking mounting of bracket 63 and the urging of spring 93. Also the axis of inking roller 81 is at all times kept in accurate alignment parallel with the inking drum axis by reason of the swivel mounting of the yoke 73 on bracket 63.

The thickness of the ink layer on the surface of inking roller 81 can be controlled by the angular setting of doctor blade 101 using set screw 107, together with the degree of contact thereof against the inking roller surface as determined by the setting of adjusting screws 113 and 115 working on the ends of the blade-supporting shaft 107.

When the printing is to be discontinued for an extended period, such as overnight, it is not necessary to empty the reservoir and clean the entire inking system, for the pump system 125, 127, 1211, 131, 133, 129, has proved absolutely air tight except at the nozzle 135, where whatever slight film may form is of such small dimension that it offers only undetectable interference to restarting the operation, all parts of the pump and conduit system being at all times solidly full of liquid ink. All that need be done is to (1) swing the bracket 63 until the locking fork 66 aligns with the flats 65, and move the fork to locking position, where it will hold the bracket 63 and yoke 73 against swinging by spring 93 when the inking roller 81 is ultimately moved out of contact with the printing drum 15, (2) release the base element 53 from the frame 13 by loosening screw 59, (3) release the end 139 of the pull rod 137 from the solenoid clevis 41, either by moving the inking assembly 11 upwardly, or, if overhead room is lacking, unscrewing the pin 43 and pushing the solenoid plunger 39 aside, (4) lift the inking assembly 11 away from the printing head 12, preferably wiping the ink film from the surface of the inking roller 81 and the doctor blade 101 with a solvent-moistened cloth, and (5) deposit the whole assembly '11 with full reservoir directly in a tight container charged with solvent vapor. When operation is to be started again, e.g. in the morning, the reverse steps are, of course, performed.

Changing to a different color of ink, which is normally so severe a problem in printing equipment of this nature, is readily eifected by providing several duplicate inking assemblies 11. This can be easily and economically done because of the simplicity and inexpensive character of the ink pumping arangement and the fact that a single motive power element 37 serves all. All of the inking assemblies 11 can be simultaneously charged with inks of difierent colors and stored as described in the foregoing paragraph, so that change-over from one color to another can be efiected in a matter of seconds.

If it becomes necessary to clean an inking assembly 11 after an extended period of use, this can be accomplished merely by emptying the ink reservoir and immersing the entire device in a bath of ink solvent. Since the motive power unit 37 is separate from the inking assembly 11 there are present no parts subject to harm by complete immersion. The latter treatment is a much more eifective and rapid cleaning procedure than the partial disassembly and piece-by-piece cleaning heretofore required. After a period of soaking, a few manual operations of the pumping system While immersed in the solvent bath, and a manual agitation of the bath about the device as a whole effects thorough cleaning so that the inking assembly 11 is at once ready for reuse after evaporation of any excess solvent which may cling to the parts.

' Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

'1. In combination, a frame; a substantially vertically disposed printing drum rotatably carried on the frame; a source of motive power on said frame; a detachable inking assembly for cooperation with said drum comprising a base element, an ink reservoir, means connecting said base element to said frame so as to be supported thereon but readily disassembled therefrom, an ink distributing system including a substantially vertically disposed inking roller carried on said base element and positioned thereon for direct inking contact with the printing drum when said base element is connected to the frame, means carried by the base element for providing both a continuous enclosed ink conduit extending from said reservoir to said ink distributing system and an ink propulsion element associated therewith; and means for operating said ink propulsion element from said motive power source to move ink through said conduit including a connection readily detachable to permit removal of said entire inking assembly from said frame and from said motive power source when said base element connecting means is released, whereby detachment of said inking assembly effects separation of the inking roller from the printing drum and thus provides free access to the surface of said printing drum, by carrying of the inking roller away from the surface of the same. 7

2. In combination, a frame; a substantially vertically disposed printing drum rotatably carried on the frame; a solenoid on said frame; an inking assembly for cooperation with said drum comprising a base element including a reservoir, means connecting said base element to said frame so as to be supported on but readily disassembled therefrom, an ink distributing system including a substantially vertically disposed inking roller carried on said base element and positioned thereon for direct inking contact with the printing drum, means including a reciprocating stroke type pump caried by the base element fortransferring ink from said reservoir to the upper portion of said ink distributing system and flowing the ink freely thereagainst, and means for driving said pump from said solenoid including a connection readily detachable to permit removal of said inking assembly from said frame and from said solenoid when said base element connecting means is released.

3. In combination, a frame; a substantially vertically disposed printing drum rotatably carried on the frame; a solenoid on said frame; and an inking assembly for cooperation with said drum comprising a base element including a reservoir, means connecting said base element to said frame so as to be supported on but readily disassembled therefrom, an ink distributing system including a substantially vertically disposed inking roller carried on said base element and positioned thereon for direct inking contact with the printing drum, means including a reciprocating plunger pump carried by. the base element for transferring ink from said reservoir to the upper portion of said ink distributing system and flowing the ink freely thereagainst, and means for reciprocating the plunger of said pump "from said solenoid, including a connection readily detachable to permit removal of said inking assembly from said frame and from said solenoid when said base element connecting means is released.

4. In a device for marking on a series of articles traveling past the same, a frame; a substantially vertically disposed printing drum rotatably carried on the frame; a solenoid on said frame;means responsive to printing drum rotation for controlling solenoid operation; and an inking assembly for cooperation with said drum comprising a reservoir, an ink distributing system including a substantially vertically disposed inking roller cooperating with the printing drum, a plunger pump and a conduit for transferring ink from said reservoir to the upper portion of said ink distributing system, and means for reciprocating the plunger of said pump from said solenoid.

5. In a device for marking on a series of articles traveling past the same, a frame; a substantially vertically disposed printing drum rotatably carried on the frame; a solenoid on said frame; means responsive to printing drum rotation for controlling solenoid operation; and an inking assembly for cooperation with said drum comprising a reservoir, an ink distributing system including a substantiallyrvertically disposed inking roller cooperating with the printing drum, a plunger pump and a conduit for transferring ink from said reservoir to the upper portion of said ink distributing system, means for reciprocating the plunger of said pump from said solenoid, and means for adjustably limiting the stroke of the plunger of said pump.

6. In combination, a frame; a substantially vertically disposed printing drum rotatably carried on the frame; a.

source of motive power on said frame; and an inking assembly for cooperation with said drum comprising a base element including a reservoir, means connecting said base element to said frame so as to be supported on but readily disassembled therefrom, a member rockable on said base element about an upright axis, an upright yoke carried by said member and having upper and lower horizontal arms, means on said base element for urging said yoke yieldingly towards said printing drum, an ink distributing system including a substantially vertically disposed inking roller mounted for rotation between said arms for cooperation with the printing drum, means carried by the base element for providing both a continuous enclosed ink conduit extending from said reservoir to the ink distributing system and an ink propulsion element associated therewith; and means for operating said ink propulsion element from said motive power source to move ink through said conduit including a connection readily detachable to permit removal of said inking assembly from said frame and from said motive power source when said base element connecting means is released.

7. In combination, a frame; a substantially vertically disposed printing drum rotatably carried on the frame; a source of motive power on said frame; and an inking assembly for cooperation with said drum comprising a base element including a reservoir, means connecting said base element to said frame so as to be supported on but readily disassembled therefrom, a member rockable on said base element about an upright axis, an upright yoke carried by said member and having upper and lower horizontal arms, means on said base element for urging said yoke yieldingly towards said printing drum, an ink distributing system including a substantially vertically disposed inking roller mounted for rotation between said arms for cooperation with the printing drum, means carried by the base element for providing both a continuous enclosed ink conduit extending from said reservoir to the ink distributing system and an ink propulsion element associated therewith; means for operating said ink propulsion element from said motive power source to move ink through said conduit including a connection readily detachable to permit removal of said inking assembly from said frame and from said motive power source when said base element connecting means is released, and means to lock said member against movement in response to said urging means to hold said member in proper position during the time said inking assembly is removed from said frame.

8. In combination, a frame; a substantially vertically disposed printing drum rotatably carried on the frame; a'

base element for urging said bracket yieldingly towards said printing drum, a yoke rockable on said bracket about a horizontal axis and normally occupying an upright position with upper and lower horizontal arms, an ink distributing system including a substantially vertically disposed inking roller mounted for rotation between said arms for cooperation with the printing drum, means carried by the base element for providing both a continuous enclosed ink conduit extending from said reservoir to the ink distributing system and an ink propulsion element associated therewith; and means for operating said ink propulsion element from said motive power source to move ink through said conduit including a connection readily detachable to permit removal of said inking assembly from said frame and from said motive power source when said base element connecting means is released.

9. In an inking system for a rotary printing drum, an ink reservoir; an ink distributing system including an inking roller; conduit means open for ink flow at its discharge end for conducting ink from said reservoir to said ink distributing system; a reciprocatory pump having reciprocating portions moving through an intake stroke and an exhaust stroke for propelling ink through said conduit means; an actuating electric circuit including a solenoid having reciprocating portions and acting when electrically actuated to move said pump through one of said strokes; spring means opposing said solenoid but readily overcome thereby during said one stroke for driving said pump through the other of said strokes when the circuit is open, the reciprocating portions of said pump and solenoid forming a reciprocating assembly; means responsive to passage of an article by said printing drum for effecting opening and closing of said electric circuit; and settable stop means coacting with said reciprocating assembly for adjusting the stroke length to the desired value.

10. For use with an upright shiftable printing drum, an inking assembly comprising a base element; an upright yoke with upper and lower horizontal arms; ink distributing means including a vertically disposed inking roller journaled for rotation between said arms for contact with the printing drum, and doctor means carried between said arms for cooperation with said inking roller to spread ink thereon; means including a bracket swingable about an upright axis and supporting said yoke for movement towards and away from the printing drum; means for yieldingly urging said bracket in a direction towards the printing drum, said yoke having a rockable connection with said bracket to swing about a horizontal axis so as to adjust itself automatically in such relation to the printing drum axis as always to present the inking roller in parallel surface contact therewith; and means for supplying a flow of ink to said ink distributing means.

11. The device as set forth in claim 10 in which said doctor means is a blade slidingly contacting the surface of the inking roller and extending downwardly to the lower extremity of the inking roller surface, and in which said doctor blade has a lower edge downwardly sloping away from the inking roller, the lower arm of said yoke having a sloped portion forming a ramp underlying the lowest portion of said doctor blade to collect any ink dripping therefrom and return it to its proper situs.

12. In combination, an upright printing drum carrying type; upper and lower shiftable bearing blocks rotatably mounting said drum; a friction tire at the upper end only of said drum; an upright yoke with upper and lower horizontal arms; ink distributing means including a vertically disposed inking roller journaled for rotation between said arms and having at its upper end a friction driving wheel connected therewith at a level corresponding to that of said tire; means including a bracket swingable about an upright axis for supporting said yoke for movement towards and away from said printing drum to move said Wheel and tire into and out of operative engagement; a spacer element carried by said lower hearing block at the level of said lower arm and contactable therewith so as to cooperate with said tire in properly positioning the inking roller for inking engagement with the type on the printing drum; means for yieldingly urging said bracket towards said printing drum, said yoke being rockable on said bracket to swing about a horizontal axis so as to arrange itself properly with respect to the printing drum axis by contact between said tire and wheel and between said spacer element and said lower arm; and means for supplying a flow of ink to said distributing means.

13. In combination in an inking assembly for an upright printing drum, an upright inking roller; a doctor blade slidingly engaged with the inking roller surface and extending at least to the lower extremity thereof, said doctor blade having a lower edge extending generally transversely of the length of the doctor blade and sloping downwardly away from the surface of said inking roller to a point below the lower end thereof to provide a guide path for conducting excess ink to a safe discharge location; and means for supplying a flow of ink to the upper portions of said inking roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Alessi et a1. Dec. 31,

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