US3072049A

US3072049A - Printing plate treating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3072049A
Application number: US54641A
Authority: US
Inventors: William C Huebner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-09-08
Filing date: 1960-09-08
Publication date: 1963-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-08

Description

Jan. 8, 1963 w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING PLATE TREATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 INVENTOR. W W

ATTORNEYS;

Jan. 8, 1963 w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING PLATE TREATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 8, 1963 w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING PLATE TREATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Shee t 3 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 ATTORNEYS.

M T m m WWZW Jan. 8, 1963 w. c. HUEBNER PRINTING PLATE TREATING APPARATUS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,072,049 PRINTING PLATE TREATING APPARATUS William C. Huebner, P.0. Box 490, Mamaroneck, N.Y. Filed Sept. 8, 1960, Ser. N0. 54,641 12 Claims. (Cl. 101-147) This invention relates to apparatus for moistening air with water vapor or other liquids or solutions and for directing the air thus treated to the surface of a printing plate having hygroscopic areas. This application relates to subject matter such as disclosed in my application, Serial No. 795,211 filed February 24, 1959, now US. Patent No. 3,025,789, for supplying moisture to a printing plate such as disclosed in my other pending application No. 790,586, filed February 2, 1959.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of an apparatus embodying my invention for treating air and directing the same to a printing plate.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof taken approximately on line .22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the side of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation thereof on an enlarged scale on line 44, FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view thereof on line 55, FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation thereof on line 66, FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof on line 7-7, FIG. 5.

My apparatus may be mounted on any desired part of a printing press but preferably is arranged at a side of the printing plate or roll in advance of the usual inking roller. 10 represents a printing roll having a printing plate 11 mounted on the surface thereof. My apparatus extends completely across the printing plate to project treated air to all parts of the printing plate as it rotates with the roll, and my apparatus may be mounted on the frame of a printing press in any desired manner, not shown. The printing plate may be made in accordance with my said application No. 790,586 and consequently has an inkrepelling surface which must be kept moist in order to continue to repel ink applied to the printing plate by means of the inking roller.

The mixing of the air with a liquid takes place in an elongated, box-like housing 14, the discharge end of which terminates at the printing roll 10. The opposite end of the housing 14 is provided with an end plate or wall 15 provided with apertures through which the discharge ends of a plurality of fans or blowers 16 extend for discharging air into the housing so that air will flow uniformly in all parts of the housing. This air must be provided with sulficient moisture so that the hygroscopic portions of the printing plate 11 may be kept in suificiently moist condition to repel printing ink, and in the construction illustrated by way of example, this moisture is supplied to the air in the form of steam generated within the housing intermediate of the ends thereof. .This steam generating equipment includes a heated roll 18 which extends across the housing 14 from one side to the other. This roll may be heated in any suitable or desired manner, for example, by means of electric heating elements 19 lying in a trough or other stationary support 20 extending from one end to the other of the heated roll 18, which revolves about the heating elements. This roll is made of a suitable metal, the exterior of which may be moistened to produce steam or vapor.

The moistening of the heated roll may be effected in any desired manner. In the construction shown I have provided a pair of moisture-carrying rolls at opposite sides "ice of the heated roll and extending from side to side of the housing 14. Each of these moistening rolls includes a central, stationary pipe or conduit 24 formed to receive water or other liquid at an end thereof. This pipe or conduit has a series of discharge apertures 25 on the upper face thereof through which liquid may be discharged to an inner revolving distributing cylinder 27 This distributing cylinder has a series of apertures 28 therein for discharging liquid to an outer cylinder 60 which also has apertures therein through which liquid may pass to a suitable covering fabric 31. The

rolls

27 and 30 revolve so that liquid discharged to the same from the conduit 24 may be readily distributed to all parts of the covering fabric 31. This fabric may be of any desired type, but is preferably in the form of one or more sheets of pervious material, such as spun glass or asbestos wicking, which may be secured in place by means of wire or other securing means 32 which may be wound spirally around the asbestos cover 31 to hold the same securely on the roll 30.

The heated roll and the moisture-carrying rolls are rotated, preferably in opposite directions of rotation, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. Consequently the steam formed by contact with one of the moisture-carrying rolls and the heated roll will be deflected downwardly in the housing, and the steam formed by the other moisture- -ca1rying roll and the heated roll will be projectedupwardly into the upper part of the housing so that all parts of the air currents delivered by the blowers 16 will receive steam, whether passing above or below the rolls.

The rotation of the three rolls may be effected in any suitable or desired manner from a drive shaft 35 extending into the housing 14. This drive shaft has a gear 36 mounted thereon which meshes with a gear 37 rotatably mounted on the liquid supply tube 24 of one of the moisture-carrying rolls andsecured to the outer cylinder 30 thereof. This gear in turn meshes with another gear 38 rotatable about a fixed axis concentric with the axis of the heated tube 18, for example with a tube 39 secured to and forming an extension of the heated tube. This gear is secured to heating roll 18 and in turn meshes with a gear 40 secured to the outer cylinder of the other moisturecarrying roll. These three rolls are rotatably supported on the opposite side wall of the housing.

The heating elements 19 in the heated roll may receive current through conductors 43 from any source of power and liquid may be supplied to moisture-carrying rolls in any suitable manner, for example by means of pipes or conduits 44 which are connected with suitable conduits on the exterior of the apparatus leading from the discharge end of the pump 45. Since it is not desired .to discharge liquid through the apertures 25 under pressure, the conduits 24 are provided at the ends thereof opposite to the inlet pipes 44 with discharge pipes 46, which are connected to a return pipe 47 leading to a tank or reservoir 48 which has a discharge pipe 49 leading to the pump 45.

Since all of the liquid contacted with the heated roll 18 may not be vaporized and since a part of the steam formed within the housing 18 may be condensed, means are provided in the lower part of the housing for collecting the condensed and non-vaporized liquid. For this purpose the lower part of the housing is provided with a double floor, the upper floor 50 being provided with drain holes 51 through which liquid and excess vapor may pass into a space or jacket 52 formed below the floor 50. The moisture collected between the floors is drained into pipes '53 and discharged into another tank or reservoir 55, through the medium of a vacuum pump 56. This liquid may be filtered and again used in the apparatus or may be otherwise disposed of.

The tank 48 has a discharge opening in the lower end thereof controlled by means of a valve 57 leading to the pipe 49 which connects with the pump 45. By means of this valve, the quantity of liquid supplied to the apparatus may also be controlled. Also when this valve 57 and another valve 58 leading to the top of the tank are closed, the tank can be readily disconnected from the apparatus and replaced by another tank.

It has been found that the best results can be obtained by mounting the moisture-carrying rolls in spaced rela tion to the heated roll and for moving the heated roll and the moisture-carrying rolls intermittently into contact with each other. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose and in the construction shown I have mounted the moisturecarrying rolls in such a manner that they may move toward and from the heated roll. I have arranged the two moisture-carrying rolls on oscillatory blocks or plates located between

partitions

66 and 61 of the side walls of the housing of the apparatus. The inner pipes or conduits 24 of the moisture-carrying rolls are secured in these blocks, which in the construction shown include upper and lower parts '62 and 63 which are suitably secured to each other vby means of bolts 64, to permit the two halves of the blocks to be separated so that conduits 24 and the moisture carrying rolls may be positioned on or removed from the apparatus.

These blocks on which the moisture carrying rolls are mounted are pivoted on rods or shafts 65 which permit the blocks to be swung toward and from the heated roll. I also provide suitable resilient devices such as springs 66 which are mounted on similar blocks 67 stationarily mounted between the

partitions

60 and 61 of the side walls and supporting the heated roll 18. These springs act on the blocks to urge them away from the heated roll.

The moving of the blocks toward the heated roll may be effected in any suitable manner. In the construction shown for this purpose I have provided a pair of slide rods 70 extending transversely of the housing, those shown being arranged between the two parts of the floor of the housing. These rods have secured thereto wedges or cams 71 which extend upwardly through slots in the upper part 50 of the floor and have inclined upper surfaces which cooperate with rollers 72 which are journaled on the lower parts 63 of the oscillatory blocks. Consequently as the wedges move crosswise of the housing, the rollers ride on the upper inclined surfaces of these wedges or cams and swing the blocks carrying the moisture carrying rolls against the action of the springs 66 into engagement with the heated roll.

The back and forth movement of the slide rods may be effected in any suitable manner, for example by means of a yoke 80 pivoted intermediate of its ends at 81 on the extension 82 of the frame of the apparatus. The opposite ends of the yoke are connected at 83 to the ends of the slide rods 70. Consequently by swinging the yoke alternately in opposite directions about its pivot 81, the slide rods are moved back and forth.

Any suitable or desired means may be employed for imparting oscillating motion to the yoke 80, and in the construction shown for this purpose I have provided a cam 85 the peripheral surface of which cooperates with a roller 86 pivoted on one end of the yoke 80. The cam moves the end of the yoke on which the roller 86 is pivoted in one direction and a spring 87 urges the cam in the opposite direction.

Means are also provided for directing the flow of humidified air to portions of the printing plate in varying amounts, depending upon the moisture requirements of different areas of the printing plate. In the construction shown for this purpose, see particularly FIG. 1, a plurality of upright vanes or deflectors 90 are provided, the ends of which are suitably pivoted in holes or apertures formed in plates $8 secured to the upper and lower walls 91 and 50 of the housing, and each vane is adjustable independently of the others by means of a handle or knob 93 having a toothed or notched periphery. The notches of the periphery cooperate with a detent 94 which extends partly into any of the notches or recesses 96 for l releasably holding the vanes in their adjusted positions.

Similarly, it may be desired to deflect the current of humidified air downwardly or upwardly, and for this purpose additional vanes or deflectors 100 may be provided having their ends pivoted in the side walls of the housing. The adjustment of these vanes may be effected in the same manner as described in connection with the upright vanes.

By means of the construction described a very effective humidifying of the air passing to the printing plate results. By contacting the moisture carrying rolls at intervals with the heated roll, the heated roll acquires a much higher temperature than would be the case if the moisture carrying rolls were continuously in contact with the heated roll. This also makes it possible to include in the water supplied to the apparatus certain substances which also become vaporized and are readily taken up by the hygroscopic portions of the printing plate. Even if certain salts are supplied in solution to the heated roll, the rapid evaporation of liquid results in driving of these salt particles into the air currents passing through the housing so that these particles are carried to the printing plate with the steam or vapor.

The housing is constructed in such a manner that the mechanism within the same is readily accessible. For example the housing may include a lid or top 91 which covers the major portions of the housing and to which portions of the side walls are secured so that they are raised when the lid. or cover is raised. For this purpose the side walls are divided into upper and lower parts approximately on a plane extending through the axes of the heated and liquid carrying rolls and of the drive shaft 35. In order to hold the upper and lower parts of the housing of the apparatus securely in fixed relation to each other, bolts 106 are provided at the four corners of the top. These bolts extend down between the

partitions

60 and 61 of the side walls of the housing through plates or

blocks

108 and 109 arranged between the partitions of the side walls. These plates or blocks are formed in two parts, the upper parts being secured to the lid or cover and the lower parts being secured to the lower part of the housing. The bolts 106' engage threaded holes in the lower parts of the

blocks

108 and 109 for securely clamping the upper and lower wall parts together and for readily releasing, the upper wall parts when it is desired to obtain access into the interior of the apparatus. The upper halves of the plates or blocks 67 are also secured to the upper parts of the side walls and are consequently' lifted when the lid or cover is lifted, this also releasing the bearings 110 through which the drive shaft extends. Consequently when the lid or cover is removed, the upper halves 62 of the blocks which support the liquid carrying rolls are left in place and the upper halves of these blocks can readily be removed by releasing the screws or bolts 64 and then lifting the upper halves of these blocks or plates upwardly.

In replacing the lid and sidewall parts of the apparatus, dowels 112 are preferably provided at the juncture of the upper and lower parts of the plates or

blocks

108 and 109 for accurately positioning these two parts of the housing of the apparatus before the bolts 106 are tightened.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art, within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopic areas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing having one side thereof terminating at and open to said press plate and out of contact therewith, heating means in said housing extending crosswise thereof, a moisture containing member at a side of said heating means and movable into position to supply moisture to said heating means to form vapor, means for discharging said vapor through the open side of said housing to said printing plate and suction means along one edge of said open side adjacent to the press plate for opposing the escape of humidified air through the space between said press plate and said housing.

2. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopic areas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing having an open side terminating at said press plate and out of contact therewith, heating means in said housing and including a roll extending about the same and heated therefrom and rotatable about its axis, a pair of rolls at opposite sides of said heated roll and having their peripheries carrying a liquid and movable into contact with said heated roll to form a vapor, means for discharging said vapor from said housing to said printing plate and suction means along one edge of said open side adjacent to the press plate for opposing the escape of humidified air through the space between said press plate and said housing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 and including means for moving said heated roll and said moisture carrying rolls into contact to form vapor.

4. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopic areas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminating at said press plate, a revolving heated roll, liquid carrying rolls at opposite sides of said heated roll, means for rotating said liquid carrying rolls in the same direction of rotation and for rotating said heated roll in the opposite direction of rotation, and means for intermittently bringing the peripheries of said heated and liquid carrying rolls into contact.

5. An apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopic areas to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminating at one end at said press plate, a heated roll in said housing, a liquid carrying roll movable into contact with said heated roll for vaporizing some of the liquid, said liquid carrying roll including an inner stationary duct having discharge openings for the liquid, said liquid carrying roll including an outer perforated cylinder which receives liquid from said duct, and a porous covering on said cylinder which becomes permeated with said liquid and which contacts with said heated roll.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, in which the cover of said outer cylinder is in the form of asbestos Wicking, and means for intermittently moving said liquid carrying roll and said heated roll into contact.

7. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopic areas to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminating at said press plate, a revolving heated roll, liquid carrying rolls at opposite sides of said heated roll, means for intermittently bringing the peripheries of said heated and liquid carrying rolls into contact to produce vapor, means for rotating said liquid carrying rolls in the same direction of rotation and for rotating said heated roll in the opposite direction of rotation to deflect vapor from one of the liquid carrying rolls downwardly and from the other liquid carrying roll upwardly, and a plurality of vanes at the discharge end of said housing and adjustable independently of each other for controlling the movement of humidified air to various parts of the printing plate.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 and in which some of the vanes are positioned upright in said housing and other vanes are positioned horizontally.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 and including a notched member rigidly connected with each vane, and a spring pressed detent cooperating with the notches to reieasably hold the vanes in positions in which they are manually set.

10. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopic areas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminating at said press plate, heating means in said housing and including a roll extending about the same and heated therefrom and rotatable about its axis, and a pair of rolls at opposite sides of said heated roll and having their peripheries carrying a liquid and movable into contact with said heated roll to form a vapor, and means for discharging said vapor from said housing to said printing plate, and means for revolving said liquid carrying rolls in opposite directions to cause one roll to deflect vapor into the upper portion of said housing and to cause the other roll to deflect vapor into the lower portion of said housing.

11. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopic areas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminating at said press plate, heating means in said housing and including a roll extending about the same and heated therefrom and rotatable about its axis, and a pair of rolls at opposite sides of said heated roll and having their peripheries carrying a liquid and movable into contact with said heated roll to form a vapor, and means for discharging said vapor from said housing to said printing plate, and means for moving each of said liquid carrying rolls intermittently into contact with said heated roll.

12. Apparatus for subjecting a printing press plate having hygroscopic areas, to humidified air, said apparatus including a housing terminating at said press plate, heating means in said housing, means for contacting said heating means with a liquid to form a vapor, and means for moving air and the vapor thus formed in said housing toward said printing plate, said housing includinga cover and sides, the upper portions of said sides being secured to and movable upwardly with said cover to provide access to the interior of the lower portions of said side walls forming a fixed part of said housing, means for securing said cover and the parts mounted thereon to said lower portions of said side walls, a series of rolls arranged in said housing and having their axes in a substantially horizontal plane, the upper and lower portions of said housing terminating at said plane to permit the cover to be removed without moving said rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 637,578 Hett Nov. 21, 1899 1,335,026 Pitkin Mar. 30, 1920 2,108,984 Grembecki Feb. 22, 1938 2,873,667 Mandel et al Feb. 7, 1959

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR SUBJECTING A PRINTING PRESS PLATE HAVING HYGROSCOPIC AREAS, TO HUMIDIFIED AIR, SAID APPARATUS INCLUDING A HOUSING HAVING ONE SIDE THEREOF TERMINATING AT AND OPEN TO SAID PRESS PLATE AND OUT OF CONTACT THEREWITH, HEATING MEANS IN SAID HOUSING EXTENDING CROSSWISE THEREOF, A MOISTURE CONTAINING MEMBER AT A SIDE OF SAID HEATING MEANS AND MOVABLE INTO POSITION TO SUPPLY MOISTURE TO SAID HEATING MEANS TO FORM VAPOR, MEANS FOR DIS-