US3308752A

US3308752A - Printing cylinder circumferential and lateral register adjustment

Info

Publication number: US3308752A
Application number: US382870A
Authority: US
Inventors: Derek A Stevenson
Original assignee: Crabtree & Sons Ltd R
Current assignee: RW Crabtree and Sons Ltd
Priority date: 1963-07-15
Filing date: 1964-07-15
Publication date: 1967-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-03-14
Also published as: GB1096023A; FR1508056A

Description

March 14, 1967 D STEVENSON 3,308,752

PRINTING CYLINDER GIRCUMFERENTIAL AND LATERAL REGISTER ADJUSTMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1964 INVEMTOQ JMZMWZ/ By 2 I a? ATTORNEYS March 14, 1967 D A. STEVENSON 3,308,752

PRINTING CYLINDER CIRCUMFERENTIAL AND LATERAL REGISTER ADJUSTMENT Filed July 15, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .x v Q PLATE 4 ADJUSTMENTYS GRADUATED lN THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH SCI INVENTOR une 4. 12200114411,

BY A:

March 14, 1967 D. A. STEVENSON 3,308,752

PRINT N CYLINDER CIRCUMF NT AND TERAL REGISTER AD STM Filed July 15. 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 GRADUATED IN THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH SZI Fla. 4.

INVENI'OR Junk Z. JZZr/m m/ m &

ATTO RN EYS March 14, 1967 D. A. STEVENSON CYLINDER c1 PRINTING ROUMF ERENTIAL AND LATERAL REGISTER ADJUSTMENT Fil ed July 15, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MM 4. MW

, ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice PRINTlNG CYLINDER CIRCUMFERENTIAL AND LATERAL REGISTER ADJUSTMENT Derek A. Stevenson, Leeds, England, assignor to R. W. Crabtree & Sons Limited Filed July 15, 1964, Ser. No. 382,870

Claims priority, application Great Britain, July 15, 1963,

28,025/63 5 Claims. (Cl. 101-243) This invention relates to printing machines of the rotary type and is particularly concerned with means for adjusting the cylinder which carries the printing plates for the purpose of obtaining register between the printing impressions made by the plates on different cylinders, or for other purposes.

In the present specification the term drive or off-side of the printing machine will be used to indicate the side of the machine on which the drive gears are arranged for the cylinders, and the term operating side will be used to indicate the opposite transverse side of the machine.

According to the present invention a rotary printing machine includes operating means for adjusting the plate cylinder circumferentially in relation to its drive, when the machine is in motion, said means being operable from the operating side of the machine.

The invention also includes a rotary printing machine as set forth above including independently operable means for moving the plate cylinder along its rotational axis in relation to the frame of the machine when the machine is in motion, said means being operable from the operating side of the machine.

The operating means for adjusting the plate cylinder circumferentially preferably includes mechanism for producing a linear movement which is subsequently converted by a further mechanism into relative angular move ment between two relatively movable parts about the axis of rotation of the cylinder. Thus one of the two parts may be arranged to carry the printing plate or plates and the other to receive the cylinder drive.

The linear movement may be transmitted from one side of the machine to the other through means passing through the centre of the plate cylinder.

In a preferred arrangement the linear movement is pro duced by rotating a rotary operating member which is screw threaded to an axially movable non-rotatable member and which is connected to the mechanism for producing the relative angular movement. The rotary operating member may carry gear teeth which are engaged by a gear which can be rotated by operation of a hand wheel.

Preferably the mechanism for producing the relative angular movement between the relatively movable parts of the cylinder comprises an element which can be moved in a linear direction, and a cranked shaft is mounted for rotation on one of the relatively movable parts and which is pivotally connected to the element and the other movable part so that relative angular movement is caused between the parts when the element is moved to cause the shaft to rotate.

In order to balance the mechanism two crank-shafts are preferably provided which are mounted for rotation at diametrically opposite points on the inner part, the first element being in the form of a yoke which extends between the adjacent crank arms on the crank-shafts and being connected to the mechanism for producing the linear movement.

The outer part preferably carries the cylinder driving gear, the inner part carrying the printing plate or plates.

In any case means may be included for indicating the amount of angular movement between the cylinder parts anarsz Patented Mar. 14, 1967 in the form of an indicator arranged adjacent to the operating hand wheel.

It will be seen that the circumferential position of the plate cylinder in relation to its drive can be altered simply by the operation of a hand wheel at the operating end of the machine.

According to another aspect of the invention all the operating mechanism can be arranged at the drive or off side of the machine in which case it is unnecessary to transmit the linear movement through the cylinder.

The arrangement set forth above can be used with drive gear of any type and may thus be used with straight spur gears or helical gears.

As set forth above means may also be included for independently moving the plate cylinder along its rotation axis and with this construction the arrangement is preferably such that the plate cylinder bearing and housing move transversely through the machine frames together with the cylinder when it is adjusted.

The operating means for this movement preferably in cludes a screw threaded component, the position of which is fixed in relation to the frame of the machine, and a cooperating screw threaded operating member which is connected to the cylinder in such a manner that rotation of the operating member causes axial movement of the cylinder.

The connection between the operating member and the cylinder may conveniently be through a rotary thrust bearing and in a preferred arrangement the operating member is connected to the cylinder through a transmission shaft one end of which is carried by the rotary thrust bearing and the other end of which is connected to the cylinder to transmit axial movement thereto.

In this arrangement the cylinder is preferably'carried in a cylinder support bearing arranged in a bearing housing assembly which is movably supported in the machine frame, the end of the transmission shaft which is connected to the cylinder also being supported in the cylinder support bearing.

The screw threaded operating member may be arranged to carry gear teeth which can be driven by a gear wheel which can be rotated to cause rotation of the operating member.

Preferably the operating member can be caused to rotate by manual operation of a hand wheel on the operating side of the machine, and this hand wheel may be mounted on a spindle which carries the gear wheel.

Indicating means may also be included which act to display the amount of axial movement of the cylinder, and these indicating means may include an indicator device which is actuated in response to the rotation of the gear wheel. 1

Thus, the opperating hand wheels for both adjustments may be arranged close to each other on a cover surrounding at least part of both adjustment means.

Preferably the means for moving the plate cylinder along its longitudinal axis and at least part of the means for adjusting the plate cylinder circumferentially are arranged substantially co-axially, adjacent the operating side of the cylinder, so that the apparatus for moving the cylinder in both directions is arranged in a compact manner.

Again it will be seen that the means for moving the" ll'ld circumferential directions to be achieved independ- :n-tly.

The invention may be performed in various ways but me specific embodiment will now be described by way at example and with reference to the accompanying drawvngs in which FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation of part at the control mechanism at the operating side of a machine embodying the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional end elevation on the line [III of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional end elevation on the line [IL-III of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a view of one of the indicating means in the direction of the arrow IV on FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a view of the other indicating means in the direction of the arrow V on FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism for causing circumferential movement of the cylinder in relation to its drive, and

FIGURE 7 is an end elevation of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 6.

In the machine to be described the plate cylinder P is connected to a blanket cylinder (not shown) through straight spur gears which can slide axially in relation to each other.

The end of the cylinder adjacent the operating side of the machine as shown in FIGURE 1, is carried in a cylinder support bearing 1 which is arranged in an annular bearing housing assembly 2 which is mounted for axial movement in the machine frame 3. The bearing housing assembly 2 comprises a main cylindrical member 4 having an inturned flange 5 at its end adjacent the plate cylinder and at its other end being partly closed by an annular ring 6. The cylinder support bearing 1 is housed within the main cylindrical member 4 and abuts the inturned flange 5 adjacent its end. To maintain the bearing 1 in position a spacer '7 is arranged between the ring 6 and the bearing 1 so that it is located against axial movement and the ring 6 is rigidly secured to the cylindrical member by screws 8. The plate cylinder P is provided with a spigot 9 which projects into the cylinder support bearing 1, and the ring 6 projects outwardly beyond the cylindrical member'to provide a flange 10. This flange is arranged on the side of the machine frame 3 remote from the plate cylinder, and the housing 2 is arranged to slide in the frame itself, the flange 1t formed by the ring limiting the extent of movement of the housing in a direction towards the plate cylinder. In order to prevent the housing rotating a key 11 is provided which is rigidly connected to the machine frame 3 and which extends into a slot 12 in the flange on the ring.

A screw threaded component in the form of a plate 13 is rigidly secured to the machine frame 3 but displaced from the bearing housing assembly. Arranged in the plate is a bore within which is housed a flanged support member 14, the flange 15 thereof having holes (not shown) through which screws are passed to secure the support member in position on the plate. The support member 14 is provided with a bore which is screw threaded to receive a screw threaded operating member in the form of an annulus 16, the outer circumference of which carries a. co-operating screw thread and which is provided with a portion 17 of larger diameter, the outer circumference of this portion carrying gear teeth 18. The bore of this annulus is counter-bored -to receive a rotary thrust bearing 19 which can abut against the end of the counter bored portion and which is located in position by means of a circular retainer 20 which is bolted to the end of the annulus.

A transmission shaft 21 extends between the rotary thrust bearing 19 and the cylinder support bearing 1. One end of this transmission shaft 21 is formed with a spigot 22 which extends into the rotary thrust bearing up to an abutment flange 23. An end cap 24 is rigidly secured to the end of the spigot 22 so that the rotary thrust bearing 19 is clamped on to the spigot, and the shaft 21 is rigidly held against axial movement relative thereto. The other end of the transmission shaft is also provided with a spigot 25 but of larger diameter which rests Within the cylinder support bearing 1. This end of the transmission shaft is rigidly bolted to the spigot 9 on the plate cylinder P which is also housed to the cylinder support hearing by means of axially extending screws 26. Thus it will be seen that rotation of the screw threaded operating member 16 in the form of the annulus will cause it to move axially due to the action of the screw thread between itself and the screw threaded component 13, and this movement will be transmitted via the rotary thrust bearing 19 and the transmission shaft 21 to the plate cylinder P and the cylinder housing assembly 2 which will all move axially in the machine frame.

Rotation of the screw threaded operating member is achieved by means of a gear wheel 27 which is mounted upon one end of a spindle 28, this spindle being supported in needle roller bearings 29 in the plate 13 of the screw threaded component and extending beyond a cover plate 30 which is carried by the machine frame 3 to an operating hand wheel 31. Thus, operation of the hand wheel 31 will cause the gear wheel 27 to rotate, which will in turn rotate the screw threaded operating member 16, and the gear ratio between the two is arranged, so that manual operation of the gear wheel 27, is easily achieved.

Indicating means are shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 which act to display the amount of axial movement of the cylinder P are provided in the form of an indicator dial 32 which is mounted at one end of the outer casing 30 at right angles to the operating wheel 31. This dial 3?. is actuated by means of a shaft 33 one end of which is connected to the dial, and the end of which carries a worm gear 34 which co-operates with a second gear wheel 35 mounted on the hand wheel spindle 23. When the gear wheel 27 is operated by means of the hand wheel 31 therefor the second gear wheel 35 will cause the indicator spindle 33 to rotate to give a reading on the indicator of the amount of axial movement imparted to the cylinder.

If the above arrangement is to be used with a machine having a gear drive which is not in the form of straight spur gears then means mustbe provided to allow the plate cylinder to move axially independently of its gear. drive, such a means comprising for example suitable splines.

The apparatus for adjusting the plate cylinder circumferentially in' relation to its drive comprises mechanism for producing a linear movement which is subsequently converted by further mechanism into relative angular movement between two relatively movable parts about the axis of rotation of the cylinder.

The mechanism for producing the linear movement is arranged co-axially with the apparatus described above for moving the plate cylinder axially and comprises a rotary operating member 4% having a bore in which is housed a plug member 41 having a screw threaded bore. The plug member is firmly secured to the rotary oper-- ating member by means of screws 4-2, and the rotary operating member is formed with a spigot 43 on its side adjacent the plate cylinder which is located'within a bearing ring 44. This bearing ring 44 is itself housed in a circular depression in a plate member 45 which is held against rotational movement but which can move with the plate cylinder P when that member is moved axially by the adjustment means set forth above. A housing member 46 is arranged to project into a bore in the plate member, the bore being in line with the axis of the screw threaded bore in the plug member 41 and the rotary operated member 40 is held in close contact against the ring 44 by means of segmental members 48 which are arranged at diametrically opposite points on the plate member 45 and which have flanges 49 which over-lap the outer circumference of the rotary operating member 40. Thus the rotary operating member 40 is free to rotate in the bearing provided by the ring 44 but cannot be withdrawn therefrom because of the segmental members 48.

Arranged within the screw threaded bore of the plug member 41 is a spigot piece 50 which is also screw threaded to co-operate with the screw thread in the plug member 41 and which carries a key 51 which can slide in an axially extending slot 52 in the housing member 46. Thus the spigot piece 50 provides an axially movable non-rotatable member which, when the rotary operating member 40 is rotated, moves axially due to the cooperating screw thread but not in a rotary fashion because of the key 51 which slides in the key way in the housing member 46.

The spigot piece 56 is bored and houses one end of an operating rod 53 which is held in position by means of a suitable tapered dowel pin 54. The length of the housing member 46 is such that it passes within the bore of the retaining member inthe annulus 16 which provides the screw threaded operating member on the adjustment mechanism for axial movement of the plate cylinder, and the end of the bore of the housing member 46 is counter-bored to pass over the end cap 24 which secures the spigot 22 on the transmission shaft 21 in position. This end cap 24 is also bored as is the transmission shaft 21 itself and the plate cylinder P, so that the operating rod 53 can pass from the spigot piece 50 through the plate cylinder to the other end thereof.

In order to provide rotation of the rotary operating member 40 a gear wheel 55 is mounted upon a spindle 56, this spindle being supported in needle roller bearings 57 in the plate of the screw threaded component 13 and also in the plate member 45 and the spindle extends beyond the cover plate which is secured to the machine frame to an operating hand wheel 58. An adjustable idler 59 is arranged between the gear wheel 55 and the gear teeth on the rotary operating member so that operation of the hand wheel 58 will cause the gear wheel and idler to rotate, which will in turn rotate the rotary operating member, the gear ratio between the idler, the gear wheel and the rotary operating member being arranged so that manual operation of the gear wheel is easily achieved. Thus it will be seen that rotary movement of the hand wheel 58 will cause the rotary operating member to rotate and the screw thread on the spigot piece to move through the screw thread on the plug member to cause the operating rod 53- to move in a linear direction across the machine.

The operating hand wheel 58 is arranged on its spindle at a point substantially in line with the operating hand wheel 31 for the adjusting mechanism for the axial position for the plate cylinder so that both hand wheels are easily reached, and the spindles are arranged so that they pass through the non-rotatable member in needle roller bearings 60 above and below the rotary operating memher.

The plug member 41 is split along one of its sides and a screw 61 is passed between the two sides thus formed so that the screw thread can be tightened as required.

Indicating means are also provided to act to display the amount of peripheral movement of the cylinder, in the form of an indicating dial 62 which is mounted on one end of the outer casing adjacent the indicator dial for the other adjustment. This dial is actuated by means of a shaft 63, one end of which is connected to a point on the dial, and the other end of which carries a worm gear 64 which co-operates with a second gear wheel 65 mounted on the hand wheel spindle 56 in a similar man ner to the arrangement for the indicator which shows axial movement. Thus when the gear wheel is operated by means of the hand wheel the second gear wheel 65 will cause the indicator spindle 63 to rotate to give a reading on the indicator of the amount of movement imparted to the cylinder. The two spindles for the two indicator dials extend at right angles to the hand wheel spindles and the indicators are provided on the side end of the cover one above the other. Thus the operator can inspect the dials whilst viewing the plate roller with the operating hand wheels readily available on the front of the cover.

The mechanism for converting the linear movement supplied to the operating rod 53 shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 comprises a yoke member 65 through which the end of rod member 53 remote from the plug 50 passes and is secured. This yoke member 65 extends in a direction substantially parallel with the end face of the plate cylinder P and is guided for axial movement in directions in line with the axis of the plate cylinder by means of guide rods 66 which pass through suitable bearings at each end of the yoke. Stops 67 are provided on the end of the guide rods 66 to prevent the yoke 65 being moved out of contact with them. The driving gear for the plate cylinder is carried on a hub 68 which is fastened to the shaft 69 of the plate cylinder, which shaft extends beyond the off-side main frame. This hub 68 of the plate cylinder is of suitably reduced diameter so that appropriate strength can be provided for the gear rim 7t) and the gear rim is maintained in position by means of plates 71 which embrace the hub, so permitting angular movement, but no axial movement, between hub and gear rim. The plates are secured to the rim by means of three screws 72, and the outer plate has elongated slots which permit initial setting. The hub 68 of the cylinder within the gear rim '70 carries a pair of bearing blocks 73 which are arranged diametrically opposite each other with the axis of their bearings passing through the axis of the cylinder at right angles thereto. Each block carries a cranked shaft 74, each shaft having a long crank arm 75 adjacent the inner end of the shaft, and a short crank arm 76 which is at right angles to the long one 75 at its outer end. The length of the central part 77 of each crank shaft is arranged so that the shorter arm 76 can project in a direction substantially in line with the axis of the plate cylinder to a point adjacent the outer plate 71 on the gear rim 7%) where a bearing spigot 78 provided on each of the shorter arms can be housed within a spherical bearing 83 pivotally mounted in a conventional bearing member 79, rigidly secured to the plate 71 on the gear rim. Thus the two shorter arms are connected to the gear rim '70 at diametrically opposite points and through pivotable joints. A projecting boss 86 is arranged at each end of the yoke 65 which projects at right angles to the axis of the plate cylinder and substantially in line with the plane of the end face of the cylinder. A pivot pin 81 projects from each of these bosses and passes through a suitable bore in the outer end of each of the longer crank arms '75 to provide a pivotal connection between each end of the yoke 65 and the crank arms 75. In order to support the operating rod 53 suitable bearin s are provided within the bore inside the plate cylinder and the guide rods ti are carried by support members 82 which are firmly secured to the plate cylinder hub by means of screws.

In operation linear movement of the operating rod 53 will cause the yoke 65 to move towards or away from the end of the plate cylinder which will thus cause the longer crank arms 75 to move inwardly or outwardly thus causing the crank shaft 74 to rotate. This rotational movement is transmitted to the shorter crank arms 76 which move in the manner of a bell crank lever in comparison with the longer crank arms so that the gear rim 70 which carries the bearing member 79 will be caused to move angularly with relation to the hub 63 of the plate cylinder and the spigots 78 will pivot the bearings 83 in the members 79. It will be appreciated that l he relative angular movement will cause the position of he plate cylinder with relation to its drive to be altered that it can be adjusted as required Whilst the machine in motion.

When the plate cylinder is moved axially in relation to he frame of the machine by means of the adjustment neans set forth above the operating mechanism at both nds of the plate cylinder will move with it, but the pindles which carry the gear wheels and the operating land Wheels 31, 58 are fixed by being mounted Within he plate 13 of the axial adjusting gear so that the idler gear wiil slide axially on the gear wheel for the angular idjustment means.

What we claim is:

1. A rotary printing machine comprising a frame, a slate cylinder, means mounting said cylinder in said frame for rotation about a predetermined axis, drive means op- :ratively connected to said cylinder, said drive means including gear means connected to said cylinder and a hub connected to said gear means, first adjusting means for :ircurnferentially adjusting said cylinder relative to said drive means, first control means for controlling said first adjusting means, said first adjusting means including a spur gear operatively connected to said first control means, a member connected to said first control means and displaceable longitudinally relative to said cylinder in response to operation of said first control means, a crankshaft rotatably mounted on said hub and connected between said member and said gear means for causing the circumferential adjustment of said cylinder, second adjusting means operable independently of said first adjusting means for moving said cylinder along a path generally parallel to said predetermined axis, second control means adjacent said first control means for controlling said second adjusting means, and said first and second control means being disposed at a location remote from said drive means.

e 2. The rotary printing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said second adjusting means comprises a mem- 0 her fixed relative to said frame, an operating member rotatably mounted in said fixed member and operatively connected to said second control means, and a bearing assembly connected between said cylinder and saidopcrating member for moving said cylinder along said axis in response to the operation of said second control means.

3. The rotary printing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said first adjusting means further includes a yoke connected to said displaceable member, and a crank arm interconnecting said yoke and said shaft.

4. The rotary printing machine as defined in claim '1 wherein said first adjusting means further comprises a yoke connected to said disp-laceable member and mounted on said hub, a first crank arm interconnecting said shaft and said yoke, and a relatively shorter crank arm interconnecting said shaft and said gear means.

5. A rotary printing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said first adjusting means further comprises a yoke connected to said displaceable member and mounted on said hub, a first crank arm interconnecting said crank shaft and said yoke, a second relatively shorter crank arm interconnecting said shaft and said gear means, a spigot mounted on an end of said shorter arm, and a bearing mounted on said gear means and receiving said spigot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

H. P. EWELL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME, A PLATE CYLINDER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID CYLINDER IN SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT A PREDETERMINED AXIS, DRIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CYLINDER, SAID DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING GEAR MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CYLINDER AND A HUB CONNECTED TO SAID GEAR MEANS, FIRST ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ADJUSTING SAID CYLINDER RELATIVE TO SAID DRIVE MEANS, FIRST CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID FIRST ADJUSTING MEANS, SAID FIRST ADJUSTING MEANS INCLUDING A SPUR GEAR OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS, A MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS AND DISPLACEABLE LONGITUDINALLY RELATIVE TO SAID CYLINDER IN RESPONSE TO OPERATION OF SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS, A CRANKSHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HUB AND CONNECTED