US3319355A

US3319355A - Printed proof dryer

Info

Publication number: US3319355A
Application number: US432266A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael F Lagnese
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-02-12
Filing date: 1965-02-12
Publication date: 1967-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-16

Description

y 16, 1967 M; F. LAGNESE 3,319,355

PRINTED PROOF DRYER Filed Feb. 12, 1965 Z FIG. 2

lllu.

INVENTOR. MICHAEL F. LAGNESE HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,319,355 PRINTED PROOF DRYER Michael F. Lagnese, 2490 Chatham Park Drive, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15220 Filed Feb. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 432,266 2 Claims. (Cl. 34-162) This invention relates to printed proof dryers and more particularly to a dryer having a heated chamber through which individual printed proofs are conveyed for drying.

In print shops, customer proofs are often run from type which has been set in order to check the layout, quality, and other features of the job which will be produced by the type. These proofs must be inspected and handled for review. Since the customer proofs, when printed, are usually wet from the ink imparted thereto, various means have been utilized in print shops to dry the proofs so that they may be handled and inspected.

The conventional type of printed proof dryer most prevalent in print shops is formed of a series of wire baskets arranged in drawer-like fashion with a source of heated air at the bottom. The heated air is caused to pass upwardly through the drawer-type baskets to dry prints which have been placed within the wire baskets.

The use of the conventional proof dryers has proved unsatisfactory in that the drying requires an excessive amount of time and, even when sufficient time is permitted, portions of the proof are often not dry. This is primarily for the reason that the proofs are not evenly exposed to the drying medium or the rapid drying is accompanied by color changes in the ink.

The present invention is directed to a proof dryer in which a heated chamber is provided. The heated chamber has a conveyor system arranged near the top thereof so that individual proofs may be secured to the conveyor and conveyed through the heated chamber. The proofs are conveyed slowly through the heated chamber, one at a time, so that they are uniformly exposed to the heated atmosphere Which accelerates drying of the ink on the proofs. Once the proofs pass through the heated chamber, they are stacked in an end of the proof dryer until they are picked up for use.

The stacking feature of the proof dryer is novel in that a docking surface is provided within the heated chamber of the dryer. The docking surface serves to catch the printed proofs as the conveyor moves them over the docking surface until the printed proofs are automatically removed from the conveyor.

The printed proof dryer of the present invention permits uniform and even exposure of the proofs to a drying medium. It also speeds the drying process since the proof passes through the dryer in approximately four (4) minutes and is ready for use.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a proof dryer which effectively dries printed proofs in a relatively short time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printed proof dryer in which the printed proofs move slowly through a heated chamber so that they are uniformly exposed to a drying medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printed proof dryer in which the printed proofs pass through a heated chamber and are automatically stacked for retrieval after passing therethrough.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printed proof dryer in which a novel conveyor system moves the printed proofs through the drying chamber.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent as this description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation of the printed proof dryer of the present invention taken along line 11 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is an end sectional elevation taken along line 2--2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the paper clamps utilized in the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a proof dryer 10 is formed with a heated chamber 12. The heated chamber is within a cabinet-like structure having a front end wall 14, a rear end wall 16, a top wall 18, a bottom wall 20, and side walls 22. The walls of the heated chamber 12 are formed of material which is insulated to retard the passage of heat therethrough. The interior surfaces of each of the

walls

14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 may also be polished or otherwise treated to provide heat reflecting surfaces.

A plurality of infra-red tubes 24 are mounted near the bottom wall 20 of the heated chamber 12 as is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The infra-red tubes are connected to a source of electrical power (not shown) to provide heat energy for the heated chamber 12. Passing through the bottom wall 20 of heated chamber 12, a conduit 26 is connected to a source of air under pressure (not shown) so that said air under pressure is admitted into heated chamber 12 below the infra-red tubes 24. The air under pres-sure then passes upwardly around tubes 24 and circulates within heated chamber 12 to provide a drying medium for the heated chamber.

An entrance port 28 is formed in the front end wall 14 of the heated chamber 12. A door 30 is utilized to close the entrance port 28 when the port 28 is not being utilized to insert printed proofs into the heated chamber 12.

An exit port 32 is formed in the rear end wall 16 and is closed by a door 34. The door 34 is utilized to remove printed proofs after they have been dried.

A conveyor is installed in the top portion of the heated chamber 12 and is indicated generally at 36. The conveyor has two (2) conveyor chains 38 which pass around drive sprockets 40 and idler sprockets 42.

The idler sprockets 42 are fixed upon an idler shaft 44 which is journaled for rotation within the end walls 22 of the heated chamber. The drive sprockets 40 are fixed on a drive shaft 46 which is also journaled for rotation within the end walls 22 of the heated chamber 12. The

sprockets

40 and 42 are each fixed near the ends of their respective shafts so that the two (2) conveyor chains 38 are located adjacent the respective end walls 22.

The drive shaft 46 extends through one of the end walls 22 as is best shown in FIGURE 2, and the drive shaft 46 is driven through a drive train 48 from a motor 50. The specific drive train and motor form no part of the present invention except that the drive train must be such that the conveyor chains 38 will move along at a linear speed of between one-half (V2) foot per minute and one (1) foot per minute.

A series of conveyor flights 52, best shown in FIGURE 2, are fixed to the two (2) conveyor chains 38 so that the conveyor flights are supported between the chains. Each conveyor flight 52 has two 2) hooks 54 fixed thereto. The hooks have a generally flat portion 54a turned upwardly at a small angle asis best seen in FIGURE 1 so that eyes may slip readily onto and off from the hooks 54.

A number of paper clamps 56, best shown in FIGURE 3, are utilized with the printed proof dryer of the present invention. The paper clamps 56 have a pair of paper holding members 58 which are spring-biased toward each other in conventional fashion. The one member 58 of each clamp 56 has a pair of eyes 60 fixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom as shown in FIGURE 3.

Formed in end wall 16 is a docking surface 62 which is so positioned below the conveyor chains 38 that as the proofs pass through the heated chamber, they come into contact with docking surface 62. The proofs are then slowly conveyed over the surface 62 until they are automatically removed from the conveyor chain as will hereinafter be more fully described.

A plurality of printed proofs 64 are shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

In operation, the printed proof dryer has the conveyor 36 operating constantly. The conveyor 36 moves at a constant speed of approximately one (1) linear foot per minute.

The heated chamber 12 is maintained at a temperature between 310 and 325 Fahrenheit. Air under pressure is admitted to the chamber from the conduit 26.

When it is desired to dry a proof or other paper having wet ink thereon for use, the proof 64 is clamped between the members 58 of a paper clamp 56. The paper clamp 56 is then positioned on the conveyor 36 by placing the eyes 60 of the paper clamp 56 over the hooks 54 depending from the conveyor flights 52. Since the chains 38 of the conveyor 36 move slowly (one (1) foot per minute or less), no difficulty is encountered in placing the eyes 60 over the hooks 54. The proof is placed in the heated chamber through entrance port 28 by opening door 30.

The individual proof 64 is carried by the conveyor chains 38 through the heated chamber 12 until it reaches the docking surface 62. When the proof reaches the surface 62, it is dragged up thereon to the position of the proofs shown in FIGURE 1 aligned upon the docking surface 62. Once the flight 52 to which the individual proof 64 has reached the drive sprockets 40, that flight begins to move upwardly around the sprockets thereby causing the flat part 5411 of books 54 to assume a vertical position. As the hooks move around the sprockets 40, they slip from the eyes 60 of the individual paper clamp 56. Accordingly, the proofs are left upon the docking surface 62.

The proofs may be removed from the heated chamber by opening the door 34 in end wall 16 and removing the proofs through exit port 32. The door 36 in the end wall is maintained in a semi-closed position while the proofs are being dried so that some air may escape from the chamber 12 carrying moisture therewith.

In actual practice, I find that a cabinet of the type described with a heated chamber 12 therein should be between three (3) and four (4) feet in length. This heated chamber permits the proofs to be sufliciently dried since passage therethrough requires approximately four (4) minutes.

Because of the manner in which the individual proofs 64 are suspended on the conveyor 36 in spaced fashion, the proofs are evenly exposed to the drying medium and are thoroughly dried thereby. The proof dryer does not require constant attention nor does it require a fulltime operator. The proofs may be inserted at one end of the dryer and pass therethrough and are automatically stacked upon emerging from the heated chamber. When required, the proofs are removed from the docking surface 62 which docks the proofs after they have passed through the drying medium.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained the principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A printed proof dryer comprising:

(a) a box-like heated chamber having side walls, end walls, a top and a bottom, an entrance port formed in an end wall and an exit port formed in an end wall;

(b) conveyor means including a pair of parallel, laterally spaced conveyor chains driven by conveyor sprockets, a plurality of flights rigidly connecting said chains to each other and extending generally perpendicular to said chains, said flights each having hooks rigidly formed thereon to receive paper clamps having mating eyes adapted to receive said hooks, a motor means to drive said conveyor sprockets, said conveyor means extending adjacent the top wall of said heated chamber;

(0) a plurality of paper clamps removably attachable to said printed proofs and having eyes formed thereon to fit over said conveyor flight hooks, said clamp eyes fitting over said hooks so that said printed proofs may be suspended below said clamps from said conveyor for transit through said heated chamber; and

(d) a docking surface lying in a plane generally parallel to said heated chamber top wall and in proximity to the bottom flight of said conveyor, said docking surface so positioned that as said proofs come into contact with said docking surface and said conveyor chains progress, said proofs are removed from said conveyor hooks as said hooks begin to move in a vertical direction and are deposited upon said docking surface by motion of said conveyor means.

2. A printed proof dryer comprising:

(b) a plurality of heating elements positioned adjacent said heated chamber bottom and a source of air under pressure being admitted to said heated chamber below said heating elements to circulate heated air upwardly into said heated chamber;

(0) conveyor means including a pair of parallel, laterally spaced conveyor chains driven by conveyor sprockets, a plurality of flights rigidly connecting said chains to each other and extending generally perpendicular to said chains, said flights each having hooks rigidly formed thereon to receive paper clamps having mating eyes adapted to receive said hooks, a motor means to drive said conveyor sprockets, said conveyor means extending adjacent the top wall of said heated chamber;

(d) a plurality of paper clamps removably attachable to said printed proofs and having eyes formed thereon to fit over said conveyor flight hooks, said clamp eyes fitting over said hooks so that said printed proofs may be suspended below said clamps from said conveyor for transit through said heated chamber; and

(e) a docking surface lying in a plane generally parallel to said heated chamber top wall and in proximity to the bottom flight of said conveyor, said docking surface so positioned that as said proofs come into contact with said docking surface and said conveyor chains progress, said proofs are removed from said conveyor hooks as said hooks begin to move in a vertical direction and are deposited upon said docking surface by motion of said conveyor means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 710,467 10/1902 Wardle 34162 1,018,586 2/1912 Reno 198177X 1,540,687 6/1925 Feistel et al 34162 X 1,674,407 6/1928 Manker 263-6 2,223,978 12/1940 Dew 21146 X 2,282,070 5/1942 Mahannah 34-4 X 2,545,293 3/1951 McGeady 198177 X FOREIGN PATENTS 67,191 4/1865 France. 374,690 4/ 1923 Germany. 312,999 6/1930 Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, IR., Primary Examiner.

A. D. HERRMANN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A PRINTED PROOF DRYER COMPRISING: (A) A BOX-LIKE HEATED CHAMBER HAVING SIDE WALLS, END WALLS, A TOP AND A BOTTOM, AN ENTRANCE PORT FORMED IN AN END WALL AND AN EXIT PORT FORMED IN AN END WALL; (B) CONVEYOR MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF PARALLEL, LATERALLY SPACED CONVEYOR CHAINS DRIVEN BY CONVEYOR SPROCKETS, A PLURALITY OF FLIGHTS RIGIDLY CONNECTING SAID CHAINS TO EACH OTHER AND EXTENDING GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID CHAINS, SAID FLIGHTS EACH HAVING HOOKS RIGIDLY FORMED THEREON TO RECEIVE PAPER CLAMPS HAVING MATING EYES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID HOOKS, A MOTOR MEANS TO DRIVE SAID CONVEYOR SPROCKETS, SAID CONVEYOR MEANS EXTENDING ADJACENT THE TOP WALL OF SAID HEATED CHAMBER; (C) A PLURALITY OF PAPER CLAMPS REMOVABLY ATTACHABLE TO SAID PRINTED PROOFS AND HAVING EYES FORMED THEREON TO FIT OVER SAID CONVEYOR FLIGHT HOOKS, SAID CLAMP EYES FITTING OVER SAID HOOKS SO THAT SAID PRINTED PROOFS MAY BE SUSPENDED BELOW SAID CLAMPS FROM SAID CONVEYOR FOR TRANSIT THROUGH SAID HEATED CHAMBER; AND (D) A DOCKING SURFACE LYING IN A PLANE GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID HEATED CHAMBER TOP WALL AND IN PROXIMITY TO THE BOTTOM FLIGHT OF SAID CONVEYOR, SAID DOCKING SURFACE SO POSITIONED THAT AS SAID PROOFS COME INTO CONTACT WITH SAID DOCKING SURFACE AND SAID CONVEYOR CHAINS PROGRESS, SAID PROOFS ARE REMOVED FROM SAID CONVEYOR HOOKS AS SAID HOOKS BEGIN TO MOVE IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION AND ARE DEPOSITED UPON SAID DOCKING SURFACE BY MOTION OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS.