US3336865A

US3336865A - Etching press

Info

Publication number: US3336865A
Application number: US426905A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brand Charles
Original assignee: Brand Charles
Current assignee: CHARLES BRAND MACHINERY Inc
Priority date: 1965-01-21
Filing date: 1965-01-21
Publication date: 1967-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-22

Description

2, 1967 c. BRAND 3,336,865

ETCHING PRESS Filed Jan. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheei 1 a N v EN TOR CHA R1. E5 BRAND AT TORN EA C. BRAND Aug. 22, 1967 ETCHING PRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 21, 1965 INVENTOR CHARLES BRA/VD A ORNEY United States Patent 3,336,865 ETCHING PRESS Charles Brand, 1603 Macombs Road, Bronx, N.Y. 10452 Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,905 1 Claim. (Cl. 101-158) This invention relates generally to presses, and is especially concerned with a highly improved etching press and unique features thereof.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an etching press which is more accurate and reliable than heretofore possible, wherein table movement is maintained dead straight and table deviation sidewards is effectively prevented.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an etching press having the advantageous characteristics wherein operating pressure may be maintained constant throughout use, and may be accurately reset at a later time of use, if desired.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an etching press of the type described which is durable and reliable throughout a long, useful life.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view showing an etching press constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one element of the assembly of FIGURE 2, apart therefrom.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational View showing another element of the assembly of FIGURE 2, apart therefrom, and partly in section to illustrate interior construction.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, illustrating extreme positions of table movement in solid and dot-anddash outline.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the'line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, somewhat enlarged for clarity.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 77 of FIGURE 5, also enlarged for clarity.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, an etching press is there generally designated 10 and may include a base or stand 11 including a plurality of rectangularly arranged generally vertical legs 12, 13, 14 and 15. At their upper ends, the legs may be connected together by a pair of laterally extending, transverse end members 16, and a pair of longitudinally extending side members 17.

Fixedly secured to and upstanding from the side frame members 17 are a pair of elongate, parallel spaced supand 19,

port members or plates 18 and 19. That is, the support members or plates 18 and 19 are disposed in parallel, generally vertical planes, each extending longitudinally along and upstanding from a respective horizontal frame member 17, being fixedly secured thereto, as by welding or other suitable means. Further rigidifying the support members or plates 18 and 19 may be a plurality of generally horizontal, laterally extending tie members or rods 20, 21 and 22, each extending between and having its opposite ends fixedly secured to respective support mernbers 18 and 19. v

The support members 18 and 19 are: substantially coextensive longitudinally; and, extending laterally therebetween at a medial region thereof is a main support roller 25. The support roller 25 is disposed generally horizontally, having stub shafts (not shown) projecting axially from its opposite ends and each journaled in a bearing fixed to a respective support member 18 and 19. The main roller 25 is thus located substantially in the space between support members 18'and 19, extending normal thereto and mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis.

Adjacent to the ends of the support members 18 and 19, inward thereof, are mounted auxiliary rollers 30, 31, 32 and 33. The pair of auxiliary rollers 30 and 31 are located on one side of the main roller 25, and are shown for purposes of illustration as rotatably carried by respective support members 18 and 19. The auxiliary rollers 30 and 31 are rotatable about generally horizontal axes, substantially parallel to the axis of main roller 25, and may be in axial alignment with each other, if desired. Further, a horizontal tangent to the upper surface of each auxiliary roller 30 and 31 is substantially level with a horizontal tangent to the upper surface of the support roller 25.

Similarly, the auxiliary rollers 32 and 33 are rotatable about generally horizontal axes, which may be coincident, and are parallel to the axis of support roller 25, the upper surfaces of auxiliary rollers 32 and 33 being level with the upper surface of support roller 25.

A generally flat plate or table 35 rests on the support roller 25 and at least one adjacent pair of auxiliary rollers 30, 31, 32 and 33. The plate or table 35 is thus horizontally supported in position between the side supports 18 and extends longitudinally thereof.

As seen in FIGURE 5, the plate or table 35 is of generally rectangular-outline configuration, having its longi tudinal edges or sides 36 and 37 extending along and spaced therealong are side guide rollers, as at 38, and 39. The side guide rollers 38 and 39 are located between the support member 18 and a longitudinal rail 34 on the underside of the table 35 for rolling'engagement with the rail. More particularly, the side guide rollers 38 and 39 are journaled in brackets 40 and 41, fixed to the support member 18, respectively adjacent to rollers 30 and 31. The guide rollers 38 and 39 are mounted in their respective brackets for free rotation about vertical axes.

Similarly, the support member 19 carries, by brackets 42, 49 and 43 adjacent to respective auxiliary support rollers 32 and 33, and main roller 25, side guide rollers 44, 48 and 45, which are rotatable about vertical axes and in rolling engagement with the longitudinal rail 46 on the underside of table 35 adjacent to edge 37.

Located directly over the main support roller 25 is a generally horizontally disposed pressure roller 50. The

pressure roller 50 lies in the same vertical plane as the nether support roller 25 and is mounted at its opposite ends by respective mounting structures 51 and 52. The mounting structure 51 includes a pair of parallel spaced upstanding posts or bars 53 and 54 secured rigidly to the support member 18, as by suitable fastener means, and having theirinner or facing sides formed, as by grooves 55 and 56 to define therebetween a slideway 57. A top member or lintel 58 extends across and between the upper ends of the bars 53 and 54, being fixedly secured thereto, as by fasteners 59 and 60, and bridging the slideway 57.

Slidably mounted in the slideway 57 is a bearing block 62 which rotatably journals one end of the pressure roller 50.

The mounting structure 52 is similar, including a pair of spaced, vertically upstanding posts or bars 63 and 64 suitably fixed rigidly to the support member 19 and provided on their facing sides with grooves 65 and 66 defining therebetween a slideway 67. The upper end of the slideway 67 is bridged by a top member 68 fixedly secured to posts 63 and 64, as by fasteners 69 and 70; and, a bearing block 72 is slidable vertically in the slideway 67 and rotatably journals the adjacent end of pressure roller 50.

Resilient means, such as a coil compression spring 75 is disposed vertically within each guideway 57 and 67, beneath respective bearing blocks 62 and 72. The springs 75 are supported by suitable means at their lower ends, and have their upper ends respectively in bearing engagement with blocks 62 and 72 to urge the same upward.

Adjustable limit means 76 and 77 are respectively carried by the mounting structures 51 and 52 for limiting upward movement of bearing blocks 62 and 72. The limit means 76 and 77 may be identical, so that only the limit mechanism 77 will be described in detail, as seen in FIG- URES 2-4. The limit mechanism includes a generally vertical elongate rod or shaft '78 having external screw threads 79 and extending through the lintel or bridging member 68. The upper end of the threaded rod 79 may be provided with a cross member 80 for facilitating manual turning. Fixed to the lintel 68 and surrounding the rod 78 is a sleeve 81. The sleeve 81 may be integral with the lintel 68, or fixedly secured thereto, as by fasteners 82, or other suitable means. The sleeve may be internally threaded, as at 83 in FIG. 4, for mating engagement with the threads 79. Thus, upon rotation of the cross member or handle 80, the rod 78 is caused to move vertically up or down in accordance with the direction of rotation.

The fixed sleeve 81 is provided on its external surface with markings in the form of a scale or calibration extending longitudinally of the sleeve and rod 78.

In addition, a collar 85 is circumposed about the rod 78, being fixed relative thereto, as by setscrew 86. The collar 85 thus rotates with the rod 78 and is internally enlarged, as at 87 for loose reception of the sleeve 81. In use, the collar 85 may therefore be circumposed about the sleeve 81 and rotate relative to the latter upon rotation of rod 78. On the exterior of collar 85 there is advantageously provided markings, see FIGURE 2, extending circumferentially about the lower edge of the collar, which markings may be read in conjunction with the markings of the sleeve 81 to indicate with close accuracy the position of rod 78.

As the bearing blocks 62 and 72 are resiliently urged upwardly into abutment with the lower ends of the rods 78 of respective limit mechanisms 76 and 77, it will now be apparent that the limit mechanisms serve to accurately position elevation of the pressure roll 50, and permit of accurately resetting the pressure-roll elevation, Whenever desired.

In order to limit longitudinally horizontal shifting of the table or plate 35, in the direction of arrows 90 in FIGURE 5, suitable stop means is provided, which may assume the form of a stop member or block 91 fixedly secured on the under side of an overhang or ledge 92 extending inwardly from the adjacent support member 18. Carried by the table or plate 35 say at opposite ends thereof, may be abutment members or projections 93 and 94 respectively engageable with opposite sides of the stop members 91 and 92 to limit the table to opposite extreme positions shown in FIGURE 5.

In order to facilitate operation, a sprocket wheel 96 may be keyed to the pressure roller 50, outboard of one mounting structure 52. A manually driven transmission 97 may be mounted on one support member 19, as by support bracket 98, and connected in driving relation with sprocket wheel 96 by a sprocket chain 99. While operation may be motorized, if desired, a manual operating crank is shown at 100 for effecting rotation of pressure roller through gearbox 97, chain 99 and sprocket wheel 96.

In use, the pressure roller 50 is rotated either manually, as illustrated, or by power, if desired, and the table 35 caused to reciprocate horizontally between the solid and phantom positions shown in FIGURE 5. At all times, the table is maintained with its center of gravity over the supporting frame 11, and inboard of the supporting rollers, to eliminate the possibility of tipping or overturning; and further, lateral deviation of the table during its movement is effectively prevented by table engagement with guide rollers 38, 39, 44, 50, 46 and 48.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides an etching press which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by Way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An etching press comprising a base, a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced supports fixed to said base, a generally horizontal main roller extending laterally between intermediate regions of said support and rotatably carried thereby, at least one pair of opposed auxiliary rollers located on each side of said main roller and carried by said supports for rotation about axes generally parallel to that of said main roller, a generally horizontal pressure roller over said main roller, mounting means mounting said pressure roller for selective adjustment toward and away from said main roller, and a table plate supported in one position on the main roller and on at least one of said opposed pair of auxiliary rollers for movement thereon beneath said pressure roller to another position supported on said main roller and on at least the other of said pair of auxiliary rollers, stop means fixed to at least one of said supports, and abutment means carried by said table plate at each end thereof for engagement with said stop means to limit table-plate movement to said positions and to prevent plate tipping, and a pair of generally vertical guide rollers on each of said supports for rolling engagement with opposite longitudinal sides of said table plate upon movement thereof between said positions, to prevent lateral plate movement, said pressure-roller mounting means comprising a pair of mounting structures one adjacent each end of said pressure roller, each such structure comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart upstanding posts whose facing sides are formed by grooves to define therebetween a slideway, a lintel extending across and bridging the upper ends of each pair of posts and bridging the respective slideways, journal blocks movable vertically in said slideways and rotatably carrying opposite ends of said pressure roller, resilient means in each slideway engaging with and urging said blocks upward, and adjustable limit means carried by each said lintel and engaging with the respective block to limit upward movement thereof, said limit means each comprising a threaded member adjustably movable through a sleeve secured to and extending upwardly from its respective lintel for vertical movement in the slideway above the adjacent block, each sleeve being provided With fixed calibrations extending longitudinally of the associated threaded member, a collar circumposed about said threaded member and secured thereto, said collar being internally enlarged for loosely receiving said sleeve, circumferential calibrations on the exterior lower edge of said collar, each said collar being rotatable with its respective threaded member for reading in conjunction With the longitudinal calibration on said fixed sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 216,397 6/1879 Hamilton 10l158 275,278 4/1883 Shaffer 100l71 X 911,930 2/1909 Anderson 101-158 935,604 9/1909 Havens et a1 101-279 1,375,800 4/1921 Popham 101158 2,176,543 10/1939 Norton 164-21 3,046,666 7/1962 Mesich 33-164 3,067,676 12/1962 Dickerson 101158 X LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Primary Examiner.