US3410211A

US3410211A - Printing cylinder clamp for tensioning flexible printing plates

Info

Publication number: US3410211A
Application number: US494188A
Authority: US
Inventors: Grunig Hans
Original assignee: Winkler Fallert and Co AG Maschinenfabrik
Current assignee: Winkler Fallert and Co AG Maschinenfabrik
Priority date: 1964-10-26
Filing date: 1965-10-08
Publication date: 1968-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-12
Also published as: NO117861B; GB1127904A; NL6511614A; CH425833A

Description

Nov. 12, 1968' H. GRUNIG 3,410,211 CYLINDER CLAMP FOR IONING 6 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8,

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M: F. e m r/ m 0 0 r MM1 w m m W 6 M 5 WW fl Nov. 12, 1968 H. GRUNIG PRINTING CYLINDER CLAMP FOR TENSIONING FLEXIBLE PRINTING PLATES 8, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.

Nov. 12, 1968 H. GRUNIG YLINDER CLAMP XIBLE PRINTING FOR TENSIONING PLATES PRINTING C FLE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct.

IN VUTOR.

HIM/S e 1? (0/16 Nov. 12, 1968 .GRUNI H G 3,410,211 PRINTING CYLINDER CLAMP FOR TENSIONING FLEXIBLE PRINTING PLATES Filed OC'L. 8, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A 1 1mm Nov. 12, 1968 r H. RUNIG 3,410,211

PRINTING CYLIND CLAMP FOR TENSIONING FLEXIBLE PRINTING PLATES Filed Oct. 8, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I L I [H I I o, a. gs

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United States Patent 3,410,211 PRINTING CYLINDER CLAMP FOR TENSIONING FLEXIBLE PRINTING PLATES Hans Griinig, Bern, Switzerland, assignor to Maschinenfabrik Winkler, Fallert & Co. A.G., Bern, Switzerland Filed Oct. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 494,188 Claims priority, application Sweden, Oct. 26, 1964, 12,889/64 14 Claims. (Cl. 101415.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for fastening flexible printing plates within a recess formed in a printing cylinder includes a generally C-shaped holding piece over which one end of the printing cylinder is directed and at least one rail member which has means for clamping the opposite end of the printing cylinder. The rail member is rotatable for the purpose of tensioning the printing plate and for engaging the first end with a spring clamping element to hold this first end while the second end is being moved in a direction to tension the plate.

The clamping means includes two rail members which are arranged end-to-end and which may be moved in axial directions toward and away from each other to engage and disengage clutch elements defined on these ends for the purpose of providing combined or single movement of the rail members. The arrangement permits the clamping of a single wide printing plate or several narrow printing plates in a side-by-side arrangement on the plate cylinder.

This invention raltes, in general, to the construction of printing cylinders and, in particular, to a new and useful printing plate cylinder having means for securing various size flexible printing plates thereon, particularly for employment in rotary offset printing machines.

The present invention is an improvement over the prior art, particularly in respect to the construction of clamping means which permit the easy installation of flexible printing plates and the securing of plates in position by clamping means which is located in a recess within the cylinder. A particular advantage of the present construction is that the clamping means is adjustable to permit the mounting of either a single wide or a plurality of narrow printing plates side by side on the plate cylinder. In addition, the construction is such that it is possible to mount a plurality of narow printing plates individually and independently of each other. It is also possible with the inventive construction toeffect the tightening of the printing plates in a single manipulation, even though the plate may be very wide. The device also permits a very fine compass adjustment.

In accordance with the invention, the printing cylinder includes a recess with a relatively narrow opening gap on the cylinder circumference in which recess is positioned a clamping rail member. The rail member is adapted to be aflixed to one end of the printing plate to be affixed to the plate cylinder and it may be rotated and shifted to tension and to bias the printing plate and to tightly clamp the first end thereof. In one embodiment of the invention two such rail members are provided which are interengaged centrally but which may be rotated together for the purpose of clamping an extremely wide printing plate to the plate cylinder. The construction is such that the rail members which clamp the ends of the printing plate may be moved simultaneously when they are engaged or independently when they are separated. Simple means are provided for effecting their engagement or separation.

In still another embodiment of the invention the rail 3,410,211 Patented Nov. 12, 1968 members are constructed so that they do not engage so that they may be separately manipulated such as for clamping narrow printing plates on a printing cylinder. In a further modification only one rail member is provided which my be rotated for the purpose of automatically holding one end of the printing plate and engaging the other while the printing plate is tightened around the cylinder.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved printing cylinder construction having means within the cylinder for simply and easily clamping a printing plate to the surface of the cylinder and requiring only a small cylinder surface gap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a print ing cylinder with a clamp means which includes one or more rail members which are slidable and rotatably displaceable within said cylinder and with further means for adjusting the position of said rail members for clamping one end of a printing plate and thereafter holding the opposite end while a printing plate is tightened on the printing cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a printing cylinder which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial section taken on the line 1 1 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but indicating the clamping means in a clamping position;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the printing cylinder constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial view similar to FIG. 3 indicating the slide rails in an uncoupled position;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partial section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are end elevational views of the two slide rails;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side elevational views of the slide rails;

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of still a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring ot the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 12 comprises a printing plate cylinder 1 over the exterior surface of which is applied a flexible printing plate 2. As indicated in FIG. 1, one end 2a of the flexible printing plate 2 is directed around an end of a holding piece member 4 and an opposite end 2b is directed between clamping elements comprising a lug member or lug plate 6 and a spring 7 which are held in a clamped position by a clamping bar 24 which, in turn, is held against a face of a slide rail member 14 by a threaded bolt 23. The holding piece 4 is rigidly connected to two slides 8 and 9 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which are provided with bores 10 and 11 in which

slide rails

14 and 15 are rotatably mounted by means of

bushings

12 and 13. The holding piece 4 includes a recess 16 in which a step-bearing 17 is secured by means of a threaded bolt member 18. The step-bearing 17 carries

journals

19 and 20 which engage a

bore

21 and 22, respectively, of the

slide rail members

14 and 15 which are shown in elevation and side view in FIGS. 7 to 10.

As best indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring 7 serves to permit the introduction of the plate end 2b between the lug plates 6. The plates 6 include projections 28 which are engaged in a recess 27 of the

slide rails

14 and 15. The clamping bar 24 is held to the slide rails by the bolt 23 and holds the end 2b of the printing plate 2 against the plates 6. The upper end of the spring 7 engages the end 2a of the printing plate 2 and holds it against an inner face of the holding piece 4 when the rails 14 and and the

slides

8 and 9 are moved in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter to effect the clamping of the printing plate 2. The spring 7 thus prevents the end 2a from bending upwardly out of the recess formed by the holding piece 4.

Each of the

slide rails

14 and 15 are provided with a recess 27 for receiving a projection or lug formation 28 on the lug 6. An edge 29 of the

slide rails

14 and 15 forms a fulcrum for the lug plates 6. The final clamping position of the end 2b is indicated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 6, the means for orienting the

rails

14 and 15 for clamping and unclamping purposes are shown which include

wedges

30 and 31 which are ins rted on each side of an associated

slide

8 or 9 in a recess 38 defined in the printing cylinder 1. T he wedges 30 and 31 have conical half-round faces 32 and 33 which cooperate with similar conical lateral faces 34 and 35 of the

slides

8 and 9. The opposite straight faces 36 and 37 of the

wedges

30 and 31, respectively, bear against the side walls of the recess 38 and on the insert 39 in the cylinder 1. The

wedges

30 and 31 are provided with smooth bores 40 and 41, respectively, into which are inserted

screws

42 and 43, respectively. The screws extend through a ring 44 and are held to the ring by means of a securing pin or wedge 45. The extreme ends of the screws are threaded into threaded

bores

46 and 47 defined in the plate cylinder 1. Above the

slides

8 and 9 are inserted holding pieces 48 with

bores

49 and 50. Wrenches (not shown) are introduced through the

bores

49 and 50 and into the

screws

42 and 43 for the purposes of threading and unthreading two

slides

8 and 9 are thus displaced irregularly to the left or the right, the holding elements comprising mainly the holding piece 4, the slide rails 14 and 15, and the slide bars 24 with the lug strip 6 and the spring 7, are displaced together away from the radial edge 51 of the plate cylinder 1 and toward the inclined edge 52. In this manner the printing plate 2 may be aligned on the form cylinder 1. If the

slides

8 and 9 are displaced on both sides by the same amount, the device can be used in certain cases for an exact compass adjustment.

Means are provided for rotating the clamping device in addition to its lateral shifting adjustment. These means include a double lever

member having arms

53 and 54 as indicated in FIG. 11 with a hub portion which engages the respective ends of the

rails

14 and 15. The double lever member engages the respective rails through wedges 55 and 56 as indicated in FIG. 3. The wedges fit in recesses defined on the respective rails and double arm lever members. The opposite inner ends of the slide rails which are oriented in end-to-end relationship as indicated in FIG. 3, are provided with engaging

claws

57, 58 and 59 and 60. Axial displacement of the slide rail 15 is prevented by the cover disc 61 and screw 62 (FIG. 3, left side). The other slide rail 14, however, is arranged for axial displacement in order to cause engagement of the two

slide rails

14 and 15 by means of the

claws

57, 58,

4 59 and 60 or to keep them disengaged as indicated in FIG. 4.

In order to displace the slide rail 14 axially a nut assembly 63 (FIG. 3) is journalled in the double lever between the

arms

53 and 54 and secured by a disk 64. A threaded bolt 66 is connected with the nut assembly 63 by means of a pin 65, and its inner end is threaded into the slide rail 14. If only one wide printing plate is to be clamped on the plate cylinder 1, the two

slide rails

14 and 15 are coupled by means of a wrench (not represented) which is introduced into the hexagonal head 67 of the nut assembly 63, as shown in FIG. 3. The Wide printing plate is then clamped by turning the two coupled slide rails 14 and 15. This is accomplished as indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12 by means which eifects rotation of only one of the coupled slide rails 14 and 15. The clamping is effected uniformly and simultaneously over the entire width of the printing plate. Deformation of the ends of the printing plate which might happen when clamping with separate slide rails is thus avoided. If narrow printing plates are to be attached side by side, the slide rails 14 and 15 must be disengaged, as indicated in FIG. 4, by turning the assembly nut 63 with the wrench so that each plate can be secured separately.

The clamping mechanism indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12 includes the

double levers

53 and 54 having rotary nut 68 into which are introduced threaded bolts 69 having a ring 70 whose threaded shaft is turned into the threaded bore of the supporting bolt 71. The threaded bolt 69 is provided with an inner hexagonal head 72. By means of a wrench (not represented) the threaded bolt 69 can be turned so that the double levers are rotated to elfect the tightening or loosening of the printing plates around the slide rails 14 and 15 which are rotated by this action. The lever arm 53 is biased in a clockwise direction, as indicated in FIG. 11, by means of a spring 76 which has one end pivoted to the arm at 73 and the opposite end anchored to a pivot point 74 on the plate cylinder 1. A stop 77 limits the path of the

double levers

53 and 54. In order to prevent the threaded bolt 69 from turning out of the nut 68, a disk 81 is secured in the cover plate 79 by means of a screw 80. The disk is provided with a bore 82 arranged above the inner hexagonal head 72 for access by a wrench element. The supporting bolt 71 is rotatably mounted in the ring 83 and in the cover plate 79. The bolt 69 is secured in the ring 83.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, there is shown a plate cylinder 1' which has displaceable slide rails 84 and 85 with no interengaging claws which rotat on journals 19' and 20', respectively. In this embodiment only two narrow printing plates arranged side by side may be clamped over the printing cylinder 1. No mechanism is provided in this embodiment for displacing the slide rails 84 and 85 axially. The slide rails, however, are rotatable, and under the control of a mechanism of a type indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12 for the purpose of effecting the clamping as in the other embodiment.

In FIG. 14, a further simplification is indicated in respect to a printing cylinder 1 which includes a Single rail slide 86 which is rotatable as in the other embodiments under the influence of suitable control mechanisms of the type indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12 but which is not axially displaceable. The means for rotating the rail slide 86 for clamping purposes are advantageously located on a single slide.

All of the embodiments of the invention are featured by the fact that they require only a single elongated narrow slot defined in the printing cylinder 1 for receiving the end of printing plates 2. In addition, all of the constructions provide a simple means for clamping the printing plates 2 and-for effecting the accurate adjustment thereof by the rotation of the rail members which effect the clamping.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise Without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A printing device comprising a printing plate cylinder having a recess terminating exteriorly in a narrow slot on the periphery of said printing cylinder, a flexible printing plate extending around said printing cylinder and having respective first and second ends extending through the slot and into the recess of said cylinder, and clamping means in said recess including a holding piece having a side face over which said first end of said printing plate is directed and a rail member having means for clamping and holding said second end, said rail member carrying a projecting clamping member, and means for displacing and rotating said rail member to engage said clamping member over said first end of said printing plate on said holding piece side face and to displace said second end in a direction to tension and position said printing plate in respect to said cylinder.

2. A printing device, according to claim 1, wherein said holding piece comprises a substantially C-shaped member having an interior edge over which said first end of said printing plate is directed, said rail member including means engageable with said first end of said printing plate to hold said end over said holding piece.

3. A printing device according to claim 1, including a clamping plate, and threaded bolt means for clamping said clamping plate to said rail member comprising said means for clamping said second end of said printing plate to said rail member.

4. A printing device according to claim 1, wherein Said rail member has a recess thereon and a clamping lug comprising said clamping means carried on said rail member with a projection extending into said recess, said lug being pivotal with the lug engaged in the recess and said second end of said printing plate being directed over said lug and clamped to said rail member.

5. A printing device according to claim 1, including two separate rail members which are arranged in axial relationship.

6. A printing device according to claim 1, including two separate rail members arranged in axial end-to-end relationship and having claw means thereon for permitting interengagement of said rail members to permit simultaneous rotation thereof for clamping of said printing plate.

7. A printing device, according to claim 6, including means in the recess of said plate cylinder mounting said rail members for axial displacement toward and away from each other for engagement and disengagement of said claw means.

8. A printing device according to claim 1, including a slide rotatably supporting said rail member and wedge means engageable with said slide for engaging said slide Within said cylinder for effecting displacement of the second end of said printing plate.

9. A printing device according to claim 1, including a slide rotatably supporting said rail member, said slide carried in a recess of said printing cylinder, a wedge member disposed on each side of said slide within said recess and having wedging surfaces engageable with said slide, and threaded bolt means holding said wedge members in position on each side of said slide, said threaded bolt members permitting displacement of said wedge members and the shifting of said slide.

10. A printing device according to claim 9, including a cap covering the recess having said slide, said cap having access means for engaging said threaded bolt members from the exterior of said printing cylinder for the purpose of shifting said wedge member.

11. A printing device comprising a printing plate cylinder having a recess terminating exteriorly in a narrow slot on the periphery of said printing cylinder, a flexible printing plate extending around said printing cylinder and having respective first and second ends extending through the slot and into the recess of said cylinder, and clamping means in said recess including a holding piece for holding said first end of said printing plate and a rail for clamping said second end, means for displacing and rotating said rail member to cause holding of said first end of said printing plate by said holding piece as said second end is displaced to tension and position said printing plate in respect to said cylinder, a lug having a flat surface within the recess of said plate cylinder over which said second end of said printing plate is directed, said rail member having a recess therein, said lug having a projection engaged in the recess of said rail member permitting pivotal movement of said lug in respect to said rail member, a clamping bar clamped to said rail member and clamping said second end of said printing plate thereto, and a spring member clamped by said clamping bar and extending upwardly to engage said first end of said printing plate when said rail member is moved to a clamping position.

12. A printing device comprising a printing plate cylinder having a recess terminating exteriorly in a narrow slot on the periphery of said printing cylinder, a flexible printing plate extending around said printing cylinder and having respective first and second ends extending through the slot and into the recess of said cylinder, clamping means in said recess including a holding piece for holding said first end of said printing plate and two rail members for clamping said second end arranged in axial end-toend relationship, means for displacing and rotating said rail member to cause holding of said first end of said printing plate by said holding piece as said second end is displaced to tension and position said printing plate in respect to said cylinder, claw means on adjacent ends of said rail members for permitting interengagement of said rail members to permit simultaneous rotation thereof for clamping of said printing plate, said rail members being axially displaceable apart for disengagement of said claw means, and a threaded nut assembly rotatable at one end of said cylinder and threadably engaged with at least one of said rail members for displacing said rail members axially upon rotation of said threaded nut member.

13. A printing device comprising a printing plate cylinder having a recess terminating exteriorly in a narrow slot on the periphery of said printing cylinder, at least one flexbile printing plate extending around said printing cylinder and having respective first and second ends extending through the slot and into the recess of said cylinder, a holding piece for holding said first end of said printing plate and at least two rail members for clamping said second end, and means for displacing and rotating said rail member to cause holding of said first end of said printing plate by said holding piece as said second end is displaced to tension and position said printing plate in respect to said cylinder, said rail members being laterally displaceable for interengagement and displacement separately and jointly rotatably adjustable and laterally displaceable, and means mounting said rail members for rotational movement in the recess of said plate cylinder and for lateral movement together for engagement and joint rotational movement and apart for separate rotational movement.

14. A device for fastening flexible printing plates within a recess of a printing cylinder which terminates in a slot on the periphery of said printing cylinder, comprising clamping means adapted to be positioned in the recess for clamping each end of the printing plate including a holding plate for holding one end of the printing plate and at least two clamping rails arranged end-to-end and each having means for clamping a length of the opposite end of said printing plate, means for mounting said rails in the printing cylinder recess for transverse and rotative movement, adjacent ones of said clamping rails having adjacent ends with interengageable portions, said clamp- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 823,099 6/1906 Bechman 101378 1,650,206 11/1927 Halliwell 101-378 1,901,076 3/1933 Bechman 101247 10 WILLIAM B. PENN,

Faeber 101415.1 Park et a1. 101-4151 Hantscho 101415.1 S'alubfirlich 101-4151 Peabody et a1. 101415.1 Fischer 101415.1

Griinig 101415.1 Harenza 101415.1

Primary Examiner.

J. R. FISHER, Assistant Examiner.