US3610144A

US3610144A - Design-cylinder-loading mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3610144A
Application number: US872259A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Woessner; Jack Bryer
Original assignee: WOOD INDUSTRIES Inc
Current assignee: WOOD INDUSTRIES Inc
Priority date: 1969-10-29
Filing date: 1969-10-29
Publication date: 1971-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-05

Abstract

A mechanism for loading and unloading the design cylinder in a rotogravure press unit including support bearings mounted in a pivotally supported housing in the side frames of the unit so as to be self aligning with the shaft of the design cylinder for freely supporting therebetween the design cylinder. A pair of supporting members having bifurcated heads for cradling therebetween the design cylinder, are pivotally secured to a pair of cranks mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the inside surfaces of the side frames. Pivotal movement of the support arms and cranks is controlled by a mechanism for pivoting the support arms away from the press unit thereby lifting the design cylinder off its bearing and swinging it away from the press.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Richard Woessner Fairlawn; Jack Bryer, Paramus, both of NJ. 21 AppLNo. 872,259 [22] Filed 0ct.29, 1969 [45] Patented 0ct.5,l971 [73] Assignee Wood 1ndustries,1nc.

Plainfield, NJ.

[54] DESlGN-CYLlNDER-LOADlNG MECHANISM 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.(1 101/153, 101/216,242/58.6,214/148 [51] 1nt.Cl B41f9/18 [50] FieldofSearch... 101/153, 212, 216,247, 1;2l4/1, 130, DIG. 4, 148; 242/586 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,374,379 4/1921 Klein 242/58.6X 1,451,726 4/1923 Zuckerman... 101/153 1,659,276 2/1928 Maston 242/586 1,747,289 2/1930 Cornelletal. 242/S8.6

2,146,963 2/1939 Lang 101/153 2,270,374 l/1942 Kanitz 101/153 2,635,823 4/1953 Weber et a1. 242/58.6

3,039,387 6/1962 Zimmer et al. 101/216 OTHER REFERENCES German Printed Application Sch 17219 Xll/ 15d March 22, 1956 in Class 101 sub 216 1 sheet drawing, 3 pages spec.

Primary Examiner-Clyde 1. Coughenour AttorneyPennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor & Adams ABSTRACT: A mechanism for loading and unloading the design cylinder in a rotogravure press unit including support bearings mounted in a pivotally supported housing in the side frames of the unit so as to be self aligning with the shaft ofthe design cylinder for freely supporting therebetween the design cylinder. A pair of supporting members having bifurcated heads for cradling therebetween the design cylinder, are

pivotally secured to a pair of cranks mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the inside surfaces of the side frames.

Pivotal movement of the support arms and cranks is controlled by a mechanism for pivoting the support arms away from the press unit thereby lifting the design cylinder 011 its bearing and swinging it away from the press.

DESIGN-CYLINDER-LOADING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to rotary printing presses, and more particularly to the rotogravure or rotary intaglio printing machines and a mechanism for facilitating loading and unloading of the printing or design cylinder. Design cylinders formed of a steel core with a copper surface tend to be quite heavy particularly in the more modern presses utilizing the wide width cylinders, for example over 100 inches in width, and run as high as 3,000 lbs. or more. The task of removing and replacing such a design cylinder, as necessitated by making ready for a new job, is difficult and time consuming due to the conventional means of mounting the design cylinder between the press frames and its extreme weight.

The rotogravure printing process involves the immersion of a rotating copper printing cylinder having a highly polished surface etched with a design to be printed thereon into a bath of a printing ink to thereby fill the etched cells with the ink. A doctor blade mechanism is mounted adjacent to the printing cylinder and the blade wipes by scraping the printing cylinder surface clean leaving ink only in the etched cells. The ink is then presed onto or otherwise transferred to a paper web travelling between the design cylinder and an impression roller in tangential relationship with the design cylinder by the impression roller pressing the web against the printing cylinder. A back up or pressure roller is mounted in tangential relationship with the impression roller for insuring maintenance of the proper pressure exerted by the impression roller on the design cylinder.

In the conventionally designed press, the design cylinder is joumaled in roller bearings of the traditional design to completely encapsulate the cylinder shaft and the removal and replacement thereof is therefore made difficult and tedious because of the necessity of removing side baffles, cover plates, bearing clamps and other such associated parts as well as the entire bearing assembly in order to provide free access to the printing cylinder so that manual removal may be accomplished. The removal of the bearing housing or bearing cartridges in which the design cylinder is joumaled is also necessary. The bearings and associated bearing parts are in themselves quite heavy and considerable care must accordingly be exercised in the handling of such parts during their removal so that no damage to the bearings results. It is further essential that the design cylinder itself be handled and transported in such a way that its surface is not in danger of becoming scratched, marked up or otherwise damaged. Once the cylinder surface is so damaged it can no longer be considered fit for the purpose to which it was intended.

Because of the amount of labor involved in order to gain free access to the cylinder so as to effect its removal, and because of the extreme care to be exercised so as not to damage any parts, the task of removing the cylinder has not only become tedious and difi'rcult but has also become excessively costly because it is such a time consuming process as well.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for facilitating rapid and easy removal and replacement of the design cylinder automatically and with a minimum amount of removal of parts from the printing press. This mechanism further facilitates and makes possible an automated system for removing and replacing the design cylinder of the rotogravure printing press with an automatically selected design cylinder for a new run. This is further accomplished without presenting the danger of handling or damaging the bearings or bearing parts.

lt'is accordingly one specific object of the present invention to provide a means for supporting the design cylinder in the rotogravure press in such a manner that its removal is easily facilitated without requiring disassembly or removal of bearing parts and supporting members for the cylinder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for automatically, easily and rapidly removing the design cylinder to a waiting cart or monorail, which mechanism eliminates the necessity for manual handling of the cylinder and without presenting the danger of damaging the design cylinder or its surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a rotogravure printing press unit a mechanism which can lift, remove and replace the design cylinder by remote control means which can be automatically controlled by computerized means.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a rotogravure printing press with the frame partly broken away and showing the mechanism of the present invention in one position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the mechanism actuated for removing the design cylinder from the press;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 showing the mechanism for removing the design cylinder in its retracted position; and

FIG. 5 is a block and schematic diagram of the controls for activating the mechanism of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The typical rotogravure or rotary intaglio printing press comprises a number of units, each of which has a frame structure, a printing or design cylinder, an impression cylinder and a pressure or backup roller.

FIG. 1 shows a portion of such a press unit having a frame 10 partly broken away and a printing or design cylinder 12 joumaled in self aligning bearings 21, between the side frames 10 and 11. Printing or design cylinder 12 rotates in a bath of printing ink contained in a fountain, not shown herein but such as disclosed in pending Woessner et al. application Ser. No. 730,433, filed May 20, I968. The shaft collar 17 serves as a retainer of ink and to prevent splashings and drippings from leaving the ink fountain as discused more fully in said patent application. The impression cylinder 13 and backup roller or pressure cylinder 14 are also joumaled between the side frames 10 and 11 and cooperate with a mechanism for raising and lowering the cylinders and for adjusting the pressure exerted thereby on the printing cylinder 12. This mechanism is not shown or described herein as it forms no part of the present invention however, such a mechanism as commercially used successfully may be understood from the type disclosed in Harless U.S. Pat. No 2,607,292.

As the design cylinder 12 rotates in the bath of printing ink the etched out cells on the surface of the cylinder become filled with ink and a doctor blade mechanism, referred to generally as numeral 18, wipes the unetched surfaces of the cylinder clean of ink leaving ink only in the etched cells. The product to be printed \V is passed between the printing cylinder 12 and the rubber-covered impression cylinder 13 and as it passes therethrough the impression cylinder I3 presses the web W to be printed firmly against the printing cylinder 12, the ink from the cells being thus transferred to the paper web. The desired pressure is supplied and regulated by means of the pressure roller or backup roller 14 surrnounting the impression cylinder IS. The impression cylinder l3 and backup roller 14 can be vertically adjusted by the slide members shown in the aforementioned Harless patent. When it is time to remove the design cylinder from the press unit the doctor blade mechanism 18 will be moved away from the design cylinder by a mechanism not shown herein but which is of the type shown and described in I-Iuck U.S. Pat. No. 2,854,923.

In order to remove the printing cylinder from between the press frames of the rotogravure unit, it was heretofore necessary to first remove side covers, baffles and other associated equipment from the fountain or ink bath, to then lower the ink fountain or remove it so as not to interfere with the removal of the cylinder. It was then necessary to remove bearings and associated bearing parts so that the design cylinder could be freely lifted out, rolled out or otherwise removed from between the frames. Prior to removing the cylinder, it was further necessary to also disconnect the design cylinder from its drive. Recent developments with respect to ink fountain designs have made it unnecessary for the removal of side baffles, cover plates, etc., since it is now possible for the ink fountain to be tilted down and out of the way and for the associated covers to be automatically and simultaneously lifted therefrom. The present invention further makes it unnecessary to lower the ink fountain as the cylinder will be lifted out by the mechanism to be described below.

The end shafts of design cylinder 12 rests freely in the cusp between rollers 22 of the bearings 21 during the operation of the press. Bearing rollers 22 are joumaled in a housing 27 which is supported between

support members

23 and 24 by

trunnions

25 and 26 so that the entire bearing assembly becomes self-aligning. This enables the bearing to align with the shaft of the design cylinder so that the longitudinal axes of the rollers 22 remain aligned with the axis of the end shafts 15. Such an arrangement is necessitated by the fact that the design cylinder has a tendency to deflect due to the pressure exerted thereon. The trunnions and the supports for rollers 22 may be automatically lubricated by any of the well known automatic lubrication systems. Removal of the design cylinder from between the frames is now therefore, made possible without having to remove the bearing or bearing parts but rather by simply lifting the design cylinder from its resting position on the bearing rollers. The means by which this is accomplished will now be discussed in detail.

Adjacent to each of the side frames 10 and 11 are located support members 28 and 31 respectively. Support member 28 is comprised of an arm 29 and a bifurcated supporting head 30 attached to the upper end of arm 29. Support member 31, located adjacent the inside surface of side frame 11, is comprised of an arm 32 and a bifurcated support head 33 attached to the upper end of arm 32.

Arms

29 and 32 are linked together by cross rods 19 and thereby forming a rigid frame so that when the arms are moved they move in unison.

Mounted on a rod 45 extending between the side frames 10 and 11 is a bellcrank member 34 located adjacent the inside surface of frame 10 and a bellcrank member 38 located adjacent to the inside surface of frame 1 1. Bellcranks 34 and 38 are retained in their positions on rod 45 by

collars

46, 47, and 48, 49, respectively, the collars being held in place as by a setscrew. Bellcrank 34 is comprised of a short leg 35 and a long leg 36, and bellcrank 38 is comprised of a short leg 39 and a long leg 40. The lower end of arm 29 is pivotally attached to short leg 35 of bellcrank 34 by pin 37 and the lower end of arm 32 is pivotally attached to short leg 39 of bellcrank 38 by pin 41.

A hydraulic cylinder 51 having a piston 54, is pivotally attached to the inside surface of frame 10 at its closed end by pin 52. The outer end of piston 54 is pivotally attached to arm 29 by pin 53. Another hydraulic cylinder 55 is located next to the inside surface of frame 11 being pivotally attached thereto in a manner similar to that in which hydraulic cylinder 51 is attached to frame 10. The outer end of the piston of hydraulic cylinder 55 is attached to arm 32 of support member 31 in a manner similar to the way in which piston 54 is attached to arm 29 of support member 28.

A second pair of hydraulic cylinders 57 and 61 are also pivotally secured to the inside surfaces of frames 10 and 11 respectively. With reference to cylinder 57, its closed end is secured to frame 10 by pin 58 and its piston 60 has its outer end pivotally attached to long leg 36 of bellcrank 34 by pin 59. Cylinder 61 is similarly secured to the inside surface of frame 11 and has its piston attached to long leg 40 of bellcrank 38 in a manner similar to that in which piston 60 is attached to bellcrank 34.

The operation of

hydraulic cylinders

51, 55, 57 and 61 is controlled by actuation of solenoid valves. Their coils indicated in FIG. 5 by 68 and 69, may be energized or deenergized through remote control switch means. Valve 68 will operate hydraulic cylinders 51 and 55, so that they operate in unison and valve 69 will operate both hydraulic cylinders 57 and 61 so that these also operate in unison. When switch 70 is closed solenoid coil 68 will be energized to thereby operate hydraulic cylinders 51 and 55 simultaneously. This will cause piston 54 of cylinder 51 and the corresponding piston of cylinder 55 to become extended and cause support members 28 and 31 to pivot from a first position (FIG. 1) about pins 37 and 41 in a clockwise direction (to the right as viewed in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) to a second position (FIG. 3). As the support members pivot about pins 37 and 41 from its first to its second positions cylinders 51 and 55 will also be caused to pivot about its securement pin for holding it on its respective frame, hence the need for attaching the cylinders at only one end (with reference to cylinder 51, as by pin 52) so as to leave the piston end free from the frame and attached only to the arm of the support member so that it can freely pivot therewith. Opening of switch 70 will result in deenergization of solenoid valve 68 causing hydraulic cylinders 51 and 55 to operate in the opposite direction so as to cause support members 28 and 31 to return to its first position, as shown in FIG. 1, by pivoting counterclockwise about pins 37 and 41 respectively. Switch 71 is of the normally closed type so that solenoid valve 69 is normally maintained in the energized position resulting in the simultaneous operation of hydraulic cylinders 57 and 61 so as to cause their respective pistons to remain extended resulting in the simultaneous pivoting of

bellcranks

34 and 38 about rod 45 in a clockwise direction. This causes support members 28 and 31 to remain pulled downwardly so that supporting

heads

30 and 33 are retracted away from the shaft of design cylinder 12. Opening switch 71 will deenergize solenoid valve coil 69 resulting in the operation of hydraulic cylinders 57 and 61 in the opposite direction. This will result in the pushing of support members 28 and 31 upwardly so that their support heads 30 and 33 come into contact with the design cylinder shaft in such a way that shaft 15 will be resting in the cradle portion of the bifurcated heads of both support members.

it should be realized that

switches

70 and 71 need not be operated manually but may be controlled by means such as computer programs or a master control panel remote from the printing press unit and supplied with automatic means for maintaining

switches

70 or 71 in either the opened or closed positions for a desired amount of time.

During the operation of the press, cylinders 51 and 55 will be operated so as to be maintained in the position shown in FIG. 1, so that members 28 and 31 are maintained in their first position, within the confines of the press frame. Cylinders 57 and 61 will be so operated as to be maintained in a position such that the support heads 30 and 33 are not in contact with the design cylinder shafts. When it is desired to remove the design cylinder 12, the press will be stopped; the doctor blade mechanism 18 will be withdrawn by a mechanism such as shown in the said Huck Patent; the impression roller 13 and pressure roller 14 will be raised out of contact with the design cylinder by a mechanism such as is shown in the said Harless Patent, so that movement of the design cylinder will not be interfered with by impression roller 13; the coupling connecting the design cylinder to its drive shaft will be disengaged; and while the present invention makes it unnecessary to lower away the ink fountain (as the cylinder is lifted out of it) this may be accomplished and its cover plates automatically lifted so as to leave the design cylinder completely exposed by a mechanism such as is shown and described in the presently pending patent application Ser. No. 730,433.

Hydraulic cylinders 57 and 61 would then be operated by opening switch 71, as described above, so that support mem bers 28 and 31 are caused to move in unison upwardly and shaft 15, of design cylinder 12, will be resting in the cradle of support heads 30 and 33. Switch 70 can now be closed so as to energize valve 68 to thereby cause the pistons of hydraulic cylinders 51 and 55 to become extended and simultaneously move support members 28 and 31 about their respective pivot points 37 and 41, from its first position shown in FIG. 1 to its second position shown in FIG. 3. Design cylinder 12 will thus be lifted off the bearing rollers 22, without the necessity of removing any bearing parts, and carried by the support arms away from the press to the position shown in FIG. 3. In this position a suitable transport means, such as the familiar cart, can be installed beneath the design cylinder and in-between the support arms to receive the design cylinder. Switch 71 can again be closed so as to cause the pistons of hydraulic cylinders 57 and 61 to once again become extended. This will result in the pivoting of bell cranks 34 and 38 in a clockwise direction about rod 45, so that support members 28 and 31 are pulled downwardly to thereby lower the design cylinder onto the waiting cart and retract supporting

heads

30 and 33 out of contact with the shaft 15, into the position shown in FIG. 4. In those printing plants utilizing an overhead monorail system for transporting the design cylinder this final step of operating hydraulic cylinders 57 and 61 so as to retract and lower the support arms will not be necessary as the design cylinder will be lifted out of

heads

30 and 33. Alternative means for causing support members 28 and 31 to pivot about pins 37 and 41 so as to swing the cylinder away from the press may be used instead of

hydraulic cylinders

51, 55, 57 and 61.

The design cylinder can now be transported away and a new one transported into place between the support members 28 and 31. The steps for unloading the design cylinder as outlined above can now be carried out in reverse so as to carry the new design cylinder back into the position shown in FIG. 1 ready for a new run. Alternatively, if the particular unit is to be closed down, the steps for loading the design cylinder into place can be carried out, but without having a new design cylinder supported in the cradle of

heads

30 and 33. This will put the press unit in a deactivated condition with the support arms within the confines of the press frames.

It should be realized after understanding the invention that a means has been provided which, by remote control means is capable of automatically unloading and loading a design cylinder in a rotogravure press unit without the need for removing or otherwise handling bearings or bearing parts and without having to manually handle the heavy design cylinder.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a certain preferred embodiment which gives satisfactory results it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the purposes of the invention, that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotogravure printing press unit, a means for loading and unloading a design cylinder therein comprising a pair of side frames to form the frame of the press unit, bearing means mounted in each of said side frames for supporting therebetween in its operating position the design cylinder, said bearing means comprising a pair of bearing rollers spaced apart having their longitudinal axes aligned parallel to each other so that each of the end shafts of said design cylinder rests in the cusp between the bearing rollers, means for pivotally mounting said bearing means in said side frames so that the axes of said bearing rollers remain aligned with the axes of said design cylinder shaft at the point of contact with the rollers, a pair of support arms pivotally mounted for swinging movement on a pivot point connected adjacent the inside surface of each of said side frames, a bifurcated support head attached to the upper end of each of said support arms for supporting therein the end shafts of said design cylinder so that said design cylinder is supported between said support arms, means for moving said support heads into and out of engagement with the end shafts of said design cylinder, means attached to said support arms for causing said arms to swing in unison about said pivot point toward and away from said bearing means and remote control means for operating the means for causing said swinging movement of said support arms, whereby said design cylinder is lifted by the support arms off the bearing rollers and carried away from said bearing means so as to be unloaded from its operating position in the press unit when said means for causing said swinging movement is operated in one direction, and whereby said design cylinder is carried toward said bearing means and lowered onto said bearing rollers so as to be loaded into its operating position in the press unit when said means for causing said swinging movement is operated in the opposite direction.

2. The rotogravure printing press unit according to claim 1 wherein said bearing means comprises a pair of support members mounted in said side frames, a housing pivotally supported by trunnions between said support members and a pair of bearing rollers joumaled in said housing for supporting in the cusp therebetween the end shafts of the design cylinder, whereby said housing is caused to pivot about said trunnions as said design cylinder is caused to deflect due to the pressure exerted thereon so that the longitudinal axes of said bearing rollers remain aligned with the axis of said design cylinder end shafts.

3. The rotogravure printing press unit according to claim 1 wherein said pivot point about which said arms are caused to swing as said means for causing swinging movement is operated, is pivotally attached to the means for moving said arms toward and away from said design cylinder so as to engage or disengage said support heads with the end shafts of said design cylinder.

4. The rotogravure printing press unit according to claim 3 wherein said means for moving each of said support heads into and out of engagement with the end shafts of said design cylinder comprises a rod mounted between the side frames of the press unit having its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the design cylinder and located substantially below said bearing means and adjacent the edge of said side frames, a bellcrank member pivotally mounted on said rod and located adjacent the inside surface of said side frame, means for pivotally attaching the lower end of said support arms to one of the legs of said bellcrank, means connected to the other leg of said bell crank for causing said bellcrank to pivot about said rod and remote control means for operating said means to pivot said bellcrank about said rod, whereby as said means to cause pivoted movement of said bellcrank about said rod is operated in one direction said support arm is caused to be lowered away from said design cylinder to thereby disengage said support head from the end shaft of said design cylinder and as said means to cause pivoted movement of said bellcrank is operated in the opposite direction said support arm is caused to be raised toward said design cylinder to thereby cause engagement of said support head with the end shaft of said design cylinder.

5. The rotogravure printing press unit according to claim 4 further comprising a plurality of crossbars connected between said support arms whereby said arms are caused to move toward and away from said design cylinder in unison when said means for pivoting said bellcranks about said rod is operated and whereby said arms are caused to swing in unison about said pivot point when said means for causing said arms to swing about said pivot point is operated.

6. The rotogravure printing press unit according to claim 5 wherein said means for causing each of said support arms to swing about said pivot point on said bellcranks comprises a hydraulic cylinder for each of said arms pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the inside surface of each of said side frames having its piston attached to said arm and means for operating said hydraulic cylinders in unison so that said arms swing about their respective pivot points in unison. I

7. The rotogravure printing press unit according to claim 6 wherein said means for causing said bellcranks to pivot about said rod to thereby raise or lower said support heads into and out of engagement with the end shafts of said design cylinder comprises a hydraulic cylinder for each of said bellcranks having one end thereof pivotally attached to the inside surface of each of said side frames having its piston attached to the other

Claims

2. The rotogravure printing press unit according to claim 1 wherein said bearing means comprises a pair of support members mounted in said side frames, a housing pivotally supported by trunnions between said support members and a pair of bearing rollers journaled in said housing for supporting in the cusp therebetween the end shafts of the design cylinder, whereby said housing is caused to pivot about said trunnions as said design cylinder is caused to deflect due to the pressure exerted thereon so that the longitudinal axes of said bearing Rollers remain aligned with the axis of said design cylinder end shafts.

6. The rotogravure printing press unit according to claim 5 wherein said means for causing each of said support arms to swing about said pivot point on said bellcranks comprises a hydraulic cylinder for each of said arms pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the inside surface of each of said side frames having its piston attached to said arm and means for operating said hydraulic cylinders in unison so that said arms swing about their respective pivot points in unison.

7. The rotogravure printing press unit according to claim 6 wherein said means for causing said bellcranks to pivot about said rod to thereby raise or lower said support heads into and out of engagement with the end shafts of said design cylinder comprises a hydraulic cylinder for each of said bellcranks having one end thereof pivotally attached to the inside surface of each of said side frames having its piston attached to the other leg of said bellcranks and means for operating said hydraulic cylinders in unison so that said bellcranks pivot about said rods in unison.