US3683805A

US3683805A - Liquid handling mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3683805A
Application number: US57566A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles A Harless
Original assignee: Harris Intertype Corp
Current assignee: Harris Graphics Corp
Priority date: 1970-07-23
Filing date: 1970-07-23
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15

Abstract

An improved liquid handling mechanism in which a pick-up roll is actuated by eccentrics on the shaft ends to move toward and away from a liquid carrying roll to pick up liquid therefrom with the pick-up roll being maintained in a constant pressure relationship with a liquid receiving roll and transferring a uniform film of liquid thereto.

Description

United States Patent 151 3,683,805 Harless [45] Aug. 15, 1972 [54] LIQUID HANDLING MECHANISM 2,248,645 7/1941 Schlesinger ..101/350 72 Inventor: Charles A. Har'ess, Riverside Conn 2,857,840 10/1958 Bachman ..101/350 2,929,316 3/1960 Fowlle ..101/148 Asslgneer gr g g p Corporation, 3,062,138 11/1962 Worthington ..101/350 eve an 1o r [22] Filed: y 23, 1970 FOREIGN PATENTS OR AIPITLICATIONS [211 pp No; 57,566 908,692 10/1962 Great Britain ..101/D1G. 6

' Primary ExaminerJ. Reed Fisher [52] US. Cl ..101/350, l0l/D1G. 6 All0rney-Y0unt and Tarolli [51] Int. Cl. ..B4lf 31/14 [58] Field of Search l01/D1G. 6, 348-363, [57] ABSTRACT 101005-209 148 An improved liquid handling mechanism in which a pick-up roll is actuated by eccentrics on the shaft ends [56] References cued to move toward and away from a liquid carrying roll UNlTED STATES PATENTS to pick up liquid therefrom with the pick-up roll being maintained in a constant pressure relationship with a 2,467,199 4/1949 Faeber ..101/348 liquid receiving roll and transferring a if fil of 1,450,270 4/1923 Walser et a1 101/350 liquid thereto 1,981,912 11/1934 Fankboner ..101/364 X 3,563,173 2/1971 Harless ..101/148 4 Claims, 5 Drawing figures PATENTEDAUG 15 1972 SHEET 1 1F 3 mwavrok CHARLES A. HARLESIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAua 15 1912 3.683; 805

sum 2 or 3 m/n-wroe CHARL 55' A. HA/Q ass PATENTEDAUG 15 m2 3.683, 805

sum 3 or 3 lNl/E/VTOR CHARLES A. HARM SS ATTORNEYS LIQUID HANDLING MECHANISM The present invention relates to a liquid handling mechanism which includes a liquid carrying roll, a liquid receiving roll and a pickup roll for transferring liquid therebetween and, more particularly, relates to a liquid handling mechanism in which the pick-up roll in termittently moves into a liquid receiving relationship with the liquid carrying roll while maintaining a constant pressure relationship with respect to the liquid receiving roll.

Although the principles of the invention will be described with reference to an inking mechanism for a press, it is to be understood that the invention has broader application and may be used in other types of liquid handling mechanisms in which a film of liquid is to be transferred from one roll to another.

Mechanisms for transferring ink from a liquid carrying rollor fountain roll to a liquid receiving or transfer roll by means of a pick-up roll are known. The pick-up roll generally rotates at approximately the same speed as the liquid receiving roll while the fountain roll is rotated at a substantially slower speed. The speed of rotation of the fountain roll normally is adjustable thereby to vary the amount of liquid transferred to the pick-up roll. As is well known, the pickup roll moves toward and away from the fountain roll and intermittently engages the fountain roll to pick up liquid therefrom and transfer the liquid to the liquid receiving roll.

Various mechanisms have been employed to move the pick-up or ductor roll into and out of engagement with the liquid carrying or fountain roll. One such arrangement is shown in Worthington U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,138 which discloses the use of an eccentrically mounted pick-up roll for moving the roll toward and away from the fountain roll. It is desirable that a constant pressure relationship be maintained between the pick-up roll and the liquid receiving roll so that a uniform film of liquid will be transferred to the liquid receiving roll. On the other hand, if the pressure between the pick-up roll and the liquid receiving roll varies, a non-uniform film of liquid will be transferred. In addition, the pickup roll is commonly coated or covered with an elastic material which is kneaded and distorted when a varying pressure relationship is present.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a liquid handling mechanism in which a uniform film of liquid is transferred to a liquid receiving roll.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a liquid handling mechanism in which a constant pressure relationship is maintained between the pickup roll and the liquid receiving roll. 7

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a liquid handling mechanism in which liquid is transferred' from a liquid carryingroll to a liquid receiving roll by means of a pick-up roll which is in constant engagement with the liquid receiving roll but which moves circumferentially relative to the liquid receiving roll to maintain a constant pressure relationship therebetween.

It is a further specific object of this invention to provide a liquid handling mechanism which transfers liquid from a liquid carrying roll to a liquid receiving roll by means of a pick-up roll which has a constant pressure relationship with the liquid receiving roll and is moved toward and away from the liquid carrying roll by means of an eccentric drivingly connected to the shaft ends of the pick-up roll.

It is a still further specific object of this invention to provide a liquid handling mechanism which transfers liquid from a liquid carrying roll to a liquid receiving roll by means of a pick-up roll which has an adjustable but continuous pressure relationship with the liquid receiving roll and is movedtoward and away from the liquid carrying roll by means of an eccentric drivingly connected to the shaft ends of the pick-up roll.

Still more specifically, and in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, there is provided a liquid handling mechanism which includes a pick-up roll for transferring liquid from a liquid carrying roll to a liquid receiving roll while maintaining a constant pressure relationship with respect to the liquid receiving roll. The pick-up roll is supported for pivotal move ment relative to the liquid receiving roll in a direction circumferentially with respect to that roll. This circumferential motion of the pickup roll with respect to the liquid receiving roll is achieved by pivotally supporting the pick-up roll for pivoting movement about an axis co-axial with the axis of rotation of the liquid receiving roll thereby maintaining a constant pressure relationship between the two rolls and, thus, a uniform distribution of the liquid on the liquid receiving roll without kneading the surface of the pick-up roll. The pick-up roll is moved toward and away from the liquid carrying roll by an eccentric drivingly connected to the shaft ends of the pick-up roll. Adjustable means are provided for adjusting the pressure relationship between the pick-up roll and the liquid carrying roll.

The present invention may also include drive means connecting the pick-up roll with the eccentric so that, by varying the drive ratio of the drive means, the eccentric may be rotated at a rotational speed different from the rotational speed of the pick-up roll. This allows for a smooth, high speed operation of the liquid handling mechanism and also allows the proper amount of liquid to be picked up by the pick-up roll regardless of the speed of rotation of the pick-up roll.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the liquid handling mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a modified form ofv the invention in which a drive means is employed to drive the eccentric; I

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the angular relationship between the components of the drive means of FIG. 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an inker mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, which incorporates the principles of this- THE FOUNTAIN ROLL The liquid carrying or fountain roll 12 is supplied with a film of liquid from an ink fountain in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The ink fountain 20 is suitably supported on the frame of the printing press and includes a fountain body 22 having a bottom and upwardly extending sides 24 adapted to receive a liquid such as ink therein. The upwardly extending sides 24 rotatably support the opposite shaft ends of the liquid carrying roll 12 in a manner such that the liquid is picked up by the peripheral surface 26 of the roll 12 as the roll rotates relative to the fountain. The liquid carrying roll 12 is adapted to be rotated in a direction generally indicated at 28 by suitable drive means, not show. As the roll 12 is so rotated, a film of liquid is formed on the peripheral surface 26 and it is to be understood that the thickness of the ink film may be adjusted by devices well known in the prior art such as ductor blades or the like.

THE TRANSFER ROLL Transfer roll 18 is supported on a shaft 30. The shaft 30 is rotatably supported in a stationary fame 32 by suitable bearings 34. The shaft 30 is connected to a suitable drive means, not shown, whereby the roll 18 is rotated. Since the roll 18 is in frictional engagement with the surface of the liquid receiving roll 14, it is apparent that the transfer roll 18 will also cause rotation of the roll 14.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the transfer roll 18 receives the ink film from the roll 14 and transfers that film to other portions of the inker mechanism, not shown.

THE LIQUID RECEIVING ROLL The liquid receiving roll 14 comprises a cylinder 36 rotatably supported by bearings 38 on a shaft 40 for rotation relative to the shaft. A flexible or elastic covering 42 is carried on the exterior peripheral surface of the roll cylinder 36, and is bonded or otherwise secured thereto for unitary rotation with the cylinder.

The ends of the shaft 40 are supported in a manner best viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. As there shown, a tubular support member 44 extends from the frame 32 with the tubular member being concentric to, but spaced from, the transfer roll shaft 30. A support arm 46 is connected to the outer extremity of the tubular member 44 with the support arm 46 lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 44 and shaft 40. An openslot 48 is formed in the support arm 46 with the end of the shaft 40 being received in that slot. A covering cap or book 50 is secured by appropriate means such as a screw 52 to the arm 46 with a portion of the block overlying the slot 48 hereby maintaining the shaft end in the slot.

The other end of the support arm 46 is supported by a bracket 54. The bracket 54 comprises a bracket rod connected at one end by fastening means 55 to the frame 32 with the outer end of the bracket arm including a pair of space arms 56. A lug 58 on the support arm 46 extends between the arms 56. A pair of threaded cap screws 59 are threaded into appropriate apertures in the lug 58 thereby to secure the lug, and hence the arm 46, to the bracket 54.

THE PICK-UP ROLL The pick-up roll 16 is supported for rotation by a shaft 60. The opposite ends of the shaft 60 are supported for rotation by a pair of swinging levers, only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 2 and to which specific reference will be made. The swinging lever 62 is supported by bearings 64 for swinging movement relative to a stub shaft 66. The stub shaft 66 is carried on the support member 46 by appropriate means such as threaded fasteners 68. It is important to note that the stub shaFt 66 is co-axial with the shaft 40 so that the lever 62 swings about the center of rotation of the liquid receiving roll 14.

The lower extremity of the swinging lever 62 has an aperture 69 through which the end of shaft 60 extends. A bearing 70 is received over the shaft with the inner race of the bearing being in engagement with the shaft to rotatably support the shaft relative to the swinging lever 62.

An adjustment member 72 is associated with the swinging lever 62. The adjustment member 72 includes an opening 74 through which the shaft 60 extends. The adjustment member 72 further includes a cylindrical or tubular projecting portion 76 which projects into the aperture 69 in the swinging lever 62 with the inner peripheral surface 77 of the cylindrical portion 76 supporting the bearing 70. The outer peripheral surface 78 of the cylindrical portion 76 cooperates with the surface of the aperture 69 to define therebetween an eccentric bearing for adjusting the position of the roll 16 relative to the roll 14 in a manner hereinafter described.

The swinging lever 62 further includes a pair of spaced apart lugs 80 which project from the face of the lever 62. Each lug 80 includes a threaded adjustment screw 82 with the screws 82 engaging therebetween a portion 84 of the adjustment member 72.

The described adjustment member 72 functions to adjust the pressure relationship between the pick-up roll 16 and the liquid receiving roll 14 in the following manner. The adjusting screws 82 on the lugs 80 are normally threaded to a position where the portion 84 is clamped therebetween thereby securely fastening the adjustment member 72 to the swinging lever 62 for unitary movement. To effect an adjustment, the screws 82 are backed off thereby freeing the adjusting member 72 for limited rotational movement relative to the swinging lever 62. The adjusting member 72 is then rotated circumferentially of the shaft 60. As the adjusting member is so rotated the cylindrical portion 76 is also rotated in aperture 69 with the cooperating eccentric surfaces 78,69 causing the position of the bearing 70 to be shifted relative to the lever 62. As the bearing 70 is shifted, the roll 16 is also shifted either toward or away from the roll 14 depending on the direction of rotation of the adjusting member 72. This shifting of the roll 16 and, hence, the rotational axis of the shaft 60 is indicated in FIG. 3 by the reference letter A. It will be apparent that as the rotational axis of the roll 16 is shifted, so also the pressure relationship between the roll 16 and the roll 14 may be varied. Once the proper pressure relationship has been achieved, the screws 82 are then threaded back into engagement with the portion 84 on the adjusting member 72 thereby locking the adjusting member to the swinging lever 62.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the roll 16 is supported by the swinging levers 62 for pivotal movement about the axis of the liquid receiving roll 14. By supporting the pick-up roll in this manner, the roll 16 is constrained to move such that its rotational axis moves about the rotational axis of the liquid receiving roll 14 and thereby maintains a constant pressure relationship between the two rolls. In this manner, the problem of kneading the surface of the rolls is eliminated since the pressure remains constant at all times. Moreover, this constant pressure relationship achieves the desirable result of transferring a uniform film of liquid from the pick-up roll 16 to the roll 14.

The pick-up roll 16 moves about the circumference of the liquid receiving roll 14 and toward and away from the liquid carrying roll 12 to pick up liquid therefrom. The movement of roll 16 toward roll 12 is accomplished by an eccentric on each end of the shaft 60. Thus, referring to FIG. 2, an eccentric 90 is received over the end 92 of the shaft 60 and is secured to the shaft for rotation therewith by an appropriate key 93. The eccentric 90 is rotatably supported in a housing 94 by a bearing 96 with the housing 94 being supported by one end of a connecting rod 98. The other end of the connecting rod 98 further includes a threaded adjustment 102 whereby the distance between theends of the connecting rod may be varied. By so varying the distance, the gaps or spacing between roll 12 and 16 may be varied and, hence, the amount of liquid picked up by the roll 16 from the fountain roll 12 may be varied.

The pick-up roll 16 is rotated through frictional engagement with the liquid receiving roll 14. As the pickup roll 16 is rotated, the shaft 60 and, hence, the eccentric 90 are also rotated. As the eccentric 90 rotates, the rotational axis of the shaft 60 is shifted relative to the rotational center of the bearing 96. The swinging or pivoting support provided by the connecting rod 98 and the swinging lever 62- accommodate this shifting of the rotational axis 60. However, and most importantly, the swinging lever 62 constrains the roll 16 for move ment circumferentially of the roll 14 and prevents the roll 16 from shifting radially of the roll 14 thereby maintaining a constant pressure relationship between the two rolls.

As the axis of rotation of roll 16 is shifted, roll 16 moves circumferentially about the liquid receiving roll 14 but toward roll 12 in such a manner that a liquid transfer action is effected. This movement allows the pick-up roll 16 to intermittently pick up liquid from the fountain roll 12 and transfer the liquid to the roll 14. Desirably, the pick-up roll does not physically contact the periphery of the roll 12 but, rather, moves into liquid transferring contact with the film of liquid on roll 12.

connected to an actuator rod 118 which is pivotally attached to an extension 120 of the eccentric 1 16.

The eccentric 116 rotates about the center 100 on which the connecting rod 98 is pivotally supported. When the actuator rod 118 rotates the eccentric 116, the center 100 moves with respect to the center 114 of the pin 112 thereby changing the center distance between the pick-up roll 116 and the liquid carrying roll 12 such that the pick-up roll is moved to a position where it can no longer operatively engage the fountain roll 12.

SUMMARY OF OPERATION It is believed that the operation of the liquid handling mechanism is apparent from the foregoing description but will be briefly summarized. The transfer roll 18 provides the drive forrolls 14 and 16 through the frictional contact of the three rolls. Fountain roll 12 is separately driven at a pre-selected speed.

With the throw-off mechanism inoperative, that is, with roll 16 in an operative position, and with the desired pressure relationship established between rolls l4 and 16 by adjustment of the eccentric adjustment member 72, the mechanism is ready for operation. As drive is imparted by roll 18 to roll 14 and on to roll 16, shaft 60 and eccentric are rotated. Rotation of eccentric 90 causes a shifting movement of the rotational axis of shaft 60 and roll 16. This shifting movement is translated by levers 62 into circumferential movement of roll 16 relative to roll 14 thereby maintaining a constant pressure relationship between the two rolls. As roll 16 moves circumferentially, it moves toward roll 12 and establishes a liquid transferring relationship with that roll.

The film of liquid picked up by roll 16 is, because of the constant pressure relationship, uniformly transferred from roll 16 to roll 14 with roll 14 then transferring the liquid to roll 18.

MODIFICATIONS With the construction and operation described above, it will be apparent that the important object of maintaining a constant pressure relationship between the pick-up roll and the liquid receiving roll is achieved. Deviation from the established pressure relationship is avoided during operation of the mechanism due to the swingable support provided by the swinging lever 62 which prevents any radial movement of theroll 16 toward the roll 14. Inaddition, the adjusting member 72 provides a convenient means by which the pressure engagement between the two rolls may be adjusted. I

When a printing press is operated at high speed, it is desirably to be able to adjust the number of times the pick-up roll contacts the liquid carrying roll and received liquid therefrom. Such an arrangement allows for better control of the liquid supply to the liquid receiving roll. There is illustrated in FIG. 4 a modified liquid handling mechanism which includes provision for such an adjustment. This modified construction provides a drive means for rotating the eccentric which moves the pick-up roll toward and away from the fountain roll at a speed other than one dip or liquid transfer for each revolution of the pick-up roll.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 includes a drive means indicated generally by the reference numeral 130. This drive means comprises a back gear arrangement in which a shaft 132 is rotatably supported in an extension 134 of the adjustment member 72. Secured to that shaft 132 for rotation therewith are a pair of gears 136,138. The gear 136 is in meshing engagement with a gear 140 secured for rotation to the shaft 60. The outer gear 138 is in meshing engagement with a gear 12 rotatably supported on the end 92 of the shaft 60. The gear 142 includes as an integral extension therefrom an eccentric 144 which corresponds to the eccentric 90 of the embodiment of FIG. 1. However, unlike the eccentric 90, the eccentric portion 144 is rotatable relative to the shaft 60.

With the described arrangement, the drive means 130 is operable to rotate the eccentric 144 relative to the shaft 60 of the pick-up roll 16. This is accomplished in the following manner. The gear 140 rotates with the shaft 60 and is consequently driven at the same rotational speed and direction as the pick-up roll 16. The gear 136 has a pitch diameter which is greater than the pitch diameter of the gear 140. As a result, the shaft 132 is rotated through the meshing engagement of the gears 136,140 at a speed less than the rotational speed of the shaft 60. The

gears

138 and 142 further cooperate to reduce the rotational speed of the eccentric 144. in this manner the eccentric 144 will slowly rotate to move the pick-up roll 16 toward the fountain roll 12 while, independently of this movement, the pick-up roll 16 will rotate at a constant and higher speed.

It will be appreciated that the gears of the drive means 130 may be changed to alter the rotational speed of the eccentric 144 and, consequently, vary the rate of movement of the pick-up roll toward and away from the fountain roll. In this manner, the drive means may be used to rotate the eccentric 144 at a speed less than or greater than the rotational speed of the shaft Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A liquid handling mechanism comprising at least three rotatable rolls, said rolls including a liquid carrying roll and a liquid receiving roll adapted to receive liquid from the liquid carrying roll and a pickup roll for transferring the liquid from the liquid carrying roll to the liquid receiving roll, said pick-up roll including shaft ends that rotate with the pick-up roll, support arm means rotatably supporting said shaft ends of said pickup roll, means supporting said support arm means for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis substantially coextensive with the rotational axis of said liquid receiving roll, means for effecting said pivotal movement of said pickup roll about said pivotal axis toward and away from said liquid carrying roll to pick up liquid therefrom and deliver same to said liquid receiving roll including eccentric means drivingly connected with said shaft ends of said pick-up roll, said eccentric means om risi at east 0 e eccentric member mounted on ami gncircimg at i east one of said shaft ends, means mating with said eccentric member and supporting said eccentric member for rotation relative thereto and holding said eccentric member form bodily shifting movement relative to said liquid receiving roll, and drive means drivingly connecting said one shaft end and said eccentric member for rotating said eccentric member relative to said mating member upon rotation of said one shaft end.

2. A liquid handling mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a drive key drivingly connecting said eccentric member and said one shaft end.

3. A liquid handling mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said eccentric member is rotatably supported on said one shaft end and said drive means comprises gearing drivingly interconnecting said one shaft end and said eccentric member to rotate said eccentric member relative to said one shaft end.

4. A liquid handling mechanism as defined in claim 1 further including means driving said liquid receiving roll, and said pick-up roll and said liquid receiving roll are supported in peripheral contact and said pick-up roll being rotated by said peripheral contact.

Claims

1. A liquid handling mechanism comprising at least three rotatable rolls, said rolls including a liquid carrying roll and a liquid receiving roll adapted to receive liquid from the liquid carrying roll and a pickup roll for transferring the liquid from the liquid carrying roll to the liquid receiving roll, said pickup roll including shaft ends that rotate with the pick-up roll, support arm means rotatably supporting said shaft ends of said pick-up roll, means supporting said support arm means for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis substantially coextensive with the rotational axis of said liquid receiving roll, means for effecting said pivotal movement of said pickup roll about said pivotal axis toward and away from said liquid carrying roll to pick up liquid therefrom and deliver same to said liquid receiving roll including eccentric means drivingly connected with said shaft ends of said pick-up roll, said eccentric means comprising at least one eCcentric member mounted on and encircling at least one of said shaft ends, means mating with said eccentric member and supporting said eccentric member for rotation relative thereto and holding said eccentric member form bodily shifting movement relative to said liquid receiving roll, and drive means drivingly connecting said one shaft end and said eccentric member for rotating said eccentric member relative to said mating member upon rotation of said one shaft end.