US3689153A

US3689153A - Multisurface continuous printing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3689153A
Application number: US115526A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eiichi Suzuki
Original assignee: Toppan Printing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Toppan Inc
Priority date: 1970-02-19
Filing date: 1971-02-16
Publication date: 1972-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-05
Also published as: JPS5539814B1

Abstract

A multisurface continuous printing apparatus comprising a plurality of vacuum printing frames disposed horizontally on the circumference of the end portions of rotatable main arms and capable of simultaneously exposing photographic patterns on both surfaces of thin sheet materials applied with photosensitive resin; a light source or an exposure tunnel disposed on a part of said circumference to carry out exposure from both surfaces of said frame simultaneously; a rotary joint of vacuum piping provided on a rotary shaft to carry out vacuum suction of each vacuum printing frame; a rail fixed to said main arm in the form of a circle and supporting said vacuum printing frames with a plurality of rollers; and a driving means attached to the mount, the torque of which being transmitted through transmission devices and said rollers.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor: Eiichi Suzuki, Niiza, Japan [73] Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 115,526

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 19, 1970 Japan ..45/ 14301 [52] US. Cl. ..355/89, 355/26, 355/91 [51] Int. Cl. ..G03b 27/04 [58] Field of Search ..355/26, 89, 91, 93, 94

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,409,363 ll/l968 Matthaes ..355/89 X 3,479,121 ll/l969 Burgess ..355/91 X 2,916,982 12/1959 Caine et a1 ..355/101 2,947,234 8/1960 Faeber ..355/93 X 3,385,193 5/1968 Dougherty et al. ..355/93 Suzuki Sept. 5, 1972 [54] MULTISURFACE CONTINUOUS 3,455,634 7/1969 Guffon ..355/91 PRINTING APPARATUS 865,797 9/ l 907 Palmer et al ..355/ 89 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Alan A. Mathews Attorney-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen ABSTRACT A multisurface continuous printing apparatus comprising a plurality of vacuum printing frames disposed horizontally on the circumference of the end portions of rotatable main arms and capable of simultaneously exposing photographic patterns on both surfaces of thin sheet materials applied with photosensitive resin; a light source or an exposure tunnel disposed on a part of said circumference to carry out'exposure from both surfaces of said frame simultaneously; a rotary joint of vacuum piping provided on a rotary shaft to carry out vacuum suction of each vacuum printing frame; a rail fixed to said main arm in the form of a circle and supporting said vacuum printing frames with a plurality of rollers; and a driving means attached to the mount, the torque of which being transmitted through transmission devices and said rollers.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing figures MULTISURFACE CONTINUOUS PRINTING APPARATUS and therefore the operation is interrupted each time as the frames are to be stopped.

The object of this invention is to provide a multisurface continuous printing apparatus capable of processing sheet materials in great numbers in photoetching them and by saving the labor required therefor. According to this invention, several tens of vacuum printing frames are arranged horizontally in a circle and are continuously rotated. While said vacuum printing frames are continuously rotated, sheet materials to be processed are mounted, are completely closely contacted with photographic master patterns through vacuum suction and are exposed when they are passed through an exposure tunnel. After that, vacuum is released and the processed materials are withdrawn, thus completing the exposure operation. The abovedescribed through process for a plurality of vacuum printing frames makes it possible to operate several tens of printing frames only by two operators.

In carrying out photoetching, an ultraviolet ray having about 400 mp. of wavelength is required as a light source for exposure. In addition, the quantity of light of such a light source should be large. Prior art apparatus have employed carbon arc lamps or the like. However, such lamps produce smoke and heat and the quantity of light thereof is unstable. Therefore, they have been replaced by high pressure mercury lamps. The high pressure mercury lamps are disadvantageous in that instant lighting thereof is difficult and it takes much time before the quantity of I light becomes steady. Consequently, in order to employ such lamps as a light source for photoetching, mechanical shutters are required or it is necessary to adjust the exposure time by inserting printing frames into or removing them from the light source chamber. In the apparatus according to this invention, a plurality of high pressure mercury lamps are arranged on the upper and lower sides. Also, an exposure tunnel which is lighted all day long is provided. The operation is started after the quantity of light becomes steady. Moreover, the speed of rotary motion of printing frames is always constant. Therefore, this apparatus has an advantage that the exposure value to each sheet material to be processed is always constant. Furthermore, the light source is efficiently utilized. Thus, when compared with the conventional method wherein a separate light source is required for each printing frame, the power consumption is reduced to one third or less of that of the conventional apparatus.

The advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of this invention and which is shown partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a driving unit taken along the line II II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an exposure tunnel taken along the line III IH in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a printing frame; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the printing frame taken along the line V V in FIG. 4.

The torque of a motor 1 shown in FIG. 1 is transmitted through, for example a change gear 2 and a reduction gear 3 and then a driving shaft 28 shown in FIG. 2 to a driving sprocket 27. The sprocket 27 rotates a driven sprocket 30 by way of a chain 31. A shaft 29 supported by a flange 23 serves as a common shaft for the sprocket 30 and a rubber roller 5. A plate 22 is driven in the same direction g as the driven sprocket 30 and is provided with a flange 24. Said plate 22 is rotatably attached to a flange 25 of a mount 13 by a pin 26. A coil spring 33 is inserted in compressed form between the plate 22 and a seat plate 34 at the top of a stay 32 secured to the mount 13. A force acting in the direction indicated by the arrow i is applied to the plate 22 due to the compressive force of the coil spring 33, while a force acting in the direction indicated by the arrow j is applied to the flange 23. As a result, the rubber roller 5 is strongly pressed against a rail 9. When the rubber roller 5 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow g, the rail 9 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow h.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the rail 9 is made in a circular form and is secured through an appropriate number of main arms 8 and a center plate 10 to a center shaft 11 which is rotatably attached. Printing frames 6 are secured to the rail 9 by means of printing frame supporting arms 7. The printing frames 6 are installed in an appropriate number. In the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, ten frames are installed.

Dry plate stands 14 are provided above a plurality of printing frames 6, one stand to every one frame. This stand is designed to mount an upper glass dry plate 54 thereon as illustrated in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 3, an appropriate number of rollers 12 are provided on the mount 13 to carry the rail 9.

Thus, when the rubber roller 5 is driven, the rail 9 rotates with the center shaft 11 and a plurality of printing frames rotate, for example, in the direction of the arrow 0 as shown in FIG. 1. The reference numeral 21 designates an operation box, by means of which the printing frames are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow a or in the reverse direction.

Next, the exposure unit and the cooling unit will be described. The printing frames 6 shown in FIG. 1 are exposed by mercury lamps 16 while they are moving in the range indicated by the angle a. The sectional view of the exposure unit is shown in FIG. 3. The

reference numerals

39 and 40 identify upper and lower exposure chambers, respectively. In these chambers, one or more mercury lamps are provided by way of long holes 41. The position of the mercury lamp 16 is freely adjustable by means of the long hole 41. The reference numeral 43 designates a heat-insulating glass for preventing the transmission of heat from the mercury lamp 16. The reference numeral 73 identifies a peep window.

When the printing frame 6 is passed through an exposure tunnel 45, it is subjected to the light from the mercury lamps 16 from above andbelow. Thus, patterns 53 on glass dry plates S4 and 57 are printed onto the both surfaces of a sensitive plate 56 shown in FIG. 5.

The exposure value is adjusted by extinguishing a part of the mercury lamps 16 in the

exposure chambers

39 and 40.

Suction ports

17 and 18 and

exhaust ports

19 and 20 are provided in the upper and

lower exposure chambers

39 and 40, respectively, in order to cool the interior of said chambers (FIGS. 1 and 3). Cooling air is delivered into the

suction ports

17 and 18 by a fan. This air is circulated through the

exposure chambers

39 and 40 and is exhausted from the

exhaust ports

19 and 20. The arrows b through e indicate the direction of flow of cooling air. In FIG. 3, the

suction ports

17 and 18 and the

exhaust ports

19 and 20 are shown in broken line.

Next, the printing frames will be described hereinbelow. The construction of the printing frame will become apparent from FIG. 4 illustrating a plan view thereof and FIG. illustrating a sectional view thereof taken along the line C C of FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower glass dry plate 57 is placed on a lower frame 55 with the pattern 53 faced upward and is secured thereto by a fixture 65. Then, the sensitive plate 56 whose both surfaces are applied with photosensitive liquid is placed on the pattern 53, on which the upper glass dry plate 54 is placed with the pattern 53 thereof faced downward. The upper and lower dry plates are accurately positionedby means of two register pins 51 and bushes 60.

A transparent flexible sheet 61 is mounted on an upper frame 47 by using a fixture 63, on which a transparent sheet 62 is placed to make the upper portion airtight. The reference numeral 64 identifies a rubber for making the lateral side air-tight. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper frame 47 is connected to the lower frame 55 with hinges 50 so that they are freely opened or closed. The sensitive plate 56 and the upper glass dry plate 54 are mounted after the upper frame 47 is opened. Then, the upper frame 47 is closed and the both frames are closely clamped by a clamping lever 49.

Now, the vacuum suction mechanism will be described. Vacuum suction prior to printing is carried out in the range shown by the angle B in FIG. 1. Piping is made from a vacuum pump 70 and a vacuum tank 71 shown in broken line in FIG. 3 to a rotary joint 37 by using a pipe 72 and a flexible hose 42. Then, piping is made between a vacuum suction port 38 attached to the rotary joint 37 and a vacuum change-over valve 69 by using a rubber hose 68.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the change-over valve 69 is connected to a hose coupling 66 by means of a rubber hose 67. The hose coupling 66 is attached to the lower glass dry plate 57 and is in communication with the in terior of the printing frame through a vacuum suction port 74. By virtue of the above-described piping system, suction is performed by operating the changeover valve 69.

Hose couplings 38 are installed in the same quantity The operation of each element has been described so far. Now, the overall operation of the apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The case when the rail 9 and the printing frames 6 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow a by means of the above-described driving unit will be examined. In the range of the angle 7, the vacuum change-over valve (69 in FIG. 4) is turned otf and the upper frame (47 in FIGS. 4 and 5) is opened. The upper glass dry plate (54 in FIG. 5) is removed and is placed on the dry plate stand 14. The sensitive plate (56 in FIG. 5) is taken out. Next, a new sensitive plate is placed and the upper glass dry plate is set by the register pin (51 in FIG. 5). The upper frame is closed and is clamped by the clamping lever (49 in FIG. 4). After that, the change-over valve is turned on. Vacuum suction is started from this time on. Complete vacuum suction is carried out in the range of the angle B shown in FIG. 1. The piping system for vacuum suction is as described hereinbefore. When vacuum suction is completed, the printing frame enters the exposure tunnel (45 in FIG. 3) and printing is carried out by the light of the mercury lamps 16 in the exposure chambers (39 and 40 in FIG. 3) while said printing frame is moving in the range of the angle 0:. During this process, the exposure chambers are cooled by cooling air as described hereinbefore. When the printing frame passes through the range of the angle a and comes out of the exposure tunnel, one process is completed.

By virtue of the above-described construction wherein an exposure tunnel is provided, the apparatus according to this invention is capable of performing vacuum suction and exposure of both surfaces continuously without stopping the printing frames, and therefore waiting time is eliminated. Thus, the apparatus according to this invention contributes to the saving in man power and the enhancement of operational efficiency and is quite effective in practical use.

What is claimed is: v

1. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of printing frame supports; rotation means, to which said supports are attached, for constantly and slowly rotating said supports at a constant rate about a common, generally vertical axis; frame supports being held away from said vertical axis for easier access to the frames;

a plurality of printing frames; each said frame having two oppositely facing printing surfaces; each said printing surface comprising thin sheet material to which is applied a photosensitive liquid and which is capable of having a photographic pattern exposed thereon; each said frame being carried on one of said printing frame supports and each being oriented generally horizontal with respect to said vertical axis such that said frame printing surfaces are horizontal; each said frame being rotated about a circumference whereby exposure of a plurality of said frames is performed by constantly and slowly rotating said plurality of printing frame supports;

light sources disposed both above and below said frames over an arcuate portion of said circumference less than the whole thereof to simultaneously expose both said frame surfaces.

2. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rotary joint of vacuum piping communicating with a vacuum source; means for selectively connecting said piping with said frames for evacuating same before each passes said light sources.

3. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a circular rail carried on said rotation means; each said printing frame support being connected with one of a plurality of rollers that engage said rail;

said rotation means comprising a drive means which generates torque that is transmitted to said frame supports through a variable speed transmission device comprising a variable speed gear system, said rail and said rollers.

4. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said printing frame comprises an upper and a lower frame; hinges foldably connecting together said upper and lowerframes;

said lower frame having an upper side; a lower glass dry plate disposed on said upper side of said lower frame; said lower glass dry plate having an upper side that carries a pattern to be transmitted to a photosensitive plate;

a photosensitive plate. placed over said lower glass dry plate;

an upper glass dry plate having a lower side which also carries a pattern to be transmitted to said photosensitive plate; said upper glass dry plate being placed on said photosensitive plate with its said lower side being placed over said photosensitive plate; said upper and lower plates including complementary pins and bushes which register with each other so as to arrange the said plates in a predetermined relative orientation;

a transparent flexible sheet attached to said upper frame; another transparent sheet placed on said upper frame to maintain air tightness thereof; said upper and lower plates having side edges around their peripheries, a sealing rubber gasket near said.

side edges of said plates and disposed between said plates to maintain air tightness; a lever operated closing means for securing said upper and lower frames together.

5. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said light source comprises a plurality of lamps arranged in the form of a cir cular are less than a full circle; the lamps of each said light source being disposed in an enclosed exposure chamber; means connected with said plurality of lamps for selectively extinguishing or lighting the lamps to vary the exposure presented thereby; each said exposure chamber having heat insulating, light transmitting glass on the side thereof facing said printing frame, thereby forming an exposure tunnel between the said glasses of said chambers; each said exposure chamber including an inlet and an outlet permitting circulation of cooling air therebetween.

Claims

1. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of printing frame supports; rotation means, to which said supports are attached, for constantly and slowly rotating said supports at a constant rate about a common, generally vertical axis; frame supports being held away from said vertical axis for easier access to the frames; a plurality of printing frames; each said frame having two oppositely facing printing surfaces; each said printing surface comprising thin sheet material to which is applied a photosensitive liquid and which is capable of having a photographic pattern exposed thereon; each said frame being carried on one of said printing frame supports and each being oriented generally horizontal with respect to said vertical axis such that said frame printing surfaces are horizontal; each said frame being rotated about a circumference whereby exposure of a plurality of said frames is performed by constantly and slowly rotating said plurality of printing frame supports; light sources disposed both above and below said frames over an arcuate portion of said circumference less than the whole thereof to simultaneously expose both said frame surfaces.

3. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a circular rail carried on said rotation means; each said printing frame support being connected with one of a plurality of rollers that engage said rail; said rotation means comprising a drive means which generates torque that is transmitted to said frame supports through a variable speed transmission device comprising a variable speed gear system, said rail and said rollers.

4. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said printing frame comprises an upper and a lower frame; hinges foldably connecting together said upper and lower frames; said lower frame having an upper side; a lower glass dry plate disposed on said upper side of said lower frame; said lower glass dry plate having an upper side that carries a pattern to be transmitted to a photosensitiVe plate; a photosensitive plate placed over said lower glass dry plate; an upper glass dry plate having a lower side which also carries a pattern to be transmitted to said photosensitive plate; said upper glass dry plate being placed on said photosensitive plate with its said lower side being placed over said photosensitive plate; said upper and lower plates including complementary pins and bushes which register with each other so as to arrange the said plates in a predetermined relative orientation; a transparent flexible sheet attached to said upper frame; another transparent sheet placed on said upper frame to maintain air tightness thereof; said upper and lower plates having side edges around their peripheries, a sealing rubber gasket near said side edges of said plates and disposed between said plates to maintain air tightness; a lever operated closing means for securing said upper and lower frames together.

5. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said light source comprises a plurality of lamps arranged in the form of a circular arc less than a full circle; the lamps of each said light source being disposed in an enclosed exposure chamber; means connected with said plurality of lamps for selectively extinguishing or lighting the lamps to vary the exposure presented thereby; each said exposure chamber having heat insulating, light transmitting glass on the side thereof facing said printing frame, thereby forming an exposure tunnel between the said glasses of said chambers; each said exposure chamber including an inlet and an outlet permitting circulation of cooling air therebetween.