US3744415A - Multicolor press and process with impression cylinder having axially shiftable sheet grippers - Google Patents

Multicolor press and process with impression cylinder having axially shiftable sheet grippers Download PDF

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Publication number
US3744415A
US3744415A US00171918A US3744415DA US3744415A US 3744415 A US3744415 A US 3744415A US 00171918 A US00171918 A US 00171918A US 3744415D A US3744415D A US 3744415DA US 3744415 A US3744415 A US 3744415A
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sheet
cylinder
impression cylinder
printing
press
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US00171918A
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English (en)
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M Ras
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Individual
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Individual
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F7/00—Rotary lithographic machines
    • B41F7/18—Rotary lithographic machines specially adapted for proof printing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a multicolor offset printing process which also permits proofing operations, and to a sheet press for carrying out this process.
  • his an object of the present invention to provide a sheet-fed multicolor offset printing process which substantially eliminates all of the disadvantages of the known processes as previously described and especially reduces the adjusting and registering work and permits a quick wet on wet printing and also small series of mu]- ticolor prints to be produced which was hardly possible with any of the known processes and with the machines with which these processes were carried out.
  • the present invention provides that after a sheet has been clamped upon an impression cylinder in a first printing position and one of the colors has been printed thereon, the sheet is shifted on the impression cylinder in the axial direction thereof to a second printing position in which a further color is printed upon the sheet. This procedure is thereafter repeated until all colors are printed upon the same sheet.
  • This new process not only eliminates the previous need of repeatedly clamping the sheet to be printed, but since all colors may be printed in a single press, it also eliminates the previous need of adjusting several impression cylinders relative to each other. Furthermore, since between two successive printing operations it is only necessary to shift the sheet to be printed along the impression cylinder in the axial direction thereof, the different colors may be printed in quick succession upon each other so that actually a wet on wet printing may be carried out. Finally, it is also of advantage that only a single press is required for producing multicolor prints very easily and accurately. I
  • the press according to the invention comprises a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder all of which are made of a length which amounts at least to a multiple of the width of the sheet to be printed and is at least in accordance with the number of colors which are to be printed on this sheet.
  • Another feature of the invention consists in providing the impression cylinder with a sheet gripping mechanism which is slidable along this cylinder.
  • a further important feature of the invention consists in providing the blanket cylinder in the form of several segments which are mounted laterally adjacent to each other on the shaft of this cylinder and are peripherally offset relative to each other and each of which is operatively associated with one of several printing plates 7 which are mounted adjacent to each other on the plate cylinder.
  • a very important advantage of such a press is the fact that it requires considerably less space than the conventional sheet offset presses for multicolor printing. Furthermore, the necessary adjusting operations require very little time, much less than they required for the repeated adjusting operations on the succession of printing 'units as were previously necessary.
  • Another important advantage of the invention is the fact that the new press permits wet on wet printing so that the finished print is worth of being compared with a print which has been directly produced by a rotary printing process. Last not least, the small amount of work and time which are required for carrying out the necessary adjustments and also the possibility of producing wet on wet prints permit an economic printing also of small series of prints.
  • FIG. 1 shows, partly in section, a side view of a fourcolor sheet offset press according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically and likewise partly in section a top view of the same press, in which, however,
  • the sheet offset press comprises a frame 1 in which a plate cylinder 2 is rotatably mounted on which several printing plates 3a to 3a one for each color are mounted laterally adjacent to each other. Following this plate cylinder 2 a blanket cylinder 4 and following the latter an impression cylinder 6 are rotatably mounted in the frame 1.
  • the impression cylinder 6 carries a gripper carriage 8 which is slidable in the axial direction of this cylinder and is provided with grippers 7 for tightly clamping each sheet to be printed.
  • an inking assembly 10 is provided which comprises four inking units 10a to 10d each of which is provided with its own ink cup or ink box 9a to 9d and its own ink applying roller 11.
  • These inking units may be of a conventional type of construction except insofar as they are arranged so that the corresponding rollers of the adjacent inking units with the exception of the doctor rollers are mounted on a common shaft which considerably simplifies the bearing and driving means for these rollers.
  • the dampening assembly 13 is designed similar to the inking assembly 10 insofar as it comprises four equal dampening units laterally adjacent to each other, and all corresponding rollers of these units with the exception of the doctor rollers are again mounted on a common shaft.
  • the plate cylinder 2 is substantially of a cylindrical shape and provided at two points which are located substantially diametrically opposite to each other with recesses 15 and 16 which extend in the longitudinal direction of cylinder'2.
  • Recess 15 contains a registering mechanism 17 by means of which the leading ends of plates 3a to 3d may be clamped upon metal strips 18.
  • a tension strip (not shown) is hooked which is acted upon by a tension spring 12 which is mounted within the recess 16, so that the printing plates 3a to 3d are tightly and uniformly applied upon the peripheral surface parts of plate cylinder 2. It is, of course, to be understood that this manner of mounting the printing plates requires them to be sufficiently flexible.
  • all of these plates 30 to 3d are mounted on cylinder 2, so that their longitudinal sides are adjacent to each other and their leading ends are located on the same transverse generatrix of cylinder 2.
  • FIG. 1 further indicates that each of the printing plates 3a to 3d only has a length equal to approximately one third of the circumference of plate cylinder 2.
  • Each of the printing plates 30 to 3d is to be used for printing one color and is for this purpose associated with one of the dampening and inking units as already described.
  • the blanket cylinder 4 is substantially composed of four laterally adjacent segments'19a to 19d each of which is offset at an angle of 90 in the peripheral direction relative to the adjacent segment. Each of these segments is clamped tightly upon a common drive shaft 20 by meansof'a semicircular shell 21, as shown in FIG.
  • Each segment 19a to 19d is covered by a rubber blanket 5a to 5d each of which is secured by clamping strips and bolts 22 to the respective segment.
  • each segment 19a to 19d only forms approximately one fourth of the entire circumference of the blanket cylinder 4 so that, as seen in a development as shown in FIG. 2, the segments and the rubber blankets 5a to 5d thereon have a step-shaped arrangement.
  • This arrangement of the segments 19a to 19d and their blankets 5a to 5d on drive shaft 20 also results in a balanced unit because the unbalance which is produced by one of the segments, for example, the segment 19a, is compensated by the unbalance which is produced by the diametrically opposite segment, for example, the segment 19c.
  • Each blanket 5a to 5d has a length substantially corresponding to the length of one of the printing plates 34 to 3d. Since each of these plates covers only approximately one third of the circumference of the plate cylinder 2, but the rubber blankets 5a to 5d cover successively the entire circumference of the blanket cylinder 4 which is defined by the segments 19a to 19d, it is evident that the diameter of the plate cylinder 2 has a ratio of three to four to the diameter of the blanket cylinder 4.
  • the blanket cylinder is followed by the impression cylinder 6 which, as already mentioned, is provided with a carriage 8 carrying the grippers 7 and is slidable in the longitudinal direction of cylinder 4 for shifting a sheet 24 to each of four adjacent printing positions 24a to 24d.
  • the gripper carriage is of this purpose longitudinally movable on railsin a manner not particularly shown within a recess 23 in the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 6.
  • a belt 25 is secured which passes similarly to an endless belt around two guide rollers which are mounted on the front and rear ends of cylinder 6 and one of which is connected by a slipper clutch 26 to a miterwheel gearing 27 which is mounted in a manner not shown on the end of cylinder 6, as may be seen at the right upper side of FIG.
  • One wheel of the miterwheel gearing 27 is directly connected to a pinion 28 which, in turn, meshes with a large gear 29.
  • This gear 29 is freely rotatable on the shaft of cylinder 6 and driven by a pinion 30 as shown in FIG. 1 which, in turn, is driven through a chain 44, a reduction gearing 39 and a V-belt 38 by a common motor 37.
  • the speed ratios of the elements as last described are designed so that the continuously rotating gear 29 rotates in the same direction as the impression cylinder 6 and has a lower speed than the normal speed of the latter. If therefore the impression cylinder 6 is stopped and the miter-wheel gearing 27 and the pinion 28 therefore do not revolve, gear 29 will drive the pinion 28 in that direction which corresponds to the direction of movement of the stringer of belt 25 to which the carriage 8 is secured, that is, downwardly as seen in FIG. 2. This direction of movement of belt 25 continues as long as the carriage 8 has not as yet reached the printing position 24a. As soon as this occurs, carriage 8 abuts against a stop 51 which prevents its further movement and also stops the belt 25 since the slipper-clutch 26 through which the belt is normally driven will then slip.
  • stops 32 is provided for each of the printing positions 24a, 24b and 24c, and all of them are rigidly secured to a common shaft 31 which is pivotably mounted in recess 23 in the peripheral surface of cylinder 6.
  • shaft 31 projects beyond the end of the impression cylinder, that is its lower end as seen in FIG. 2, and it carries a control arm 33 which during each revolution of cylinder 6 abuts against a stop 34 which carries a roller and is mounted in a stationary position on the frame 1.
  • the arm 33 abuts against this stop 34, shaft 31 will be pivoted for a short time in the clockwise direction with the result that all stops 32 on shaft 31 will be pivoted out of the path of travel of carriage 8.
  • Carriage 8 is thus released and will beshifted by belt 25 in the direction toward the printing position 24b.
  • a spring not shown, will tend to pivot the shaft 31 and thus also the stops 32 back to their original positions.
  • the stops 32 cannot return to their original positions until carriage 8 no longer prevents them from doing so. This occurs immediately before the carriage reaches the printing position 24b.
  • the stops 32 are then again quickly pivoted upwardly and at the beginning of the second revolution of cylinder 6, carriage 8 and thus also the sheet 24 will have reached exactly the printing position 24b where the carriage, held by the associated stop 32, will remain untilsheet 24 has completely rolled over the respective rubber blanket 5b.
  • the same operations as above described will then be repeated between the printing position 24b and the printing position 240.
  • the gripper carriage 8 could also be shifted axially along the impression cylinder 6 by other suitable means, for example, by a stepping motor which is actuated after each complete revolution of cylinder 6, or by a continuously running electric motor the movement of which is transmitted to carriage 8 at the required times by an electromagnetic clutch.
  • Gear 42 for driving the blanket cylinder 4 meshes with the smaller pinion of an electromagnetic brake 50, the larger pinion of which meshes with a gear 40a which is adapted to be engaged by an electromagnetic clutch mechanism 40.
  • This clutch mechanism 40 is'provided with two further gears which are driven continuously by the motor 37.
  • One of these gears is the sprocket wheel 40b for driving the chain 44' leading to the pinion 30, and the other gear 40c meshes with the smallest gear of a reduction gearing '39 which by a chain 45 drives the inking assembly 10 and also the dampening assembly 13.
  • the reduction gearing 39 is connected to the electric motor 37 by a V-belt 38.
  • the rates of speed of the plate cylinder 2, the blanket cylinder 4 and the impression cylinder 6 amount to l to to 1 relative toeach other.
  • the printing position 24b is located exactly opposite to the rubber blanket 5b which will then print the sheet 24. Thereafter, carriage 8 transfers the sheet to the printing position 240.
  • blanket cylinder 4 has carried out another three-quarter revolution, while the plate cylinder 2 has carried out a com.- plete revolution and has thereby inked the blankets 5a, 5c and 5d.
  • brake 50 is actuated by a control mechanism, not shown, and clutch 40 is disengaged so that all cylinders will be stopped.
  • carriage 8 then moves back to its original position, that is, to a position near the printing position 2411' where the grippers 7 of the carriage will be opened by the return again each of 4 rotation of the eccentric shaft 36 so that the four-color wet-on-wet printed sheet 24 will be released.
  • the blanket cylinder 4 After four complete revolutions of the impression cylinder 6 the blanket cylinder 4 has carried out three complete revolutions and the plate cylinder 2 also four complete revolutions.
  • the printing press and its cylinders are thus again in the same positions as at the beginning of the printing process so that a new printing process may be started.
  • each printing plate 3a to 3d engages with the associated rubber blanket 5a to 5d only at every fourth revolution of plate cylinder 2, while during the other three revolutions, because of the gear ratio of l to Y4, the printing plates 2 will travel past the blanket cylinder 4 without engaging with the same.
  • each printing plate passes along the associated dampening and inking unit. Consequently, each printing plate is subjected four times to a dampening and inking operation before it transfers theink to the associated rubber blanket.
  • a multicolor sheet offset printing process comprising the steps of mounting a sheet in a first axial position on the impression cylinder and gripping the sheet on the impression cylinder in said first position, printing said sheet with one color while the sheet is gripped in said first position, and then while the sheet remains gripped on the impression cylinder shifting said sheet along said impression cylinder in the axial direction thereof to at least one further position and printing said sheet with another color in said further position.
  • a multicolor sheet offset press comprising a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder, means for driving said cylinders, all of said cylinders having a length at least equal to a multiple of the width of a sheet to be printed, said multiple being in accordance with the number of colors to be printed successively on said sheet, gripping means on said impression cylinder for gripping said sheet, guide means for guiding said gripping means together with said sheet from a first position on said impression cylinder in the axial direction along the latter to at least one further position to permit said sheet to be printed with another color in each of said positions, said blanket cylinder comprising a plurality of laterally adjacent segments, each of said segments being laterally and peripherally offset relative to the adjacent segment for a distance at least equal to the axial length and the peripheral length of one segment, and a plurality of printing plates adapted to be mounted on said plate cylinder, each of said segments being operatively associated with one of said printing plates which are mounted laterally adjacent to each other on said plate cylinder.
  • said guide means comprise two guide rollers rotatably mounted on the opposite ends of said impression cylinder, an endless belt mounted on and adapted to run over said guide rollers and having two stringers extending substantially parallel to the axis of said impression cylinder, said gripper carriage being secured to said belt, a driving gear, means for driving said gear continuously so as to have a peripheral speed lower than the peripheral speed of said impression cylinder, and a slipper clutch connecting said driving gear to one of said guide rollers for driving the same when said clutch is engaged.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rotary Presses (AREA)
  • Supply, Installation And Extraction Of Printed Sheets Or Plates (AREA)
US00171918A 1970-08-17 1971-08-16 Multicolor press and process with impression cylinder having axially shiftable sheet grippers Expired - Lifetime US3744415A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1229770A CH508480A (de) 1970-08-17 1970-08-17 Mehrfarben-Bogen-Offsetdruckverfahren, insbesondere Andruckverfahren, sowie Bogenoffsetpresse zur Durchführung des Verfahrens

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3744415A true US3744415A (en) 1973-07-10

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US00171918A Expired - Lifetime US3744415A (en) 1970-08-17 1971-08-16 Multicolor press and process with impression cylinder having axially shiftable sheet grippers

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US (1) US3744415A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE771130A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH508480A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CS (1) CS160685B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2140218A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2104379A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1295388A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4058202A (en) * 1975-02-26 1977-11-15 Ferag Ag Apparatus for processing products especially printed products
US4325631A (en) * 1980-11-07 1982-04-20 Cymaticolor Corporation Method of color printing
US4569284A (en) * 1985-03-21 1986-02-11 Am International Sheet handling mechanism for duplicating machine with duplexing capability
US20050155503A1 (en) * 2004-01-20 2005-07-21 Kyotaro Onuma Sheet-fed offset rotary printing press

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4142330C2 (de) * 1991-12-20 2000-12-14 Fogra Forschungsgesellschaft D Vorrichtung zur Durchführung eines Wegschlagtests
DE4142329A1 (de) * 1991-12-20 1993-06-24 Forschungsgesellschaft Fuer Dr Probedruckgeraet
US6384901B1 (en) * 2000-01-21 2002-05-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Sheet media skew adjustment in a printer output

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4058202A (en) * 1975-02-26 1977-11-15 Ferag Ag Apparatus for processing products especially printed products
US4325631A (en) * 1980-11-07 1982-04-20 Cymaticolor Corporation Method of color printing
FR2493765A1 (fr) * 1980-11-07 1982-05-14 Cymaticolor Corp Procede d'impression en couleurs
US4569284A (en) * 1985-03-21 1986-02-11 Am International Sheet handling mechanism for duplicating machine with duplexing capability
US20050155503A1 (en) * 2004-01-20 2005-07-21 Kyotaro Onuma Sheet-fed offset rotary printing press

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE771130A (fr) 1971-12-16
CS160685B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-03-28
DE2140218A1 (de) 1972-03-23
FR2104379A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-04-14
CH508480A (de) 1971-06-15
GB1295388A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-11-08

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