US877775A - Apparatus for finishing stereotype-plates. - Google Patents

Description

No. 877,775. PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. O. E. HOPKINS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

PPL AT 1m 1) .2 190. A w I0 ILE OCT 7 BSHEETS-SHEET 1.

' PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. 0. B. HOPKINS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 28, 1907 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

| I l l l No. 877,775. PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. O. E. HOPKINS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES. APPLIOATIOH FILED OUT. 28, 1907.

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A. I F122 Jifl 6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. 0. E. HOPKINS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1907.

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NOJ87737'75. PATENTED JAN. 28,1908.

0. E. HOPKINS.

JAPPA'BATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

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7 UNITED STATES ars ostarc CHARLES EDWARD HOPKINS, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE-PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan.. 2a, 1908.

Application filed October 28, 1907. Serial No. 399.465.

trimming and finishing curved stereotype plates and while it is especially adapted for use in conjunction with a curved stereotype casting apparatus of the type described in my prior British Patent No: 15314 of 1905, still it (or certain parts of it) may also be used in conjunction with any other suitable kind or type ofapparatus for casting curved stereotype plates. In apparatus of this kind it is important that the plates should be cast,

trimmed, and finished (readyfor placing in the printing machine) in the shortest time possible, but a certain amount of time is necessarily lost in allowing the stereotype plate to cool before it is taken from the casting chamber and whereas the main body of the'plate cools comparatively quickly the riser or slug owing. to its thickness takes longer to solidify throughout its mass and it is impossible to cut this riser or slug off and trim the plate until it is solid as there is a dangerof liquid metal running down over the convex surface of the plate and spoiling the impression thereon.

Now according to the present invention I remove the cast plate from the casting chamber as soon-as it is sufficiently cool so to do and carry it in a receiver to a special trimming cylinder where it has itsconcave surface shaved previous to its riser or slug being cut off, so that this latter has plenty of time to solidify throughout its mass. In addition this invention comprises an entirely new and improved trimming and finishing apparatus automatically connected up and working so that all the steps of the operation are performed without the necessity of hand work. Moreover where quickness is so important it is an advantage to perform the operation of cutting off the riser etc. away from the casting chamber and not as in my aforesaid prior pat nt during the act of removing the plate as this cutting operation takes some time i. e. about four seconds, whereas otherwise the cast plate can be more quickly removed and hence the casting chamber the sooner prepared for the next casting operation.

I will not attempt to describe the casting operation as this operationis well-known nor does it form, nor does the apparatus therefor form, any part of my present invention; but will pass on to the description of the mechanism, its connections and move ments from the point at which, the casting being complete, the casting chamber. is

opened, until the point at which the cast plate is delivered ready for putting into the printing machine; and in order that myinvention may be readily understood I will describe it with reference to the drawings 1 have annexed hereto in which it is shown in conjunction with an upright rotatable core casting mechanism but it must be understood that these drawings illustrate only one method of carrying out my invention, the full scope whereof may readily be gathered from the description together with the state ment hereinbefore contained.

Figures 1 and 1 when-taken together show side 'elevational views of .the casting chamber receiver and the finishing cylinder with the apparatus and connections for operating the same. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the whole apparatus. Fig. 3 shows a back sectional view of the receiver and its connections on line DD of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a back elevational view of the finishing cylinder and its connection. Figs. 1, 1 and l 'show the guide plate 122 (Figs. and 2) in plan, side and end views respec-- tively. Figs. 1 and 1 show the guide block 123 (Fig. 1) in side and planviews respectively. Fig. 2 shows the yoke clamping mechanism 314 (Fig. 2) in plan View. Fig. 4 shows a section through Fig. 4 on the line-aa While the cast plate is being shaved. Fig. 4 shows a section'of Fig. 1 on the line b?). Fig. 4 shows in detail the riser ejecting' apparatus (Fig. 4). Fig.4 shows cam 302 and roller 306 (Fig. 4) and its operation. Fig. 4 shows the cam disk 316 (Fig 4.) in plan view.

In the follo ing more detailed description the same numerals indicate the same parts throughout.

After a casting has been made the operator pushes down on the "drag operating handlel (Fig. 1) thereby starting to withdraw the segmental back-2 away from the action the flexible matrix is gradually separated from the stereotype casting 3 formed "15. way in upperpart of the base box B) which with the jaw fixed upon the. main driving upon the periphery of the cylindrical core 5 as soon as the back is moved sulliciently to entirely separate the matrix from thestereotype a pro ecting arm 6 (Fig. 2) attached to the lower end of the back causes a pivoted pawl 7 to engage. a rock-arms attached'to a slide-piece 9 (which operates in a guidein turn is connected to a' clutch mounted upon the main driving shaft 200 through the rock-arm 10 attached to the upright rock shaft 11 and-rock yoke 12 operating in the sliding collaro'f the clutch mechanism'13; a further backward movement of the drag causes the rock arm 8' to withdraw the spring-actuated stop 1.4 from engagement with the stop 15 attached to the lower end of the cylindrical core 5 (Figs. 2. and 3) the withdrawal of' this sprin actuated stop allows the spring 16, whidh has been held compressed, to expand thereby moving the sliding jaw of the clutch up into engagement shaft 200:; instantly upon'the engagement of the clutch the core i. s"'s'tarted to revolve thereby caii'ying'the' stereotype 3 out of the casting Chamber; as the cylinder finishes .a

half revolution'a second stop 17 engages the s ring-actuated stop 14 thereby causing (by t. e inverse action above-described) the movable jaw of the clutchl'S to become disengaged. when the cylinder comes toa full stop .with the casting in position as shown in Figs. 1 2 and 3. The operator now proceeds to move the back 2 up and into posiprojects above the'receiver A) engages projections' 1.13 pivotez on the receiver so as to operatethe supporting arms 11 1 to which are attached the clamping projections or bars rate an allow-the stereotype t9 pass by over the guide-ways. 18 into position in the receiver when projections 113 and 11.0 will be moved over the straight edge of the stereo-.

type castin by springs 114,114 (Figs. 1 and 3) 1110111'1te upon the receiver A- and the steteot e will therefore be firmly locked in .thamecelver.

e plate cast in the casting chamber 1e bars 110 to sepamoving the stereotype into position'in the receiver as aforesaid an arm 115 (Figs. land 2) which is attached to one of the lower-sup" porting arms 11 1 isforced from engagement with the operating lever 116 connected with the sliding collar of the clutch 118 through the link 117, when the spririg119 which has been held 'at tensien forces the jaws" of the clutch into' working e agement thereby throwing into operation tlie finishingr hech anism; a rock arm 204 to wvhichis attached'the cam roller 203 operating 'in: a groove in .cam- 202 -mount.ed on the cycle' shaft 201\(Fig."2) is connected to the re ceiver A through a link 20 5 operative 'on a so shaft 206 (Figs; 2 and 3) rigidly fixed to the vlower end of the-receiverA and the shaft 206 in turn is held in position and guided, also operatesthroughaguide-plate 122 (Figs. 1, 1 and 1) loose onthe sha'ft206 and-a guideblock 123(Figs. 1', 1 and I?) keyed or fixed to the shaft, one end of the guide-block being formed .intoa sector gear having a. suitable number of teeth 224 to-c'ause the. receiver.A to make a half revolution'when passing over therack. 225 fixed to the base B (which as shown in Fig. 1 is brekenaway so as to clearly show the nechanism under andinit).

A guide-way 220 (Fig. 2) is formed int'he base B through andv in which the guide-plate 122 operates and supports the receiver, additional guideways 226(Fig. 4) are arranged at each end of the way into which-the guideblock123 entersafter the receiver has made a half-turn andlocks the receiver firmly into: position owing to the guide-block being rigidly fixed to the receiver shaft 206.-

Attached to the bottom ends of the pivots v upon which are mounted the supporting armsy 111 of the clamps are short.l'inks.100'- (Figs. 2 and 3) united by a bar 1.0.1 to which is pivoted a roller 102 which whenthe re ceiver is moved up into position ag'ainstthe cylinder C, on completion of theoperation of 110 shaving is en aged by a -earn-plate 103 m.- tached to 'the lower end of thefinishing cyl-. inder. This cam-plate is positioned so as -to operate uponthe roller- 102 immediately the stereotype has been shaved thereby'unlocking the locking clamps 110 from off the straight sides of the then shaved stereotype and allowing the stereotype to move with the revolving cylinder as hereafter described.

Having described. the ejecting of the cast a As the projection 113 is pressed back on 55 the'finishing cylindereC suitable locking arms 300 (Figs. 1, 2 and-i) are made toengage depressions 301 formed on the outside-face of the receiver as follows: Supported on up sions 301 in the receiver A and firmly locking the said receiver into position so that the stereotype held therein can be shaved during the next half revolution of the cylinder as hereinafter described.

Mounted in an upright position within the base is what 1 term a cycle shaft for the reason that it -makes only one revolution for each cycle of movements necessary to convey, finish and deliver a stereotype plate. This cycle shaft 201 has mounted upon it a large gear 250 the upper surface ofwhich has formed upon it a miter gear 251 which when in operation is driven through miter gear 253 (Figs. 1 and 2) attached to the'main driving shaft 200. Meshing in with gear 250' is gear 252 (Figs. 1 and 4) which. is mounted upon the shaft of the finishing cylinder C and being only one-half the size of gear 250 it makes two revolutions to one of that by which it is driven. The finishing cylinder is made in this case of a size to fit a ainst the inside surface of the stereotype pate between the raised ribs and having depressions turned into its face suitable for allowing the ribs cast uponthe stereotype to enter; by this means the stereotype is always solidly held against the face. of the finishing cylinder during the trimming operations.

One side of the cylinder is made with a depression 311 (Figs. 2 and 4) which not only forms a place for the shaving knife 312 but also a clearance for the shavings of metal as they are removed from the stereotype ribs.

This clearance in this particular design of machine need only extend a sufficient length to allow of a knife long enough to shave all the ribs cast upon the stereotype.

Pivotal-ly attached to the upper end of the finishing cylinder-and one to each side are curved bands or clamps 313, 313 (Figs. 1, '2, 4 and 2) being connected by links and cross bar 314 on which ismounted a roller 315' wl'iic-h operates in a cam groove formed in cam 316 axially ahned with the cylinder hutlixed to the frame-work K so as to hold' stereotype after being shaved and carry it along with the cylinder and thereafteru'nclamp the severed riser as it is being ejected as hereinafter described. Also attached to the upper end of the cylinder is'the slug ejector consisting of a spring-actuated plate 31 T (Figs. 1, 4 and 4) so placed that can be moved away or towards the cylinder surface; this ejector is connected to a crossrod operating through a hole in the cylinder shaft at the other end of the rod is a coil spring 318 always under tension when the ejector plate is pressed into or against the 'cylinder, the face of which is recessed the thickness of the ejector plate so as to allow the face of the plate to .be approximately flush with the cylinder surface when closed in; also attached to the cross-rod supporting the ejector plate 317 is an upright arm having a roller 339 mounted upon the upper end operating upon a cam face 340 in the fixed cam wheel 316 (which hastwo separate cam gr oove's) so that as the cylinder revolves carrying the stereotype around with it (and through the trimmers hereafter described) it is so timed that the instant the stereotype leaves the trimmers the roller 339 (Fig. 4.") leaves the cam face, which act releases the tension on the spring 313, which causes the ejector to shoot forward and force the riser over the edge of the guide-ways 350 which are so formed as'to carry the severed riser away from the cylinder and out of the path of the finished stereotype below. 'As the cylinder continues to revolve the roller 339 is drawn back by the cam face 340 and returns the ejector into position against the face of the cylinder,

The trimming cutters of which I illustrate two (Fig. 4) 319 and 320 are fixed to a shaft "322 which is held in operative position by a bracket'321 fixed to the top surface of the base plate B by bolts or by other suitable means; the said trimmers and shafts are connected to a short shaft 323 operating through the base B; and' to the lower end of the said shaftis fixed a driving. belt pulley 324; this pulley 324 is driven at a high rate of speed from pulley400 mounted upon upright power connecting shaft 401 (Fig. 2) through a belt connection 402. The trimmers 319 and 320 are formed with a bevel of approximately 45 and have projecting cutting edges 325 which 'enter grooves or-clearances 326 out into the face of the cylinder C (above and below the shaving knife 312), said trimmers also entering through clearances 326 (Fig. 4) in stop piece 331 attached to the peri hery of cylinder 0 opposite to that-side o' the cylinder G into which the shaving knife 312 is inserted--said stop piece 331 extending the length of the stereotype as cast; thisv stop piece 331 engages the shaved stereotype the I instant it is released by the locking clamps ends of the'stereotype and simulte'ne'onslyv'10 sever the riser-,--eiter which the finished 110 on receiver A, endsimulteneously, thev clamps 313 (attached to the cylinder C) engage the riserend oi the stereotype; by

these 'combined meens the stereotype (sitter belng shavedY- s carried around bytlie cyl "indel- C so that the trimmers, may engage 1t and cut the necessary bevels on"the curved stereotype is pushed -elong [by the stop-- piece331. 7

' For the purpose of guiding thestereotype as it is being ejected-from the cylinder/1 provide arms '328- having fingers 329' sittechcd to one end whichproject into suitable I grooves 330 out in the finishing cylinders face there are elsoclesrsnces out into the shavinglmife and 's'top piece in line with the grooves 330 so that the fingers-rosy remei'n et all times ,inthe grooves frneens are also provided for supporting 'the arms 328, 328, in proper positionconsistin eton npright-shsft332 fixed to the. bees p ste lvlou-nted npon the trimmer brackets 3 are flexible brackets supportinganti-friction rollersv 340 which" operate on the bevelscut into the stereotype by the trimmers- 319 itnd320, the purpose for which these anti-Y lriction rollers are employed 'is'tolsupport the'stereotype dnringnnd just after the trimmers have ceased to operate it plates the rollers upon flexible supports so that they can give siir htly ssthe stereoty ie is being; freed from the surface otthe cylinder C and pushed uponthe finished stereotype receiving pletiorm 32Twhichis mountedupon the hese'Eend made to extend around .one side of theiinishingeylirider nearly as far ssthe trimming cnttersss well as project sufficiently fer sway from the cylin der to hold the ejected stereotype 3 shown in Fig. 2.

In order that this invention nlay be the better understood I. will now describe the complete cycle or o eretions fronrthe time the plate is cast intie cestingchamber until it is delivered triinn ied. and finished."

When the east plate in thecesting chsimber which is formed between the rotating core end the drag 2 (Figs. 1 end 2) is su'fiiciontlyoool, the handle 1' (Fig. 1) is de- "groove red on the arm Pt the shaft 200 through its bevel.

v armies i The pivoted pewl7 end. the. rock arm18 ere moved out of engagement and thenthe springstop 14 resumes its normal position. The core 5 continues to rotate until the stop 17 comes in contact with the spring stop 1 1 (i e., through 180) When the stop 14 and the. slide 9- are pnshed towards the right lhig. 2 L. e, into their original position, this causing the rock-yoke 12 -to be pressed back against the spring 16, thusthrowing the slidcoller of the clutch 13' out of gear and stopping); the rotation of the core The epperstus then remains in this position, e., as shovm in Fig.

with the cest plete 0pposits the receiver A, rm? the moved up against the core 5-} for eiiesh oesting-operetion; this movement of the drag 2 causes the fingers 61 to push the cast plate oil? the core 5 on to the guide-Ways l8 and into the receiver A, and when the cast plate is in the receiver A the projeotions llg, 110,;

'1'10 grasp the straight sides of the plate 114,

through the notion of the springs 114, and the srm's 111 '(Figs. 2 and 3)..

The act of pressing the cast plate .into the receiver, A forces the projections 113 to the riser of the stereotype which movement causes the arms 115 attached to one of the lower arms 111 operated hy the rejection 11.3 to become disengaged rroin t e operet- 'ing lever 116 thereby releasing the splrmg on the] clutch- 115. through. which the ishing mechanism hr ivn into operation. The apparatus ting the position asqslfown inFig. 2, 1e 0 ster'eoty ebeingmoved into the ivel e. and t. e clutch 118 operetionthe cycle Wheel 250 is revolved proximately at the point .21 in the cam he linder {l is then in the position. SllOYuLr. in i 2 end theeiiect of. 0.. quarter revolution 9 I nc cycle Wheel 252 Will be to draw the receiverit by means of the said cam-203; the cam groove 202 and "the pivoted lever 204- np .tothe cylinder C, the said receiver A. being rotated duringits movement from the core 5 up to rock-225 and teeth 224; the cylinder C is at theseme time rotated through 180 when the arms 300," 300, sr'efthrown into the grooves 301; 301 v by the action of the cam roller 306 working'in the groove 302 and through the medium of' the arm 304 and links 305; during the next quarter revolution of t'hewheel 252 the-"receiveris held in this locked positionlwith thehcast plate firmly fixed therein by megins oitheprojections 115 and 110) while the knife 312 is moved over its concave surface. thereby shaving the ribs .oi the same.

On starting the next quarter revolution of the Wheel 252 the, arms 300, 300, are thrown out of the giro 301,301, Coy the i separeteowing to their engaging theiece of until the uni roller 208 arrives epthe cylinder 0 through 180 by means of the I means of the platform 327.

reverse action above described) andthe arms 313, 313, through the action of the cam roller 315 in the fixed cam disk 316 (Fig. 4) and the yoke 314., are made to grasp the riser of the cast plate; the cam piece 103 attached to the bottom of the cylinder G simultaneously engages the roller 102 operating the clamping bars 110 which have held the stereoty e fast in the receiver A and moves the c amping bars away so that the stereotype is free to rotate along with the cylinder C past the knives 319 and 320 (Fig. 4) whereby the riser is cut off and the edges trimmed and beveled, during which operation the receiver has been moving towards the core 5. At the beginning of the next quarter revolution of the wheel 252 the riser is pushed and started down the chute 350 by late 317, the spring 318 and the cam 339 (l ig. 1). In themiddle of the last quarter revolution of the wheel 252 the receiverA is brought up against the core 5 when the operation is stopped through the clutch 118 being thrown out of gear. On the next plate being pushed into the receiver this quarter revolution is completed until the cam roller 203 again comes approximately to the point Z in the cam groove 202. During this last quarter revolution the cast stereotype is removed from the cylinder 0 by the action of the arms 328 and fingers 329 and'is moved on to the I- provide the lever 116 with flexible end piece which is capable of yielding to the arm 115 as the receiver A is moved away from the core.

Although my invention is as aforesaid particularly adapted for use in conjunction with such apparatus for casting curved stereotype plates as has an upright rotatable core yet it is evident that it (or certain parts there. of) may be applied to other suitable forms of curved stereotype casting apparatus.

What I claim is 1. -"In an apparatus for finishing s'tereot pe plates,the combination of meansfor hol ing a plate, a finishing cylinder having means for shavin the inside of said plate, means for revolvi g said 0 lin'der, devices for finishing the ends of sai plate, and means whereby said cylinder after shaving the inside of said plate carries along with it the plate to be trimmed by the finishing devices, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of a cylinder carry= a shaving knife, means for revolving said cylinder, devices for holding a plate so that said shaving knife will operate upon its interior, means for releasing said plate when the shaving operation is completed, means for trimming the ends of said plate, and means carried by said cylinder for. removing said stmweplate along said cylinder to subject said plate to the action of the trimming devices after the shaving operation has been completed, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of a cylinder pro vided with a shaving knife, means for revolving said cylinder, means for holding a plate against said shaving ming the ends of said late, gripping means carried by said cylin er for engaging said plate after the shaving operation has been completed, and means carried by said cylinder for releasing the plate from the holding means and causing it to be engaged by the as soon as the shaving op gripping means eration is completed, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of a cylinder pro-' vided with a shaving knife, means for revolving said cylinder, means for holding a stereotype plate in' contact with said knife, gripknife, means for trim- I ing means carried by said cylinder for engaging said plate when the shaving operation is finished, means for trimming the ends of said plate, devices operated by the'revolution of said cylinder for disengaging said holding means from said plate and for bringing said gripping means into engagement with said plate hen the shaving operation is finished, and means for disengaging the finished late fromv said cylinder, substantially as escribed.

5. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of a cylinder provided with a shaving knife, means for holding said plate against said cylinder, means for trimming the ends of said plate, including devices for cutting off the riser at the upper end of said plate, and means for ejecting the cut off portion from the machine, including a plate, a spring actuated rod carrying said plate, and a cam attached to the cylinder and engaging said 'rod and controlling its action, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for finishmg stereotype plates, the combination of a finishi cylinder provided with a shavingknife, sai cylinder and knife being provided with grooves, disengaging fingers adapted to engage said grooves, means for revolving said cylinder, means'for holding a plate in contact with said shaving knife, means for disengaging said holding means, means for gripping.the upper end of said plate when disengaged from said holding means, said gripping means being carried by said cylinder, and means for trimming the ends of said. plate, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of a cylinder provided with a recess, a shaving knife set in said recess, means for revolving said cylinder, means for holding a plate against said In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my ihalwing knife, inleens for 1disenlgeging said i hand in presence of two Witnesses. i I 0 din means W ien the .siavec or'bion is 1 Y j finishsfi, means 0 erated by said cylinder CHARLES W 5 for gripping said piate when so released, end "Witnesses: 4 devices for trimming ofi the ends of said H. D. JAMESON,

cylinder, substantially as described. 7 L. RAND"

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