US972906A

US972906A - Form-support for printing-presses.

Info

Publication number: US972906A
Application number: US23533204A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Pancoast
Original assignee: AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHIC CO
Current assignee: AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHIC CO
Priority date: 1904-12-03
Filing date: 1904-12-03
Publication date: 1910-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1927-10-18

Description

G. E.. PANGOAST. roam sUPPonT PoR PRINTING PRESSES. APPLICATION FILED MAB. 6, 1900. BENEWED DEO.'3, 1904. l

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

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w HE n w1 no sin as rara s i .GEORGE E. PANCOAST, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN LITHO- GRAPHIC COMPANY, .A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

FORliI-SUPPORT FOB PRINTING-PRESSES.

manos.

Application led `iarch 6, 1900, Serial No. 7,446.

Specication of Letters Patent.

To all 'whom ti may con/cem: l

Be it known that l, GEORGE E. PANcoAs'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Form-Supports for Printing-Presses, of which the 'following is a specification. v My invention relates to form supports for printing presses and more particularly to supports for curved or cylindrical printing forms. Y v

It is desirable to make print-ing forms and particularly planographic forms used in multicolor presses as thin and light as possible. To permit this the forms must be firmly and accurately supported` at every part in order that they may not spring or give under the heavy pressures required in printing. Heretofore thin or shelllike curved printing forms and particularly those that arev cylindrical or tubular have been constructed with an inner tapered surface, and the form support has been provided with a correspondingly tapered outer surface. The object of this construction is to rmly support the printing form at every part and yet permit its removal readily and without injury', it only being necessa to use mechanical means to start the form rom its support. This construction, however, is very ditlicult and expensive to produce with the accuracy required ,inl practice. Moreover the printing .forms are liable to stick or become set onthe su ports and if in handling they become dentlhdv or distorted in shape it is difficult or impossible to get them on or oif their supports, and the supports will not reliably restore them to a true curved or cylindrical shape.i

v The object of my invention' is to rovide a form su port which has none of t e enumerated isadvantages of the'tapered construction o'f the form and its su port and yet possesses all the advantages of) that construction to ether with other advantages, among whic are these, that the printing forms maybe more readily removed and replaced; that any defect vin vthe printing forms as to shape will beferadicated; that theprinting forms may be made thinner andlighter; that the support may be made with a lesser degree of accuracy as to its exterior shape and dimensions; and that the printing form` may be made with a lesser degree of accuracy as to its interior shape and dimensions.

With. these objects in view my invention consists in the novel parts, improvements and combinations herein shown and described.

' The accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, show a construction embodying my improvements, and serving to illustrate the principles of my invention.

Figure l isan elevation partly in section of the form support with a form thereon, together with means for mounting the same in a press. Fig. 2' is a transverse section of the form support taken on line rt-B, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation 4of the parts shown in Fig. 1, looking from the left. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal .section of the form support showing the parts in a different adjustment. Fig.' 5 is' an enlar ed sectional view of the parts shown to the eft in F ig: 1. v

ine

-view illustrating the operation of the devices for actuating the expanding mechanism.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur in the several views. My form support is particularly adapted to be -nsed in multicolor presses and especially that type of multicolor press in which a plurality o"y curved planographic printing forms are arranged concentrically with a large impression drumLand cooperate therewith to print multicoioiiedjdesigns upon paper or similar material in l'web Vform and in ap roximately instantaneous succession.

n carrying my invention into effect the curved printing forms are preferably made without any taper and the supporting surface, which in the best embodiment of the invention is cylindrical when in operative position, is constructed to be contracted or reduced in diameter in all directions so that the printing forms may be readily placed thereon and Vremoved therefrom, and mechanism is provided for restoring the su porting surface to its cylindrical form suc .that the printing form supported thereby, 'even though distorted, will be forced to assume its true curvature.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1

` 15 mounte represents a supporting shaft which is journaled in boxes 2 and 3 mounted in any suitable way in the frames 4 and 5 of the press. A sleeve 6 is mounted on the shaft 1, preferably in such manner that it'must rotate therewith but may be moved longitudinally thereof, there being rovided for this purpose, as shown, a spline and key connection 7 between these parts. The supporting surface of my device is formed by a plurality of sectionsS which rest upon and are carried by the sleeve 6. In order that the diameter of the surface formed vby the sections 8 may be reduced to receive a printing form and then forcibly expanded again, the exterior of the sleeve 6 is longitudinally tapered preferably from end to end, as shown, and the interior surface of the sections 8 are correspondingly tapered so that they will exactl. lit the tapered surface of the sleeve 6 w en the support is expanded to operative position. The sections 8 are withheld from longitudinal movement with the sleeve 6 by the segmental extensions 9, lwhich Aenga e a corresponding groove 10 formed in a co ar 11 rigidly secured near oneend of the shaft 1. The shaft 1 is driven and with it the form support by a gear 12 carried by the collar 11. The sections 8 are held in place on the sleeve 6 and are coninedto rotate therewith by the dovetailed keys 13 which engage corresponding undercut key ways 14 formed fin the sleeve 6. By reason of the engagement of the dovetailed keys 13 with the undercut key ways 14 in the sleeve 6 the sections 8 are caused to move inwardly as well as outwardly by the longitudinal 'movement of the sleeve 6.

The sleeve 6 may be moved longitudinally to e and or contract the supporting surface y any suitable means. The means shown and referably used consist of a sleeve d on the shaft 1 and engaged therewith by a thread 16. The sleeve 15 is connected to the sleeve 6 by a ring or thimble 17 bolted or otherwise secured at one end to the sleeve 6 and engaged with the sleeve 15 by a thread 1 8 having a pitch opposite to that of thread 16. The sleeve 15 1s provided with a head 19, by which it may be turned on the shaft 1 or held from turning with the shaft. It will be seen that any movement between the sleeve 15 and the shaft 1 will operate to move the tapered sleeve 6 in one direction or the other, de pending on the direction of the movement etween the sleeve 15 and shaft. The expandin and contracting operations are prefera ly accomplished by holding the sleeve 15 and rotatmg the shaft by the mechanism provided in the press for rotating the printing cylinder, as more speed and reater force in the operation can be secured 1n this way. For the purpose of holding the sleeve 15 against rotation with the shaft 1, a dog -with,`as indicate is provided with a recess or series of `recesses 21 and the dog 2O is preferably pivoted and held in its normal position by'a spring 22, as shown, Yso that the' dog, can yield when the head is brou ht 'into engagement therein Fig. 9. When the shaft is turned and one ofthe recesses 21 arrives in alinement with the dofr 20, the dog will snap into the recess and prevent further turning of the sleeve 13. The dog is carried by a bracket 23 secured to the housing for the box 2. The bracket is held in place by bolts 24 and may be adjusted up or down to suit the various positions occupied by the shaft 1 when printing `forms of different sizes are used.

It is desirable that the -form su port should be adjustable for forms of difllerent curvatures or diameters. To this end the sections 8l are made removable and may be replaced by sections 8a of .dilferent radial dimensions, as indicated in Fig-9. To permit ready removal of the sections-8 or 81L the keys 13 and their key-ways 14 are so constructed and arranged that when the sleeve 6 is withdrawn to the limit of its movement to the left, the-keys 13 will be withdrawn from the under cut-part of the key ways 14, thus leavino' the

sections

8 or 8*? free to be removed. printing surface 25 is. shown `in place upon the support in several of-the figures. Y

While the operative fadjustment of the supporting surface formed by the sections 8 or Sain the embodiment of my invention which is illustrated, is the fully expanded adjustment of that surface, it is obvious that some other adjustment might be made the operative one the essentia in this respect being that when the` supporting surface is in its operative adjustment, the combined outer surfaces of the

sections

8 or 8% form a true cylindrical supporting surface which may be reduced in diameter in all directions. The sections 8 are, preferably and as shown, so constructed as to form a substantially complete supporting surface when in the operative position or adjustment. This construction 1s permissible by reason of the fact that the contraction of the supporting -surface from operative position only needs to-be very slight, and the space between adjacent sections may, therefore, be so small as practically not to interrupt the sup orting surface.

My invention is not limitedi to the articular construction illustrated vor to t e particularA construction by which it is carried avance ciple of myv invention and many such changesl will readily suggest themselves to skilled mechanics.

` What lclaim as nevv and desire to'secure. -by Letters Patent, is :f

l. A `contractible=and expansible support for a printing form comprising a plurality of radially adjustable supporting sections and means for adjusting them,- said sections being removable andv replaceable by sections diameter of the support maybe varied for fgrms of did'erent curvatures,substantial-ly as described. 1 l

2. A support for a printing form adjustable in diameter Aand, constructed to present, 4in, one adjustment, a substantially complete and a true and uniform curved supporting surface Which may be reduced in diameter in all directions, substantially as described.

A3. A support for a printing form adjustable in diameter and constructed to present, in one adjustment, a substantiallycomplete and a true and uniform cylindrical supporting surface which may be reduced in diameter in all directions, substantially as described,

4. A support for a printingform comprising radially adjustable sections so constructed that they together present,l in one adjustment, a substantially complete and a true and uniform curvedsupporting surface which may be reduced in diameter inl all directions, substantially as described.

5. A. support for a. rinting form 'compris-y ing radially adjustab e sections so constructed that they together present, in one adjustment, ay substantially complete and a true 'and uniform curved supporting surface which may be reduced in diameter in all directions, said sections being removableand replaceable by sections of different dimensions, whereby the diameterof the support may be variedv for` forms'of diderent curvatures. s

6. A contractible and expe-risible support for a (printing, form constructed to be con I tracte in all directions and to present, when fully expanded, a substantially complete supporting surface'having a true circular outline.

7. A. contractible and eiipansible su port for a printing form comprising ra ially adjustable support-ing sections so constructed that they together present, when in the outermost position, a substantially complete and a true and uniform curved supporting surface. j Y

8. A contractible and expansible support for a rinting form comprising radially adjustable `supporting' sections' sov constructed that they together present, when in the outermost position, a substantially complete and a true and uniform curved supporting surface, said sections being removable and replaceable by sections of. different dimensions, Whereby the diameter of the support may be varied for forms vof diderent curvatures.`

9. A contractible and eXpansible support for a printing form comprising radially adjustable supporting sections held against longitudinal movement and having longitudinally tapered inner surfaces, a shaft, an inner expanding section mounted thereon 'and having a longitudinally tapered outer surface, and means for moving said inner section longitudinally. f

l0. A contractible and expansible support for a printing form comprising radially adjustable supportingl sections heldv against longitudinal movement, a shaft, an inner adjusting section mounted thereon, and

vmeans for moving said' inner section longitudinally consisting of a sleeve threaded` on the shaft and engaging said adjustingsection by a thread of the opposite itch.'

ll. A contractible and expansibe support for a printing form comprising radially adjustable supporting sections held against longitudinal movement and having longitudinally tapered inner surfaces, a shaft, an

inner adjusting section mounted thereon and having a longitudinally tapered outer surface, andmeans for moving said inner section longitudinally consisting of a sleeve threaded on the shaft and engaging said adjusting section by a thread of the opposite pitch.

12. The combination in a press with a contractible and expe-risible sup ort for a printing form, of a supporting s aft therefdr, means for turning said shaft, devices for contracting or expanding said support, and means for operating said devices including a part rotatably mounted on said shaft and means for holding said part against rotation uwith the shaft.

i3. The combination in a press With a contract-ibis and expansible support for a printing form, of a supporting shaft therefor, means for turning said shaft, devices for contracting or expanding said support, and means foroperating said devices including a part threaded on the shaft and engaging said devices by a thread of the opposite pitch andy means for holding said part aainst rotation with theshaft.

lli. n a printing press, a support for planographic surfaces adjustable 1n diameter and constructed to present in one acl-- tions, sai

together present, inone adjustment, a substantially completev supporting surface having a substantially true andnniforrn circular outline, which surface may be reduced in diameter in all directions substantially as.

gitudinally with relation to the other, thev connections between said parts being constructed torelease the sections when the parts are at one limit'of their relative movement. v

17. A contractible and expansible support for rinting forms, comprising radially adjustabie supportin sections, means for supportin and radia 1y adjusting said secmeans being constructed to release said sections when they are in their mostl contracted condition.

, 18. A contractible and expansible sup.; porting cylinder for printing forms comprising radially movable supporting sections, and positlvely acting means independent of the forms for moving said sections radially inward from their su porting positions to release the forms, su stantially as described.

19. A contractible and expansible sup porting cylinder. for printing forms comprising radially movable supporting sections, and means independent of the forms whereby said sections may be positively moved inwardly from their su porting positions to release the forms, su stantially as described.

20. A contractible and expansible ysupporting "cylinderfffor printing forms; comprising radially moving supporting sections, and positively acting means independent of the forms for moving'said' sections in- Wardly from their supporting positions to release the forms, substantially as described.

21. A cont'ractible and expansible supporting cylinder for printing forms comprising radially moving supporting sections, andpositively acting means independent of the forms for moving said sections inwardly from their supporting positions to release the forms, said means being constructed to prevent relative movement in a longitudinal direction between said sections.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses@ G ORGE E. PANGOAST.

Witnesses:

GEo. H. BARNES, JACOB MILLER.