US1332531A - Casting and finishing apparatus for curved stereotype printing-plates - Google Patents

Description

H. A. W. WOOD. CASTING AN-D FINISHING APPARATUS FOR GURVED STEREOTYPE PRINTINGIPLATESA APPLICATION FILED HARD ll. 1915- RENEWED MAY 16.19l9.

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Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

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H. A, W. WOOD.

CASHNG AND FINISHING APPARATUS FOR cums STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPHCATION FILED MAR. H, I915 RENEWED MAY 16.1919. '11,,$2,Q,531 w Patented Mar. L920.

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cAsIIIIe AND FINISHING APPARATUS m CURVED STEREOTYPE PRINTING PIAIIzs.

APPLICATION FILED iii/IR. HI EH5. RENEWED IIIAY I6. 9l9.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920'.

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HENRYA. wrsn WOOD, for New Venn, n. Y., Assrenon rowoon NEWSPAPER MACHINERY CORPORATION, or new YORK, N. Y., A conrcnarron or we- GIN IA.

CASTING AND FINISHING APPARATUS FOR CURVED STEREOTYPE ERINTING-PLATES.

Application filed March 11, 1915, Serial No. 13,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. W'Isn WOOD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Casting and Finishing Apparatus for Curved Stereotype Printing-Plates, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of curved stereotype printing plates and particularly those plates known as tubular plates in which each one constitutes a complete cylinder, with the exception of a narrow gap the width of the margin.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide means whereby such plates can be ejected from the casting box, preferably by power, without separating the parts of the casting box; to provide means whereby although the plates are moved out of the casting box longitudinally, yet ribs can be formed on the plates during the casting operation; to provide means whereby these ribs will be shaved on the inside during the ejection of the cast plate; to provide means whereby during the shaving operation the plate will be backed up by the surface against which it is'cast, at least at a point opposite the shaving blade. and will have the matrix on which it is cast located between it and this backing surface, so that the printingsurface cannot be marred; to provide means for ejecting the matrix with the cast plate; to provide means for cutting the tail from the plate after it is ejected and without first giving it any motion except that required for ejecting it; to provide improvements in the mechanism for accomplishing these results; and to provide an improved form of tubular plate in which the ribs on the inside are so placed. as greatly to strengthen the plate and yet be capable of being shaved off in a simple manner so as to provide a cylindrical bearing surface inside.

The invention also involves other features of invention which will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a casting and finishing apparatus constructed in. accord-1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Renewed. may 16, 191.9. Serial No. 297,585.

ance with this invention with parts in section on a central vertical plane,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan;

Fig. 4 is a. sectional view of the tail cutter on line 4l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2 showing the casting box itself in plan;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the position of the plate when ejected and resting on the top of the core;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the pouring sheet, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cast plate.

Although capable of use for other forms of castings, the invention is particularly designed for making tubular stereotype plates, as has been stated above. As ordinarily constructed. these plates are made in a mold having a cylindrical core and it is necessary to remove them from the casting boX by hand, turning the core over into horizontal position for that purpose. Theyv are then placed in a boring machine in whi h the inner surface of the plate is turned smooth in order to fit the plate cylinder of the printing press. This boring operation is slow because the entire inner surface of the plate must be dressed ofi by it. It has not been possible to castthese tubular plates with circumferential ribs. or finishing strips, on their inner surfaces because, obviously. they could not be removed from the core in that case without serious and expensive complications. The use of longitudinal ribs is also prevented by the fact that this would make the plates weak between the ribs and furthermore the turning of the interior surfaces of longitudinal ribs would be a more delicate operation than is the case with the circumferential ribs on the ordinary semicylindrical plate.

In order to solve these difliculties I make the plate with one or more helical ribs on its interior surface extending from end to end. This is accomplished by using a core having one or more helical grooves on its exterior throughout its entire length. This not only has the result of permitting the finishing of the interior of the plate by a simple operation, because only a small amount of metal has to be removed, but it also has several other advantages. In the first place the plate can be removed from the core by a relative turning motion between the core and casting box. Furthermore, while the plate is being ejected in this way the shaving operation can be performed simply by the use of a blade on the core itself. In this way manual handling of the casting is avoided and in fact the time usually taken for removing the casting and putting it into the finishing or boring machine is saved. Furthermore, the matrix can be left in contact with the plate while it is being ejected and finished, thus protecting the plate from contact with any hard metal on its printing surface.

By the use of this invention, furthermore, the tail cutting operation can be performed in a comparatively simple manner without handling the plate between the casting and the tail cutting operations. Although I P prefer to use mechanism for ejecting the plate by power, it is to be understood that it can be turned out by hand in a'similar manner according to this invention.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, a cylindrical casting box 10 is shown'mounted in vertical position and having a water chamber 11. Concentrically mounted with respect to the casting box at the bottom thereof is a vertical standard 12 which also is fixed in position and serves as a bearing for the vertical cylindrical core 13. The space between the core and standard forms an annular cooling chamber for the core, water being admitted thereto through a pipe 14. An outlet pipe 15 is shown. The upper end of the core 13 is provided with a bushed bearing 16 and the lower end with a packed bearing 17 to pre vent leakage of water.

The top of the core is made of concave conical shape for receiving the chips made by a shaving blade 18 mounted on the core. The core is provided with a continuous helical groove 19 on its'cylindrical surface extending all the way from the bottom to the top. This groove is for the purpose of casting a helical rib a on the plate A which is cast in this mold. It will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to a single groove and rib. At the bottom the space between the core and casting box is closed by a circular casting ring 20.

The casting box is provided with a vertical longitudinal groove 21 which is filled by the matrix bar 22. This matrix bar is provided with opposite grooves 23 for receiving the edges of the matrix M and pouring sheet P. It will be noticed that this matrix bar projects a short distance above the top of the casting box. The pouring sheet is provided with strips 79 which fit on the top of the matrix for the purpose of forming a clearing space a for receiving the tail cutter as will appear hereinafter.

Mounted on and supported by the wall of the casting box 10 are bearings 24 for a driving shaft 25 on which is loosely mounted a driving pulley 26. A clutch 27 is provided for connecting this pulley in an obvious manner with the shaft and driving the shaft. A treadle is provided for operating the clutch and starting the shaft to operate. On this shaft is a worm 28 meshing with a worm wheel 29 which is fixed to the lower end of the core that projects below the casting. chamber so that upon the connection of the pulley with the shaft this worm wheel and core will be rotated. The teeth of the clutch are arranged slanting on one side and the core can be driven in one direction only, so as to eject the plate.

The shaft 25 by means of miter gears drives a vertical shaft 31 which in turn drives a horizontal shaft 32 mounted on a bracket 34 which is cast with the casting box 10 and extends upwardly therefrom. On this shaft 32 is a worm 33 for driving a worm wheel 35. T his worm wheel is pro vided with a hub 36 and is capable of rotating independently of the hub. On the hub is a spring-pressed pin 37 for entering a socket 38 in the wheel so that the hub will be rotated with the wheel. The pin has a bevel flange 39 on the upper end thereof. Above the hub of the worm wheel is a sliding cam 40 having a beveled edge adapted to engage under the head of the pin and raise the pin. This cam is supported on spring rods 41 mounted in bearings on the bracket and these spring rods normally force the cam into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in which it raises the pin 37 out of engagement with the socket 38 in the worm wheel. For the purpose of withdrawing this cam a shaft 42 is provided on the bracket having arms 43 which engage pins 44 on the rods 41. One of the arms on the shaft42 is shown as being connected by a chain or the like 45 with a hand hold 46. By pulling down on the chain the rods 41 are withdrawn and the pin 37 is allowed to descend so that upon the next rotation of the worm wheel the hub thereof will be carried around with it.

Journaled in bearings 47 on the bracket 34 is a vertical shaft 48. This shaft supports and rotates with the hub member 36 so that when this is in rotation the shaft also will rotate. On this shaft is a loose intermediate gear 49 which is driven by a gear 50 on the shaft 31 and meshes with a planetary pinion 51 on a vertical shaft 52. This shaft is carried by a carrier 53 rotatable around the shaft 48. This shaft 52 is provided with a tail cutter 54 in the form of a circular saw.

This is located at such a point that it will engage in the space a on the plate when the same is elevated into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 and will then rotate around the same and cut off the tail. A circular ring 55 is provided on the lower surface of the carrier 53 to receive the tail end of a plate as it is elevated, guiding it into proper position, and holding it. Hooks 57 are providcd for supporting the slug after it is severed.

The operation of the device is as follows :A matrix M is inserted into the casting box with its free ends held in the grooves 23 of the matrix bar 22. A pouring sheet P with its strips 29 is fitted on the top of the matrix, the open space of the pouring sheet registering of course with the matrix bar. Metal is poured into the casting chamher in the usual way. *When the plate is properly cooled the treadle 30 is depressed, causing the clutch to engage and the shaft 25 to revolve. This of course revolves the core. The first eiiect of this revolution of the core is to cause the plate to rise in the casting box longitudinally. This is due to the fact that the helical rib a on the plate enters the helical groove in the surface of the core and the plate is held by the casting bar from rotating with the core. Consequently, the rotation of the core forces the plate out longitudinally. During this operation the shaving blade 18 on the top of the core shaves off the rib or ribs on the inside of the plate, leaving the interior surfaces of these ribs in the form of a perfect cylindrical surface. By this means it will be seen that only a small body of metal is being removed at any one time. Consequently, little power is required. Furthermore, the operation of removing the plate from the mold also causes the plate to be shared on the interior and brought to a proper diameter for fitting the printing plate cylinder of the press. The shavings from this operation pass down the conical upper end of the core and out through the central passage therethrough so that they are taken care of by gravity.

The reason for extending the casting bar up above the top of the mold will be seen from what has been stated as it causes the plate to be held against rotation even when it rests on the top of the core as indicated in Fig. 6.

It will be seen that the matrix and pouring sheet are raised from the mold with the plate, and consequently, during the shaving operation, the plate is still backed up by the pouring sheet and matrix and the type surface of the plate never comes into contact with a metallic holding surface during the entire shaving operation but remains in con tact with the matrix against which it was ast. Th all ha ce of i juring the plate on its printing surface is eliminated. The pouring sheet and matrix are removed by the operator at the proper time.

As soon as the plate is entirely raised from the casting box so that it rests on top of the core as shown in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig. l, the operator pulls the chain it? and then the constantly rotating worm gear imparts its rotation to the hub 36 and shaft 48. This causes the tail cutter to rotate around the plate one revolution and sever the slug. The slug is then held by the hooks 57 until the plate is removed from beneath it. It will be understood that while the plate is rising the tail enters the guidering and the tail cutter registers with the space a on the plate and is left in position to encircle the plate from that point and re move the slug. At the end of a complete revolution the flange 39 on the top of the pin 37 again encounters the cam 40 which after being released by the hand of the operator automatically springs back to operative position.

It will be seen, therefore, that by this means the plate is removed from the mold without separating the parts of the mold and consequently without any hand operation. I am aware of the fact however, that the core can be rotated by hand to eject the plate, and even to shave it without departing from the scope of this invention. During the ejection of the plate the interior is shaved to the proper cylindrical shape and size without the loss of time, and without transferring the plate from the mold to a shaving machine. When the plate is completely ejected it is left in position for the tail cutting operation without any manual manipulation of the plate and the cutting of the tail is performed automatically after the mechanism is started. It is stopped at the end of a revolution automatically leaving the tail cutter in position for commencing the next operation.

Another advantage of the invention con sists in the fact that the plate A is provided with internal ribs which strengthen the plate and reduce the amount of metal necessary to be removed in order to bring it to a proper cylindrical shape and size. These ribs, being substantially circumferential. strengthen the plate materially.

I do not claim in this application the tail cutting device and the printing plate disclosed herein, these being claimed in divisional applications Ser. Nos. 344L23 and 344.235, filed Dec. 11, 1919.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention and shown the machine as being driven by power I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein and that it can be operated by hand and applied to other kinds. of castings ithout departing from the l. I"; G

scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not Wish to be limited in these respects, but What I do claim is l. A core for a stereotype plate casting box having a helical groove on its outer surface for guiding the cast plate therefrom.

2. A cylindrical stereotype plate casting box having a cylindrical core provided with a guidinggroove on its outer surface, for guiding the cast plate out of the box.

3. A casting box for a stereotype plate having a cylindrical core provided with an external helical groove, said core and box being relatively rotatable.

4. A casting box for a stereotype plate havin a cylindrical core provided with an external helical groove, said core and box being relatively rotatable on a central longi tndinal axis, the box having means for preventing a cast plate therein from rotating with relation to the box, and means for guiding the cast plate out of the box longitudinally, whereby upon relative rotation of the core and box, the plate will be discharged therefrom.

5. A stereotype plate casting box provided with means for holding a matrix and means for ejecting a cast plate and the matrix together from the box, and keeping the matrix in contact with the plate during the ejection.

6. A stereotype plate casting box having acore and provided with means for holding a matrix and means for ejecting a cast plate and the matrix together from the box in longitudinal direction.

7 The combination with a casting box, of a core movable therein, and means whereby a casting produced between the box and. core can be ejected by motion of the core in the box and the matrix will be ejected with the casting but will remain in contact with both the plate and box during the ejection to back up the plate.

8. The combination with a stereotype plate casting box, of a core rotatably mounted therein, ,and means for moving a cast plate on the core in a direction parallel to the axis of the core when the core is rotated.

9. The combination with a stereotype plate casting box of cylindrical form, of a core therein having a helical groove throughout its exterior surface, means for preventing the rotation of a cast plate in the box and for guiding it to move longitudinally, and means for rotating said core for the purpose of ejecting the cast plate from the box.

10. In a stereotype plate casting device, the combination with acasting box having a cylindrical casting space therein, and a cylindrical core rotatable on its own axis in the box, said core having a helical groove on its outer'surface, of means for holding a plate cast in said space and a matrix against rotation in the box but permitting them to slide longitudinally, and means for rotating said core to eject the plate and matrix.

11. In a stereotype plate casting device, the combination With a casting box having a cylindrical casting space therein, and a cylindrical core rotatable on its own axis in the box, said core having a helical groove on its outer surface, of means for holding a cast plate and a matrix against rotation in the box but permitting them to slide longitudinally, means for rotating said core to eject the plate and matrix, and means for shaving the interior of the plate as it is ejected from the casting box.

12. The combination with a casting box for a stereotype plate and a cylindrical core provided with an external helical groove, said core and box being relatively rotatable, of means for preventing the cast plate from rotating with relation to the boxand means for guiding the cast plate out of the box longitudinally, whereby upon relative rotation of the core and box, the plate will be discharged therefrom, and means for shaving the interiorof the cast plate as it is ejected from the casting box.

13., The combination with a casting box for producing a substantially cylindrical stereotypeprinting plate, of means for ejecting a cast plate longitudinally from the box, and means for shaving the interior of the plate as it is ejected from the box.

14. The combination with a casting box, of means for ejecting a cast plate from the box, and means located within the box for shaving the plate as it is ejected from the box.

15. The combination with a casting box having a cylindrical inner surface for backing up a plate cast therein, of means for ejecting a plate cast in said casting box, and means for shaving the interior surface of the plate while the outersurface of said plate opposite said shaving means is in contact with said surface.

16. The combination with a casting box having a cylindrical inner surface for back ing up a plate cast therein, of means for shaving the interior surface of the plate while the outer surface of said plate opposite said shaving means is in contact with said surface. i

17. The combination with a cylindrical casting box, of means therein for casting a helical rib on the inner surfaceof a plate, and means for shaving said rib by a relative motion in a helical direction between the shaving means and the plate.

18. The combination with a cylindrical A casting box, of means therein for casting a helical rib on the inner surface of a; plate, means for e ecting the plate, and means for shaving said rib by a relative motion in a horizontal and circumferential direction be tween the shaving means ant the plate while the plate is being ejected.

19. The combination with casting box for casting a cylindrical stereotype printing plate, and a core therein having a helical groove on its exterior surface for producing a helical rib on the interior of the plate, means for rotating said core on its axis for ejecting the plate from the casting box, means for preventing the plate from rotating, and means carried by the core for shav ing said rib in a helical direction as the plate is ejected.

20. The combination with a casting box, and a core therein rotatably mounted, of a shaving blade fixed on the core for shaving the interior of a plate produced between the core and box.

21. The combination with a mold having a plurality of parts, and means mounted on one of said parts for shaving the interior of a casting formed in the mold as the cast ing is being moved out of the mold.

522. The combination with a casting box having an inner surface against which a stereotype printing plate is adapted to be cast, of means for holding a cast plate and a matrix therein and preventing their rotation in the box but permitting them to move out of the box, of means for shaving the interior of the cast plate while the matrix is moving along the surface or the box.

23. The combination of a cylincrlcal wall having means for holding a matrix in position therein and permitting it to move longitudinally but preventing it from rotating, of means for moving a cast plate and the matrix along said wall, and means for shaving the interior of the plate while the matrix is in contact with said wall and the plate in contact with the matrix.

2a. The combination with a cylindrical casting box, and a cylindrical core therein, of means whereby a plate cast between said box and core can be ejected therefrom axially, and means carried by the core for shaving the interior of the cast plate as it is being ejected.

The combination with a cylindrical casting box, and a cyl d lcal core therein, of means for ejecting a plate cast between said box and core, means carried by the core for sharing the interior of the cast plate as it is being ejected, a mr rix bar carried by the box and constituti. a guide for the cast plate, said matrix bar e tending beyond the end of the casting box and core to hold the plate after it is ejected.

26. The combination with a cylindrical casting box, and a cylindrical core therein, of means whereby a plate cast between said box and core can be ejected therefrom axially, a matrix bar carried by the box and constituting a guide for the cast plate, said matrix bar extending beyond the end of the casting box, and means for cutting the tail from the plate while held by the projecting end of said matrix bar and located at the end of said box.

27. The combination with a vertical cast ing box and a vertical core therein, of means whereby a plate cast between said box and core can be ejected therefrom axially, means carried by the core for shaving the interior of the cast plate as it is being ejected, a matrix bar carried by the box and constituting a guide for the cast plate, said matrix bar extending beyond the end of the casting box and core to hold the plate after it is ejected, and means beyond the end of the casting box for cutting the tail from the plate while held by the projecting end of said casting box and located at the end of said box.

28. The combination with a vertical castbox and a rotatable core therein, of means for rotating said core and ejecting a cast plate from the box, means for simultaneously shaving out the interior of the plate, and means connected with said rotating means for cutting the tail from the plate after it has been ejected.

29. The combination with a vertical casting box, of a shaft, means connected with said shaft for ejecting a cast plate axially from the casting box and leaving it supported on the top thereof, means on the top of the casting box for preventing the plate from turning, a tail cutter mounted above the casting box, and means connected with said shaft for rotating said cutter on its own axis and also rotating it about the axis of the plate while said plate is supported at the top of the casting box.

30. The combination with a core for easting, of a blade mounted on the core for finishing the casting formed against the core.

31. In a casting device, the combination with a core having a helical groove on its outer surface, of means supported in alineme-nt therewith for rotating said core.

32. In a casting device, the combination with a core having a helical groove on its outer surface, of means for rotating said core, and retaining it in its position longitudinally to eject the casting produced.

33. As an article of manufacture, a core for a casting mold having a depression on its outer surface for receiving chips from a finishing device.

34. As an article of manufacture, a convex core for a casting mold having a plurality of depressions on its convex surface all parallel with each other and a depression for receiving chips from a finishing device.

85. The combination with a circular stereotype mold, of a matrix rotatably mounted therein.

36. The combination with a stereotype plate mold, of a matrix therefor, and means for removing the matrix from the mold by a helical motion.

37. The combination with a cylindrical stereotype plate mold, of means for removingla matrix from one end thereof longitudinal The combination with a stereotype plate mold, of means for removing the cast plate therefrom in a lengthwise direction.

39. The combination with a stereotype plate mold, of means for removing the cast plate therefrom in a lengthwise direction, and simultaneously turning the plate on its axis.

40. The combination with a stereotype plate casting mold, of means located outside the mold for removing a cast plate therefrom in a longitudinal direction.

41. The combination with a tubular castfor causingthe rotary motion to move the casting longitudinally.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD.

Witnesses:

BLoDWEN W. JONES, L. LLOYD.

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