US1652717A - Machine for finishing curved stereotype plates - Google Patents

Description

C. E. HOPKINS MACHINE FOR FINISHING GURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES Original Filed Feb 14, 1917 B Sheets-Sheet 1 Chqrhs E. Hopkins IDZM 5% Dec. 13, 1927. i,652,717

C. E. HOPKINS MACHINE POI? FINISHING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES Original Filed Feb. 14. 1917 asheetsl-sheet 3 'IIIIIIIIIIIIl/l '71, I4 'IIIIIIIIII A I gvwawtoz Chad E .Ho k'm Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY; TI-IE PLAINFIELD TRUST COM- PANY ADMINISTRATOR 0F SAID CHARLES E. HOPKINS, DECEASED.

M ACHINE FOR FINISHING CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES.

Original application filed February 14, 1917, Serial No. 148,523. Divided and this application filed September 25, 1922.

This is a division of my Patent No. 1,433,- 550, granted October 31, 1922, on an application originally filed Feb. 1 1, 1917, Ser. No. 148,523.

This invention relates to a machine for finishing curved stereotype plates, for use on the cylinders of rotary web printing presses. It is designed on simplified lines, and the principal features of the invention are: the combination of a bracket with the knife shaft driving gear; means for axial adjustment of the saw bracket in relation with the shaving knife shaft; means operative with the shaving. knife shaft for starting and stopping the mechanism, and simplified means for elevating and locking a stereotype plate in the finishing arch.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing a stereotype plate supported in alignment with plate guideways on the finishing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the machine, a portion of the gearing is broken away to better illustrate; V

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking toward the finishing mechanism;

Fig. t is a cross section on the line H of Fig. 2 with the parts in the position in which the riser is starting to descend;

Fig. 5 is a front end view, part of the gearing being broken away to better illustrate;

Fig. 6 shows a fragment of the knife shaft driving gear and illustrates how the saw bracket can be moved toward or away from the axis of the knife shaft, and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine supported between side frames 11 and 12.

After delivering the stereotype plate in horizontal position, the operator pushes the stereotype plate P forwardand along on a pair of guideway brackets and 80, and into position beneath the shaving arch 81 of the finishing mechanism.

A positioning stop or ledge p is formed within the riser portion of each stereotype plate by a recess, made across the apex of the core. This ledge p engages against an adjustable stop 77, when the plate is shoved Serial No. 590,2 74.

into the finishing mechanism and positions the plate longitudinally therein.

The co-acting finishing mechanism, for truing out the interior surface of a series of ribs cast beneath the type portion and separating the riser from the said type portion of the stereotype plate, is located in front of the casting mechanism. The stereotype plate finishing and supporting arch 81 is mounted between the side frames 11 and 12, and in alignment with the stereotype plate gui 1eways 80 and 80, previously referred to. The finishing arch 81 is of a curvature equal to that of the stereotype plate and is raised on the front side a little above the axis of a plate when delivered from the casting mechanism.

The plate is raised on the front side until firmly positioned against the concavity of the arch by a plate elevator. The opposite side of the plate is supported by a bar 88, fast to the side edge of the arch, and in align ment with the guideway 80. The plate elevator comprises a plate supporting bar 89, which is aligned with the guideway 80*, when in the lowered position. This supporting bar 89 is fast to a pair of brackets 90- 90 which are fast on vertically disposed rods 9191. These rods operate in brackets 92 92, fast to the front side frame 11, and in bearings 93-93, formed in the extending foot of the finishing arch. The bottom end of each rod 91 is provided with an'antifriction roller 94, which operates on eccentric face cams 95 made fast on a rock shaft 96 located in brackets 97-97, fast on the front side frame 11. To the rear end of this rock shaft is fixed an operating lever 98, for raising the elevator to clamp a stereotype plate against the concave face of the arch, while the finishing tools, consisting of a shaving knife and a planetary operating saw, shave and trim the aforesaid stereotype plate.

The shaving operation is accomplished by a knife 82 fast on a hollow knife shaft 83, which is axially aligned with the finishing arch 81 and supported in bearings 84 and 86, formed on cross frames 85 and 87. This knife shaft is driven through one revolution during each cycle of operations by a chain of reducing gears comprising a large gear 100, fast on the knife shaft near the forward bearing 86. The gear 100 is driven by a pinion gear 101, fast on the rear end of a short shaft 102, located in a bearing in the front cross frame 87. In front of this bearing, and on the short shaft 102, is fast a large gear 104 which is driven by a pinion 105 fast on the driving shaft 106. The gears 10 1 and 105 are protected by a gear cover 107 in which are bearings for their shafts, and is made fast to the end frame 87.

The trimming mechanism for separating the riser and beveling that edge of the plate is mounted on the knife shaft gear ,100, and revolves with the knife shaft but around the periphery of a stereotype plate, whereas the knife revolves in itsconcavity. This mechanism comprises a planetary operating cutter orsaw 110 fast to the rear end of a saw spindle 111. This operates in bearings formed in a segmental saw bracket 112, which is bolted to the rear side of the shaving knife gear 100. The forwardend of the saw spindle 111 passes through an elongated opening inthe body of the gear 100.

l The trimming saw 110 is driven at a high rate of speed by a chain of gears consisting of a small pinion 113 fast on the forward end of thesaw spindle whichmeshes with a pinion 11 1 mounted on a stud fast in the face of the shaving knife gear 100. This pinion 111 is driven by a larger gear 115, mounted loosely on the knife shaft between its gear 100 and its. forward bearing 86. This gear 115 is driven by a large gear 116 fast on the rear end ofthe'driving shaft 106.

In operation the saw is drivenat a high rate of speed and simultaneously revolved aboutthe periphery of the riser portion of a stereotype plate, locked within the finishing. arch. During this operation the saw separates the riser from the type portion of the plate and the shaving knife trues off the ribs cast beneath the type face portion, As the saw is revolving over and cutting off the riser from the type portion of the stereotype plate a riser'siuoport 120, fast on the knife shaft beneath the riser, revolves up under the riser and holds it up. And at the same time the concave saw bracket 112 is passing over the outside of the riser. At the rear end of the concave saw bracket 112 is a pi.v oted door 122, the loose end of which engages on and is drawn over the face of the riser until the saw has completed its separating operation, whereupon the riser begins to travel along with its support 120. As the revolution continues the riser is carried down and hasa tendency to slide ahead on its support, but is instantly checked by we'dging between the pivoted door 122 and the riser support 120. But on the doors pivot passing the horizontal line it is over-balanced, and the riser and sawdust held in the concavity ofthe saw bracket fall away from the mechanism.

The finishing tools and co-acting movable parts are driven by a belt 130, alternating'between a tight and loose pulley 131 and 132, which are mounted on the forward end of the driving shaft 106. The shifting of the driving belt is accomplished by an automatic belt shifter 133, which is controlled by a hand operated trip. The belt shifter 133 is fast to the bottom end of a vertical pivot shaft located in a bracket 134. To the top end of this pivot shaft, an'd'above the bracket bearing, is fast a trip arm 135, which is engaged by a right angular extension 136, of a trip rod 137, aXially located in the hollow of the shaving knife shaft 83, and slidingly operative in bearings formed in each end of the hollow knife shaft. 2

The rear end of the trip rod 137 is provided witha grooved collar 138, in which are positioned projections on a pivoted yoke 139, made fast on a cross rock shaft 140, operative in hearings in the side frames 11 and 12. An operating lever 111 is fast on the rock shaft 110 near its bearing in side frame 11. By swinging the operating lever 14:1 to the rear the right angular extension 136 of the trip rod 137 is drawn back from in front of the trip arm 135 of the belt shifter which action allows the belt shifter to be drawn in by a spring 1 12, and move the belt from the loose pulley 132 to the right or'operative pulley 131. This action starts the mechanism through its cycle of operations, and as it nears the end of the cycle the trip rod angular extension 136, which has been pushed forward by a spring 143, mounted on the rod 137, located in the hollow of the knife shaft, is revolved into position in front of the trip arm 135. As the revolving movement continues the right angular extension 136 engagesand forces the belt shifter to move the belt back to the pulley, against the action of the belt shifter spring 1 12.

Simultaneously with the return of the belt to the loose pulley, a brake shoe 14% attached to a short arm 145 formed on the belt shifter 133, is, drawn into engagement with the face of the tight pulley and instantly stops the operations. 7 l

To prevent the accidental starting of the finishing mechanism before the plate is elevated into operative position there is provided a step 146 formed on the lower end of the starting lever 111, which engages-against a cam plate 147 formed on the hub of tl e plate elevator operating lever 98. On elevating the plate lifter this cam plate turns out of the way and allows the stop 146 on the starting lever to pass.

After the stereotype plate has been finished by being shaved and trimmed, the operator lowers the elevator and draws the finished stereotype plate back and out of the arch onto the guideways and 80 and removes it by hand.

Although. I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, yet I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim 1. I11 a curved stereotype plate finishing machine, a plate supporting arch fast on a framing, a knife shaft operative in bearings formed in said framing, a gear fast on the knife shaft within the framing, a circular beveling saw bodily movable with the aforesaid gear, and connections for simultaneously revolving the knife shaft and saw for the purpose set forth.

2. In a curved stereotype plate finishing machine, a plate supporting arch, co-acting finishing tools, means for operating said tools, a driving shaft having tight and loose belt pulleys, and means for clamping a stereotype plate up into the dome of the arch and simultaneously shifting the belt from the loose to the tight pulley and thereafter reversing the operation.

3. In a stereotype plate finishing machine,

a driving shaft, a small and large gear fast thereon, a second shaft, a large and small gear fast on the second shaft and arranged to mesh with the aforesaid gears, a third shaft, a small gear and a large gear fast together, loose on the third shaft and arranged to mesh with their opposing gears on the second shaft, a small gear operating in bearings attached to this last named large gear and arranged to mesh with the last named small one, and means for operating the same for the purpose set forth.

4.. In a curved stereotype finishing machine, a hollow finishing tool carrying shaft,

a trip rod operative therein, a belt shifter for starting the machine, a trip arm normal- 1y held by the trip rod in position to stop the machine, a spring for operating the belt shifter, and means for operating said rod for the purpose of withdrawing it from the trip arm and leaving the spring free to operate the belt shifter.

5. In a curved stereotype plate finishing machine, an arch, a shaving knife axially aligned beneath the arch, fixed means attached to one side of the arch for support-- ing a curved stereotype plate, and movable means operative in the opposite side of the arch for raising the said plate up into the arch dome.

6. In a curved stereotype plate finishing machine, an arch, a shaving knife axially aligned beneath the arch, fixed means attached toone side of the arch for supporting a curved stereotype plate, movable means operative in the opposite side of the arch for raising the said plate up into the arch dome, and means actuated by said movable means whereby the machine cannot be started except when the plate is lifted into the arch.

7. In a stereotype plate finishing machine, the combination with an arch for receiving the plate to be finished, of means for moving the plate into the arch in position to be finished, and means actuated by said plate moving means whereby the machine cannot be started except when the plate is lifted into the arch.

8. In a stereotype plate finishing machine, the combination with an arch for receiving the plate to be finished, of means for moving the plate into the arch in position to be finished, comprising a rock shaft, an operat ing arm on the rock shaft, cams on the rock shaft, rods reciprocable by the cams, and a plate supporting bar in position to be moved by said rods.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS.

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