US2601220A - Cylinder adjusting mechanism for rotary printing presses - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON ET AL 2,601,220

CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 17, 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON E1; AL

CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 20. 1945 June 17, 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON ET AL 2,601,220

CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 20, 1945 10 SheetsSheet 3 fut/6711 0715: Baal pk R Bic/iczrcis'om and Z0 ZZZ [2161772, Edmond 5072,

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J1me 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON ET AL 2,601,220

CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 20, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 7123072. and.

June 17, 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON ET AL 2,601,220

CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 20, 1945 J1me 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON ET AL 2,601,220

CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 20, 1945 30,2. AREzIc/iczrcls'on Z!) I I I L June 17, 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON ET AL 2,601,220

CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 20, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 fnueni o r15 fag 22A, R .Fc'cvard'son a d June 17, 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON ET AL 2,601,220

CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 20, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 42 P15] .frzuenz ams I ulp/i1? Ficardyoz; and 152x157 I will 2.21m ffl'd'monalson June 17, 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON ETAL 2,601,220

CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 20; 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet s Mig l I i I J1me 1952 R. R. RICHARDSON ET AL 2,601,220

10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug.

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Bic/ ara e and N 7/ A u T %N\ 5m! 4:: ML Km \m mm 1 M mx m MN N 13x MN M .8. W NN m r! am T Q Q uq h r" T-.-ilmil| i|l||lwliw Ii .3- -C )3 Q Q Q N Patented June 17, 1952 CYLINDER ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESS-ES Ralph R. Richardson and William H.' Edmonds on, Chicago, Ill., assignors to United Biscuit Company, a corporation of Delaware Application August- 20, 194s, Serial'No. 611,533

16 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to printing presses, and it is'concernedparticularly with a printing press wherein the printing cylinder is movable into and out of contact with the sheet or Web" beingprinted on and its supporting impression cylinder as distinguished from the more conventional press arrangement in which the printing cylinder is rotatable on a fixed axis, and the impression cylinder together with the sheet or web are movable to and from the printing cylinder. This invention is also more particularly concerned with a printing press in which the printing cylinder is movable as aforesaid, and in which the printing cylinder is of the so-called gravure or intaglio type.

in theoperation of an intaglio printing press, ia'st drying inkis now generally used and special arrangements are provided for preventing dryingof the ink onthe intaglio printing cylinder, especially when the press is temporarily shut down for any purpose. One meansfor preventing the drying of ink on the printing cylinder during a shut down period is to keep the print ing cylinder in rotation during such shut down period but out of contact with the web being printed. The roll being in continuous rotation constantly rotates through the bath of ink sup: plied to it and is thus kept wet at all times. The speed of rotation of the printing roll may be cut down from its normal printing s'pe'ed or it may be increased but this is relatively ummp'ortant. It is however important, especially iii-a multi color' press, that the printing cylinder be accurately r'e-reg-ister'ed with the printing cylinders of other printingunits when printingona continuous Web.

The main objectsof the present invention are to provide simple but effective means for automatically adjusting the printing cylinder to-= wards and from the impression cylinder under which the web or sheet travels for engagement by the printing cylinder; to rovide means where;- by theoperative relationship of the 'printi-ng CS'l indera-nd impression roll may be accurately ad justed and maintained independently or the means for moving therinting cylinder to. and from such' operative relationship; to provide means which, when the press unit is shut down and the printing cylinder adjusted to inoperative position, will automatically effect independent rotation of' the printin'g' cylinder so as to prevent the dryingof thereon; to provide an intaglio printing press in which the relationship between the printing-cylinder; the applying means and the ink doctoring means mayremai'nconstantin .2 all positions of the printing cylinder; and to provide a printing press of the character indicated wherein printing cylinders of various diameters may be used with relatively simple adjustments of the parts of the press which are aiiected by the change in printing roll diameter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (tenshe'ets) wherein there is illustrated an improved intaglio printing press embodying a selected form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a side elevation, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate other parts;

Fig. 1a is a side elevation of the upper portion which is broken away in Fig. 1;-

Fig. II) is a plan of a part of the mechanism;

Fig. I0 is a section showing certain details of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig'. 2 is an end elevation looking at the lefthand end of the press as shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4, when taken together, constitute a plan view of substantially the entire press structure", Fig. 3 being partially in section and illustrating mechanism for driving the printing cylinder, and Fig. 4 showing the printing roll in the main body of the press from which there has been removed for purposes of illustration certain partswhich normally overlie the printingr011;

Fig. 5 is a section approximately on the lines 55 of Figs. 2- and 4;

6' is aside elevation of mechanism appeai ing at the left-hand end of Fig; 2;

7 isan end view, partially in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6', the mechanism being locatedon the far side of the left-hand end portionof Fig. 2';

Fig-.- 8 is aplan section on the line 8+8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9' is a section on the line 9-=9 of Fig. 3;

Fig; 1 0 is a cross sectionon the line I0-i '0 of Figs. '5 and 8 Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation as iridicateaby the'li-ne Il-H of Fisi 8;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration;

Flgs" 3 and 14 are elevation'al and sectional pectively on the'l'ins |3=--l-3 and M -Ii of Fig 2 and 4', certain portions being broken away andsndwn-in sectionin Fig. 1 3-;

Fig. 15 is a section on the" line (5-1 5 of Fig-2 5; and

Fig". id is a sectibn on'the' line s-l s of Fig. 1 5.

The printing press illustrated in the drawings embodies a printing roll I and an impression cylinder 2, the paper or flat web 3 on which printing is to be effected being passed between said printing roll and impression cylinder in the direction indicated by the arrow i. The impression roll 2 is preferably a rubber covered roll and it is vertically slidably mounted through the agency of bearing blocks 5 at its opposite ends in vertically extending guide members 6-6 which are supported by the stationary main frame F. Downward movement of the impression roll 2 may be limited by engagement of the lower edges of its bearing blocks 5 with shoulders 88 formed on a frame member 9 and the impression cylinder is normally urged downwardly by means of an overlying roll [6. The roll I6 is vertically slidably mounted in the ways 6-6 through the agency of its end bearing members I I and suitable spring means is provided for urging the bearing blocks II and the roll l6 downwardly to thereby urge the roll 2 downwardly.

The bearing blocks II at opposite sides of the frame are normally urged downwardly by pairs of springs 6262 which are normally under compression between collars 63 and the overlying ends of a cross-head member 64. The collars 63 are formed integrally with spring guides 65 which threadedly receive extension bolts 66 which extend through the frame member 9 and bear on the upper edge of the pressure roll bearing block H. The cross-head 64 has a screw threaded central opening 66 which threadedly receives a screw post 61, the lower end of which is journalled as indicated at 68 in the frame member 9. The upper end of said screw post is provided with a suitable flange 69 for engaging a thrust bearing 16 which is seated on an annular bearing surface H provided in the top wall [2 of the housing 13 which encloses the spring pressure mechanism. The upper end portion of the screw post 6'! is provided with a cylindrical bearing area 16 which is journalled in a suitable bearing opening in the top portion 12 of the housing, and above said bearing portion 14 the post is extended to receive a gear or worm wheel 75 which is suitably keyed to the post. The washer TI is secured by a screw to the end of the post so as to overlie a portion of the gear 15 to prevent its endwise removal from the post. The gear 15 has a hub portion which engages the upper surface 18 of said top wall member '12 to prevent downward movement of the post.

It will be seen that by rotation of the worm wheel 75 the screw post 6'! will be rotated to thereby effect vertical adjustment of the crosshead 6 and corresponding adjustment of the compression of the springs 62. The pressure of the springs 62 is, of course, transmitted downwardly to the extensions 66 and the bearing block ll so that the pressure roll IEI acts to yieldingly move the impression cylinder 2 to its lower limit of movement as determined by engagement of the lower edges of the bearing blocks 5 with the shoulders 8 on the frame member 9.

When the printing roll I is in its operative elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1, the impression cylinder 2 should be moved upwardly very slightly so that a very slight space exists between the shoulders 6 and the lower edge of the bearing blocks 5 to thereby insure pressure contact between the impression cylinder 2 and printing roll I (or between the web or sheet and the printing roll) across the entire length of the printing roll. The upward spacing of the lower edges of the bearing blocks 5 from the shoulders 8 need be only slight, merely sufficient to make sure that the shoulders 8 do not prevent the springs 62 from pressing the impression cylinder into engagement with the printing roll when the latter is in its elevated operative position.

When the press is initially assembled, the springs at both sides are, of course, properly adjusted to provide the required spring eifected contact between the impression cylinder and the printing roll.

In setting up the press, the cross-head 64 is adjusted to compress the springs to a predetermined degree after which the extensions 66 are adjusted in such a manner that when the bearing blocks 5 are in engagement with the shoulders 8, the lower ends of the guide posts 65 will at least slightly clear the top surface 16 of the frame member 9. Ihis will insure the application of spring force to the impression cylinder at all times.

Once the press is set up it should not often be necessary to vary the adjustment of the spring pressure at one side without also adjusting the pressure at the other side. Accordingly means are provided for simultaneously acting on the worm wheel 75 at each side of the press to correspondingly rotate the screw post 61.

The adjustment mechanism last referred to comprises, at each side of the machine, wormgears 264 which are respectively carried by shafts 205a and 26% which are suitably journalled in housing cap members 266. The shafts 205a. and 205?) are extended toward each other to enter suitably bored out ends of a tubular shaft 201. One end of the tubular shaft 201 is secured by set screw or other suitable means as indicated at 208 to the shaft 265a and at its other end it is provided with clutch teeth 209 which are adapted to mesh with corresponding clutch teeth on a collar 2"] which is secured by set screw 2 or other suitable means to the shaft 2115b. A collar 2i2 is secured to the shaft 205a to engage the outer surface of the cap 206 to prevent shifting of the shaft 205a and gear 204 inwardly, the gear itself being provided with an endwise extending flange portion similarly engaging an inside surface of the cap 206 to prevent endwise shifting in the other direction. The shaft 20% is extended outwardly from the cap 266 and provided with a squared or other suitably formed portion 213 which may be engaged by suitable wrench or operating handle for turning the shaft 205b, and through the members 2!!! and 201, the shaft 265a. Thus the spring mechanisms at both sides of the machine may be simultaneously adjusted in the same direction. In the event that it should be found necessary to adjust one side and not the other, the set screw 268 at one end of the tubular shaft 20! may be loosened to permit the tubular shaft 201 to be moved endwise suihciently to disengage the inter-meshing clutch teeth 269. When the clutch teeth are so disengaged, either side may be adjusted independently of the other and for this purpose the shaft 265a, may also be extended outwardly as is the shaft 2515b to facilitate adjustment at that side of the press.

For the purpose of providing a visual indication of the extent of compression of the springs 62, each housing 13 is provided with a vertically extending elongated slot 2M to permit a pin 2l5 projecting laterally from the cross-head 66 to extend into a visible relation to a suitably graduated scale or other indicating means provided pression' cylinder. roll mounting and the said adjusting means will on the side wall of the housing adjacent the slot 2M.

To prevent the cross-head 64 from rotating with the screw post 61 when effecting adjustment of the springs 62 there may be provided a pair of set screws, one of which is indicated at 216, respectively disposed on opposite sides of one of the spring guide posts 65 which is prefer- Y ably made slightly longer than the other such post. The screws 2I 6 are threaded through the respective side walls of the housing 13 so that the inner ends of the screws will embrace the upper end of the elongated spring guide post 65. The purpose of elongating the post which cooperates with such set screws is to avoid any interference between the set screws and the crosshead 64 when the latter is adjusted to its highest elevationon the screw post 61.

When the printing roll I is adjusted to its operative position, the impression cylinder 2 and the intermediate pressure roll are moved upwardly slightly as already indicated. Such movement is, of course, transmitted to the spring guide posts 85, the upper ends of which terminate sufiiciently short of the overlying top wall 12 of the housing to permit such upward movement of the posts. However, in respect of the spring .post (55 which is made somewhat longer to cooperate with the positioning screws 216, there is provided in the top wall 12 of the housing an opening 2 ll into which the upper end of the posts -65 may extend in the event that an excessive amount of upward movement is transmitted "to said spring posts.

The printing cylinder l is mounted for vertical adjustment toward and from the impression cylinder 2, and there are provided two means for efiecting-suchmovement of the printing cylinder. One means for moving the printing cylinder toward and from the impression cylinder surface to produce a predetermined limited amount of separation of the printing cylinder from the impression cylinder is to temporarily interrupt the printing operation of the press. The other means for adjusting the printing cylinder is designed to afford a greater range of adjustment and serves mainly to permit the mounting of printing cylinders of a substantial range of diameters in the press for cooperation with the same im- The details of the printing presently be described.

When the printing operation is temporarily interrupted by lowering the printing cylinder from the impression cylinder, it is desirable to also relieve the pressure of the pressure roll H] on the impression cylinder which, being rubber covered, might tend to be deformed by the continued application of the pressure roll pressure on a fixed portion of the impression cylinder, it being understood that the paper web and the impression cylinder would normally be stopped when the printing operation is interrupted.

For the purpose of relieving the impression cylinder 2 of pressure from the pressure roll l0 when the printing operation is stopped, there is provided a unit indicated at 225 intermediate the bearing blocks 5 and i l of the printing and pressure rolls respectively. Said unit 225 (see Fig.

consists of a suitable housing 226 provided with a pair of pneumatic .cylinders 221 respectively containing pistons 228 which are movable vertically. The cylinders 221 are interconnected by a port 229 and a conveniently located ;port'230 is 3 provided for admitting and releasing compressed air from the cylinders.

When the printing cylinder is lowered, a suitable air valve will :be either manually or automatically actuated to admit compressed air into the cylinders below the pistons 228 whereupon the latter will .be moved. upwardly, their upper ends-coming into engagement with the lower side of the pressure .roll bearing iblock III. The air pressure may :be sufiicient .to move the pistons upwardly against the pressure .of the springs :62 an extent sufiicient to just slightly separate the pressure roll I30 from the impression cylinder :2 or at least sufficient to relieve the pressure of'the roll It on the cylinder 2.

When .the press is to be shut down for an extended time period and when air pressure may be shut off, the pressure of the springs 62 maybe manually reduced by turning of the shaft 20.! (Fig. 1b) as already explained, so as to permit a of springs 23] to effect upward movement of the pressureroll from the impression cylinder. The springs 23! are also housed in said housing 226 intermediate the pneumatic cylinders. The unit 225 is seated on the printing-cylinder bearing block '5 and the openings in the housing -226 "for the springs :23! may extend completely through said-housing so that the opposite ends of the springs will seaton the upperand lower edges respectively-of the bearing blocks5 and II. The springs 23! are, of course, of such strength that they will be effective to raise the pressure roll after release of the springs 62 has been efi'ected to asuitable extent.

The printing cylinder l is preferably of the intaglio typeand it is journalled in bearings such as indicated at l2 (Fig. 1) formed in a vertically movable and adjustable auxiliary frame member or cradle l3. Suitable bearing caps 14 arepro- *vided for cooperating with'the bearings I2 to hold =the endshafts 15 0f the printing roll in place in the bearings 12.

The auxiliary frame member or cradle l3 comprises opposite side portions Iii-l6, which :are

.- rigidly interconnected by transversely extending means of posts2 I-.2.l, there being two such posts at each side of the auxiliary frame.

The posts 21 have the auxiliary frame I3 seated on their upper ends and secured thereto as indicated in Fig. 1 and each of said posts .2! extends downwardly into a sleeve 22 (see Fig. 10) which is vertically slidably but non-rotatably mounted within another sleeve 23. The outer sleeve 23 is in turn rotatably mounted in a suitably bored out bracket or casting 2.4 which is fixedly mounted on an adjacent'portion of the :main .frame 1.

The outer sleeve 23 is 'held against vertical movement in thecasting 24by means of a pin 25 which is seated in the casting 24 and has its inner end projecting into a groove 26 provided in said outersleeve. The upper endof the outer sleeve 23 is provided with a helical gear or worm wheel 21 through which the outer sleeve may be rotated by means of a cooperating helical gear or worm 28'.

The innersleeve 22 is keyed to the outer sleeve bymeansorkeys indicated at-29.29 so thatithe inner sleeve is rotatable in unison with the outer sleeve but is also vertically slidable relative to the outer sleeve. Said inner sleeve is provided with internal screw threading indicated at cooperating with screw threading 3| provided on the lower portion of the post 2| so that when the sleeves 23 and 22 are rotated, the post 2| will be adjusted up or down. By rotating the sleeves 23 and 22, the vertical position of the post 2| and of the auxiliary frame |3 may be adjusted. This adjustment is made sufiicient to permit the use of printing rolls of whatever range of sizes is desired; for example, from 6-inch diameter rolls to 12-inch diameter rolls. The extent of adjustment required for that range of printing rolls is, of course, 3 inches plus whatever additional allowance may be desired.

The printing roll I may receive ink from any suitable means, such as an ink trough or pan shown at 32 which is removably mounted in the cradle |3. The trough 32 may be removed with the cradle after ink inlet and outlet conduits 33 and 34 respectively (Figs. 1 and 5), are disconnected from the trough or pan. A doctor mechanism shown at 35 is arranged as will hereinafter be explained so that it may easily and quickly be moved to an out-of-the-way position to permit the cradle l3 and printing roll I to be moved vertically into and out of place in the press.

For the purpose of adjusting the frame l3 up and down to accommodate different sized rolls, it is of course desirable that the four posts 2| be simultaneously adjusted. This is effected by simultaneously rotating the sleeves 22 around the respective posts. vided a shaft 52 suitably journalled in bearings 36 carried by the main frame 1, the said shaft being equipped with worm-gears, such as the worm-gears 28 previously mentioned for meshing with the worm wheels 21 of the respectively adjacent post structures. By turning the shaft 52. the two adjacent post structures will be simultaneously adjusted up or down in accordance with the direction in which the shaft 52 is rotated. To facilitate rotation of the shaft, one end thereof is provided with a squared projection 53 for receiving a suitable crank or hand wheel.

Extending parallel with the opposite ends of the apparatus there are provided shafts 54a. and 54b, each of which are suitably journalled in the bearings 38 carried by the main frame I. The shafts 54a and 54b are geared to the shaft 52 so as to be rotated when the shaft 52 is rotated, suitable helical gearing comprising gears 55 on the shaft 52 and gears 56 on the shafts 54a and 5412 being provided.

At the other ends of the shafts 54a. and 541) there are provided helical gears 51 which mesh with helical gears 58 provided on short shafts 59, which are suitably rotatably supported in bearings 39 carried by the main frame I. Said shafts 59 carry worm-gears 28 in mesh with the worm wheels 21 of the respectively adjacent post structures 2|. Rotation of the shaft 52 is thus imparted to the shafts 54a and 54b and to the two short shafts 59 so that all four of the post units 2| will be simultaneously adjusted in the same direction. The various connecting gears are, of course, properly selected to effect rotation of all of the gears 21 simultaneously in the same direction.

In conventional intaglie printing presses provision is usually made for elevating the impression cylinder, such as the impression roll 2 together with the sheet or web 3 for the purpose For that purpose there is proof interrupting the printing operation. That procedure results in a slackening of the web 3 and creates difliculties in effecting registering of the printing effected by the printing r011 associated with the elevated impression cylinder with any previously or subsequently applied printing or with previously determined printing positions on the web.

For the purpose of facilitating temporary separation of the printing roll and the impression cylinder, provision is made in the improved structure for easily and quickly lowering and raising the printing roll to a limited extent, for example, about /,;-inch (or whatever distance may .be desired) In this instance, the raising and lowering of the printing roll is effected by raising and lowering the auxiliary frame |3 on which the printing roll is supported. This is done by movin the inner sleeve 22 (Fig. 10) and the post 2| at each corner, vertically. Such movement is accomplished through the agency of a sleeve extension member 45 which is vertically slidable in the casting 24 and interconnected with the sleeve 22 by means of a split collar 53 having internal flanges 64 and 65 which enter annular grooves 66 and 61 respectively in the inner sleeve 22 and the member 40. The parts of the split sleeve 63 are held in assembled relation and in operative relation to the inner sleeve 22 and the member 40 by means of a spring ring 4|.

The lower end of the member 40 projects from the lower end of the casting 24 and has pivoted to it a link 42 which extends downwardly and has its lower end pivoted as shown at 43 (see Figs. 1 and 5) to an arm 44 carried ,by a shaft 45. There are two shafts such as the shaft 45, one at each end of the main frame, and there are of course two arms 44 on each of the shafts for cooperating respectively with the post elevating mechanism at each corner. The shafts 45 are journalled in suitable bearings provided in the main frame 7. At one side of the apparatus the arms 44 are interconnected by a link 46 so that both shafts 45 will rock in unison (see Figs. 1, 2 and 5).

One of the shafts 45 (see Figs. 2 and 5) is provided at one end with an arm 41 which extends at an angle to the adjacent arm 44 and has its free end connected by suitable pin and slot connection shown at 48 to the outer end of a piston rod 49. The piston rod 49 carries a piston head 50 within an hydraulic cylinder 5| into which fluid under pressure may be delivered for moving the piston 50' in the required direction for rocking the arm 41 and the shafts 45. As shown in Fig. 5, the printing roll I is in a lowered position and out of contact with the Web 3. When pressure fluid is admitted'to the upper end of the cylinder 5|, it will of course force the piston 50 downwardly therein to thereby rock the shafts 45 counterclockwise (Fig. 5) so that the arms 44 and links 42 will be adjusted to a position of substantially vertical alignment as shown in Fig. 1, thereby moving the posts 2|, the auxiliary frame l3 and the printing roll upwardly into printing relationship to the sheet or web 3 and the impression cylinder 2. The delivery of pressure fluid to the cylinder 50 may be controlled by any suitable manual or automatic means, and it will of course be understood that appropriate piping is provided for delivering pressure fluid selectively to either end of the cylinder while releasing pressure fluid from the opposite end thereof.

Ink may be supplied to the ink trough or pan 32 in any suitable manner. In this instance, there is shown a motor driven pump (see Figs. 1 and of arms 80--80.

9 2) which draws ink from a suitable well or tank GI and discharges, it into the conduit 33 which discharges into the pan 32 (Fig. 1).

The ink is delivered to the lower portion of the pan 32 and the ink level may be determined by means of the position of the outlet opening through which the drain pipe 34 communicates with the ink pan.

By reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the ink supplied to the roll I is carried by the roll rearwardly and then upwardly to the printing line. Before the ink coated surface of the roll reaches the printing line, surplus ink is removed by the doctoring mechanism 35 previously referred to. Said doctoring mechanism 35 is of the general type shown in Edmondson Patent 2,323,983, July 13, 1943, but modified and improved in some respects as will presently be described.

Surplus ink may fiow downwardly on the surface of the roll I and into the pan 32 or any other suitable means may be provided for taking care of the ink which is doctored from the roll.

The doctoring mechanism 35 is carried by a plate Iii-which is, in turn, supported by a pair The upper ends of the arm 80 are screwed or otherwise securely attached to the lower edge portions of the plate I9 and the lower ends of the arms are rotatably mounted on a shaft The shaft SI is supported by suitably bored out brackets 82-82 which have collar-like portions 83 secured to the upper ends of the inner sleeves 22 of the adjacent vertically adjustable post structures (see Figs. and The collar portions 83 may be split form and suitably bolted together so as to permit assembly thereof around the upper end of said sleeve 22 between upper and lower flanges 94 and 85 respectively formed integrally with the sleeve 22.

It will be seen that when the sleeve 22 is moved up or down by means of the toggle like elements consisting of the links 42 and the rock arms 44, the arms 80, the plate I9 and the doctor blade mechanism will also be moved vertically in unison with the post structures and in unison with the printing roll, Hence, vertical adjustment of the printing roll by means of the hydraulically actuated toggle structure will occasion no change in the relationship of the doctor blade to the printing roll. It should be observed that the col- Ian 83' is'of such size that it fits snugly on the flanged upper end portion of the inner sleeve 22 so as to firmly support the arms 80 and the doctor blade structure while at the same time permitting the inner sleeve 22 to be rotated through the agency of the outer sleeve 23 for adjustment purposes already explained.

For cooperating with the arms B9 to support the plate I9 and the doctor blade structure, opposite endportions of the plate I9 are vertically slidably mounted on the adjacent portion of the main frame structure I. For that purpose each upper edge portion of the plate I9 near each end is provided with a slot 86 fitting slidably around and under a bolt 81, which is threaded into the adjacent main frame portion or into suitable brackets, such as indicated at 89, which are in turn secured to the main frame proper. The bolts 81 are preferably of a shoulder type as best shown in Fig. 4, which will provide the required space between the head of the bolt and the adjacent surface of the supporting bracket or frame part to permit sliding of the plate as already indicated. The lower marginal portion of the plate at each end-is also slidably secured to the main frame or to the brackets 88, this being accomplished in this instance by means of clip plates 89, which are bolted as shown at 90 to the adjacent main frame portion (see Figs. 1, 2 and 13). The frame part I is suitably recessed as indicated at 9| to cooperate with the face of each clip 89 to vertically slidably receive the lower marginal end portions of the said plate I9.

The doctor blade structure proper comprises a normally stationary shaft 92 which may be of square cross section for most of it length but which is provided with rounded end portions suitably journalled in bearings 93 and 94 which are carried by the plate I9 (see Figs. 4 and 15). A body casting 95 for the doctor blade is horizontally slidably mounted on the shaft 92, such mounting being effected at one end through the agency of an arm 96 which is bolted to the end of the casting 95, as indicated at 9l9'I. The arm 96 has a square opening broached out to properly fit. on the square portion of the shaft 92. At the other end of the body casting 95 (Fig. 15) the casting is slidably mounted on the shaft through the agency of a sleeve 98, a portion of which has a square socket fitting over an end portion of the square shaft 92, and another portion suitably bored out to slidably and rotatably fit on a round or cylindrical portion 99 of said shaft 92. The sleeve 98 fits inside a suitably formed portion of the casting 95 and the sleeve is rigidly connected to the casting by suitable means, such as one or more set screws such as indicated at I00. Thus thesleeve 98 and casting 95 are movable horizontally'as. a single unit on the shaft 92.

To effect horizontal reciprocation of the body casting 95, there is provided a tubular member ml which has a portion fitting telescopically over an outer end portion of the sleeve 98. The tubular member I0I is provided with a suitable roller I02 projecting inwardly from its inner surface and projecting into a cam groove I03 provided in. the sleeve 99. The cam groove I03 is so formed that rotation of the tubular member IOI in a fixed plane will effect reciprocation of the sleeve 98 and body casting 95. Additional details of the cam groove and roller structure are shown in the aforementioned Edmondson Patent 2,323,983. The tubular member IOI is held against horizontal shifting movement by means of a suitably flanged bushing I04, which is in turn locked in place between the inner end of the bearing 93 or a washer I05 and a shoulder I96 formed on the shaft 92 by the provision of a suitably reduced diameter portion I01 of the shaft. The tubular member IIH is further provided with spur gear teeth I08 by which the member may be rotated.

The doctor blade I09 is clamped between the portions of a split head H0, the said head IIO being secured to a shaft III. The shaft III is journalled at its ends in end members I I2 and I I3 (see Fig. 15) and near one end in a post member H4. The post H4 has a suitably formed head as best shown in Fig. 5 including a bolted on cap portion for rotatably supporting the shaft II I.

The shaft III, together with the doctor blade I09 and its carrying head H0 may be rocked to adjust the angular relationship of the doctor blade to the printing roll. The means for effecting such rocking of the shaft III is best shown in Figs. 14 and 15. As there shown, the shaft III is provided with a worm wheel H5 which is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft. Said worm wheel i I5 meshes with a worm gear IIO provided on a shaft I II, which is rotatably mounted in the arm-like end member 90' and provided at its lower end with a bevel gear H8 which is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft. The shaft H'I may be rotated by means of a manually rotatable shaft I I9 suitably journalled in the lower end portion of the arm 96 and provided with a bevel gear I20 which meshes with the gear H8. The outer end of the shaft H9 may be provided with a hand lever or arm I2I to facilitate turning of said shaft II 9 (see Fig. 1).

The end member I I3 in which the shaft I II is journalled includes a shaft or post portion I22 which is slidable inwardly and outwardly in a socket I23 provided in said end arm 96. The post portion I22 of the end member I I3 (see Figs. 14 and 15) corresponds to the post portion H4 of the intermediate bearing support for the shaft H I which is also slidable inwardly and outwardly in a suitable socket I24 provided in said body casting 95 (see also Fig. The end member H2 (Fig. is similarly slidable in a guide way I25 provided in the end of the body casting 95 and it is adapted to be locked in selected position by means of a clamping screw I25. Each of the posts H4 and I22 are provided with gear teeth or racks I21 and I28 respectively which mesh with pinions, such as shown at I29 formed in a shaft I30, which is rotatably mounted in the body casting 95 and end arm 95. By rotating the shaft I30, the supporting members H4 and I22 for the shaft I I I may be moved inwardly and outwardly,

provided of course that the clamping screw I26 is so adjusted as to permit the end member H2 to follow the movement of the shaft II I. For rotating the shaft I30 there is provided an adjusting member I3I (see Fig. 16) which is suitably rotatably mounted in the body casting 95,

. secured against endwise movement and provided with worm gear teeth or equivalent screw threading, such as shown at I32 in mesh with suitable teeth I33 provided on a portion of the shaft I30. Because of the small pitch diameter of the gear I33 the adjusting member I3I is disposed at a slight angle, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4 to properly dispose its teeth I32 in operative relationship to the teeth I33 which are advantageously formed parallel with the axis of the shaft I30. The outer end of the adjusting member I3I is preferably squared as indicated to receive an adjusting wrench or lever to facilitate manual turning thereof.

When the shaft III is adjusted up or down relative to the upper edge of the body casting 96, the gear H5 on the shaft III will roll over the teeth of the worm gear H6 which is extended to maintain meshing relationship with the gear H5 as best shown in Fig. 14. Hence, if the shaft I II is adjusted upwardly from the lowermost position shown in Fig. 14, the angle of the doctor blade I09 would be changed. The angle may be restored to the initial angle by turning the shaft I I9 as already explained.

The doctor blade structure is also rockable about the axis of the shaft 92 to thereby adjust the doctor blade I09 toward and from the surface of the printing roll. Such adjustment is particularly desirable to facilitate the use of different sized printing rolls in the press.

For rocking the doctor blade structure about the axis of the shaft 92, said shaft is provided at one end with a worm wheel I34 which is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft. Said worm wheel is in mesh with a worm gear I35 carried by a shaft I35 which is suitably rotatably mounted in brackets I31 and I 38 which are mounted on the plate I9. One end of the shaft I35 projects forwardly from the front bracket I31 and is suitably squared as shown in Fig. 13 to facilitate turning thereof by means of a Wrench or the like. Turning of the shaft I36 and its worm gear I35 will, of course, effect turning of the shaft 92 and the entire doctor blade structure. Rotation of the shaft 92 is imparted to the doctor blade structure by reason of the fact that the end arm 95 is mounted on a square portion of the shaft 92 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

The bearing I31 may be formed as a part of a housing I 48 which is mounted on the plate I9 to cover a portion of the end arm 96 which projects outwardly through an opening I49 (Fig. 14) in the plate 19. Said housing I48 is suitably slotted as shown at I50 to permit the adjusting shaft H9 to project into readily accessible position.

The doctor blade structure may, in its entirety, be swung outwardly from the printing roll about the axis of the shaft 8| on which the structure is pivotally supported by means of the arms or brackets 80.

The means for driving the gear I08 and thereby effecting reciprocation of the doctor blade is such that said swinging movement of the doctor structure may be readily effected without first removing or disconnecting any of the driving connections. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the gear I08 is driven by means of a pinion I39 and a gear I40 which are suitably mounted for rotation on the plate I9 or in suitable bearing brackets secured thereto. The gear I40 is carried by a shaft I4I which is provided at its other end with a helical gear I42 which meshes with another helical gear I43. The gear I 43 is carried by the upper end of a shaft I 44 which is journalled in a bracket I45 carried by the side frame element 20. The lower end of said shaft I44 may be connected directly to an electric motor I46 mounted on the side frame of the machine. A suitable speed reducing gearing may be incorporated in the casing of the motor, if desired. The shaft I4I which carries the gears I40 and I42 is journalled in a suitable housing I41 which is secured to the plate 19.

When the doctor blade structure is to be swung outwardly on the shaft 8|, the upper locking bolts 8181 and the clips 89-89 are removed whereupon the doctor blade structure may be swung in its entirety to an inoperative, outofthe-way position. Such outward swinging movement of the doctor blade structure effects disengagement of the gear I42 from the gear I43 and when the structure is returned to operative position the gears I42 and I43 may be readily brought into mesh without difficulty so that the driving connection between the motor I46 and the doctor blade structure is restored.

The printing roll I is driven through a gear I5I suitably mounted on the shaft I5 of the printing roll. Said gear I5I meshes with a gear I52 (see Fig. 3) which is of split construction to permit adjustment of the effective widths of the teeth of the gear. Said gear I52 is keyed to one end of a shaft I53, the other end of which carries a clutch member I54 which cooperates with another clutch member I55. The clutch member I55 is keyed to a tubular shaft or sleeve I56 which has keyed to its other end another split gear I51 which meshes with a driving gear I58 carried by a drive shaft I59. The drive shaft I59 is in turn driven by any suitable connections to a power source which in this instance may be considered as a main driving shaft which is drivingly connetted to each of a plurality ofprinting press units employed for multi-color printing. As shown in'Fig. 2; the shaft I59 is driven by suitable gear connections indicatedat I60 to'a'vertically disposed shaft I-BI- which extends downwardly into drivingcon'nection with a main drive shaft common to all of the driven units ofappa ratus. The shaft I59" is, of course; suitably journalled in the supporting housing I62.

Theclutch" comprisingthe clutchparts I54 and I55 is preferably of the type shown in Edmondsonapplication Serial No. 399,104, filed June21, 1941', now PatentNumber 2,384,418", September' l, 1945. Saidclutch-mechanism" is of a typewhich can'be'repeatedlyengagedin only a single driving position so that the printing cylinder I would always occupy the same operative relationship to the driving means which is common to other printing units; Thus restoration of register between all of the printing-units of the press is readilyattaine'd.

The clutch iscontrolled by means of a forked member IG'S'whichcarries suitable pins or rollers operating in a groove I64 provided in a part which is rigid with the clutch member I54. forked member I63. is secured to the" upper end of a vertically disposed shaft" I65 which is jcurnallediin a bearing bracket I66 secured. to one side of the housing I62; Said bearing bracket I5 6 is suitably slotted as indi'cated'at. I61 (Fig.5) to permit an arm I88 to be'mountedon said shaft I135. The arm IG B'is keyed to the shaft I85 so as. to permit the shaft to slide vertically said 7 through the arm 968' while at the same time insuring the transmission of rocking movement and 6) to the free end of a piston rod I10 of'a pneumatic cylinder I'H which is mountedin the casing I62.

The pneumatic cylinder I'I-I is suitably connected to a source of pressure air and control means (not shown) so that when the cylinder 5| is-actuated to lower the printing roll I and parts associated therewith to an inoperative position, the clutch member I54 willbedisengaged from the clutch member I55 to thereby interrupt th normal drive of the printing cylinder I.

For the purpose of. maintaining the printing cylinder in: rotation when its normal drive is disengaged, there isprovided-a-nauxiliary driving electric motor I'IZ-suitablymounted onthe-housing I52 and connected through a suitable speed reducing unit I18 to a shaft I 14- which extends from: the speed reducing unit I131 Said shaft I14 has secured to it -a gear I15 which meshes with a gear I15 which is rotatable on a short shaft I 'I'I carried by a suitable bracket element I13 of the speed reducing unit I13. A pulley I19 is secured to the gear H t-and a belt I86 is employed for transmitting rotation from the pulley I18 to a pulley I81 which is secured to or formed integrally with the clutch part I54.

When the electric motor I12 is-energized it is operative to drive thepulley H31 and the clutch member I54 and hence" the shaft I53 through which the printing cylinder shaft I5 is driven by means of gears I52 and 1:51:

When the auxiliary'driving motor I'I2'is not in operation and. the press: is being operated through the main drive, driving of the auxiliary motor through the belt connection 89 is prevented by providing a suitable, known formoft overrnnning :7 5.

clutch mounting for the pulley IBI and clutch member I54 on the shaft I53. Such a clutch mounting is embodied in a hub part 22I formed on one side of the pulley I 81 and so arrangedthat rotation of the pulley I8I at a relatively low speed and in" one direction will be transmitted to the shaft I53. However, when the press is being driven through the main drive, the shaft I 53 will be driven at a higher rate of speed and the shaft will then rotate freely within the clutch containing hub 2'2I of the pulley I 8|. Thus the auxiliary drivin'glmotor H2 is protected from reverse driving forces.

The motor I72 may be automatically controlled by suitable switch mechanism (notshown) interlocked with the control means for thehydraulic cylinder 5| and-the pneumatic cylinder Ill so that theeleotric motor will be started and stopped in properly timed relation to the lowering and raising of the printing roll. The timing should be so arranged that the motor I'I2'willbe started after the clutch members I54 and I55 are disengaged and the motor should be stopped just prior to reengagement of said clutch members. The respective driving forces for the printing rolli are thus prevented from simultaneously driving the roll. The required timing mechanism is well known in the art and is, therefore, not herein illustrated.

When the printing cylinder is inits inoperative lowered position, it is driven at a reduced speed by means of the auxiliary driving motor I12. thismanner'the printing cylinder is maintained in motion so as to prevent ink from drying on any portion of the cylinder even though the printing unit is otherwise temporarily stopped for any purpose.

The auxiliary drive mechanism just described is made adjustable to permit it to operate in the manner described in connection with printing rollsof variousdiameters which result in differen't'p'ositi'ons of elevation of the shaft I5 and the driving gear I5I As best shown in Figs. 3, 6 and '7, the shaft I'5'3,.the tubular shaft I56 and the parts associated therewith are supported for rotation in a tubular housing I82 which is preferably formed. integrally with a bracket I84. The housing portion I82 may be made in two sections separable along a plane parallel with and extending through the axis of the shaft I53 so as to permit assembly of thestructure illustrated. A cap-like section I83 of the housing may be bolted to the remainder of the housing bysuitable boits, such as indicated at I83a. (Fig. 7). The bracket plate IE4 is vertically adjustably mounted on the adjacent side wall of the housing 5E2 by means of bolts I85 which are secured against rotation and against lateral movement in the housing I62 and passed through suitable upper and-lower slots, such as indicated at I35 and It? respectively in the bracket plate IS l. By loosening the clamping nuts I86 on the bolts I85 the bracket plate I3 5 may be freed sufficiently to permit its being moved up or down as maybe required. Such movement of the plate may advantageously be effected through means such as one or more suitably positioned bolts, such as indicated at I88 which are threaded through brackets I39 mounted on the housing I62. The upper ends of the bolts I88 are provided with heads I9!) anchored in slots provided inthe bracket plate I84 so that up or down movement of the bolt I88 will be transmitted to said bracket plate I84. The bolts I 88 may also. be provided with nut-like collars I9-Ii to; facilitate turning of the bolt by means of a wrench or the like, such collars being located in properly spaced relation to the bolt heads I90 for embracing between them a portion of the bracket plate I84, as shown in Fig. '1.

The axis of the driven gear II, at its highest elevation, i. e., when the smallest printing roll is in use, will be concentric with the axis of the axially fixed drive gear I58. When a larger diameter printing roll is used, the axis of the gear I5I will, of course, be lowered. Lowering of the axis of the printing roll shaft I5 and its driving gear I5I will, of course, require appropriate adjustment of the position of the axis of the gear I52 to maintain it in proper mesh with the gear I5I. It may be observed that it is not feasible to lower the axis of the gear I52 to the same extent that the axis of the gear I5! is lowered since that would also involve lowering of the gear I51 to an improper, if not inoperative, relationship to the main driving gear I58. Accordingly provision is made for adjusting the gears I52 and I51 both downwardly and towards the gears I5I and I58 respectively whereby the gears I52 and I51 may be maintained in proper meshing relationship to their respective cooperating gears I5I and I58.

In the diagram, Fig. 12, there is represented the relationship of the gears I5I, I52, I51 and I58 when there is in use a printing roll having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the smallest printing roll which the press is designed to use. The axis I5a of the larger printing roll shaft I5 and the driven gear I5I is spaced from the axis I59a of the drive shaft I59 and gear I58. (Fig. 3 may be advantageously considered together with Fig. 12 in connection with this explanation.) In Fig. 12, the coaxial gears I52 and I51 are represented (a) in full lines in an elevated position for driving engagement respectively with the gears l5I and I58 when they are coaxial as when the smallest diameter printing roll is in use, and (b) in broken lines in a lowered position for driving engagement respectively with the gears I5I and I58 when they are not in coaxial relationship as when a larger diameter printing roll is in use. The common axis of the gears I52 and I51 is indicated at I53a and I53b in two positions respectively corresponding to the two illustrated positions of the gears I52 and I51.

In order to maintain the gears I52 and I51 in proper mesh with the gears I51 and I58 respectively when they are out of coaxial alignment, as when a printing roll of larger than minimum size is to be used, the common axis of the gears I 52 and I51 is adjusted downwardly from I53a to I531) in an are having its center coincident with the fixed axis I59ci of the drive shaft I59 and gear I58. Such arcuate adjustment of the axis I53a serves, of course, to maintain the gear I51 in proper relationship to the gear I58 and it will be apparent from the diagram that such adjustment also serves to place the gear I52 in proper operative relationship to the gear I5I, the axis of which is downwardly offset relative to the axis of the gear I58. The downward movement of the said common axis of the gears I52 and I51 is one-half of the distance that the axis I5a is lowered for the selected larger size printing roll from the location of the axis I5a for the minimum sized printing roll. It will also be apparent that this condition will prevail throughout the range of printing roll diameters which may be employed.

For effecting the indicated adjustment of the gears I52 and I51 the bracket plate I84 is vertically movably mounted on the housing I62 as already explained. The vertical component of movement of the gears I52 and I51 may be effected by appropriate turning of the adjusting screws I88.

The horizontal component of the arcuate adjusting movement of the gears I52 and I51 is obtained by means of an eccentric mounting of the tubular shaft I56 and the shaft I53 in the housing I82. This is effected by means of a sleeve-like member I92 rotatably mounted within the housing I82 and equipped with ball bearings I93 and I94 at its opposite ends for rotatably supporting the tubular shaft I56. The shaft I53 is, of course, suitably journalled in opposite end portions of the tubular shaft I56 as shown at I95 and I96 where suitable anti-friction bearings may be provided if desired. The sleeve I92 is somewhat enlarged at its ends for receiving the ball bearings I93 and I94 and the seats or bearing surfaces I91 and I98 for the respective anti-friction bearings I93 and I94 are concentrically disposed relative to the common axis of the shaft I53 and tubular shaft I56. The bearing seat or surfaces I99 and 200 on which the sleeve member I92 is rotatable, are eccentrically disposed relative to the said bearing surfaces I91 and I98 respectively so that rotation of said sleeve I92 will effect the lateral or horizontal component of adjustment of the common axis of the shafts I53 and I56.

For rotating the sleeve I92, a portion of the bearing surface 200 at one end of the sleeve is provided with gear teeth, indicated at 20I (see Figs. 3 and 9), which mesh with the teeth 202 of a screw or worm gear 203 which is suitably rotatably mounted in a portion of the housing I82. One end of the screw 203 is squared or otherwise formed to accommodate a wrench or wheel for facilitating manual rotation of the screw and thereby turning of the adjusting sleeve I92 to effeet the required lateral adjustment of the gears I52 and I 51.

Suitable controls (not shown) are, of course, provided for effecting properly timed admission and exhaustion of pressure fluid from the hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders 5I and HI respectively, and for the energization of the auxiliary driving motor I 12.

In Figs. 6 and 7, the parts are illustrated in positlons occupied for actuating the smallest printing roll which the press is designed to handle. When a larger printing roll is employed and the driving shaft I53 and tubular shaft I56 (see Fig. 3) are lowered and moved inwardly about the axis of the drive shaft I59 and gear I58, adjustment is required to maintain the auxiliary driving belt I (see also Figs. 2 and 6) tight enough to effectively transmit power to the pulley I8I. Such adjustment is effected by loosening one or more set screws, such as indicated at 222, in the annular member 223 in which bracket I18 is mounted for rotation (see Figs. 6 and '1). The bracket member I18 may then be rotatably adjusted to lower the position of the pulley I19 to the extent required for maintaining the driving belt I80 tight.

Lowering of the driving shaft I53 and parts associated therewith also necessitates lowering of the clutch controlling member I63. This is permitted to follow the downward movement of the shaft I53 automatically as an incident to the vertically slidable mounting of the shaft I in the hub of the arm I68.

It will be seen that in the described printing press structure, vertical lowering of the printing roll, as readily effected by the hydraulic means described, permits the press unit to be made temporarily inoperative without disturbing the position of the paper being printed on. Waste of paper is thus avoided and difli'culties of effecting reregistration of the printing unit relative to other printing or other units operating on the same paper are overcome.

The described structure further includes an arrangement whereby when the printing roll is lowered to temporary inoperative position it is automatically kept in rotation but usually at a lower speed; this prevents drying of ink on the roll eliminates time-consuming printing roll cleaning operations each time that the press unit is made temporarily inoperative. Also, it will be observed that accurate adjustment of the printing roll to proper operative relation to the impression cylinder may be easily effected Without disturbing, or without hindrance from, the mechanism which permits the roll to be temporarily lowered to an inoperative position. The doctor blade mechanism is 50 arranged that it follows the printing roll up and down into its inoperative and operative positions respectively, and said doctor blade mechanism is further readily movable in its entirety to an inoperative, out-of-the-way position facilitating removal of the printing cylinder and replacement thereof. The mounting of the doctor blade mechanism which permits the latter to be swung to an-out-of-the-way position is such that its other adjustments'are not necessarily changed so that it may be readily restored to its normal relationship to the printing roll without readjusting the setting of the various parts. In general, the structure is such that extensive time losses experienced with conventional presses incident to temporary stoppages are efiectively eliminated together with certain advantages in respect to the facility with which various sizes of printing rolls may be mounted in the press without making extensive other changes in the mechanism.

Various changes in the structure may be made while retaining the principles of the invention as referred to in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a printing press, a rotatable printing roll, I

a normally fixed main frame, an auxiliary frame extending around said printing roll and vertically slidably mounted 'on said main frame, said printing roll being journalled in said auxiliary frame, means for vertically adjustably supporting said auxiliary frame and printing roll comprising four posts located respectively adjacent the corners of said auxiliary frame, means for effecting simultaneous predetermined vertical adjustment of said posts to thereby correspondingly adjust said printing roll to and from printing position, mechanism adjustable independently of said means for effecting adjustment of said posts variable, selected distances vertically to thereby adapt the auxiliary frame to support printing rolls of various diameters with their uppermost surface portions at a predetermined elevation in printing position, and means for simultaneously effecting like adjustment of saidposts to the selected variable extent.

2. In a printing press, a rotatable printing roll, a normally fixed frame, an auxiliary frame element vertically slidably mounted on said fixed frame for vertically adjustably supporting said printing roll, and means for-effecting vertical adjustment of said auxiliary frame comprising a post anchored to said auxiliary frame and having a screw threaded portion, a normally fixed bracket having an opening into which said screw threaded post portion projects, an inner sleeve provided with internal screw threading engaging the screw threading on said post within said bracket, an outer sleeve surrounding said inner sleeve, means for interlocking said sleeves for unitary rotary movement while permitting relative vertical movement therebetween, means for locking said outer sleeve to said bracket against vertical movement while permitting rotation thereof, means for rotating said outer sleeve to thereby also rotate said inner sleeve for efiecting vertical movement of said post, and means for effecting independent vertical movement of said post and inner sleeve within said outer sleeve.

3. In a printing press, a rotatable printing roll, a normally fixed frame, an auxiliary frame element vertically slidably mounted on said fixed frame for vertically adjustably supporting said printing roll, and means for effecting vertical adjustment of said auxiliary frame comprising a post anchored to said auxiliary frame and having a screw threaded portion, a normally fixed bracket having an opening into which said screw threaded post portion projects, an inner sleeve provided with internal screw thread-ing engaging the screw threading on said post within said bracket, an outer sleeve surrounding said inner sleeve, means for interlocking said sleeves for unitary rotary movement while permitting relative vertical movement therebetween, means for locking said outer sleeve to said bracket against vertical movement while permitting rotation thereof, means for rotating said outer sleeve to thereby also rotate said inner sleeve for effecting vertical movement of said post, an inner sleeve extension member vertically slidably mounted in said bracket and connected to said inner sleeve so as to permit relative rotation between said inner sleeve and said extension while uniting said sleeve and extension for unitary vertical movement within said bracket, and means connected to said sleeve extension for effecting vertical movement of said extension, said inner sleeve and said post.

i. A printing press according to claim 3 wherein there is also provided a doctor blade structure for removing surplus ink from said printing roll, said doctor blade structure being also vertically adjustably mounted on said normally fixed frame, and means interconnecting said doctor blade structure and said vertically movable post for effecting vertical adjustment of said doctor blade structure simultaneously with vertical adjustment of said printing roll.

In a printing press, a rotatable printing roll, a main frame, an auxiliary frame vertically slidably mounted in said main frame, said printing roll being journalled on said auxiliary frame so as to be thereby vertically adjustably supported, a doctor lade structure for acting on said printing roll, means vertically adjustably mounting said doctor blade structure on said main frame, and means interconnecting said doctor blade structure and said auxiliary frame for effecting unitary vertical adjustment of said auxiliary frame and doctor blade structure to thereby maintain the operative relationship between the doctor blade and printing roll, said interconnecting means comprising a shaft secured to said auxiliary frame in relatively fixed relation thereto, and a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said shaft and secured to said doctor blade structure for transmitting vertical movement of said auxiliary frame and shaft to said doctor blade structure, said doctor blade structure being also pivotally movable about the axis of said shaft from operative relation to said printing roll to an inoperative out-of-the-way position to provide access to said printing roll.

6. In a printing press, a main frame, an auxiliary frame element vertically slidably mounted in said main frame and provided with means for rotatably supporting a printing roll, said auxiliary frame member being adapted to be supported in various positions of vertical adjustment relative to said main frame member to thereby selectively support printing rolls of various diameters with their upper surface portions at a predetermined elevation common to all of the printing rolls, there being a shaft portion adapted to be journalled in said auxiliary frame element for mounting the respective rolls therein, a gear train comprising a main drive gear, a driven gear mounted on said printing roll shaft, a pair of intermediate gears, one of which meshes with said drive gear and. the other of which meshes with said driven gear, clutch means for disengageably connecting said pair of intermediate gears, whereby said printing roll is drivable by said drive gear through said train of gears and whereby said drive gear is adapted to be disconnected from said driven gear by disengagement of said clutch means, means operative through one of said intermediate gears when said clutch is disengaged, to drive said printing roll, and means for mounting said pair of intermediate gears for movement relative to the peripheries of said drive and driven gears to permit driving engagement to be maintained between the respective intermediate gears and said drive and driven gears in various positions of adjustment of said driven gear incident to the employment of printing rolls of various diameters.

7. In a printing press adapted to employ various sized printing rolls with the axes thereof at various positions to locate portions of the printing surfaces of the respective rolls in a common predetermined position, an axially fixed drive gear, a driven gear which is coaxial with the selected size printing roll, means for transmitting rotation from said drive gear to said driven gear comprising a pair of coaxial, interconnected, intermediate gears respectively meshing with said drive and driven gears, means for mounting said intermediate gears for arcuate movement about the axis of said axially fixed drive gear, said mountin means comprising a vertically adjustably mounted supporting member, a sleeve rotatably mounted in said member, means carrying said intermediate gears and rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said sleeve having relatively eccentrically disposed external and internal bearing surfaces for respectively rotatably supporting the sleeve in said member and rotatably supporting said gear carrying means, said eccentrically disposed bearing surfaces serving to effect lateral shifting of the axial position of said intermediate gears as an incident to turning of said sleeve.

8. In a printing press embodying a substantially fixed position impression cylinder and means adjustable radially of said cylinder for supporting various sized printing rolls in operative relation to said impression cylinder, an axially fixed drive gear, a driven gear coaxial with the selected size printing roll, said driven gear being of the same size for all of the various sized printing rolls which may be employed as desired, means for transmitting rotation from said fixed drive gear to said driven gear in each of its various positions incident to the various sizes of printing rolls employed from time to time, comprising a pair of intermediate gears interconnected for the unitary rotation and respectively meshing with said drive and driven gears, means for mounting said pair of gears for arcuate movement about the axis of said drive gear, said mounting means comprising a vertically adjustably mounted supporting member, a sleeve rotatably mounted in said member, means carrying said intermediate gears and rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said sleeve having relatively eccentrically disposed external and internal bearing surfaces for respectively rotatably supporting the sleeve in said member and rotatably supporting said gear carrying means, said eccentrically disposed bearing surfaces serving to effect lateral shifting of the axial position of said intermediate gears as an incident to turning of said sleeve, and means carried by said supporting member for turning said sleeve.

9. A printing press comprising an impression roll, a printing roll mounted for movement from cooperative relationship with said impression roll to such spaced relationship thereto as to permit the sheet material normally to be printed on to pass between said rolls without contacting said printing roll, and means for driving said printing roll embodying a normally fixed drive member, a driven member fixedly connected to said printing roll, and transmission means operatively connected to said drive member and to said driven member, said transmission means comprising a pair of coaxial members respectively operatively connected to said driving means and said driven member, a disengageable clutch interconnecting said pair of members, and an auxiliary drive means connected to the one of said pair of members which is connected to said driven member for driving the latter when said clutch is disengaged.

10. A printing press comprising an impression roll, a printing roll mounted for movement from cooperative relationship with said impression roll to such spaced relationship thereto as to permit the sheet material normally to be printed on to pass between said rolls without contacting said printing roll, and means for driving said printing roll, said driving means embodying a normally fixed drive member, a driven member fixedly connected to said printing roll, and transmission means operatively connected to said drive member and to said driven member, said transmission means being adjustable to permit the same to deliver its power output to said driven member in various locations thereof incident to the employment of various sizes of printing rolls, and said transmission means comprising a pair of members respectively operatively connected to said driving means and said driven member, a disengageable clutch interconnecting said pair of members, and an auxiliary drive means connected to the one of said pair of members which is connected to said driven member, said auxiliary drive means being operative to drive said driven member when said clutch is disengaged.

11. A printing press comprising an impression roll, a printing roll mounted for movement from cooperative relationship with said impression roll

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