US1860132A - Cleaning and drying machine - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1932. A. E. BROADSTON CLEANING AND DRYING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1929 INVENTOR M fflm a m ATTOBNEY:

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /77L ATTORNEY:

May 24, 1932.

A. E. BROADSTON CLEANING AND DRYING MACHIN E Filed Nov. 18, 1929.

BY M

6 Sheets-Sheet '3 ATTORN 5Y5 May 24, 1932. A. E. BROADSTON CLEANING AND DRYING MACHINE Fild Nov.l8, i929 May 24, 1932.

A. E. BROADSTON CLEANING AND DRYING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Npv. 18, 1929 lea-EN. A

umlwn niml I I I May 24, 1932. A. E. B' ROADSTON H CLEANING AND DRYI G MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 18, 1929 y 1932. A. E. BROADSTON 1,860,132

CL EANING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 24, 1932 .7 ANDREW E.- Bnoenscron, or nonwoononro', Assranon To THEL NITED STATES IrL'A'Y IR'G cleanest/teeny, or nonwoon, oirlo} A cortroiaarro'n on OHIO omen-rue Ann eme meonjrnn Application filed November 18, 1929.1 seia1"1wo. 4ov,ss7.

This invention relatestoa machine for removing excess metal dust from printed or lithographed surfaces. While the machineand method ofthisinvention may be adapted for many spec'ificuses, theinvention willbe explained in relation to removing the excess metal dust from lithographed surfaces such as those of playing cards.

Thesercards are usuaily printed on large sheets in a multiple of the individual unit and later cut. Metal dust is-applied when desired by lithographing an adhesive over the portion of the sheet tolbe bronzed, silvered or gilded, then applying the metal dust to the whole sheet. The metal dustin the main ad; heres to the portion coated with adhesive but particles remain over theientire surface,

In the past it has been necessary :to stack the sheets as they come from the press which applied the metal dust, with extra-sheets between the l-ithographed sheetsto prevent sets ting-off and. then after the sheets vere dry to conditions outlined.

run them through a. second: machine which would polish off the excess metal dust. This required. considerable time and: manual work as will be obvious from a consideration of the Nowthe machine of this invention, while suitable fordusting the dry sheets, is likewise suitable forremoving the excess metal dust while wet as thesheets come from the presson which :the metal dust was applied;

It is therefore to be observed that the pri{ mary object of thisinvention is to provide a method and machine for removing the ex? 7 cess metal dust from printed and .lith'o-r graphed surfaces and particularly from freshly lithographed or printed surfaces.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully set forth in a description ofthe accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine. I

Figure 2 is a sectional 2+2, Figure 1. Figure 3 1s aview taken onj line Figure 4c is avi'ew of the left side of the malongitudinal secti on; i vie W taken on line 3-3, Figure2.

'. Figure 5 is an enlarged; view, fragmentary of Figure 2, but of enlarged dimension, illus- Figure 9 is a' sectionalviewtaken on line 9-9, Figure 'Z,il1ust ting the lower adjustable blanket roll bearing. i

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line l0l0, Figure l showing the relative positions of all theparts- I V Figure 11 is a greatly enlarged View of one of the'cleaner belts in cross section, Show ing it'operatingupon a sheet of card board.

The machine of this invention comprises three major subcomb inations. The first is the dusting or brushing unit; the second, is theconvey ng or feeding mechanism for presenting the-lithographed surfaces. to the brushing unit; the third is a mechanism for vtrating the gearing andthe cam and lever f dispensing adrying powder evenly overthe iithogr phed surface prior to its presentation to the brushing unit. r v v The brushing unit comprises a senies of cleaner belts the outer surfaces of which are of afabriehavinga soft pile. Adjacent belts traveiin opposite directions. At thejend of the-beits a brush isprovided for'removing the dust therefrom. Beneath j the belts of the brushing unit is an endless conveyor which belongsto the feeding group, The

conveyor travel-s at i right angles or trans versely to :the belts o'f'the brushing unit. This endiess conveyor is suitably provided with power, driven rollers and appropriate complementary 1dl1n grolisafor feeding, the

sheets to the endless,convey0rbeneath the brushing unit and removing the sheets therefrom. Immediatelyrabove the initial feedingv rollers is locatedqa container-for talc,;a dust'of magnesia andFren'ch chalk, or some other appropriate drying or polishingflpowde-r. This container is agitated preferably V periodically to discharge the powder on the lithographed sheetbefore its presentation to the'brushing unit.

The'entire machine is driven by an electric motor. .Motion reducing mechanism is used in orderto give the belts of the brushing unit a relatively rapid motion compared to that of the sheet feeding mechanism.

In detail the machine comprises heavy side frames 15, 15 in which are located the bear ings for the parallel roller shafts of the sheet feeding-mechanism as well as various power shafts. Secondary frames 16; 16 are provided extending between the heavy journal 15- frames 15, 15. In these latter frames 16, 16 are mounted the bearings for the parallel shafts of the brushing unit' Below theframes16,,16 is a box, 17 disposed so that the powder and metal dustremoved from the sheets may fall into it and be conveniently removed from the machine as desired. At the right hand side of Figure 2 is disclosed (in dot and dash lines) the endless conveyor 18 by which the sheets19, are removed from the machine which applied the metal dust to them.

Rubbing this endless conveyor and rotated rev-ersely thereto is a feed-in roller 20 having above it a complementary idling roller 21. The roller 20 is covered with mohair and functions to brush the chalk and gold dust from the conveyor belt 18. The dust is removed from the roller 20 by means of a scraper 20 disposed longitudinally thereof and below. Adjacent to this feed-in roller is disposed the endless conveyor 18 which presents the-sheets- 19 to the brushing unit.

This belt or conveyor is engaged by three rollers 23, 24, 25, on the feed-in side of the brushing unit, roller 24 on the take-out side 7 of the brushing unit, and a tension roller 25 below the center of the brushing unit. The endless conveyor 18 passes around these three rollers. Anidler roller 26 is provided above the endless conveyor over the first mentioned-roller of the endless conveyor system.

The lower third roller is adj ustably mount- [ed to provide the desired tension for the endless co nveyorand to properly. align the conveyor on its rollers. Idler rollers 26 are provided at the intake and discharge end of the conveyor belt,these rollers mounted in the cross frame walls above and'at each end of a table 26? over which the conveyor 22 moves during carriage of the sheet through the brushes. As-disclosed (see Figures 7 i and 9), slideways 27 are formed on the inner frame in'which a bearing frame 28 for the roller is slidably disposed. There are two of these slidable bearings blocks, one at each end of the roller. Fromeach bearing block a threaded rod, 29 extends downwardly through a boss30 extending outwardly from the frame work. A nut 31 is provided on the lower end of each threaded rod for the purpose of adjusting the bearing on the slideways to apply the appropriate tension to the endless conveyor.

The bearing frame or cradle 28, in each in-. stance, is of U-form and a pair of half bearing seats are formed in the face thereof, one in each arm, these seats journalling the trunnions 32 extending from diametrically opposite sides of a swinging bearing box 33. Bearalignment the roller is not bound in its bearings. Adjacent to the take-out end of *theendless conveyor two rollers 37, 38, and complementary idling rollers 39, 40, are pro- 0 a 9' vided.

The sheet conveying" rollers are driven as follows: A power shaft 41 is mounted in the lower portion'of the outer frame parallel to the conveying rollers. On the outer end of vertical adjustment for proper conveyor-'9 the power shaft is a sprocket wheel 42; Over the tal'ze-outrollers is journalled a countershaft 43, having a sprocket wheel 44 on'one end. The counte'rshaft 43 is connected to the power shaft by a chain 45 passing over the sprocket wheels 42, 44', on the ends of the respective shafts. The countershaft is utilized to apply'power to the brushing unit. A

sprocket wheel 46 at the'end of this counter shaft, opposite to the one connected to the power shaft, is connected by a chain 47 to a' sprocket gear 48'on a trunnion ofthe feed-in roller 20. The diameters of the sprocket wheels are so chosen as to rotate the feed-in roller at the desired speed. As disclosed the motion is somewhat reduced.

The endless conveyor 18'for presenting the sheets to'the brushing unit is driven by the roller 24 at its take-out end. On the outer end of the roller shaft 24 is locatedagear wheel 49 which is driven by a second gear 50slightly smaller. in diameter, said gear being'mounted in a side member 51 ofsthe outer frame, and this gear. 50 drivenby a still smaller gear 52 on the end of the countershaft i just on the outside of the pinion which is connected to the feed-in roller. Through the gear arrangement shown, the endless con veyor is drivenat the same speed as the'feedin roller. i i

As noted before there are'two take-out roll- I25 2 ers 37, 38. The outer one 37 of these is driven from the roller 24 which drives-the endless conveyonthe mechanism disclosed comprismg a sprocket wheel 53 on the take-out roller 38, a sprocketwheel 54 on the roller of the endless conveyor just inside of thee gear wheel 49 and a chainpassing around said sprocket wheels; This mechanism is best illustrated in Figure l.

The other cleaning or wiping roller 38 mohair covered and is driven from a countershaftwhlchis provided with a'gear 56 mounted just on the inside ofthe sideframe. A second and larger gear 57 isflmountefd below a it in the side frame, and a thirdgear Wheel 58 is mounted belowthe second 'gea'r wheel on the shaft of the take out roller 37 Through this gearing the roller 38 is driven I at a considerably greater rate of speed than the conveyor driving roller and for this 'rea-,

son Wipes or cleans the underside of the sheet as it passes through. A scraper blade 38 is'disposed longitudinally beneath the roller and removes thedusttherefrom Brushing The brushing unit comprises four parallel shafts 5 9lying in the same horizontal plane, said shafts disposed at each side of and above the endless conveyor and at right angles to the feed-inrollers. Theyinner two of these shafts are driven by means of spiral gears 60 mounted on the countershaft above and at right angles to spiral gears 61 mounted on the ends ofthe shafts of the brushing unit. These gears 60, 61, are protected from dust and dirt by cases 62. These cases 62, Figures 2 and 7, are secured to the frame and have bosses 63 extending intothe frame, these:

bosses axially traversed by the shafts 5 and carrying packing and ball bearings for the shafts surrounding the same. The gears 60 are keyed 'to the countershaft and are journailed in ball bearings fi l mounted in the cases 62. Ball bearing and packingjournal boxes 65(are provided at those ends ofv the shafts 59 which do not carry gears, these boxes being suitably secured to the fiame.

Thegears 60, 61, are disposed so as to'driv'el the shafts 59 to whichthey connect, in 'o'p posite directions. 7 V

Each shaft of the brushing unit carries a plurality of pulley wheels K55, three as disclosed. 'Pulley wheels on alternate shafts are located in alignment. This arrangement constitutes the outertwo shafts 59, as idler shafts. Belts '67 pass over these pulley wheels so that each inner or driving shaft moves three belts which pass in reach, instance over apulleywheel on: the outer shaft at the opposite end of the unita These belts are preferably composed: of a fabric having a soft pile ornap (see' Figure 11) adaptedto brush the excess metal dust from thelithographed surfaces without marring the suit.- faces. The centers of these. belts are just above the endlessconveyorso that "the slack ofthe belts causes them when in motion to the endless conveyor; if Y H V vP waai aisipemag u nz't y This unit comprisesla box: 68 in'which'is 'rotatably mounted areceptable 69 adapted to contain" the, drying powder,- said .re'ceptacle having a lid orsdoor70 through whi'ch' the powder may be introduced.- The -recep.-:

tacle' ispreferably' composedof a spider or framework 7 1 and f screening 72 partially or in' whole, or some other porous material sur rounding theffr'amework. 'Theaxis of the receptacle i disposed parallel to'th'econveyershafts. Below this receptacle is "a chut'eg73 brush the lithogra phed surfaces disposed on which slantsldownwardliy and forwardly t'o is in mesh withthe gear 74 on the feed-in roller. Above this double gearis a sh aft 76' one end of which is journalled in the main frame, and the other end of Wll-lGh'lS journalled in the look '68'about the powder;

containing receptacle. On this shaft is a gear 77 which is in mesh with the small g'ear:78' of thetwo gears on the feed-in roller so'that this upper shaft turns; but once to man revolutions of the feed i 11 1 l inner side of the outer frame 'z'ibo'veithis lge'ar v On the other end of this upper 'shaftadj'av cent 'to the boxa cam 7 9 is secured which actuate's a lever 80 pivoted on the shaft 81 r of the powder containing receptacle. the same shaft 81 and keyed to itis'at r'atchet' wheel 82 which is preventedfromiturning backwardly by a pawl 83 formedof aspring plate having; its mounted"endfsecured be- On the upper endof the lever 80 adapted to be actuated by the 'cam', a pawl 85 is pivoted and adapted to operate the ratchet so that the cam actuates the lever and thelever operates the ratchet wheel whichis onfthe samefshaft 'as the receptacle. The lever 80 is loosely pivotedon the hub of the ratchet Wheel.

',A set screw 85 i sadjustablymountedon e the end of the x68 for engaging the arm and limiting the movementof'the pawl 85 as the lever 80 swingsdueto gravity-when un supported by the cam.p Thus the receptacle is slowly and periodically rotated and agitated to shake out the drying-out'powder and cause a it to dropby gravity; down the-chute and onto the lithographed surface which' issupported at the time on the endless conveyor; a

It is to be particularly noted that thebear ings u'sed througl'iout the entire device, with tween a pair'of lugs 84 on the side of the box. 1

the exception of the bearings for the shaft incidental to the operation of the receptacle,

are mounted in ball bearings. The journal boxes contain aball bearing raceway, a packing adapted to store lubricant and a closure member adapted to keep the dust outf'It is to be understood that considerable dust is created by the operation of this'machine and der. Beneath each set of idler pulleys of the brushingunit and parallel to the shaft thereof are locatedbristle brushes 86 which contact the-pile of the belt. The belts arev so rotated that any particular portion of the belt-travels from'the' sheet being brushed to this belt brush which removes the dust from the belt and prepares it to take up more dust.

The frame of the machine is formed to provide sealed chambers 87 below the respec tive bristle brushes 86, these chambers having downward continuations in' the form of sheet metalbins 88 secured to the frame. The drawers or boxes 17 are supported on the bottoms of the respective bins and are disposed laterally thereinto through openings 89 in the sides of the frame. The used powder is deposited down through the chambers and bins into the drawers and removed, via the drawers. 7

It is to be observed that thisv system is adapted for brushing either dried, printed,

or lithographed surfaces or freshly lithographed surfaces in which case multiple handling of sheets is obviated.

The chalk deposited periodically on the surface of the printed sheet coming through the machine, acts as a carrier for the excess of loose metal dust. It will be understood that the dust coating on the sheet coming through is still in a moist condition being spread on adhesive applied a short time before. The necessary amount of the dust adheres to the adhesive coated portions of the sheet but considerable excessis spread looselv overthe sheet. j The chalk tends to render the dust coat= ing on the adhesive more viscous or sticky, but at the sametime acts to minglewith any loose particles scattered about the surface of the sheet. ,The still moist sheet enters the region below the brushing unit and is subject .ed to the action of the brushing belts. As

mentioned before the driving tension is in gion.

per.

pile and the slack lengths of belting engage the sheet lightly and always at the same pres sure which is never under any undue force.

The belts are comparatively narrow and 'move at great speed as compared'with the motion of the sheet through the brushing re- Any smearing tendency of one belt is immediately counteracted by the next adjacent'belt moving in the reverse'direction.

Furthermore the provision of narrow belts movlng in reverse d1rections prevents the sheet from being displaced laterally .on the conveyor and stabilizes its movement.

The bristle brushes upon the respective ends, of the brushing unit remove any dust,

chalk, or foreign matter from eachbelt be.'

fore it proceeds across the surface of the pa- This constant cleaning prevents any accumulation of dust, ink, or foreign matter on the pile of the belts.

v The machine is highly eflicient in its work and although the sheets, taken therefrom and stacked, are still in condition which would permit of smearing if a heavy pressure and Wiping action were exerted thereon, the machine hasthoroughly cleansed the surface without harming the dust coated surfaces.

Having described my invention, 1 claim: l. A machine for removing metal dust from lithographed surfaces comprising, two shafts, a plurality of pulley wheelsmounted on each of said shafs, a series of belts mounted on said pulley wheels, a second'p'air' of shafts 1n the same horizontal plane as the first set of shafts having bearings in substantially the same vertical plane as the first set of shafts, a plurality of pulleys on each of said shafts of said second set, a plurality of belts mountedon said pulleys, the pulleys of said first set and said second set alternating, a power shaft running at right angles to said shafts on which the'pulleys are mounted, connection between said power shaft and two of said pulley shafts to move said sets of belts in opposite directions, and means for conveying the lithographed surfaces beneath said belts at a level to be light ly brushed thereby.

'2. A machine for removing metal dust from lithographed surfaces comprising, two

' shafts, a plurality of pulley-wheels mounted von each of said shaftyavseries of belts mounted on said pulley wheels, a second pair of shafts in the same horizontal plane as the first set of shafts having bearings 1n substantially the same vertical plane as the first set of shafts, a plurality-of pulleys on each of said shafts of saidsecond set, a plurality of belts mounted on said pulleys, the-pulleys of said first set and said'second set alternating, a power shaft running atright angles to said shafts on which the pulleys are mounted, (3011+ nection between said power shaft and two of 7 said pulley shafts to move said sets of belts in opposite directions, and means for conveying the lithographed surfaces beneath said belts at a level to be lightly brushed thereby,

said mechanism driven by said power shaft;

3. A machine for removing metal dust y from lithographed surfaces, comprising, two

shafts. a plurality of pulley wheels mounted i on each of said shafts, a series of belts mounts ed on said pulley wheels, a second pair of shafts in the same horizontal plane as the first set of shafts having bearings in substantially the same vertical plane as the first set of shafts, a plurality of pulleys on each of said shafts of said second set, a plurality of belts mounted on said pulleys, the pulleys of 7 said first set and said second set alternating,

apower shaft running at right angles to said shafts on which the pulleys are mounted, connection between said power shaft and two of said pulley shafts to move said sets of belts, in opposite directions, means for conveying the lithographed surfaces beneath said belts at a level to.be lightly brushed thereby, said mechanism comprising an endless conveyor immediately beneath the belts,

said conveyor driven from one end of said power shaft, a take-out roller adj acentto the end of the conveyor, said roller driven from the other end of said power shaft, a second i take-out roller adjacent to the first take-out roller, said second take-out roller driven the endless conveyor, and a feed-in roller adjacent to the other end of said endless conveyor, said feed-in roller driven from said power shaft by means of a chain.

4. In a machine of the class described, an endless conveyor, means for driving said endless conveyor, a series of belts disposed transversely across the surface of the conveyor, said belts having a heavy nap, and means for driving adjacent belts in reverse direc-' tions, said driving motion imparted to the belts in such wise as to exert the driving force on the upper portions thereof whereby the lower portions are slack.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe" my nam e. s ANDREW E. .BROADSTON.

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