US2065535A - Planographic printing machine - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 29, 1936. H. MORSE PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. e, 1935 LIQ y w 22 v Y N 5 t Q um m u #a Q l 1" S Q i; s, 0 I0 '3 A( t@ l\ R 99 @Uw u Q i m FIG'. 1

A FIG.

Dec. 29, 1936. 1 H. MORSE 2,065,535

PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 6, 1935 5 SheetS-Sheet 2 a t f ya Dec. 29, 1936. H. MORSE PLANOGRAPHICPMNTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lOI, PRINTING.

Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES G'CII UII HUUII PATENT' OFFICE PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Lawrence H. Morse, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 6, 1933, Serial No. 696,808

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement for planographic printing machines, and is especially concerned with a repellant applicator for rotary planographic printing presses. p

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, automatic mechanism for readily supplying the proper quantity of repellant to the printing plate, according to the rotation of the latter. y f

A further object is to provide a construction and arrangement of rolls for delivering a suitable chemical solution to a rotating printing plate of the lithographie type, to form a moist coating on the plate as a substitute for the water application in ordinary lithography.

Other features of my invention Will hereinafter be more fully set forth in connection with the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the drawings, wherein the invention is incorporated in a printing machine suitable for lithographie printing. The essential features of the invention will be set forth in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a centrally located vertical section through a planographic printing press having my improved repellant applicator incorporated therein; Fig. 2 is a tcp view of my applicator; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section as indicated by the lines 3--3 on Figs. l and 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my repellant applicator looking from the lrighthand side of Fig. 2; Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views, as indicated by the vcorrespondingly numbered lines on Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the driving mechanism for a fountain roll; Fig. 8 is a sectional detail, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 8-8 on Figs. 5 and '7; Fig. 9 is a sectional detail as in-` dicated by the line 9-9 on Fig. 1.

Referring again to the drawings, and especially to Fig. l, I illustrate one lform of planographic printing machine to which my improved repellant applicator is readily adapted. Such printing machine comprises in general a pair of main frame plates A, spaced apart by suitable transverse frame members C. A pair of supplemental frame plates B, are secured to the respective main frame members A as will be hereinafter more fully described, and support .certain parts of an inking mechanism, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Journalled in the frame plates B is a pattern roll shaft I0, on which a suitable pattern roll II is drivingly secured. This roll carries on its periphery a planographic printing surface, having the image to be printed reproduced thereon in the usual manner. As shown, the printing surface is provided by a removable plate I2, theV end portions of which are held within a gap Illa in the pattern roll.

The plate I2 comprises a comparatively thin, flexible, metallic member, one end of'which is provided with suitableperforations (not shown) but through which lugs I4 carried by the roll II project. The plate I2 is then wrapped about the periphery of the roll and suitable openings (not shown) at the other end thereof embrace lugs I5 carried by a retaining plate I6. The retaining plate is supported by arms I'l, which extend into the gap IIJa of the roll I I, and rotatably embrace the shaft I0. Suitable springs I8 are interposed between the arms I1 and the roll II to draw the plate I2 tightly into contact with the periphery of the roll, and to maintain it taut during the printing operation.

The pattern roll is inked by an inking mechanism to be hereinafter more fully described, and the inked image of the plate I2 transferred to the surface of a transfer or offset roll 20, which lies forwardly (to the left, Fig. 1) of the pattern roll II. As shown in Fig. 1, the oifset roll 2U comprises a cylindrical roll similar to the pattern roll, and is driyingly mounted on a shaft 23, which is journalled in suitable bearings in the main frame A. A blanket 2| composed ofA rubber or other suitable ink-transferring material is secured to a carrier plate 22, which is mounted on the periphery of the roll 20 in the same manner as the pattern plate I2 is mounted on the pattern roll II, heretofore described in detail.

The ink pattern or image which is transferred to the offset roll 20 from the pattern roll I2 is then impressed or transferred to the material to be printed, by such offset roll. As shown in Fig. 1, a suitable platen'roll 30 is driyingly mounted on a shaft 3 I, which is journalled in the frame plate A, beneath the oiset roll 20. The material to be printed is fed over the surface of a suitable guide table 32 to the bite of the offset roll 20 and the platen roll 30, and .thereby receives its impression from the offset roll.

The ink supply is carried ina suitable reservoir or ink fountain E, and is fed to the pattern plate I2 by a pair of spaced form rolls 4I and 42,

lwhich lie to the rear of the pattern roll II, as

fountain roll 44. A suitable flexible fountain plate 45 is secured to the fountain frame, and its lower edge is adjustably maintained against the fountain roll 44 by a series of adjusting screws, one of which isV shown in Fig. 1 at 46.

The ink is removed from the fountain E by the fountain roll 44 and transferred to the form rolls 4I and 42 by suitable ductor roll and a series of transfer and distributor rolls. 'I'he ductor' roll preferably comprises a rubber-covered roll and is rotatably mounted between the upper ends of a pair of rock arms 48, which are secured to a rock shaft 49. 'I'he shaft 49 is oscillated in any wellknown manner, so that the roll 41 moves alternately into contact with the fountain roll 44 and the transfer roll 50, the latter being rotatably journalled in the frame plates B. The transfer roll 50 in turn contacts with a pair of transfer rolls 5I and 52. The roll 52 transfers ink to.l a transfer roll 54, through the medium of a roll 53. The rolls 5I and 54 contact with a distributor roll 55, which, in turn, distributes ink to the two form rolls 4I and 42.

The pattern roll, the offset roll and the platen roll 30, as well as certain of the rolls of the ink fountain, may be driven in any Well-known manner. Suffice it to say that they are driven in synchronism, and that a suitable gear |00 (Fig. 3) is secured to the pattern roll I I to drive the ink repellant applicator, hereinafter to be described in detail.

My invention includes an ink repellant applicator, generally indicated at 60, and which is mounted between a pair of frame plates 51, which are secured to the frame plates B, heretofore mentioned. As shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, a quantity of ink-repellant, which is a chemical solution, is carried in a suitable fountain trough 60, the repellant in the fountain being automatically replenished from time to time, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

Suitable mechanism is provided to transfer the repellant from the fountain roll 6I to the plate I2 in a manner capable of ne adjustment, so that repellants which are required in small amounts with much accuracy may readily be used. Such repellants are generally chemical solutions, usually more viscous than water, but the chemical characteristics thereof forming no part of the present invention.

Mounted with its lower edge in the trough is a fountain roll 6I. The fountain roll 6I is preferably a metallic roll-brass, for instance,-hav ing a knurled or otherwise roughened surface, generally indicated in Fig. 2, at 62. This roughened surface enables the roll, consequent upon its rotation, to pick up a quantity of repellant from the fountain and carry it upwardly along its surface, so that it may be transferred to a suitable ductor roll 63. The knurled or roughened surface of the metallic roll 6I, being devoid of capillary absorption, acts mechanically to raise a small quantity of liquid into position Where the ductor may engage it, without danger of supplying an excess. As hereafter described, this roll 6I is intermittently given a step-by-step rotation, and thus has short periods of rest, enabling surplus liquid to drain from it.

The ductor roll 63 is covered with a felt Aor other liquid absorbent material and is rotatably mounted on a shaft 64, journalled in the upper end of a pair of arms 65 mounted on a suitable rock shaft 66, which, in turn, is journalled in the frame plate 51, and is oscillated to cause the ductor roll 63 to alternately move into contact with the fountain roll 6I and a suitable distributor roll 61. The distributor roll 61 is carried by a suitable shaft 68, which is journalled in the frame plates 51. The roll 61 transfers the repellant to a form roll 15, which is rotatably mounted on a suitable shaft 16, carried by the frame plates 51, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The form roll 15 preferably comprises a rubber roll and lis covered with a layer of felt or other moisture absorbing and retaining material such as molletin and serves to apply a thin coating of moisture to the pattern I2.

In lithographie printing it has been found that the repellant form roll collected ink which remained on the plate or pattern after the transfer to the offset roll of the main body of ink. The accumulation of such ink on the form roll of the repellant applicator has in the past required either frequent changing of the form roll or the addition of mechanism to clean the roll. The latter prolonged the period of time a form roll could be used without removal for a thorough cleaning.

I have found that I may entirely overcome the above named disadvantage,namely, the transfer of: ink from the plate to the repellant form rollby providing suitable transfer and form roll surface coverings. As shown, and heretofore mentioned, the form roll 1 5 is covered with a moisture absorbent felt, such as ingldletin, while the transfer roll 61 is a metallic roll and is covered with a comparatively thin covering of fabric material such as duck, or other woyenafabric of a substantially reglr grain and with little or no fibrous nap, in contrast with the grainless-- brousraterial comprising wthe covering of the form roll. ""M

Theation of these covered rolls 15 and 61 and the pattern I2 is such that the ink does not accumulate on the form roll 15 unless an oversupply is fed to the pattern by the inking mechanism. Hence, this construction eliminates for all practical purposes the accumulation of ink on the repellant formroll. In actual use, the form roll 15 appears to receive a small amount of ink from the pattern I2. However, this ink upon contact with the contrasting fabric of the transfer roll 61 appears to be broken up and is subsequently restored to the pattern I2 when such ink again contacts with the pattern. It is as if the ink has a greater affinity for the pattern than for the repellant-saturated form roll which has been re-supplied with repellant between the time of the removal of the ink from the pattern and the replacement thereof.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 the fountain roll 6I and the form roll 15 of my repellant applicator are positively driven. The form roll 15 is, as heretofore mentioned, rotatably journalled on a shaft 16, one end of which hasV a portion 80, which is journalled in an eccentric bushing 8|. The' other end has an eccentric stub 82, which is journalled in a bushing 83, which is secured to the frame plate 51 by a suitable retaining screw 54. Thus, by rotating the shaft by means of a knob 88, the shaft may be adjusted to move bodily to or from the printing plate I2, thereby regulating and adjusting the pressure between the roll 15 and the printing pattern or plate I2.

As shown in Fig. 3, the left-hand end 86 of the shaft 16 is provided with a series of notches or.

recesses 86, which coact with a spring-pressed plunger or ball 81, so that the shaft may be readily' positioned to any one of a number of predetermined positions, thereby enabling the pressure to be regulated. This arrangement also retains the shaft in the desired position. The bushing 8|, which is eccentrically mounted in the frame, may be given a partial rotation to raise or lower the left-hand end of the shaft 10, and thereby permit the operator to align the roll 13 accurately with the printing plate i2, so as to enable the entire length of the roll to contact with the plate with even pressure. A suitable screw 09 (Fig. 2) secures the bushing in place, once it is adjusted.

The roll 15 is driven from the pattern roll by the medium of the gear |00, heretofore mentioned. As shown in Fig. 3, the gear meshes with a gear 90 of a composite gear member, which is journalled on the bushing 03, and which is drivingly connected through the medium of an Oldham coupling 9|, the inter-engaging portions of which have sufficient lost motion to permit the roll 13 to be driven, under frictional influence with the pattern I2, at a slightly greater speed than the positive drive of the gear. The roll 15 will be positively driven across the gap in the pattern roll to secure a fresh supply of repellant at all times, but when in engagement with the plate, will have a true rolling action thereon, preventing any differences in peripheral speed between the two. The coupling also provides for non-alignment of the axis of the roll and the axis of its driving gear.

The ductor roll shaft 60 is oscillated bya cam 95, which is rotatably mounted on the bushing 83, heretofore described; and coacts with a roller 96, carried by one arm of a bell crank 91, rigidly secured to the ductor roll shaft 00. A suitable spring 98 interposed between the other arm of the bell crank 91 and a relative stationary part of the mechanism maintains the roller 90 in contact with the periphery. of the cam 35.

The cam 95 is driven from Vthe gear |00 heretofore mentioned. As shown, the gear |00 meshes with the gear 90, and a gear member |0| integral with or drivingly secured to the gear 90 meshes with a gear |02, which is rigidly secured to a stub shaft |03, ,iournalled in a suitable bushing |04, carried by the frame vmembers 51. A suitable gear is rigidly secured to the stub shaft |03, and meshes with a gear |06, which is drivingly secured to or integral with the cam member 95, thereby rotating the .cam.

member.

The fountain roll 6| is intermittently give-'riva los. As shown-'at' Figs. l, 4, 5 and '1,.the fountain roll 0| 'is rigidly` partial rotation by the gear.

secured to a shaft H0, journalled in the frame members 51. Secured to the outer end of the shaft ||0 is a ratchet which is intermittently advanced by a pawl Il! carried by a plate H3, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft ||0. A suitable link ||4 is connected at one end to the plate H3, and at the other end to a pin ||5 eccentrically carried by the gear |06. 1n this manner the pawl isintermittently driven to advance the ratchet a number of teeth at a time. A suitable spring ||1 (Fig. 4) serves to maintain the pawl in contact with the ratchet.

The amount of rotative movement imparted to the ratchet wheels is controlled to 'regu late the amount of repellant transferred to the ductor roll 63 from the fountain roll 6I. As shown, a flanged disk |20 is rotatably secured to the shaft |I0, and is provided with a cam surface |2|, which coacts with a pin |22, on the pawl H2, and disengages the pawl from the ratchet ill, at a predetermined point during the roll 03 out of contact with the fountain roll gage the neck stroke of the plate H3. A spring-pressed plunger |23 engages notches |24 in the disk |20, and maintains the disk in any one of several adjusted positions, whereby the position of the cam surface may be adjustably positioned-to change the effective stroke of the pawl ||2. A lever |25 is secured to the disk |20 to enable the operator to readily vary the effective stroke of the pawl H2, as more or less repellant is required.

When the mechanism is idle, it is desirablel to maintain the form roll out of contact with the pattern roll, and also to maintain the ductor 0|. This is useful, for instance, when the mechanism be rotated to change pattern |2. The form roll is readily moved out of contact with the pattern roll I2 by merely turning the knob 08 and adjusting the position of the eccentric shaft 92, heretofore described.

To maintain the ductor roll out of contact with the fountain roll 0|, the operator, immediately before shutting down the machine, throws a lever |30, (Figs. 4 and 5) to the right, thereby placing the lowermost end of the leyer in contact with a pin |3| carried by the arm |32 of the bell crank 91, heretofore described. The spring 98, heretofore mentioned, is connected to the arm |32 of the bell crank and to the upper end of the lever |30 above its pivot |32. The arrangement is such that when the parts are in their normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, the spring 98 serves both to maintain the roller 90 in contact with the periphery of the cam 95 and to maintain the lever |30 idle, that is, swung in a clockwise direction.

When the lever |30 hasI been manually moved i from the idle position shown in Fig. 4 to the operative position shown in Fig. 5, the spring passes from one side to the other of the pivot of the lever |30, and when so positioned the spring serves to maintain the pin I3| on the arm |32 of the bell crank 91 in contact with the lower edge of the lever |30, and also to maintain the lever |30 swung in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 5. The movement of the lever |30 may be restricted in both its counter-'clockwise-'and clockwise directions by any suitable means, such as the boss |34 of the frame plate 51.

I have found it desirable, because of the chemical `characteristics of the repellant, to provide a tively small amount of liquid. I alsofnd it adzvisable to arrange the trough so that the repellant may be automatically replenished and the level of the uid in the trough maintained substantially constant. For this purpose I provide the trough with an upstanding tubular-portion |40, vas shown in Fig. 6, the lower end of the tube opening into the trough, as at |4I, and the upper end provided with suitable threads |42 to enof a bottle or suitable storage reservoir or container |43. Hence, as soon as the repellant is lowered below the bottommost line of the tubular portion |40 of the trough, air will be admitted into the container |43 and will replace enough repellant to bring the level in the trough substantially to the bottom line of the tube |40. v

As heretofore mentioned, the frame members B are carried by the frame A and support lthe pattern roll the in 'ng mechanism and the repellant applicator mechanism. Hence, by moving the frame B relative to the frame A, the

V:pattern is moved away from the offset roll as a unit,4 with the inking and repellant applicator mechanisms. I find this highly advantageous in that after the machine has been idle the pattern roll must be given a number of rotations to properly distribute the ink and repellant thereon before a print may be taken.

It is accordingly preferable to pivot the frame B as at |50 to the main frame plates A and to provide an eccentric arrangement such as the eccentric shaft IBI, Fig. 9, to swing the frame B about its pivots |50 and thereby move the pattern -roll Ii out of contact with the offset roll 20. A suitable lever I 52 is provided to enable the operator readily to adjust the relationship between the frames. The eccentric arrangement above described has been simplified for ease of illustration and may in practical use comprise an arrangement whereby the frames are locked in either of two adjusted positions, namely, with the offset and pattern roll contacting or out of contact as desired by the operator.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that by my invention the liquid repellant is supplied to the plate before the image reaches the first-acting form roller, by means of an applicator roller which is periodically supplied with repellant in a novel manner from a repellant fountain which is automatically maintained lled with repellant to a predetermined level at all times. The repellant applicator rollers, by means of their peculiar coverings, are adapted to return to the plate image any ink which may be offset therefrom temporarily onto the repellant form roll. The throw-off device enables the repellant applicator, the inking system and pattern roll to be operated together without making a transfer whenever desired, to elfect the most desirable distribution of ink and repellant. These'various characteristics provide a very effective device suitable to produce planographic printing bythe employment of ink and a repellant in the form of a chemical solution.

I claim:

1. In a planographic printing machine, the combination of a trough to contain liquid, a fountain roll having a roughened metallic surface. coacting with the liquid in said trough, a bodily shiftable ductor roll having a comparatively thick liquid absorbent andstorage covering arranged to intermittently coact with said fountain roll, a roll to receive liquid from said ductor roll, said last-named roll having a comparatively thin fabric covering, and means to transfer moisture from said last-named roll to a printing plate.

2. In a planographic printing machine having a plate, the combination oi a receptacle adapted to carry liquid, a fountain roll immersed in said receptacle and having a roughened surface, means for rotating the fountain roll, a bodily movable ductor roll and means for causing it to periodically engage the fountain roll in a region between the liquid and the top of the fountain roll on that side of the fountain roll which has just left the liquid.

3. In a moistening system for a planographic printing machine, the combination of a trough adapted to carry liquid, means for maintaining the liquid at a constant level, a roller adapted to be immersed in the liquid in said trough and having a non-absorbent roughened surface, means for giving periodic partial rotations to the fountain roll to cause it to lift liquid bodily from the trough, a bodily movable ductor roll, and means for causing it to contact periodically with an upwardly moving region of said roller directly above the trough, whereby the ductor roll may carry away moisture raised by the trough roller.

4. In a planographic printing machine the combination o f means for carrying the plate, a form roll having a rubber sheathsurrounded by fabric, an intermediate roll having a thin fabric covering, a ductor roll having an absorbent iibrous covering, a metallic fountain roll having a roughened surface, and means for moving the ductor roll between the metallic fountain roll and the fabric-covered intermediate roll.

5. In a planographic printing machine, the combination of a form roll covered with a moisture-absorbing fibrous material, a transfer roll coacting therewith and comprising a non-absorbent body covered with a comparatively thin covering of woven fabric material of substantially regular grain with little or no fibrous nap, in contrast with grainless fibrous material, covering the form roll, a fountain roll, and means for feeding repellant from the fountain roll to the transfer roll. i

6. In a planographic printing machine, a fountain adapted to carry liquid, a metallic surfaced fountain roll adapted to be immersed in the liquid, meansy to impart an intermittent rotative motion to said roll, a metallic transfer roll covered with a woven fabric having substantially no nap thereon, one resilient form roll in contact with said transfer roll and adapted to transfer liquid to a printing member and a ductor roll covered with absorbent material adapted to transfer liquid from the fountain roll to the form roll.

LAWRENCE H. MORSE.

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