US3914974A

US3914974A - Lithographic plate bending arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3914974A
Application number: US462231A
Authority: US
Inventors: William Devore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-04-19
Filing date: 1974-04-19
Publication date: 1975-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-28

Abstract

A bending jig for lithographic plates to provide precise bends in the leading edge and trailing edge thereof. The lithographic plate to be bent is supported on a plate support mounted in a support frame and a leading edge anvil and a trailing edge anvil are provided adjacent opposite ends of the plate support. Positioning means are provided for accurately positioning each lithographic plate in the jig in order that the bends may be made accurately and repetitively in lithographic plates. Bending bars are provided for moving in lithographic plate bending relationship to the leading edge anvil and trailing edge anvil to provide the bends in the plate required for mounting the plate accurately in the cylinder of an offset press.

Description

[ Oct. 28, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 DeVore [54] LITHOGRAPHIC PLATE BENDING ARRANGEMENT Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Don B. Finkelstein [76] Inventor: William DeVore, 5006 Rolling Meadows Road, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. 90275 [57] ABSTRACT A bending jig for lithographic plates to provide precise bends in the leading edge and trailing edge thereof. The lithographic plate to be bent is supported on a plate support mounted in a support frame and a leading edge anvil and a trailing edge anvil are provided adjacent opposite ends of the plate support. Position ing means are provided for accurately positioning each lithographic plate in the jig in order that the bends may be made accurately and repetitively in M mm uul

4 mm 7 u 9 l m 3 "U H mm r. 2 u 6 "6 A 4 In 0 In our;m d m. d 6 S .l- .d D. m.. F A UIF ll. 1]] 2 l 2 8 2 2 555 [i [ll lithographic plates. Bending bars are provided for [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS moving in lithographic plate bending relationship to the leading edge anvil and trailing edge anvil to provide the bends in the plate required 72,319 for mounting the 72/319 plate accurately in the cylinder of an offset press.

22 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures nmmw mums H. O kKLG 0 9 i 8 180 10/1925 Kelleher........... 869 1/1936 US. Patent 0a. 28, 1975 Sheet 1 of6 3,914,974

VACUUM PUMP II/ill]! VIII/III U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of6 3,914,974

US. Patent 00. 28, 1975 Sheet 3 of6 3,914,974

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet4 0f6 3,914,974

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet5 0f6 3,914,974

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet6of6 3,914,974

LITHOGRAPHIC PLATE BENDING ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to bending jigs and, more particularly, to lithographic plate bending jigs having leading end and trailing end bending sections for conforming the leading and trailing ends, respectively, of the lithographic plate to the bend requirements of the plate cylinder of an offset printing press.

2. Description of the Prior Art The thickness of the lithographic plates employed in the printing industry may vary from comparatively thin plates having a cross-sectional dimension of for example 0.006 inch to thicker plates having cross-sectional dimensions of for example 0.020 inch. Known prior art bending jigs have generally been designed to provide lithographic plate bending when used for bending lithographic plates of one specified thickness. As a consequence, it if were desired to have a capability of bending lithographic plates of different thicknesses, a separate bending jig was required for each thickness. Otherwise, if lithographic plates having a thickness in excess of the specific design thickness for the particular bend ing jig were utilized, such thicker plates were severely stressed during the bending process, resulting in early fatigue failure in the plate as well as distortion of the image area thereon. If a thinner plate than the specific design thickness for the particular bending jig were utilized, the bends in such thinner plates were not accurately completed and the plates would be misaligned on the press resulting in improper registration.

Moreover, with many of the bending jigs heretofore in use, the plates were further stressed at the completion of the bending cycle, since it was necessary to flex the plate outwardly at the locus of the bend in order to remove the plate from the jig.

Further, many prior art bending jigs for lithographic plates did not clamp the plates securely during the bending operation which also resulted in plate misalignment when the plates were installed in the cylinder of 16 in the press.

Other prior art benders did not allow for rapid, accurate and repetitive positioning of the sequential plates, which often resulted in misregistration of images during the printing operation, since a plurality of such plates having the same basic images thereon are utilized to produce multi-colored prints.

Since the cylinders in different presses may require different types of bends in the lithographic plates, it is also desirable, from the standpoint of the manufacturer of the bending jigs, to incorporate a basic design of a bending jig requiring only minimum changes to the jig to provide different shaped bends.

In view of the limitations of the prior art bending jigs, it would of course, be advantageous to provide a single lithographic plate bending jig which would automatically adjust to and bend a plate having any thickness desired without additional stress and which would permit removal of the bent plate from the jig without reverse flexing of the plate at the locus of the bend. In addition, it would be advantageous to provide a simplified locating system for rapidly, accurately and repetitively positioning lithographic plates in the bending jig prior to commencing the bending cycle on each plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lithographic plate bending jig arrangement.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bending jig capable of making bends in lithographic plates of various thicknesses without image distortion or overstress thereto.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lithographic plate bending jig in which the lithographic plate may be quickly and easily removed after bending without overstressing It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lithographic plate bending jig in which lithographic plates may be accurately, rapidly, and repetitively positioned for bending.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lithographic plate bending jig that may be rapidly and economically modified to accommodate different shaped bends.

The above and other objects are achieved in a preferred embodiment of the invention by providing a bending jig having leading and trailing bending sections for conforming the leading and trailing ends respectively, of a lithographic plate to the bend requirements of the plate cylinder of an offset printing press.

The jig comprises a plate support mouned on a support frame. A first or leading edge anvil having a leading end bend portion is disposed adjacent to a forward edge of the plate support and a second or trailing end anvil having a trailing end bend section comprised of primary and secondary bend portions is disposed adjacent to rear edge of the plate support. At least one of the anvils for example, the second anvil, is movable with respect to the plate support between an outer,

plate bending position and an inner, plate removal position.

The lithographic plate in which the bends are to be made is placed on the plate support with the leading edge overlying the first or leading edge anvil and the trailing edge overlying the second or trailing edge anvil.

Positioning means are provided to allow accurate, rapid and repetitive positioning of lithographic plates in the jig to provide identical bends in a plurality of plates. The positioning means may comprise a plurality of upstanding positioning pins movably mounted on the frame with respect to the plate support and adjacent one of the anvils, for example the second or trailing edge anvil. The pins are insertable into pre-punched pin apertures in the lithographic plate and the pins are movable from a first or aligning position during which the plate is being positioned and a second or retracted position during which the plate is bent and removed from the jig. The positioning means may also comprise one or more clamp means for releasably clamping the lithographic plate to the plate support during bending, vacuum holding means for holding the plate to the plate support during bending, and/or scribed guide lines on the plate support for alignment with corresponding lines on the plate.

Bending bar means are movably mounted on the support frame for movement in plate bending relationship to the first and second anvils to provide the desired bends in the plate. The bending bar means comprises a leading edge bender bar for forming the leading edge bends in the lithographic plate and a trailing edge bender bar for making the trailing edge bends. Each of the bender bars are releasably securable in a first or bending position to main journal blocks. Mounting means support the main journal blocks on the support frame and the mounting means allows both resilient, rectilinear movement of the main journal blocks with respect to the support frame, to allow accommodation of lithographic plates of different thicknesses, as well as pivotal motion thereof about a main pivot pin having a main pivot axis during plate bending.

The main pivot pin is mounted on the support frame and the main journal blocks are pivotally mounted thereon and movable from a first position during plate insertion and removal to a second position at the completion of the bend.

The initial movement of the trailing edge bender bar adjacent the trailing edge anvil contacts the positioning pins and frees them from the plate for pivotal movement of the pin to the retracted position so they do not interfere with the plate bending operation.

After the bend is made, the bender bars may be released from the bending condition on the main journal blocks for pivotal movement independently of the main journal blocks away from the anvil on a secondary pivot pin about a secondary axis to a plate release position to allow removal of the plate from the jig. The sec ondary pivot pin is mounted on the main journal blocks in outwardly spaced relationship from the main pivot pin and the bender bars are pivotally mounted on the secondary pivot pin.

Clamp means and/or vacuum holding means are then released and the second anvil moved to the inner or plate removal position. The bent plate may then be easily removed from the jig.

After the plate is removed, the bender bars are rotated about the secondary axis and releasably secured to the main journal blocks which are then rotated to the first position and releasably secured in the first position to the support frame.

When it is desired to insert another plate, the second anvil is moved to the other or plate insertion position, the positioning pins are moved into the first or aligning position from the second or retracted position.

The bender bars are released from the journal blocks for pivotal movement about the secondary pivot pins to move the bender bars away from the anvils to a plate insertion position during plate insertion while leaving the journal blocks in the first position. The plate is then positioned in the jig by the positioning means, as above described.

The bender bars are then pivoted about the second-- ary pivot pins and releasably secured to the journal blocks, the mounting means of the journal blocks allowing rectilinear movement thereof to permit the bender bars to be properly positioned on the plate regardless of plate thickness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other embodiments of the present invention may be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 and 2 illustrate a lithographic plate that may be bent on the bending jig of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the installation of a lithographic plate bent on a bendingjig in accordance with the principals of the present invention on the cylinder of an offset press.

FIG. 4 is a perpective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view illustrating certain aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view illustrating other aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, are views illustrating the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate other aspects of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate other aspects of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 a lithographic plate 10. FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of the lithographic plate 10 prior to bending in the bending jig of the present arrangement. The lithographic plate 10 has an image 12 thereon and is prepunched with a plurality of pin receiving apertures 14 therethrough adjacent a trailing edge thereof. The location of the apertures 14 is precise and they are positioned to be in register with the holding pins in the cylinder of the offset press, as described below.

In the plate 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the pin receiving apertures 14 are adjacent to trailing edge 16. It will be appreciated that the pin receiving apertures could also be positioned adjacent the leading edge 18, depending upon the location of the pins in the cylinder of the press. Alternatively, other means for aligning the lithographic plate 10 on the cylinder of the press maybe provided. The operation of the bending jig of the present invention may be satisfactorily accomplished regardless of the particular type of registration system utilized.

In order to secure the lithographic plate 10 to the cylinder of the offset press, it is desired to provide bend lines as indicated by the dotted lines A, B and C. In this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the lithographic plate 10, it is desired to make a single bend adjacent the leading edge 18 along the line A and two bends adjacent the trailing edge 16 along the lines B and C. However, as described below in greater detail, any number of bends maybe provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention adjacent either the leading edge 18 or trailing edge 16. The terms leading edge and trailing edge are utilized herein for convenience of nomenclature and are not intended to be interpreted in a limiting sense on the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the lithographic plate 10 after it has been bent along the lines A, B and C in the bending jig of the present invention. After the lithographic plate 10 has been formed with the bends shown in FIG. 2 it may be carefully installed on the cylinder of the press. FIG. 3 illustrates the lithographic plate 10 is installed on the cylinder 20 of an offset press. Since it is necessary to utilize a plurality of lithographic plates to provide a multicolored printed image, registration of each of the lithographic plates on the cylinder 20 must be precisely accomplished. Accordingly, both the bend lines A, B and C as well as the location of the pin receiving apertures 14 must be as precise as possible in order to avoid off-registration during the printing operation when uti lizing, sequentially, different lithographic plates to form a given multicolored image.

The thickness T of the lithographic plate may vary, for example, between 0.006 inches to 0.020 inches. This is the comparatively standard range of lithographic plates. Therefore, in order to avoid misregistration the bending jig must make the bends A, B and C precisely in the same location and with the same angularity in plates of these varying thicknesses. In prior art jigs of conventional design, they were usually designed to accommodate a single thickness of lithographic plate. If thinner plate were bent on such a prior art bending jig the bends A, B and C would not be precisely made and consequently misalignment and misregistration of the image area 12 would occur after installation on the cylinder of the offset press. Alternatively, if a thicker plate than the design thickness were installed, the lighographic plate 10 would be stressed causing fatigue failure in the plate and, in some instances, distortation of the image area 12 and consequent misregistration of the image when sequential printing operations occurred with different plates.

As a visual aid in providing alignment of the plate 10 scribe lines 22 extending laterally outwardly from for example, the image area 12 maybe provided for purposes as hereinafter described.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is illustrated an embodiment 24 of a bending jig for lithographic plates in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The bending jig 24 is generally comprised of a support frame 26 having a trailing end 28 and a leading end 30. The support frame 26 is also provided with a first pair of

upstanding support plates

32 and 34 adjacent the trailing end 28 and a second pair of

upstanding support plates

36 and 38 adjacent the leading end of the support frame 26.

A plate support 40 is coupled to the support frame 26 and has a'leading end 40a and 40b, as shown in FIG. 5.

Anvil means, generally designated 44 are mounted on the support frame 26 adjacent the plate support 40. The anvil means 44 generally comprises a leading edge anvil 46 adjacent the leading edge 40a of the plate support means 40 and spaced therefrom by the leading edge mounting block 40a which is utilized to support the plate support 40 on the support frame 26. In this embodiment of the invention the leading edge anvil 46 is rigidly mounted on the support frame with respect to the plate support 40. Leading edge anvil 46 has a bend portion 48 ,having a predetermined bend shape. As shown on FIG. 5 the predetermined bend shape for the trailing edge anvil 46 is indicated by the letter E and is an acute angle. However, the angle E may be any angle required for bending the lithographic plate 10 to match the installation requirements in the cylinder 20 of an offset press.

The anvil means 44 also comprises a trailing edge anvil 50 adjacent the trailing end 40b of the plate support 40. In this embodiment of the invention the trailing edge anvil 50 is slidably mounted on the support frame 26 for rectilinear movement towards and away from the trailing end 40!; of the plate support 40. Thus,

FIG. 5 shows the trailing edge anvil 50 in a plate bending position wherein the lithographic plate 10 may be bent, as is more fully described hereinafter. The trailing edge anvil 50 is movable from the plate bending position shown in FIG. 5 through a plate removable position by moving the distance H towards the trailing end 40b of the plate support 40.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view illustrating the structure utilized in the preferred embodiment of the present invention for moving the trailing edge anvil 50 from the plate bending position to the plate removal position. As

shown in FIG. 7, there is an anvil detente means 51 comprising a handle means 52 mounted in a slot 54 (shown in FIG. 5) in the anvil means 50 and the slot 54 is vertically aligned. An L shaped slot 56 is provided in the upstanding end plate 34 having a vertically aligned portion 58 and a horizontally aligned portion 60 spaced upwardly therefrom. When the handle 52 is in the vertically downwardly portion of the slot 54 in the anvil 50 it is positioned in the vertically aligned portion of the slot 58 of the end plate 34 and rigidly retained therein and thereby holding the anvil 50 in the plate bending position. When the handle 52 is raised upwardly as indicated by the arrow 62 in FIG. 5 it moves upwardly in both the slot 54 and the slot 56 until it is aligned with the horizontally extending portion 60 of the slot in the upstanding end plate 34. The handle is then moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 62 towards the plate support 40 the distance H thereby moving the anvil 50 upon sup'por ways 64 the same distance. As shown on FIG. 7, the upstanding end plate 34 is coupled to the support frame 26 by the pair of screw assemblies 66.

The trailing edge anvil 50 has a bend portion therein generally designated having preselected bend shapes. In this embodiment of the present invention the preselected bend shapes comprise a first bend having an acute angle indicated by the letter F and a second bend having an angle G.

It will be appreciated that any desired bend shapes may be provided in the leading edge anvil 44 and trail ing edge anvil 50 as desired. It is only necessary to contour the anvil to the correct shape required by the particular offset press for which the lithographic plate 10 is to be bent. Therefore, the manufacturer of the bending jig according to the principals of the present invention may conveniently and easily change anvils to provide any desired bend shape.

It will be appreciated that the upstanding plate 32 is similarly provided for the above described anvil detent means for releasably securing the trailing edge anvil 50 in the plate bending position and allowing movement thereof towards the plate support 40 into the plate removal position.

Positioning means generally, designated are also provided on the support frame 26 for positioning and releasably clamping the lithographic plate 10 in a predetermined location with respect to the leading edge anvil 44 and trailing edge anvil 50. The positioning means 80 is comprised of clamping means 82 at the trailing end 28 of the jig 24 and clamping means 84 adjacent to the leading end 30 of the bending jig 24. In this embodiment of the present invention the clamping means 80 is movably mounted on the support frame 26 and releasably clamps a lithographic plate 10 on the plate support 40 during the plate bending operation.

FIG. 8 is an exploded diagramatic view of the plate clamping means 80 utilized in the preferred embodiment 24 of the present invention. As shown on FIG. 8, which illustrates the mounting of the clamping means 84 in the upstanding support 36 adjacent the leading end 40 of the bending jig 24, which mounting, it will be appreciated, is the same as in the upstanding plate 38. The clamping means 82 adjacent the trailing end 28 of the bending jig 24 is similarly mounted in

upstanding supports

32 and 34. The clamping means 84 generally comprises a shoe means 86 extending substantially the entire transverse width of the lithographic plate 10 to be bent as mounted between the

plates

36 and 38 adjacent the leading edge anvil 46. Both FIG. 8 and FIG. show the clamping means 84 in the retracted position. The shoe means 86 may be provided with a resilient pad 88 such as felt or the like, to provide the clamping surface thereof for engagement with the lithographic plate in order to prevent damage thereto. Shoe mounting means generally designated 90 is comprised of T section 92 coupled to shoe means 86 and the T section 92 has an engaging portion 94 riding in slot means 96 in the upstanding plate 36. A shoe spring means 98 is mounted in the slot 96 and engages the upstanding plate 36 and the spring engaging portion 94 for yieldingly urging the shoe means 86 upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow 100 away from the lithographic plate to be bent.

The clamping means 84 also comprises a cam means 102 mounted on cam shaft 104. Cam shaft 104 is journalled in bearings 106 in the end plate 36 to allow the cam means 102 to rotate. The cam 102 engages a cam engaging portion 108 on the shoe means 86 for moving the shoe means toward the lithographic plate 10, for clamping thereof to plate support 40, during rotation of the cam means 102 about the cam axis 110. Thus, as the cam handle 112 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 114 the cam 102 engages the cam engaging portion 108 of the shoe means 86 to move the shoe means 86 to the plate clamping position thereof against the tension of the shoe spring means 98. The pad 88 engages the lithographic plate and firmly retains the lithographic plate 10 on the plate support 40 during the plate bending operation. When the plate bending operation is finished, the cam means may be rotated in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 114 about the axis 110 and the cam means 102 engages the cam engaging portion 116 of the T section 92 to move the shoe means 86 upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow 100 away from the lithographic plate to be bent and aided by the force of the shoe spring means 98.

The positioning means 80 also comprises a positioning pin means, generally designated 120, pivotally mounted on the support frame 26, as shown in FIG. 5, adjacent the trailing edge anvil 50. The positioning pin means 120 has positioning pins 122 in spaced apart relationship extending transversely across pin holder means 124 and accurately positioned for insertion in the pin receiving apertures 14 of the lithographic plate 10 in order to provide an accurate alignment of the lithographic plate 10 in the bending jig 24 prior to actuation of the clamping means 80 for clamping the plate 10 in position and prior to the bending operation, as described below, for providing the bends, A, B, and C in the lithographic plate 10. The positioning pin means 120 is pivotally movable from the alignment position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5 to a retracted position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5 about positioning pin pivot means 126 having positioning pin axis 128. Positioning pin attachment means 130 which, for example, may comprise a magnet, is provided for releasably securing the positioning pin means 120 in the alighment position thereof shown in solid lines in FIG. 5.

The positioning pins 122 are mounted in pin recesses 132 in positioning pin holder means 134 and are urged in an upward position by positioning pin spring means 136. The positioning pin spring means is preferably made comparatively light so that the lithographic plate 10 may be slid over the pins without damage during insertion of the lithographic plate 10 in the jig 24 and the positioning pins 122 will then automatically pop up into the pin receiving apertures 14 of the lithographic plate 10 when the lithographic plate 10 is properly aligned therewith.

The positioning pin means 120 is also provided with an engagement portion which, as hereinafter more fully described, is engaged during the initial operation providing the bends in the lithographic plate 10, with a force sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction of the magnet 130 and allow the positioning pin means 120 to swing from the alignment position shown in solid lines on FIG. 5 to the retracted position shown in dotted lines on FIG. 5 under the force of gravity.

The positioning means 80 also comprises, in those embodiments of the present invention wherein it is desired, a vacuum holding means for providing additional force in releasably holding the lithograhic plate 10 on the plate support 40. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a vacuum holding means useful in the practice of the present invention to achieve this purpose. The vacuum means 150 generally comprises walls 152 in the plate support 140 defining vacuum grooves 154 therein. A vacuum generating means such as a vacuum pump 156 is connected by hose means 158 to the vacuum groove 154 at connection 156. When a vacuum is desired the vacuum pump may be operated and air is drawn through the vacuum grooves 154 in the direction of the arrow 160 thereby generating a lower pressure on the underside of the lithographic plate 10 to provide additional clamping action of the lithographic plate 10 to the plate support means 40. A vacuum relief valve 162 is also provided to release the vacuum at the end of the bending operation.

The positioning means 80 may also comprise a visual alignment means generally designated 164 which, in the embodiment 24 of the present invention comprises scribed lines 166 on the plate support 40, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, which, when the lithographic plate 10 is properly aligned on the plate support 40 are aligned with the lines 22 in the lithographic plate 10. This allows rapid positioning of the lithographic plate 10 to allow the positioning pin means 122 to extend upwardly through the pin receiving apertures 14 in the lithographic plate 10.

The bends A, B, and C in the lithographic plate 10 are provided by action of bending bar means, generally designated 170, that are pivotally mounted on support frame 26. The bending bar means 170 is generally comprised of a leading edge bender bar 172 and a trailing edge bending bar 174. The leading edge bending bar 172 has a bend forming surface 176 that passes a lithographic plate 10 bending relationship to the bend portion 48 of the leading edge anvil 44 during the bending 9 operation. Similarly the trailing edge bending bar 174 has

bend portions

180 and 182 for passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to bend faces 70a and 70b of trailing edge anvil 50 to provide the bends B and C in the lithographic plate 10.

Mounting means are provided for movably supporting both the leading edge bender bar 172 and the trailing edge bender bar 174 on the support frame 26 and the mounting means are generally designated 180. In accordance with the principals of the present invention, each of the leading edge bendar bar 172 and trailing edge bender bar 174 have limited resilient rectilinear movement towards and away from the lithographic plage 10 during the bending operation thereof. This limited resilient rectilinear movement allows the jig 24 to make accurate and precise bends in lithographic plates of different thicknesses without requiring a separate jig for each different thickness of lithographic plate to be bent. The mounting means 180 also allows for pivotal movement of the bending bar means 170 on the support frame 26 to provide the bends A, B, and C as well as allowing removal of the lithographic plate 10 at the completion of the bending operation from the jig 24 and insertion of the next plate 10.

FIG. is an exploded view illustrating the mounting structure utilized in preferred embodiments of the pres ent invention to provide the above described mounting of the bending bar means 170. FIG. 15 illustrates the mounting of one end of leading edge bender bar 172 on the support frame 26. It will be appreciated that both ends of the leading end bending bar 172 and trailing end bending bar 174 are similarly mounted on the

upstanding plates

36 and 38, and 32 and 34, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 15 there is a main pivot pin means 182 mounted in pivot pin receiving aperture 184 of the upstanding plate 136 and having a main pivot pin axis 186. Main journal block means 188 has walls 190 defining a main pivot pin receiving aperture 192 therein for accepting the main pivot pin 182. The pin receiving aperture 192 is slightly larger than the main pivot pin means 82 to allow limited rectilinear movement of the main journal block means 188 with respect to the main pivot pin means 182 in the direction indicated by the arrow 194 towards and away from the lithographic plate 10. The main journal block means 188 also pivots about the main pivot pin axis 186.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 16 a main spring means 194 is inserted in the main pivot pin receiving aperture 192 of the main journal block 188 and is retained therein by closure plate 196. The main spring means 194 yieldingly urges the main journal block means 188 downwardly in the rectilinear direction indicated by the arrow 194 towards the lithographic plate 10 to be bent by bearing against the main pivot pin 182.

This position is shown in FIG. 16. Thus, the limited resilient rectilinear movement above described is provided by the main spring means 194 for accommodating lithographic plates of different thicknesses. Therefore, the limited resilient rectilinear movement described herein refers to the movement of the main journal block means 188 and, as described below in greater detail, bending bar means 170, towards and awary from the lithographic plate to be bent a distance of, forexample, 0.014 inch to accommodate lithographic plates having various thicknesses between 0.006inch to 0.020 inch in thickness. It will be appreciated that these values are for example only and any desire of amount of limited rectilinear movement can be provided in accordance withtheprincipals of the present invention.

A secondary pivot pin means 200 is mounted in secondary pivot pin receiving aperture 202 in the main journal block means 188. The secondary pivot pin means 200 is spaced outwardly from the main pivot pin means 182 and has a secondary pivot axis 204. Secondary journal block means 206 are rotatably mounted on the secondary pivot pin means 200 for rotation about the secondary pivot axis 204 with respect to the main journal block means 188 as well as the leading edge anvil 46. The leading edge bender bar 172 is coupled to the secondary journal block means 206.

Bender bar holding means are provided for releasably securing the secondary journal block means 206 to the main journal block means 188 in order to allow selective rotation of the leading edge bender bar 172 about the main pivot axis 186. The bender bar holding means generally comprises a bender bar handle means 210 pivotally mounted on the main journal block 188 by handle pivot pin 212. The secondary journal block means 206 is provided with aperture 214 for receiving the handle 210, as shown in FIG. 15. Therefore, with the handle means 210 releasably holding the secondary journal block means 206 to the main journal block means 188, the leading edge bender bar 172 rotates about the main pivot axis 186 and the bending surface 176 thereof passes in lithographic plate bending relationship to the bend portion 48 of the leading edge anvil 46 to bend the lithographic plate 10 thereon and provides bend A therein. The main spring 194 provides the limited resilitent rectilinear movement of the leading edge bender bar 172 to accommodate lithographic plates of different thicknesses between the bend surface 176 of the bender bar 172 and the bend portion 48 of the leading edge anvil 46. If desired, a handle means 220 may be coupled to theleading edge bender bar 17 for convenient gripping to allow rotation thereof about the main pivot axis 186 in the directions by the arrow 222.

As noted above, the trailing edge bender bar 174 must provide both the bends B and C in the lithographic plates 10 to be bent. Accordingly, FIG. 6 illustrates the mounting of the trailing edge bender bar 174 which, as described above, is identical to the mounting of the leading edge bending bar 172 for limited rectilinear movement towards and away from the plate to be bent as well as pivotal motion about its main pivot axis 186.

The trailing edge bender bar 174 comprises a primary bender bar 230 and a secondary bender bar 232 slidably mounted on the primary bender bar 230. Bender bar spring means 234 are mounted in slots 236 of the secondary bender bar 232 for yieldingly urging secondary bender bar 232 in the direction of the arrow 238 into a retracted position as shown in FIG. 6. Bolts 240 are utilized to mount the secondary bender bar 232 on the primary bender bar 230 and ride in slots 242 during movement of the secondary bender bar 232 with respect to the primary bender bar 230. Thus, the secondary bender bar 232 has the retracted position as shown in FIG. 6 and is slidably movable therefrom on the primary bender bar 230 into a plate bending position. The primary bender bar 230 has the bending surface 180 and the secondary bender bar 232 has the bending surface 182 thereon.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 5, 9, and 11, the operation of applicants improved bending jig 24 may be clearly understood. As shown thereon in FIG. 9, the clamping means 82 and 84 have been moved into the clamping position thereof for clamping the lithographic plate 10 on the plate support 40. The main journal blocks 188 are secured to the secondary journal blocks 206 by handles 210 and the main jounral blocks 188 are secured by main journal block detente means 240 to the support frame 26 in a first position thereof. The main journal block detent means 240 is illustrated in FIG. 6 and comprises the main journal block detent handle 244 having a shaft 245, biased by spring 247, extending through support plate 32 and into the main journal block 188. Each of the leading edge bending bar means 172 and trailing edge bender bar means 174 may be so retained by appropriate detent means, which have been omitted from FIGS. 15 and 16 for clarity.

The lithographic plate 10 is positioned on the plate support 40 utilizing the alignment guides such as the lines 22 in the plate 10 aligned with the scribed lines 166 in the plate support 40. The positioning pins 140 of the positioning pin means 120 extend through the apertures 14 in the lithographic plate 10 and the positioning pin means 120 is in the alignment position thereof. This condition of the bending jig 24 is illustrated in FIG. 5. When it is desired to makethe bends in the lithographic plate 10 the clamping means are rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows 250 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 9, thus clamping the lithographic plate 10 along the transverse width thereof to the lithographic plate support 40. The main journal block detent means 244 are released to allow rotation of the main journal block means 188 about the main pivot axis 186. The main spring means 194 yieldingly urge the bending bars 172 and 174 towards the lithographic plate 10 resistingly allowing spacing from the

anvils

46 and 50 to accommodate the thickness of the lithographic plate 10 by movement of the main journal blocks rectilinearly on the main pivot pins 182 under the urging of spring means 194. The leading edge bender bar 172 may be grasped and rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 252 to rotate the leading edge bender bar 172 about the main pivot axis 186 with the bending surface 176 thereof passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to the bend portion 48 of the leading edge anvil 46 until it reaches the position as shown in FIG. 9. At this point, the bend A has been completed. The handled 210 may then be rotated about the pivot pin 212 and removed from the slot 214 in the secondary journal blocks 206. The secondary journal blocks 206, to which the leading edge bender bar 172 is coupled, rotates on secondary pivot pin 200 about secondary pivot axis 204 to the position shown in FIG. 10 whereby the secondary bender bar 172 is spaced outwardly and free of contact with the lithographic plate 10.

Similarly, the trailing edge bender bar 174 is clamped by handle means 210 to the main journal block means 188 and is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow 253 During such rotation the bending surface 180 thereof passes in lithographic plate bending relationship to the lithographic plate 10 to form the bend A therein against the bending surface 70a in the trailing edge anvil 50. This is the position shown in FIG. 9 at the completion of the bend B. The handle means 260 is pivotally mounted on the primary bender bar 230 of the trailing edge bending bar 174 and bears against the secondary bending bar 232. After the completion of the bend B as shown in FIG. 9, the handle 260 may be rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 263 to the position shown in FIG. 11. During such rotation the handle means260 bears against the secondary bender bar 232 to move it on the primary bender bar 230 in the direction indicated by the arrow 265 to provide the bend C. This movement is against the spring tension provided by the springs 234. The bending surface 182 of the secondary bender bar 232 is forced into lithographic plate relationship to the bend portions b of the trailing edge anvil 50 to form the bend C therein. After the bend C has been formed the handle 260 is released and the springs 234 return the secondary bender bar 232 and handle 260 from the position shown in FIG. 11 to the position shown in FIG. 9.

As noted above, the positioning pin means has an engagement portion 140 thereon. As the trailing edge bender bar 174 commences rotation it engages the engagement portion 140 and the force thereof is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the magnet and the anvil 50 thereby releasing the positioning pin means 120 so it may swing from the alignment position shown as solid lines in FIG. 5 to the. retracted position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5. The limited amount of motion is preferably on the order of 1 to 2. Therefore, the positioning pin means 120 pivots completely away from the lithographic plate 10 once the bending operation has commenced and does not interfere with making the proper bends in the lithographic plate 10.

At the completion of the bend C by the trailing edge bender bar 174 the handles 210 may be rotated to release the secondary journal blocks 206 from the positions shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 9 and the trailing edge bender bar 174 rotates on the secondary pivot axis 204 of the secondary pivot pin 200 and swings away from the lithographic plate to be bent in a manner similar to that described above for the leading edge bending bar 172 illustrated in FIG. 10.

The bends in the lithographic plate have now been completed and the vacuum means 150, if utilized, may be relieved. The trailing edge anvil 152 may be raised upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow 62 for movement of the trailing edge anvil means 50 from the plate bending position the distance H towards the trailing edge 40b of the plate support means 40 into the retracted position thereof. The lithographic plate may then be easily removed from the bending jig 24 without distortion to the plate or damaging the bends A, B, and C that have been fabricated therein.

After removal of the lithographic plate 10 the main journal blocks 188 may be rotated about the main pivot pin axis 186 to return the main journal blocks 188 to the first position thereof and the detents 240 may be suitably engaged to retain the main journal blocks 188 in this position. Since the handles 210 had not been rotated to engage secondary journal blocks 206, the leading edge and bender bar 172 and trailing edge bender bar 174 are rotated downwardly about the secondary pivot pin axis 204 and are in the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5.

, The. positioning pin means 120 may be rotated upwardly from the, dotted line position shown in FIG. 5 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 5 and another stalled in the jig 24 as described above. The leading edge bending bar 172 may then be rotated about the secondary pivot axis 204 and the handles 210 rotated to engage a secondary journal blocks 206 to the main journal blocks 188. Similarly, the trailing edge bender bar 174 may be rotated about the secondary pivot pin axis 204 and the handles 210 thereof rotated to engage the secondary journal blocks 206 thereof with the main journal block 188 thereof. The bending jig 24 is then in a position to make bends in the next lithographic plate as shown in solid lines in FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative arrangement for providing the second bend C in the lithographic plate 10. As shown, there is an anvil 300 adjacent to which a bending bar 302 is pivotally mounted. The bending bar 302 rotates from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 12 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 12. A resilient block means 304 is provided in the bender bar 302 at the location of the second bend and as the bender bar 302 rotates into plate bending relationship with the anvil 300, the resilient block 304 engages the lithographic plate at the second bend area to form the second bend therein.

This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. As can be seen from the attached drawings and the above description, applicant has provided an improved bending jig for bending lithographic plates of varying thicknesses with precise alignment and registration thereof in order that the lithographic plates may be properly aligned and positioned in a cylinder of an offset press.

The appended claims are intended to cover all raia' tions and adaptations of the present invention falling within the true scope and spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An improved lithographic plate bending jig arrangement comprising, in combination:

a support frame;

a plate support means mounted on said support frame and having a leading end and a trailing end;

anvil means having bend portions with preselected bend shapes and mounted on said support frame adjacent said plate support;

positioning means'mounted on said support frame for positioning and releasably clamping lithographic plates to be bent thereon in a predetermined location with respect to said anvil means;

bending bar means moveably mounted on said support frame and having bender bars for passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to said anvil means, and said bending bar means further comprising mounting means for providing limited rectilinear movement of said bender bars towards and away from the lithographic plate to be bent; and

said limited rectilinear movement of said bender bars is resilient rectilinear movement and said mounting means further comprises main spring means for yieldingly urging said bender bars toward the lithographic plate to be bent to provide said limited resilient rectilinear movement thereof.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means further comprises:

main pivot pin means mounted on said support frame and having main pivot axis;

main journal block means having walls defining main pivot pin receiving apertures therein for accepting said main pivot pin means; said main spring means positioned between said main journal block means and :said main pivot pin means for yieldingly urging said main journal block means towards the lithographic plate to be bent to provide said limited. resilent rectilinear movement, and said main journal block means rotateably mounted on said main pivot pin means for rotation about said main pivot axis to provide said movement in said lithographic plate bending relationship to said anvil means; and bender bar support means for supporting said bender bars on said main journal block means. 3. Arrangement defining claim 2 wherein said bender bar support means further comprises;

secondary pivot pin means mounted on said main journal block means and spaced outwardly from said main pivot pin means and having a secondary pivot axis; secondary journal block means rotatable mounted on saidsecondary pivot pin means for rotation about said secondary axis with respect to said main journal block means and said. anvil means; said bender bars coupled to said secondary journal block means; and, bender bar holding means for releaseably securing said secondary journal block means to said main journal block means for selectively providing rotation of said bender bars and said secondary journal block means with said main journal block means on said main pivot pin means about said main pivot axis. 4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein said mounting means further comprises:

main journal block detent means for releaseably securing said main major whole block meansin a first position with respect to said support frame means. 5. An improved lithographic plate bending jig arrangement comprising, in combination: a support frame; a plate support means mounted on said support frame and having a leading end and a trailing end; anvil means having bend portions with preselected bend shapes and mounted on said support frame adjacent said plate support, and said anvil means further comprises: a leading edge anvil adjacent said leading end of said plate support means; and a trailing edge anvil adjacent said trailing end of said plate support means, and at least one of said leading edge and trailing edge anvils is moveable towards and away from said plate support means between. a plate bending position wherein said bender bar passes in lithographic plate bending relationship thereto and a plate removal position wherein the bent lithographic plate may be removed from the plate support means; positioning means mounted on said support frame for positioning and releasabl y clamping lithographic plates to be bent thereon in a predetermined location with respect to said anvil means; bending bar means moveably mounted on said support frame and having bender bars for passing in lithographicplate bending relationship to said anvil means, and said bending bar means further comprising mounting means for providing limited rectilinear movement of said bender bars towards and away from the lithographic plate to be bent, and said bending bar means further comprises:

a leading edge bender bar adjacent said leading edge anvil for performing leading edge bends in the lithographic plate to be bent; and,

a trailing edge bender bar adjacent said trailing edge anvil for forming trailing edge bends in said lithographic plate to be bent.

6. Arrangement defined in claim and further comprising:

anvil detent means for releaseable securing said at least one anvil in said plate bending position.

7. Arrangement defined in claim 6 wherein:

said predetermined bend shape of said at least one anvil comprises a plurality of bends in the lithographic plate to be bent.

8. Arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein:

said bender bar adjacent said at least one anvil further comprises:

a primary bender bar for performing a first of said plurality of bends in the lithographic plate to bent; at least one secondary bender bar slideably lithographic plate bending relationship to said anvil means, and said bending bar means further comprising mounting means for providing limited rectilinear movement of said bender bars towards and away from the lithographic plate to be bent.

11 The arrangement defined in claim wherein 5 said positioning means further comprises:

said positioning pin means further comprises:

a pin holder means having a plurality of positioning pin recesses therein, and said positioning pins in said pin recesses;

bends in the lithographic plate to be bent. f i R hoider i g y urging Said PO 9. Arrangement defined in claim 8 wherein: l olltwdr ere f said secondary bender bar is slideably moveable from posltjonlng pm pivot means mounte on Sal tame a first retracted position to a second plate bending l i 1d u position on said primary bender bar; i 0 er j y l i on Smd p951- and further comprising: tiomngpm pivot means for said pivotal rotation secondary bender bar spring means for yieldingly ji i q urging said secondary bender bar into said reposmpnmg m l F p for releaseably tracted position curing said positioning pin holder means in said 10. An improved lithographic plate bending jig arahgnment posmon thereof rangement wherein the lithographic plate to be bent h arrangement defined m Chum 13 wherelrlt has walls defining pin receiving aperture means there- Smd pm holder means has engagement P through adjacent one end thereof and comprising: thereon for engagement l Sald bfmdmg a Support frame; 40 means at a first predetermined portion of said a plate Support means mounted on said Support movement thereof, and said pos t on ng p n attachframe and having a leading end and a trailing end; mem means releamg f f PP P P holder anvil means having bend portions with preselected means to allow 'f Posltlonmg P holder means bend shapes and mounted on said support frame to o Pf ahgnmer}? Posmon to 531d adjacent Said plate Support; tracted posit on for the condition of engagement of positioning means mounted on said support frame for Sam Posmomng P holder means with Said bending positioning and releasably clamping lithographic bar means plates to be bent thereon in a predetermined loca' The arrangement defined in Claim 11 whereini tion with respect to said anvil means, and said posi- Said Plate P clamping means further comprises: i i means f th i i shoe means adjacent said anvil means and extenda positioning means pivotally mounted on Substantially th tranverse Of the lithosupport frame adjacent said anvil means and said graphic Plate to b bent; i i i i means h i i i i i shoe mounting means for resiliently mounting said thereon insertable in the pin receiving apertures as Shoe means on Said pp frame for movement of the lithographic plate to be bent for the conditowards and y from a d ith gmPhiC plate to tion of the lithographic plate to be bent in an be bent and said shoe mounting means p alignment position, for aligning the lithographic g Shoe p g means Or yieldingly urging said plate on said plate support means, and said posishoe spring means away from said lithographic tioning pin means pivotally moveable from said Plate t0 be bent; and alignment position to a retracted position free of Cam means rotatably mounted on said support contact with the lithographic plate for the condiframe for moving said shoe means into lithotion of said lithographic plate being bent; and graphic plate Clamping engagement with the bending bar means moveably mounted on said suplithographic plate to be bent for clamping thereof port frame and having bender bars for passing in to said plate support means. I

16. An improved lithographic plate bending jig arrangement comprising, in combination:

a support frame;

a plate support means mounted on said support frame having a leading end and a trailing end; anvil means comprising:

a leading edge anvil adjacent said leading end of said plate support means; and a trailing edge anvil adjacent said trailing edge of said plate support means; and each of said leading edge anvil and said trailing edge anvil have bend portions therein having preselected bend shapes; positioning means on said support frame for positioning and releasably clamping lithographic plates to be bent thereon in a predetermined location with respect to said leading edge anvil and said trailing edge anvil; bending bar means pivotably mounted on said sup port frame, and said bending bar means further comprising:

a leading edge bender bar for passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to said leading edge anvil for providing leading edge bends in said lithographic plate to be bent conforming to said preselected bend shape of said lead ing edge anvil; and trailing edge bender bar for passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to said trailing edge anvil for providing trailing edge bends in said lithographic plate to be bent conforming to said preselected bend shape in said trailing edge anvil;

mounting means for movably supporting said leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bending bar on said support frame, and said mounting means further comprising:

main spring means for yieldingly urging said leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bender bar towards the lithographic plate to be bent to provide limited resilient rectilinear movement of said leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bender bar towards and away from the lithographic plate to be bent. 17. The arrangement defined in claim 16 wherein: said mounting means further comprises:

main pivot pin means mounted on said support frame and having main pivot axis; main journal block means having walls defining main pivot pin receiving apertures therein for accepting said main pivot pin means; said main spring means between said main journal block means and said main pivot pin means for yieldingly urging said main journal block means towards the lithographic plate to be bent, and said main journal block means rotatably mounted on said main pivot pin means for rotation about said main pivot axis; bender bar support means for supporting said bender bars on said main journal block means and comprising: secondary pivot pin means mounted on said main journal block means and spaced outwardly from said main pivot pin means, and having a secondary pivot axis; v secondary journal block means :rotatably mounted on said secondary pivot pin means for rototation about said secondary axiswith respect to said main journal block means and said anvil means; said leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bender bar coupled to said secondary journal block means; bender bar holding means for releasably securing said secondary journal block means to said main journal block means for selectively providing rotation of said leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bender bar and said secondary journal block means about said main pivot axis; and main journal block detent means for releasably securing said main journal block means in a first position with respect to said support frame means.

18. The arrangement defined in claim 17 wherein:

at least one of said leading edge and trailing edge anvils is movable towards and away from said plate support means between a plate bending position wherein said bender bar passes in lithographic plate bending relationship thereto and a plate removal position wherein the bent lithographic plate may be removed from the plate support means;

and further comprising:

anvil detent means for releasably securing said at least one anvil means in said plate bending position;

said predetermined bend shape of said at least one anvil comprises a plurality of bends in the lithographic plate to be bent; and

said bender bar adjacent said at least one anvil further comprises:

a primary bender bar for forming a first of said plurality of bends, and at least one secondary bender bar slidably mounted on said primary bender bar to form at least one other of said plurality of bends, and said secondary bender bar movable from a first retracted position into a second plate bending position on said primary bender bar; and

secondary bender bar spring means between said primary bender bar and said secondary bender bar for yieldingly urging said secondary bender bar into said retracted position.

19. The arrangement defined in claim 16 wherein the lithographic plate to be bent has. walls defining pin receiving aperture means therethrough adjacent one end thereof, and said positioning means further comprises:

a positioning pin means pivotally mounted on said support frame adjacent said anvil means and said positioning pin means having positioning pins thereon insertable in the pin receiving apertures of the lithographic plate to be bent for the condition of the lithographic plate to be bent in an alignment position for aligning the lithographic plate on said plate support means, and said positioning pin means pivotally movable from said alignment position to a retracted position free of contact with the lithographic plate for the condition of said lithographic plate being bent; plate clamping means movably mounted on said support frame for releasably clamping the lithographic plate to be bent on said plate support means; said plate clamping means further comprising:

shoe means adjacent said anvil means and extending substantially the transverse width of the lithographic plate to be bent;

shoe mounting means for resiliently mounting said shoe means on said support frame for movement towards and away from saidlithographic plate to be bent and said shoe mounting means comprising shoe spring means for yieldingly urging said shoe spring means away from said lithographic said pin holder means has an engagement portion thereon for engagement with said bending bar means at a first predetermined portion of said movement thereof; and

plate to be bent; and said positioning pin attachment means releasing cam means rotatably mounted on said support said positioning pin holder means to allow said frame for moving said shoe means into litho positioning pin holder means to move from said graphic plate clamping engagement with a litho alignment position to said retracted position for graphic plate to be bent for clamping thereof to the condition of engagement of said positioning said plate support means. l0 7 pin holder means with said bending bar means.

20. The arrangement defined in claim 19 wherein 22. The arrangement defined in claim 18 wherein the lithographic plate to be bent has walls as defining pin receiving aperture means therethrough adjacent one end thereof and said positioning means further comprisesz said positioning pin means further comprises:

pin spring means between said positioning pins and said pin holder means for yieldingly urging said positioning pins outwardly therefrom;

positioning pin pivot means mounted on said frame means;

said pin holder means pivotally mounted on said positioning pin pivot means for said pivotal rotation thereof;

positioning pin attachment means for releasably sepositioning pin attachment means for releaseably securing said positioning pin holder means in said alignment position thereofiand a positioning pin means pivotally mounted on said support frame adjacent said anvil means and said positioning pin means having positioning pins thereon insertable in the pin receiving apertures of the lithographic plate to be bent for the condition of the lithographic plate to be bent in an alignment position for aligning the lithographic plate on said plate support means, and said positioning pin means pivotally moveable from said alignment pocuring said positioning pin holder means in said sition to a retracted position free of contact with alignment position thereof; and the lithographic plate for the condition of said said pin holder means having an engagement portion lithographic plate being bent;

thereon for engagement with said bending bar plate clamping means moveably mounted on said means at a first predetermined portion of said support frame for releasablyclamping the lithomovement thereof, and said positioning pin attachgraphic plate to be bent on said plate support ment means releasing said positioning pin holder means, and said plate clamping means further commeans to allow said positioning pin holder means prises: to move from said alignment position to said reshoe means adjacent said anvil means and extendtracted position for the condition of engagement of ing substantially the transverse width of the litho said positioning pin holder means with said bending graphic plate to be bent; bar means. shoe mounting means for resiliently mounting said 21. The arrangement defined in claim 16 wherein the shoe means on said support frame for movement lithographic plate to be bent'has walls defining pin retowards and away from said lithographic plate to ceiving aperture means therethrough adjacent one end I be bent and said shoe mounting means compristhereof and said positioning means further comprises: 40 ing shoe spring means for yieldingly urging said a positioning pin means pivotally mounted on said shoe means away from said lithographic plate to support frame adjacent said anvil means and said be bent; and positioning pin means having positioning pins cam means rotatably mounted on said support thereon insertable in the pin receiving apertures of frame for moving said shoe means into lithothe lithographic plate to be bent for the condition graphic plate clamping engagement with a lithoof the lithographic plate to be bent in an alignment graphic plate to be bent for clamping thereof to position for aligning the lithographic plate on said said plate support means; plate support means, and said positioning pin walls defining vacuum grooves in said plate support means pivotally moveable from said alignment pomeans; sition to a retracted position free of contact with vacuum providing means coupled to said vacuum the lithographic plate for the condition of said grooves for applying a predetermined vacuum to lithographic plate being bent; the lithographic plate to be bent for holding the and said positioning pin means further comprises: lithographic plate on said plate support means;

a pin holder means having a plurality of positioning and,

pin recesses therein, and said positioning pins in means for relieving said vacuum; and, said pin recesses; said positioning pin means further comprises: pin spring means between said positioning pins and a pin holder means having a plurality of positionsaid pin holder means for yieldingly urging said ing pin recesses therein, and said positioning positioning pins outwardly therefrom; pins in said pin recesses; positioning pin pivot means mounted on said frame pin spring means between said positioning pins means; and said pin holder means for yieldingly urging said pin holder means pivotally mountedon said said positioning pins outwardly therefrom;

positioning pin pivot means for said pivotal rotapositioning pin pivot means mounted on said tion thereof; frame means;

21 22 positioning pin attachment means for releasably tachment means releasing said positioning pin securing said positioning pin holder means in holder means to allow said positioning pin said alignment position thereof; and, holder means to move from said alignment posaid pin holder means has an engagement portion sition to said retracted position for the condithereon for engagement with said bending bar tion of engagement of said positioning pin means at a first predetermined portion of said holder means with said bending bar means. movement thereof, and said positioning pin at-

Claims

1. An improved lithographic plate bending jig arrangement comprising, in combination: a support frame; a plate support means mounted on said support frame and having a leading end and a trailing end; anvil means having bend portions with preselected bend shapes and mounted on said support frame adjacent said plate support; positioning means mounted on said support frame for positioning and releasably clamping lithographic plates to be bent thereon in a predetermined location with respect to said anvil means; bending bar means moveably mounted on said support frame and having bender bars for passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to said anvil means, and said bending bar means further comprising mounting means for providing limited rectilinear movement of said bender bars towards and away from the lithographic plate to be bent; and said limited rectilinear movement of said bender bars is resilient rectilinear movement and said mounting means further comprises main spring means for yieldingly urging said bender bars toward the lithographic plate to be bent to provide said limited resilient rectilinear movement thereof.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means further comprises: main pivot pin means mounted on said support frame and having main pivot axis; main journal block means having walls defining main pivot pin receiving apertures therein for accepting said main pivot pin means; said main spring means positioned between said main journal block means and said main pivot pin means for yieldingly urging said main journal block means towards the lithographic plate to be bent to provide said limited resilent rectilinear movement, and said main journal block means rotateably mounted on said main pivot pin means for rotation about said main pivot axis to provide said movement in said lithographic plate bending relationship to said anvil means; and bender bar support means for supporting said bender bars on said main journal block means.

3. Arrangement defining claim 2 wherein said bender bar support means further comprises; secondary pivot pin means mounted on said main journal block means and spaced outwardly from said main pivot pin means and having a secondary pivot axis; secondary journal block means rotatable mounted on said secondary pivot pin means for rotation about said secondary axis with respect to said main journal block means and said anvil means; said bender bars coupled to said secondary journal block means; and, bender bar holding means for releaseably securing said secondary journal block means to said main journal block means for selectively providing rotation of said bender bars and said secondary journal block means with said main journal block means on said main pivot pin means about said main pivot axis.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein said mounting means further comprises: main journal block detent means for releaseably securing said main major whole block means in a first position with respect to said support frame means.

5. An improved lithographic plate bending jig arrangement comprising, in combination: a support frame; a plate support means mounted on said support frame and having a leading end and a trailing end; anvil means having bend portions with preselected bend shapes and mounted on said support frame adjacent said plate support, and said anvil means further comprises: a leading edge anvil adjacent said leading end of said plate support means; and a trailing edge anvil adjacent said trailing end of said plate support means, and at least one of said leading edge and trailing edge anvils is moveable towards and away from said plate support means between a plate bending position wherein said bender bar passes in lithographic plate bending relationship thereto and a plate removal position wherein the bent lithographic plate may be removed from the plate support means; positioning means mounted on said support frame for positioning and releasably clamping lithographic plates to be bent thereon in a predetermined location with respect to said anvil means; bending bar means moveably mounted on said support frame and having bender bars for passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to said anvil means, and said bending bar means further comprising mounting means for providing limited rectilinear movement of said bender bars towards and away from the lithographic plate to be bent, and said bending bar means further comprises: a leading edge bender bar adjacent said leading edge anvil for performing leading edge bends in the lithographic plate to be bent; and, a trailing edge bender bar adjacent said trailing edge anvil for forming trailing edge bends in said lithographic plate to be bent.

6. Arrangement defined in claim 5 and further comprising: anvil detent means for releaseable securing said at least one anvil in said plate bending position.

7. Arrangement defined in claim 6 wherein: said predetermined bend shape of said at least one anvil comprises a plurality of bends in the lithographic plate to be bent.

8. Arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein: said bender bar adjacent said at least one anvil further comprises: a primary bender bar for performing a first of said plurality of bends in the lithographic plate to bent; at least one secondary bender bar slideably mounted on said primary bender bar for performing at least one other of said plurality of bends in the lithographic plate to be bent.

9. Arrangement defined in claim 8 wherein: said secondary bender bar is slideably moveable from a first retracted position to a second plate bending position on said primary bender bar; and further comprising: secondary bender bar spring means for yieldingly urging said secondary bender bar into said retracted position.

10. An improved lithographic plate bending jig arrangement wherein the lithographic plate to be bent has walls defining pin receiving aperture means therethrough adjacent one end thereof and comprising: a support frame; a plate support means mounted on said support frame and having a leading end and a trailing end; anvil means having bend portions with preselected bend shapes and mounted on said support frame adjacent said plate support; positioning means mounted on said support frame for positioning and releasably clamping lithographic plates to be bent thereon in a predetermined location with respect to said anvil means, and said positioning means further comprising: a positioning pin means pivotally mounted on said support frame adjacent said anvil means and said positioning pin means having positioning pins thereon insertable in the pin receiving apertures of the lithographic plate to be bent for the condition of the lithographic plate to be bent in an alignment position, for aligning the lithographic plate on said plate support means, and said positioning pin means pivotally moveable from said alignment position to a retracted position free of contact with the lithographic plate for the condition of said lithographic plate being bent; and bending bar means moveably mounted on said support frame and having bender bars for passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to said anvil means, and said bending bar means further comprising mounting means for providing limited rectilinear movement of said bender bars towards and away from the lithographic plate to be bent. Pg,39

11. The arrangement defined in claim 10 wherein said positioning means further comprises: plate clamping means moveably mounted on said support frame for releaseable clamping the lithographic plate to be bent on said plate support means.

12. The arrangement defined in claim 10 wherein: said positioning means further comprises: walls defining vacuum grooves in said plate support means; vacuum providing means coupled to said vacuum grooves for applying a predetermined vacuum to the lithographic plate to be bent for holding the lithographic plate on said plate support means; and means for relieving said vacuum.

13. The arrangement defined in claim 10 wherein said positioning pin means further comprises: a pin holder means having a plurality of positioning pin recesses therein, and said positioning pins in said pin recesses; pin spring means between said positioning pins and said pin holder means for yieldingly urging said positioning pins outwardly therefrom; positioning pin pivot means mounted on said frame means; said pin holder means pivotally mounted on said positioning pin pivot means for said pivotal rotation thereof; and positioning pin attachment means for releaseably securing said positioning pin holder means in said alignment position thereof.

14. The arrangement defined in claim 13 wherein: said pin holder means has an engagement portion thereon for engagement with said bending bar means at a first predetermined portion of said movement thereof, and said positioning pin attachment means releasing said positioning pin holder means to allow said positioning pin holder means to move from said alignment position to said retracted position for the condition of engagement of said positioning pin holder means with said bending bar means.

15. The arrangement defined in claim 11 wherein: said plate pipe clamping means further comprises: shoe means adjacent said anvil means and extending substantially the tranverse width of the lithographic plate to be bent; shoe mounting means for resiliently mounting said shoe means on said support frame for movement towards and away from said lithographic plate to be bent, and said shoe mounting means comprising shoe spring means for yieldingly urging said shoe spring means away from said lithographic plate to be bent; and cam means rotatably mounted on said support frame for moving said shoe means into lithographic plate clamping engagement with the lithographic plate to be bent for clamping thereof to said plate support means.

16. An improved lithographic plate bending jig arrangement comprising, in combination: a support frame; a plate support means mounted on said support frame having a leading end and a trailing end; anvil means comprising: a leading edge anvil adjacent said leading end of said plate support means; and a trailing edge anvil adjacent said trailing edge of said plate support means; and each of said leading edge anvil and said trailing edge anvil have bend portions therein having preselected bend shapes; positioning means on said support frame for positioning and releasably clamping lithographic plates to be bent thereon in a predetermined location with respect to said leading edge anvil and said trailing edge anvil; bending bar means pivotably mounted on said support frame, and said bending bar means further comprising: a leading edge bender bar for passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to said leading edge anvil for providing leading edge bends in said lithographic plate to be bent conforming to said preselected bend shape of said leading edge anvil; and a trailing edge bender bar for passing in lithographic plate bending relationship to said trailing edge anvil for providing trailing edge bends in said lithographic plate to be bent conforming to said preselected bend shape in said trailing edge anvil; mounting means for movably supporting saId leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bending bar on said support frame, and said mounting means further comprising: main spring means for yieldingly urging said leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bender bar towards the lithographic plate to be bent to provide limited resilient rectilinear movement of said leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bender bar towards and away from the lithographic plate to be bent.

17. The arrangement defined in claim 16 wherein: said mounting means further comprises: main pivot pin means mounted on said support frame and having main pivot axis; main journal block means having walls defining main pivot pin receiving apertures therein for accepting said main pivot pin means; said main spring means between said main journal block means and said main pivot pin means for yieldingly urging said main journal block means towards the lithographic plate to be bent, and said main journal block means rotatably mounted on said main pivot pin means for rotation about said main pivot axis; bender bar support means for supporting said bender bars on said main journal block means and comprising: secondary pivot pin means mounted on said main journal block means and spaced outwardly from said main pivot pin means, and having a secondary pivot axis; secondary journal block means rotatably mounted on said secondary pivot pin means for rototation about said secondary axis with respect to said main journal block means and said anvil means; said leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bender bar coupled to said secondary journal block means; bender bar holding means for releasably securing said secondary journal block means to said main journal block means for selectively providing rotation of said leading edge bender bar and said trailing edge bender bar and said secondary journal block means about said main pivot axis; and main journal block detent means for releasably securing said main journal block means in a first position with respect to said support frame means.

18. The arrangement defined in claim 17 wherein: at least one of said leading edge and trailing edge anvils is movable towards and away from said plate support means between a plate bending position wherein said bender bar passes in lithographic plate bending relationship thereto and a plate removal position wherein the bent lithographic plate may be removed from the plate support means; and further comprising: anvil detent means for releasably securing said at least one anvil means in said plate bending position; said predetermined bend shape of said at least one anvil comprises a plurality of bends in the lithographic plate to be bent; and said bender bar adjacent said at least one anvil further comprises: a primary bender bar for forming a first of said plurality of bends, and at least one secondary bender bar slidably mounted on said primary bender bar to form at least one other of said plurality of bends, and said secondary bender bar movable from a first retracted position into a second plate bending position on said primary bender bar; and secondary bender bar spring means between said primary bender bar and said secondary bender bar for yieldingly urging said secondary bender bar into said retracted position.

19. The arrangement defined in claim 16 wherein the lithographic plate to be bent has walls defining pin receiving aperture means therethrough adjacent one end thereof, and said positioning means further comprises: a positioning pin means pivotally mounted on said support frame adjacent said anvil means and said positioning pin means having positioning pins thereon insertable in the pin receiving apertures of the lithographic plate to be bent for the condition of the lithographic plate to be bent in an alignment position for aligning the lithographic plate on said plate support means, and said positioning pin means pivotally movable From said alignment position to a retracted position free of contact with the lithographic plate for the condition of said lithographic plate being bent; plate clamping means movably mounted on said support frame for releasably clamping the lithographic plate to be bent on said plate support means; said plate clamping means further comprising: shoe means adjacent said anvil means and extending substantially the transverse width of the lithographic plate to be bent; shoe mounting means for resiliently mounting said shoe means on said support frame for movement towards and away from said lithographic plate to be bent and said shoe mounting means comprising shoe spring means for yieldingly urging said shoe spring means away from said lithographic plate to be bent; and cam means rotatably mounted on said support frame for moving said shoe means into lithographic plate clamping engagement with a lithographic plate to be bent for clamping thereof to said plate support means.

20. The arrangement defined in claim 19 wherein said positioning pin means further comprises: a pin holder means having a plurality of positioning pin recesses therein, and said positioning pins in said pin recesses; pin spring means between said positioning pins and said pin holder means for yieldingly urging said positioning pins outwardly therefrom; positioning pin pivot means mounted on said frame means; said pin holder means pivotally mounted on said positioning pin pivot means for said pivotal rotation thereof; positioning pin attachment means for releasably securing said positioning pin holder means in said alignment position thereof; and said pin holder means having an engagement portion thereon for engagement with said bending bar means at a first predetermined portion of said movement thereof, and said positioning pin attachment means releasing said positioning pin holder means to allow said positioning pin holder means to move from said alignment position to said retracted position for the condition of engagement of said positioning pin holder means with said bending bar means.

21. The arrangement defined in claim 16 wherein the lithographic plate to be bent has walls defining pin receiving aperture means therethrough adjacent one end thereof and said positioning means further comprises: a positioning pin means pivotally mounted on said support frame adjacent said anvil means and said positioning pin means having positioning pins thereon insertable in the pin receiving apertures of the lithographic plate to be bent for the condition of the lithographic plate to be bent in an alignment position for aligning the lithographic plate on said plate support means, and said positioning pin means pivotally moveable from said alignment position to a retracted position free of contact with the lithographic plate for the condition of said lithographic plate being bent; and said positioning pin means further comprises: a pin holder means having a plurality of positioning pin recesses therein, and said positioning pins in said pin recesses; pin spring means between said positioning pins and said pin holder means for yieldingly urging said positioning pins outwardly therefrom; positioning pin pivot means mounted on said frame means; said pin holder means pivotally mounted on said positioning pin pivot means for said pivotal rotation thereof; positioning pin attachment means for releaseably securing said positioning pin holder means in said alignment position thereof; and said pin holder means has an engagement portion thereon for engagement with said bending bar means at a first predetermined portion of said movement thereof; and said positioning pin attachment means releasing said positioning pin holder means to allow said positioning pin holder means to move from said alignment position to said retracted position for the condition of engagement of said positioning pin holder means with said bending bar means.

22. The arrangement defined in claim 18 wherein the lithographic plate to be bent has walls as defining pin receiving aperture means therethrough adjacent one end thereof and said positioning means further comprises: a positioning pin means pivotally mounted on said support frame adjacent said anvil means and said positioning pin means having positioning pins thereon insertable in the pin receiving apertures of the lithographic plate to be bent for the condition of the lithographic plate to be bent in an alignment position for aligning the lithographic plate on said plate support means, and said positioning pin means pivotally moveable from said alignment position to a retracted position free of contact with the lithographic plate for the condition of said lithographic plate being bent; plate clamping means moveably mounted on said support frame for releasably clamping the lithographic plate to be bent on said plate support means, and said plate clamping means further comprises: shoe means adjacent said anvil means and extending substantially the transverse width of the lithographic plate to be bent; shoe mounting means for resiliently mounting said shoe means on said support frame for movement towards and away from said lithographic plate to be bent and said shoe mounting means comprising shoe spring means for yieldingly urging said shoe means away from said lithographic plate to be bent; and cam means rotatably mounted on said support frame for moving said shoe means into lithographic plate clamping engagement with a lithographic plate to be bent for clamping thereof to said plate support means; walls defining vacuum grooves in said plate support means; vacuum providing means coupled to said vacuum grooves for applying a predetermined vacuum to the lithographic plate to be bent for holding the lithographic plate on said plate support means; and, means for relieving said vacuum; and, said positioning pin means further comprises: a pin holder means having a plurality of positioning pin recesses therein, and said positioning pins in said pin recesses; pin spring means between said positioning pins and said pin holder means for yieldingly urging said positioning pins outwardly therefrom; positioning pin pivot means mounted on said frame means; said pin holder means pivotally mounted on said positioning pin pivot means for said pivotal rotation thereof; positioning pin attachment means for releasably securing said positioning pin holder means in said alignment position thereof; and, said pin holder means has an engagement portion thereon for engagement with said bending bar means at a first predetermined portion of said movement thereof, and said positioning pin attachment means releasing said positioning pin holder means to allow said positioning pin holder means to move from said alignment position to said retracted position for the condition of engagement of said positioning pin holder means with said bending bar means.