Abstract:
A rack for protecting and storing anilox rolls and the like. The rack includes a base and a protective environment. A support structure is mounted on the base but within the protective environment. The support structure is provided with support members for releasably supporting delicate rolls, such as anilox rolls. The rack minimizes the incidence of damage to anilox or other delicate rolls during storage, and permits safer removal of the rolls from the rack.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention is an adjustable storage rack for storing anilox rolls. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Anilox rolls are ink transfer rolls used in printing processes. Some anilox rolls are metal rolls that have had the periphery of the roll mechanically engraved. Other rolls are metal rolls, with a sprayed-on ceramic coating, covering the periphery of the roll. The roll surface on the ceramic covered rolls is laser engraved, with a fine pattern machined into the periphery of the roll. 
     The engraved surface on the anilox roll is used to transfer ink from a reservoir to a rubber roll. The rubber roll transfers the ink to an image on a printing plate. The printing plate transfers the image to a paper web. 
     When an anilox roll surface is damaged, for example from being hit by a metal tool, or is otherwise damaged, the pattern formed in the periphery of the roll, is broken. The broken pattern deteriorates the quality of the image printed by the printing plate. Because of the damage, either not enough, or too much ink is transferred to the rubber roll that inks the printing plate. The damage to the anilox roll results in a poor image printed by the printing plate on the paper web. 
     Repair of damage to anilox rolls is expensive, specialized, and labor intensive. The damaged area is cut out, filled with metal, and re-engraved by hand. If more than a few areas are damaged, replacement of the whole roll is necessary. 
     The common method of storing anilox rolls when not in use, is to put the smaller anilox rolls in a cabinet. No effort is made to protect the delicate ink transfer surface of the anilox roll. Larger anilox rolls are removed from printing machines, with chain falls, and overhead hoists. The larger anilox rolls are then stored on anilox roll storage racks. 
     The common anilox storage rack is an I-Beam constructed rack, on which the rolls are mounted. The anilox rolls are mounted one after another, on a storage arm, that is parallel to the floor. There is no separation between the rolls on this type of storage rack. The rolls roll up against each other, and damage the print surface. 
     The support arms on prior racks are angle iron. The support arms also damage the roll surfaces. When the rolls are removed from the current storage racks, it is difficult not to contact either the storage rack surface, or another roll as the heavy rolls are lifted off the rack, and removed to the printing machine. Every time a roll is taken from the rack, or put back in the rack, damage occurs to the delicate perimeter of the anilox roll. 
     When the rolls are stored on a rack frame, the anilox rolls are also susceptible to being bumped into by employees carrying hard items, being bumped by lift trucks, and being damaged by any number of items being moved to, or dropped in the plant, including other anilox rolls being transferred from the storage rack to a printing machine. 
     The present invention is a modified storage rack, designed by the inventor, after examining many storage racks currently used. The invention is designed to protect the delicate periphery of the anilox roll when the roll is stored, removed from storage, and placed back into storage. In particular, the invention provides a protective environment. 
     The inventor has designed, and then sold, padded chemical proof roll covers for anilox rolls. These padded covers protect the delicate surface of the anilox rolls. In designing the covers, the inventor became immersed in, and familiar with, storage of anilox rolls, in industry use. The inventor became familiar with sources of surface damage to the anilox rolls. Based on the observations, the inventor designed the below described storage racks to minimize damage to anilox rolls, in storage, in removing from storage, and in putting back into storage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an improved adjustable storage rack for anilox rolls. Three storage racks were designed, with the same central concept, that is, providing storage and support of anilox rolls within a protective environment. The storage facility is varied according to the particular anilox rolls. The protective environment may take various forms. One embodiment includes an inner frame inside a protective outer frame and storing the anilox rolls at an angle within the inner frame. The angled inner frame, and protective hooks, were designed to minimize roll contact in removing the rolls from the storage rack, and placing the rolls back into the storage rack. 
     The storage rack is wedge shaped, with an angular adjustable inner rack for receiving and storing anilox rolls, and an outer rack that acts as a protective frame for anilox rolls stored within the frame. On larger racks, where there is enough room, the anilox roll storage is totally within the outer frame. 
     The angle of storage in the inner rack is designed so that when the rolls are removed from the storage rack, it is easy to add and remove rolls from the rack, without bumping one anilox roll against another anilox roll. 
     On smaller racks, there is not enough room to fit all of the suspended anilox rolls the outer frame. 
     Since most of the damage to the anilox rolls occurs close to the factory floor, an alternate design suspends the anilox rolls within the outer frame, at least on the bottom part of the storage rack. A bumper guard is added to the smaller frame. A line extending from the bumper guard to the top of the frame would have all the suspended anilox rolls within an extended imaginary plane from the bottom of the rack to the top of the frame. 
     Alternative plastic covers are provided, that are hinged to the frame, and extend across an imaginary plane, from one side of the outer frame to the other, protecting the stored anilox rolls. 
     Since not all anilox rolls have the same configuration, another embodiment includes an abbreviated version of the inner support rack. This version includes a supporting frame having inwardly extending anilox roll support pegs. The support pegs accommodate anilox rolls having a compatible distal end. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a large roll storage rack. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the large roll storage rack. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the large roll storage rack. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the large roll storage rack. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the large roll storage rack, with stored anilox rolls in phantom and one roll shown in solid line. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the small roll storage rack. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the small roll storage rack. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the small roll storage rack. 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the small roll storage rack. 
     FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the smaller roll storage rack, with small rolls in phantom and one roll shown in solid line. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing a storage rack having support pegs. 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 showing the relationship between a support peg and an anilox roll. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
     The invention is a storage rack for storing anilox rolls and other heavy cumbersome rolls that have a delicate outer surface. 
     As best seen in FIG. 1, the storage rack designated generally by the reference numeral  10 , is formed of the following listed parts. 
     The base  100  of the storage rack  10 , is rectangular. Extensions  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  form the rectangular base  100 . Wheels  110 ,  112 ,  114  and  116  are mounted to extensions  102  and  104 . The wheels  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116  are mounted on axles  118 ,  120 ,  122  and  124 . The wheels  110 ,  112 ,  114  and  116  within their axles  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 , depend from the rectangular base  100 . Two of the wheels,  110  and  116 , are fixedly mounted, whereas the wheels  112  and  114  are in the form of casters, and are pivotally mounted to base  100 . Anilox rolls  20  are supported and protected in the present embodiment, in an area defined by the respective peripheries of outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b . The frames  200   a ,  200   b  are substantially identical in configuration. 
     As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the outer protective frame  200   a ,  200   b  comprise integrally formed structures. These structures include uprights  126 ,  128 ,  130  and  132  mounted perpendicular to the base  100 , and extend upwardly. Angular supports  134 ,  136 ,  138  and  140  are fixedly mounted to the uprights  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132 , and extend at an angle upwardly toward connecting pieces  142  and  144 , and connecting pieces  146  and  148 , respectively. 
     Extensions  102  and  104 , uprights  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132 , angular supports  134 ,  136 ,  138  and  140 , and connecting pieces  142 ,  144 ,  146  and  148  form the ends of the outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b.    
     As best seen in FIG. 2, the outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b  are tied together by extensions  160  and  162 , and extensions  170  and  172 . 
     The elements described above, comprise the outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b  of the anilox roll storage rack  10 . All storage of anilox rolls  20  is within the environment of these protective frames  200   a ,  200   b . This environment is defined by imaginary planes (not shown) extending inwardly from the perimeters of the oppositely located outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b.    
     Referring again to FIG. 2, within the environment defined by the outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b , is mounted a width adjustable supporting frame  300 . The supporting frame  300  comprises width adjustment plate  302  affixed to extension  160 ; width adjustment plate  306  affixed to extension  170 ; angularly mounted support member  320  detachably mounted to width adjustment plates  302  and  306 ; support hooks  360 , preferably padded and fixedly attached to angularly mounted support member  310 , said support hooks  360  used to support a respective end of an anilox roll  20 , width adjustment plate  304  affixed to extension  160 ; width adjustment plate  308  affixed to extension  170 ; angularly mounted support member  322  detachably mounted to width adjustment plates  304  and  308 ; support hooks  360  fixedly attached to angularly mounted support members  322 , said support hooks  360  used to support one end of an anilox roll  20 ; width adjustment plate  310  affixed to extension  162 ; width adjustment plate  312  affixed to extension  172 ; angularly mounted support member  324  detachably mounted to width adjustment plates  310  and  312 ; support hooks  360  fixedly attached to angularly mounted support member  324 , said support hooks  360  used to support one end of an anilox roll  20 ; width adjustment plate  306  affixed to extension  162 ; width adjustment plate  308  affixed to extension  172 ; angularly mounted support member  326  detachably mounted to width adjustment plates  306  and  308 ; support hooks  360  fixedly attached to angularly mounted support members  326 , said support hooks  360  used to support a respective end of an anilox roll  20 . 
     The present embodiment of the invention has particular application for supporting an anilox roll  20  having two oppositely disposed and axially extending supporting journals  21   a ,  21   b.    
     Seen in FIG. 2 are handles  402 ,  404 ,  406 ,  408 , mounted to angular extensions  134 ,  136 ,  138  and  140 . 
     In FIG. 2 the adjustment plates  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  314 , and  316  are shown with twelve adjustment holes  370 . The holes  370  are preferably spaced apart two inches. For instance, two-inch spacing provides a range of adjustment of fourteen inches between angular mounted members  320 ,  322 ,  324 , and  326 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the adjustment holes  370  allow a variety of anilox rolls  20  having a range of lengths of substantially different widths, to be mounted on a single rack  10 . Angularly mounted members  320 ,  322 ,  324 , and  326  are used to mount support hooks  360 . The support hooks  360  are preferably in the form of padded J hooks. In FIG. 5 three support hooks  360  are shown on each angularly mounted member  320 ,  322 ,  324 ,  326 . The support frame  300  of the present embodiment supports three anilox rolls  20  on each side. One anilox roll  20  is shown by the solid lines; the remaining anilox rolls  20  are shown in phantom. 
     The supporting frame  300  suspends all of the anilox rolls  20  within the confines of the previously defined protective environment. As an option, a plastic cover, (not shown in the illustrations of the present embodiment) extending from the top of the rack  10  to below the lowest anilox roll  20 , is mounted, to further protect the anilox rolls  20 . 
     It will be apparent that the center of gravity of each of the anilox rolls  20  will remain within the protective environment of the outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b.    
     Another embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG.  9  and FIG.  10 . This embodiment accommodates conventional anilox rolls  20  of relatively small size. Because of the small size of the anilox rolls  20 , the device of this disclosure may be in the form of an alternative embodiment as shown in FIGS.  6 - 10 . This alternate embodiment provides storage and protection of the rolls of lesser length within the rack  30 . The protective environment is defined by an imaginary plane extending across the angular support members  134 ,  136 , and  138 ,  140 , joined at the top by extension  173 , and within the protective environment of the modified rack  30 . 
     In smaller racks  30 , as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, the supporting frames  200   a ,  200   b  are designed so that the smaller versions of the anilox rolls  20 , are mounted within the confines of the protective environment defined by the outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b . As best seen in FIG. 10, all rolls are mounted so the center of gravity of the rolls, one of which anilox rolls  20  is shown by the solid lines, the removing anilox rolls  20  are shown in phantom, is within this protective environment. 
     In the smaller rack  30 , as shown in FIG.  6  and FIG. 8, mounting brackets  440 , support a plastic cover  442  located therebetween to prevent damage such as that from lift trucks. A plastic outer cover  442  is further supported by extension  102 . All anilox rolls  20  are held within an imaginary plane (not shown) extending perpendicularly upwards from the perimeter of the outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b  and the space therebetween. 
     With request to the embodiment of FIGS.  6 - 10 , inclusive, the rack  30  is supported by a base defined by extensions  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 . The ends of the extensions include supporting uprights  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132 . The respective uprights  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132  are further supported by casters  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116  further supported by the respective axles  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 . 
     In both embodiments, supporting frames  300  are angled within the protective outer frames  200   a ,  200   b , so that the lowest of the anilox rolls  20  can be removed without danger of impacting the roll above, thereby preventing injury to the surface of either roll. In the preferred embodiment, the angles of the supporting frames  300 , on the racks  10  and  30 , are found to be 69 degrees to the floor. The included 69 degree angle is measured with the floor as the base. This angle can be changed as desired but as the angle is changed, the rack becomes bigger, and more difficult to store and move around. 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, an alternative embodiment can be observed as rack  50 . In this embodiment the outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b , and the supporting frame  300 , seen in FIGS.  1 - 10 , are combined to provide a structure  500  having as its object the unification of the dual functions of protection and support. The modified structure  500 , includes an inner panel  506  having a plurality of inwardly extending support pegs  560 . The panel  506  is preferably of a flexible plastic material, such as sheet nylon, to absorb the usual relatively rough handling by operators after they have completed a printing job utilizing modified anilox rolls  502  (see FIG.  12 ). It will be observed that the modified anilox rolls  502  will be in the form of a tubular configuration having a center through bore  504 . It will be further observed that the structure  500  may include a single metal strap  510  comprising integrally formed angular support members  520 ,  522  joined by a connecting piece  534 . The respective lower ends  536  of the angular support members  520 ,  522  are welded to the base  100 . 
     The rack  50  preferably includes a platform  550  supported by the frame extensions  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  of the base  100 . The platform  550  preferably includes a plurality of upstanding gear-holding pegs  570 . The number of gearholding pegs  570  is preferably equivalent to the number of anilox holding pegs  560  affixed to inner panel  506 . Each of the gear-holding pegs  570  is of a sufficient height to hold a pair of removable gears (not shown). It will be understood that the modified anilox rolls  502  are operationally supported by the pair of gears during normal use. 
     As set forth above, the essence of the invention is the dual provision of a supporting structure for anilox rolls and a protective environment for said supporting structure. Also within this concept is the provision of angular storage of anilox rolls within a protective outer frame. The conventional method of storing the rolls on a horizontally mounted bar, may cause damage to the rolls. The current invention allows more storage within the same footprint, without the cost of roll damage. 
     Another object of the invention is the provision of a protective outer frame incorporating an angled and adjustable inner frame, using the outer frame to protect the rolls from external damage. 
     It will be observed that the inventive concept, as disclosed herein, includes several illustrated embodiments. An embodiment illustrated in the views of FIGS.  1 - 5 , inclusive, depicts a large angled protective frame surrounding a support area. This embodiment is to be used for supporting large anilox rolls within the confines of the protective frame. Another embodiment is illustrated in the views of FIGS.  6 - 10 , inclusive. This embodiment has particular application for smaller versions of the anilox rolls. In both of the aforementioned versions it will be observed that the supporting structure is configured to provide support for anilox rolls having oppositely extending journals. Still within the protective concept of this invention there has been provided a modified version of the invention, seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, having particular application for supporting anilox rolls having through bores rather than journals. 
     In each of the described embodiments, the protective environment is defined by imaginary planes intersecting the outermost periphery of the protective element, such as in the defining periphery of the outer protective frames  200   a ,  200   b , and the periphery of the modified structure  500 . 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.