Abstract:
A cylinder can receive one or more packings which are held in proper register. One or more register elements are carried by support strips which are placed in the cylinder barrel. These register elements can be held against longitudinal displacement in the cylinder barrel by a clamping device that is operable from the end face of the cylinder. The clamping device includes a clamping assembly which is useable to hold the register elements in place.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to devices for placing a registry-stable packing on a cylinder. At least one register block is placed in a groove in the cylinder. The block is held in position by an externally accessible clamp. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A lateral registry system for printing formes in an axis- parallel gap of a forme cylinder in a rotary printing press is known from DE 42 41 588 C2. Cutouts at the beveled or angled ends of the printing forme act together with register pins that are arranged in the cylinder gap. The register pins are rigidly connected with insertion strips, which strips can be individually axially displaced, and which are arranged axis-parallel and above each other in the cylinder gap or groove, in respect to each other and in relation to the cylinder. The displacement of the insertion strips is performed for the purpose of accomplishing lateral adjustment of the printing forme by use of threaded bolts that are arranged at the end face of the cylinder, and whose thread length defines the displacement distance. 
     In a similar way DE 197 57 895 C2 shows a register setting arrangement, but in which the insertion strips are arranged next to each other in the cylinder gap. An increase of the setting range takes place by the provision of intermediate positions between the strip and the supports of the screw arranged on the front face. 
     EP 0 490 179 A1 discloses a register element which is releasably arranged on an insertion strip and which is displaceable in relation to the insertion strip fixed on the cylinder by use of eccentric bolts. The register adjustment is kept within the range of the eccentricity of the bolts. For fixation of the register element in place against unintentional displacement, the register element, which is provided with elongated holes, is maintained frictionally connected to the bottom of the insertion strip by the use of screws. Releasing and clamping, as well as adjustment of the register element, is performed from the direction of the cylinder shell through the groove opening. Releasing and clamping of a register element takes place in a similar way in EP 0 535 502 B1, radially by the use of screws, which are embedded in the insertion strips that are matched to the curvature of the cylinder shell. 
     DE 196 00 071 C1 discloses a device for placing a registry-stable packing on the shell surface of a cylinder. Clamping of register blocks takes place, extending from the shell surface, by the friction between the end of the register block itself, which is embodied as a conical seat, and a recess in a base body that is fixed in place on the cylinder body. The register blocks can be inserted discontinuously in the axial direction into various recesses, or base bodies in the cylinder. 
     A device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,248, in which substantially ring-shaped register elements are seated, in a freely rotatable manner, on an actuating shaft of a clamping device. Each can be frictionally fixed in place in a groove of the actuating shaft by a spreading device which can be operated from the groove. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is directed to providing devices for accomplishing the registry-stable placement of a packing on a cylinder. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the object is attained by the use of at least one register block that is placed in a cylinder to which the packing will be secured. The position of the register block longitudinally in the cylinder can be changed. A clamping device is used to fix the register block in a desired longitudinal position in the cylinder barrel. The clamping device can be actuated from outside of a printing area of the barrel of the cylinder to change the position of the register block. The longitudinal position of the register block can be changed by an amount that is equal to at least one half of the width of the packing secured to the cylinder. 
     The advantages which can be achieved by the present invention reside, in particular, in that a variable arrangement and number of register elements can be arranged in a groove over almost the entire width of a cylinder barrel, or variably within the groove over the width of the printed material web or of the printing forme, regardless of whether there is a printing press with two, four or even more printing plates, or printing sides, arranged next to each other in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder. 
     The axial regulating distance for the register blocks is independent of an axial regulating distance of a regulating spindle or of a clamping device which can be operated from the front or end face of the cylinder, and is not fixedly connected with the cylinder. 
     The continuous regulating distance, which can be used over almost the entire length of the barrel of the cylinder, or over the width of the printing forme, makes possible, in addition to an adjustment within a narrow regulating range, a rapid reconfiguration of the register elements to other web widths of the paper or to other printing formats, for example, by simple displacement, without new elements needing to be inserted. The relative, axis-parallel, and independent displacement of two or more of the register elements, in respect to each other, is also of particular advantage. Particularly advantageous is the simple press- or customer-specific positioning and configuration of the register elements of the present invention in situ, without having to take narrow basic regulating ranges into consideration in the course of the manufacture, or assembly, of the grooves, even in the situation of different series or models. 
     For special embodiments, the shaping and dimensions of the device for placing a register-stable packing on a cylinder in accordance with the present invention can be matched, in a simple manner, to cylinder groove geometries or to register devices of existing printing presses, so that retrofitting or refitting are possible. Also, in connection with previously assembled presses, the exchange of register elements of various dimensions, their removal, or the additional equipping with them is possible. 
     It is particularly advantageous, in connection with cylinders having narrow, axially extending grooves for receiving printing formes, that clamping, or releasing of the register elements takes place from outside of the printing area of the barrel, for example, from the direction of the front or end face of the cylinder. The opening of the groove in the circumferential direction of the forme receiving cylinder can be kept as narrow as required for inserting printing formes, for example, without having to take into consideration the provision of access to fastening or adjusting devices, which previously have had to be accessible through the groove. The gap width is independent of tools or other devices needed for actuating the clamping device. The disruption of the shell surface of the cylinder, and therefore a limitation or a reduction of the printing area of the cylinder, for example by the need for embedded screws that are spaced apart from the groove in prior devices, is avoided by the device for placing a register-stable packing on a cylinder in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented in the drawings and will be explained in greater detail in what follows. 
     Shown are in: 
     FIG. 1, a schematic representation of a device for the registry-stable placement of a packing on a cylinder in accordance with the present invention, 
     FIG. 2, a top plan view of an area of a printing forme with its cutout, 
     FIG. 3, a side elevation view of a register block, and in 
     FIG. 4, a longitudinal section through the device for the registry-stable placement of a packing on a cylinder taken along the line A—A of FIG.  1  and parallel with the cylinder groove. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a cylinder  01 , for example a forme cylinder  01  of a rotary printing press, has at least one groove  02  on its circumferential surface, with groove  02  extending in an axis-parallel direction. Groove  02  is provided with an opening  03  in the direction toward the shell or circumferential surface  04  of the cylinder  01 , which openings  03  and groove  02  is used for receiving the ends  06 ,  07  of one or of several cylinder packings  08 , for example the beveled ends  06 ,  07  of printing formes  08 . In the depicted embodiment the cylinder  01  is structured as a double-width forme cylinder  01 , i.e. one in which four printing formes  08  or newspaper pages can be placed next to each other in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder  01  on its barrel or surface  04 . 
     In its interior, the forme cylinder  01  has a recess  09 , for example a bore  09 , extending in the axis-parallel direction and connected with the groove  02 , in which the device for registry-stable placement of a packing  08  on a cylinder  01 , in accordance with the present invention, is arranged. The groove  02 , as well as the bore  09 , can be provided almost continuously over the entire length of the barrel of the cylinder  01 . However, it is also possible for two grooves  02 , as well as two bores  09 , to each extend over essentially half the length of the cylinder barrel and, if desired, to be offset from each other, for example by 180°, in the circumferential direction of the cylinder  01 . 
     In an advantageous manner, the groove  02  is embodied as a narrow slit  02 , i.e. a slit  02  of a slit width b 02  in the circumferential direction of the cylinder  01 , which, in the area of the shell surface  04  of the cylinder  01 , is slightly greater than twice the thickness d 08  of the printing forme  08 , for example, b 02 =2 mm, and whose opening  03  in the direction toward the shell surface  04  has a width b 03  of, for example, b 03 &lt;3 mm. In respect to the shell surface  04  of the cylinder  01  the narrow slit  02  extends in a secant-like manner, in an advantageous way on the side of the leading end  06  of the printing forme  08 , at an acute angle α, for example, 20°&lt;α&lt;50°. 
     The device for registry-stable placement of a packing  08  on a cylinder, in accordance with the present invention, is arranged in the bore  09  and has at least one register element  12 , as seen in FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 , which at least one register element may be, for example, a register block  12 , and a clamping device  13  that works together with the register block  12  , and which extends in the bore  09  in an axis-parallel direction and parallel with the groove  02 . As a rule, several register blocks  12  are arranged along the length of the longitudinal bore  09  and are used to accomplish the register or alignment of, for example, several printing formes  08  which are located next to each other, each of which printing formes  08  has a width b 08 , as seen in FIG.  2 . In this case, the several register blocks  12  are arranged next to each other in the longitudinal direction in the bore  09 . The register blocks  12  and the clamping device  13  are arranged, in an preferred manner, on a support strip  14 , which support strip  14  is also extending in the longitudinal direction of the bore  09 . At its end face, the support strip  14  can have a securing device  16  to secure strip  14  in bore  09  against axial movements and/or pivoting. For example securing device  16  may be a screw or a pin, as seen in FIG.  1 . 
     The register block or blocks  12  and the clamping device  13  are arranged on the support strip  14 , or in the bore  09 , in such a way, that a first side face  17  of each register block  12  contacts non-positively and acts together with a side face  18  of the clamping device  13  extending in an axis-parallel direction. A second side face  19  of the register block  12 , which faces away from the first side face  17 , acts non-positively together with a side face  21 , which is extending in an axis-parallel direction, of the support strip  14 . In the state in which it is not clamped, the register block  12  is arranged so that its position in the support strip  14  can be changed relative to the clamping device  13  and relative to the support strip  14  while remaining parallel with the groove  02 . In other words, each register block  12  can slide axially with respect to cylinder  01  in the support strip  14 . On its upper face  22  facing the groove  02 , the register block  12  has a protrusion  23 , for example a pin  23  or a projection, which protrusion  23  is receivable in and thus acts positively together, in respect to an axis-parallel displacement, with a cutout  24  in the leading end  06  of the printing forme  08 . The register block  12  can be formed as a one-piece T-element, wherein the shape of the protrusion  23  and that of the cutout  24  are matched so that they fit into each other. The register block  12  has, in an advantageous manner, a width b 12 , which is greater than the width b 02  of the groove  02 , as shown in FIG. 1, so that the register blocks  12  are retained in the cylinder bore  09  and are secure against being ejected from bore  09  by the centrifugal forces created, and acting on them in the course of the rotation of the cylinder  01 . 
     The clamping device  13  has an actuating assembly  26 , which is operated from the end face  27  of the cylinder  01  and which, as a part of a gear arrangement, converts a rotary movement about an axis D extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder  01 , or a translatory movement in the axis-parallel direction, into a translatory movement of the side face  18  of the damping device  13  in a direction perpendicular to this axis D; i.e. in a generally circumferential direction. The clamping device actuating assembly  26  can be an eccentric shaft, a camshaft or a profiled shaft of helical cross section, or a threaded spindle, by the use of which a keying connection is produced. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the clamping device  13  is embodied as a keying connection, which can be operated by operation of the actuating assembly  26 , for example as a threaded spindle  30 , which extends into the body of the clamping device  13  parallel to the axis of the cylinder  01  and which is accessible from the direction of the end face  27  of the cylinder  01 . The actuating assembly  26  substantially consists of a clamping strip  28  having the clamping device side face  18  and having a cutout  31  on a clamping strip outer face  29 , facing away from the clamping device side face  18  and with both cutout  31  and face  29  extending in the longitudinal direction. A ball  32  is arranged in the cutout  31 , as well as the threaded spindle  30 , which spindle  30  is arranged in a bore  34  connecting the cutout  31  and an end face  33  of the clamping strip  28 , all as seen most clearly in FIG.  4 . The bore  34  is supplied, at least partially, with an interior thread and receives the threaded spindle  30 . On its first or exterior end, for example, the threaded spindle  30  has a hexagon socket  36  and, at least in the clamped state, projects with its second end  37  into the cutout  31  and cooperates with the ball  32 . 
     On its side remote from the clamping strip end face  33 , the cutout  31  has a wedging face  38 , which is inclined toward the clamping strip outer face  29  and which opens in the direction toward the center of the cylinder  01 . This wedging, angled face  38  works together with the ball  32  and with a face  39  of the bore  09 , fixed on the cylinder  01 , in the manner of a key. 
     It is possible to arrange a different type of pressure element  32  in place of the ball  32 , which will work together with the wedging face  38  and with the face  39  of the bore  09 , fixed on the cylinder  01 . The inclination of the wedging face  38  can also be omitted if the pressure element  32  is embodied in a wedge shape. In the present preferred embodiment, the threaded spindle  30  of the actuating assembly  26 , the pressure element  32 , and at least one inclined face  38  arranged on the pressure element  32  or the clamping strip  28 , together constitute the gear arrangement converting the axial movement into a movement perpendicular to it. It is advantageous in connection with the preferred embodiment that it is possible, by the selection of the thread pitch of the threaded spindle  30  and the inclination of the wedging face  38 , to set a fine gear ratio and furthermore, that a frictional connection, effective against the unintentional turning of the threaded spindle  30 , can be achieved by use of the screw thread. To insure that in the course of releasing the clamping device  13 , the ball  32  will dependably move along the wedging face  38  in the direction of the end face  33  of the clamping strip  28 , a spring  41  can be arranged in an axis-parallel extending groove  42  in the wedging face  38 . 
     The arrangement of the cutout  31  and of the pressure element  32  which is pushed off the face  39  of the bore  09 , in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder  01  between two register blocks  12  is advantageous. In the preferred embodiment, the cylinder  01  has two clamping devices  13  extending symmetrically in respect to its plane of symmetry S, each of which clamping device  13  is operated from the cylinder&#39;s end face. A total of four register blocks  12  are arranged over the length of the cylinder barrel on the continuous support strip  14  in the continuous bore  09 . It will be understood that FIG. 4 represents one-half of the symmetrical arrangement. 
     If the clamping device  13  and the register blocks  12  are not arranged on a support strip  14 , but directly in the appropriately shaped recess  09 , the second side face  19  of the register blocks  12  acts directly together with the face  39  of the cylinder bore or recess  09  in the clamped state. 
     The actuating assembly  26  can also be embodied as a camshaft, for example, which is seated without a screw thread in the bore  34 . However, the embodiment of the actuating assembly  26  as including a threaded spindle  30 , which has a cam on its end projecting out of the cutout  31 , is advantageous in regard to a frictional connection against unintentional reversing of the actuating assembly  26 . In this case the pressure element  32  and the inclined face  38  can be omitted. 
     It is essential, inter alia, that the clamping device  13  can be operated from the direction of its end face  33 , or at least from outside of the printing area of the barrel, and that when the actuating assembly  26  is operated, the clamping strip  28  is exposed to a movement and/or force component extending essentially perpendicularly in respect to the longitudinal direction of the bore  09 ; i.e. in the circumferential direction of the cylinder  01 , in the course of which movement, the clamping strip  28  maintains the register blocks  12 , fixed against an axis-parallel displacement, in a frictionally connected manner between clamping strip  28  and a face  21 , fixed on the support strip  14  or the face  39  of the bore  09 . In the released state, the position of the register blocks  12  can be changed in the axis-parallel direction, or they can be removed, independently of each other without the entire clamping strip  28  or support strip  14  needing to be axially moved. When the register blocks  12  are being adjusted, the clamping device  13  and the register blocks  12  are moved relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder  01 . 
     The clamping device  13 , and in particular the actuating assembly  26 , can also be operated by an appropriate gear arrangement, for example by bevel gears, that are not specifically represented, from the non-printing edge area direction of the shell surface  04 , for example in the immediate vicinity of the cylinder end face  27 . 
     The upper face  22  of the register block  12  which faces the leading end  06  of the printing forme  08  in the circumferential direction, can form a detent which can be set by the height h 43  of a base  43  or by a length l 23  of the projection  23  of the register block  12 . A basic setting in the circumferential register can be selected by the employment of differently dimensioned register blocks  12 . 
     The device for the registry-stable placement of a packing  08  on a cylinder  01 , in accordance with the present invention, functions as follows: 
     In the clamped state, the ball  32  is pressed by the threaded spindle  30  in the direction toward the center of the cylinder  01  between the face  39  of the bore  09  and the inclined face  38 , and in this way presses the clamping strip  28  in a direction with at least one component which is normal in respect to the face  39  of the bore  09 . Thus the register blocks  12  are frictionally held between the side face  21  of the support strip  14  on the one side, and the side face  18  of the clamping strip  28  of the clamping device  13  on the other side, so that the register blocks  12  are fixed against axis-parallel displacement. 
     For displacing the device, for example for changing the relative distances of the register blocks  12  in respect to each other, the threaded spindle  30 , which can be operated from the end face  27  of the cylinder  01 , is rotated in such a way that the frictional connection between the clamping strip  28 , the register blocks  12  and the support strip  14  is released, and the register blocks  12  are freed for axis-parallel displacement. For example, the distances between the register blocks  12  can be readjusted by the use of a gauge, which is not specifically represented, and which is inserted into the groove  02 . Thereafter the register blocks  12  are again frictionally fixed in place in their new position by turning the threaded spindle  30 . With double-width cylinders  01  in particular, i.e. with cylinders  01  on which four printing formes  08  can be placed side-by-side for either a horizontal or a vertical newspaper page, a position change of the register blocks  12  in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder by one-half the width b 08  of a packing  08  is, for example, required when resetting the cylinder  01  from use with simple printing formes  08  to use with so-called panorama plates of almost twice the width. 
     An exchange, the removal, or the additional equipping of the device with register blocks  12  is also possible in a simple manner in that, following the release of the threaded spindle  30 , either the register blocks  12  are pushed out of the end of the device or, following the additional release of the support strip securing device  16 , the entire device, consisting at least of the clamping strip  28  and the register blocks  12 , is pulled out of the bore  09  from the end of the cylinder  01 . 
     While a preferred embodiment of a device for providing a cylinder with a registry-stable packing in accordance with the present invention has been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changes in, for example, the type of packings or plates placed on the cylinder, the overall size of the cylinder, and the like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the following claims.