Abstract:
A printing unit contains at least one printing group which is comprised of at least two cylinders which cooperate to form a printing nip. At least these two cylinders are interconnected in a positive fit by a drive. The two cylinders can be engaged with one another in a first position (ON), or disengaged from one another in a second position (OFF). The two cylinders can also be disengaged from each other at a spacing distance in a third position (STOP). That spacing distance is sufficient to allow a web in the printing operation to be guided between the two cylinders without making contact with the two cylinders.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a printing unit with at least one printing group. The printing group includes at least two cylinders which are shiftable, with respect to each other, between three positions. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A printing unit is known from DE 44 30 693 A1. A double printing group, consisting of two transfer cylinders forming a print position and the associated forme cylinders, can be driven by a common drive motor. A transfer cylinder can be brought into two positions, a print-on and a print-off position, by the provision of eccentric seating. 
   EP 0 862 999 A2 discloses a double printing group in which the two transfer cylinders, which together form a print position, are not in a driven connection with each other. Instead, each has a drive motor together with the associated forme cylinder. In addition to on and off positions, the two transfer cylinders can be brought into a third position in relation to each other, in which third position, a web can be passed between the two transfer cylinders during the printing operation. 
   A device for putting cylinders into contact is known from DE 44 01 289 A1. Besides an out of contact position of the cylinders, it is possible with this device to set two different contact positions of the cylinders in relation to each other for different thicknesses of the web of material. In this case, a support element having two different stops is provided for the setting. 
   DE 93 11 113 U1 shows a double printing group through which a web of printed material can be guided, in a contactless manner, in a print-off position. The contactless passage is achieved by the use of guide rollers which are arranged upstream and downstream of the print position. 
   In DE 198 03 663 A1 the intention is to maintain, if possible, a print position during a flying plate change. This is achieved, inter alia, by use of a forme cylinder which can be driven independently of the associated transfer cylinder. During the plate change, the transfer cylinder continues to work as a counter-pressure cylinder, together with the web, and is in a driven connection with the counter-pressure cylinder. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,529 discloses cylinders which can be brought into three different positions. The various end positions can be adjusted, with respect to the contact position, in accordance with defined paper thicknesses etc. by the use of adjusting devices. Stops limit the contact path toward the others cylinders. 
   A drive mechanism for a printing unit is known from DE 198 53 114 A1. By the introduction of intermediate gear wheels into a drive train, the gear wheel engagement in the drive mechanism is independent, to a large extent, of the position of the cooperating cylinders. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is directed to providing a printing unit. 
   In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by providing a printing unit with at least one printing group. That at least one printing group can include a transfer cylinder which is drivable by a drive motor and which can be selectively positioned in one of three positions. A shiftable stop can be used to define at least two of these positions. The printing group may include two cylinders which act together to form a gap or nip. These two cylinders can be driven by a common drive motor. The two cylinders can be in contact with each other in a first position and can be moved apart to either of two separated positions as a function of the operating situation of the drive mechanism for the printing group. 
   The advantages to be gained by the present invention primarily lie in that by use of three positions, a “regular” removal of one cylinder from contact with another cylinder is made possible, for example in case of a change in the production, during stops, etc. is made possible. Also the removal out of contact of the cylinders to a distance which, for example, permits the contactless passage of the web, which, for example, is part of a printing operation, through the printing gap can be accomplished. 
   Bringing the cylinders out of contact, to a relatively large spacing distance, permits the contactless passage of a web, without additional guide rollers, which prevent the “fluttering” or oscillation of the web. The additional guide rollers might also possibly result in reducing the quality of fresh prints. 
   If the cylinders of a printing group can be driven together by a driven connection, which driven connection is maintained in every one of the cylinder positions, the release of a web during the printing operation is possible with a reduced number of drive motors. 
   The possibility of removing an entire printing group from the printing process is advantageous wherein, however, the web continues to run between the transfer cylinders. Because of the continuing engagement of the positive driven connections, the relative position of the cylinders, in respect to each other, is maintained on the one hand. On the other hand, a set-up operation, by use of a single drive motor, is made possible in the case of one drive motor per printing group with steel cylinders, or a double printing group and, by use of only one auxiliary motor in the case of one drive motor for two double printing groups, for example printing tower, H-printing unit, or two bridge printing units. 
   If two printing groups, each with its own drive motor, are provided, two printing groups, which are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction, allow two-color printing (1/1+1/1=2/2), or single printing on both sides with the first (1/1+0/0) or the second (0/0+1/1) printing group in alternation. Thus, with an appropriate configuration of a gear wheel engagement, in regard to the position of the cylinders, in which the web is freely guided through the printing gap, a set-up operation is possible in alternation between the first and the second printing group, for example during operation with a flying plate change. 
   The regulation of the drive mechanism of the printing group and of a stop for blocking a release under defined operating conditions, or for the prevention of the cylinders making contact under certain operating conditions, permit the release, along with assured high safety of the gears of the driven connection and of an operator, as well as interference-free continued printing. 
   Three possible defined positions for the transfer cylinder exist. The center position, or the respective stop position, is selectively taken up, or becomes effective, as a function of the driving situation such as, for example, the number of revolutions, or the cylinder coupling state. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows. 
     Shown are in: 
       FIG. 1 , a schematic top plan view of a printing group in accordance with the present invention, in 
       FIG. 2 , a schematic side elevation view of a driven connection of a printing group, in 
       FIG. 3 , a schematic side elevation view of a mechanism for pivoting a cylinder, in 
       FIG. 4 , a schematic side elevation view of a printing unit with two printing groups, and in 
       FIG. 5 , a schematic side elevation view of a driven connection of the printing unit in accordance with  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A printing unit of a printing press, in particular a printing unit of a web-fed rotary printing press, has a printing gap  02 , in which a web  06 , for example a paper web  06 , can be guided, all as may be seen in  FIG. 1 . 
   In the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the two cylinders  03 ,  04  forming the printing gap  02  are embodied as transfer cylinders  03 ,  04 , and in particular as rubber blanket cylinders  03 ,  04 , to each of which a further cylinder  07 ,  08 , for example a forme cylinder  07 ,  08 , is assigned. Inking or dampening systems, which are not specifically represented, are also provided. One of the two cylinders  03 ,  04  forming the printing gap  02  can alternatively be embodied as a counter-pressure cylinder  04 ,  03 , for example as a satellite or steel cylinder, which cylinder  04  does not carry any ink. 
   The ends of the four cylinders  03 ,  04 ,  07 ,  08  of the printing group  01 , which is embodied as a double printing group  01 , are each rotatably seated in a frame of the printing press, which frame is not represented. In this case, at least one of the two transfer cylinders  03 ,  04 , for example the transfer cylinder  03 , has a bearing  09 , depicted in  FIG. 3  which permits a relative position change of the two transfer cylinders  03 ,  04  with respect to each other, in particular a change Δ “a” of a distance “a” between the two transfer cylinders, as seen in  FIG. 1 . In the preferred embodiment represented in  FIG. 3 , bearings  10  for the remaining cylinders  04 ,  07 ,  08  are not further discussed and are each provided with the reference numeral  10 . 
   In a variation of the subject invention, as represented in dashed lines in  FIG. 3 , the second transfer cylinder  04  also has a bearing  09 , which is represented in dashed lines, and which also allows a position change. In this case, the two bearings  09  are coupled with each other in a manner, which is not specifically shown, in such a way that, when actuated, they perform a synchronous movement, however in opposite directions. 
   The transfer cylinders  03 ,  04  can be brought into at least three different positions, i.e. spacings a 1 , a 2 , a 3 , in relation to each other, wherein the transfer cylinders  03 ,  04 , in a first position AN or “in contact,” are placed against each other with a first spacing a 1 =0. In a second position AB or “out of contact,” cylinders  03 ,  04  are spaced apart from each other at a second spacing a 2  wherein a3&gt;a2&gt;0. In a third position AUS, or “removed from each other”, the cylinders  03 ,  04  are spaced apart from each other at a third spacing a 3  at a sufficient distance that, during the printing operation, the paper web  06  can be guided through the printing gap  02 , for example without touching the transfer cylinders  03 ,  04 , which may now run slower or which may be stopped for the purpose of a set-up. Stopping of the paper web  06 , or drawing it in to the printing group  01  is also possible, while independently thereof, the cylinders  03 ,  04 ,  07 ,  08  are accessible for a set-up operation such as, for example washing, pre-inking, printing forme change, rubber blanket change, putting images on the forme cylinder  07 ,  08  or the like. In the second, out of contact position AB, the two transfer cylinders  03 ,  04  are out of contact with each other, but the drawn-in web  06  can be maintained in contact with one of the adjustable cylinders  03 ,  04  in order to, for example, maintain web guidance. Moreover, moving the cylinders  03 ,  04  to the first, contacting position AN requires a considerably shorter actuating path than would be required if the cylinders  03 ,  04  were in the third, removed from each other position AUS. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the four cylinders  03 ,  04 ,  07 ,  08  are in a positive driven connection with each other by use of driven gear wheels  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 , which are arranged on journals  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14  at the cylinder end faces, as seen in  FIG. 1 . The geometry of the gear wheels  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 , as well as of the bearing(s)  09  is selected in such a way that the driven connection is maintained in every one of the three positions AN, AB, AUS of the two cylinders  03 ,  04 . The cylinders  03 ,  04 ,  07 ,  08 , which are in driven connection, are driven via a drive gear  21 , for example a drive gear wheel  21  or a drive pinion  21  of a drive motor  22 , which drive gear  21  meshes with one of the gear wheels  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19  of the cylinders  03 ,  04 ,  07 ,  08  In the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , the drive gear  21  meshes with the driven gear wheel  16  of the forme cylinder  07 . However, driving one of the cylinders  03 ,  04 ,  07 ,  08 , or one of the journals  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 , by use of the drive motor  22 , can also take place directly and coaxially. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the three positions AN, AB, AUS are made possible by utilization of the bearing  09 , which bearing  09  is configured as an eccentric bearing  09  for the transfer cylinder  03 , for example as a three-ring or as a four-ring bearing, preferably as a three-ring bearing because of the reduced cost outlay. This position change of the cylinder  03  takes place by pivoting an axis of rotation R of the transfer cylinder  03  around a pivot axis S of the bearing  09 . The possibly additional eccentric bearing  09  for the second transfer cylinder  04  is shown in dashed lines. Further possible eccentric bearings for the forme cylinders  07 ,  08 , for example to accomplish additional movements of those cylinders in or out of contact, are not taken into consideration in the drawings. The journals  11 ,  13 ,  14  of the remaining cylinders  04 ,  07 ,  08  are represented by solid lines in  FIG. 3 , and are centered by way of example. 
   If one of the two cylinders  03 ,  04  forming the printing gap  02  is not conveying ink, either the transfer cylinder  03 ,  04 , or the other cylinder  04 ,  03 , or both, can be seated by the use of an eccentric bearing  09 . 
   In  FIG. 1 , the two transfer cylinders  03 ,  04  are removed from each other in the third position AUS at a distance a=a 3 , for example in which 5 mm≦a 3 ≦10 mm, in particular a 3 ≈8 mm in such a way that the paper web  06  can pass through the printing gap  02  without contact. In accordance with the representation in  FIG. 2 , the gear wheels  17 ,  18  of the transfer cylinders  03 ,  04  are just in engagement with each other, something that could not be seen in the schematic representation in  FIG. 1 . An axis of rotation R of the transfer cylinder  03 , or of its pinion gear  17 , can be selectively brought into each one of the three positions AN, AB, AUS, which are identified by the crosses in  FIG. 2 , by pivoting the eccentric bearing  09  around a pivot axis S. 
   By way of example,  FIG. 3  represents the drive mechanism for the position change of an arrangement in accordance with the above mentioned principle.  FIG. 3  shows the journal  12  of the transfer cylinder  03  in the first position AN, in which first position AN, the transfer cylinders  03 ,  04 , which cannot be seen in  FIG. 3 , have been placed into contact with each other. The eccentric bearing  09  can be pivoted, for example, by operation of pivoting a lever  23  via a coupler  24  inside a bushing, not represented, of circular cross section. For example, pivoting the lever  23  in a clockwise direction causes the pivoting of the eccentric bearing  09  also in a clockwise direction, and therefore causes a movement of the journal  12  away from the bearing of the second transfer cylinder  04 , i.e. a change of the cylinders  03 ,  04  into the second position AB or, with further pivoting, into the third position AUS. In case of an eccentric seating of the second transfer cylinder  04 , the latter can be moved synchronously with cylinder  03  and in the opposite direction with respect to cylinder  03  by the use of a second coupler  25 , which second coupler  25  is indicated by dashed lines in  FIG. 3 . 
   The driving of the coupler  24  is provided by the use of a one-armed lever  23 , whose free end is in operative connection with a threaded spindle  27 , which spindle  27  can be rotated by a motor  26 . A rotation of the threaded spindle  27  in one or the other direction causes the pivoting of the lever  23 , and therefore causes the pivoting of the eccentric bearing  09  in the one or in the other direction. However, the driving of the eccentric bearing  09  could also take place via a cylinder, which cylinder can be charged with a pressure medium, or also by a drive mechanism that is directly working together with the bearing  09 . 
   If the transfer cylinder  03 , or the transfer cylinders  03 ,  04 , is or are in its or their first position AN, pivoting of the transfer cylinder  03  into the second position AB is possible by an appropriate pivoting of the lever  23 . However, pivoting of the transfer cylinder  03  into the third position AUS has been structured so that this pivoting movement can be blocked. The out-of-contact path of the cylinders  03 ,  04 , or the distance “a” between the cylinders  03 ,  04 , can be selectively limited to the position AB, or can be expanded as far as into the position AUS, by the provision of a stop  28 , whose position can be changed, or which can be pivoted. 
   In the preferred embodiment, to accomplish this result, the stop  28 , for example which may be a free end of a second one-armed lever, can be positioned into the movement radius of the free end of the lever  23  by an actuating device  30 , for example by use of a cylinder  30  which can be charged with a pressure medium. During “normal” printing operations, i.e. during the change between the first two positions AN, AB, this lever  28  also advantageously acts as a stop for the defined out of contact position AB. The use of this lever  28  as a stop is particularly advantageous in the case in which the first lever  23  is driven by a mechanism, such as a cylinder which can be charged with a pressure medium, since positioning of the first lever  23  in an “intermediate position” by using pressure alone, for example, is practically not possible. 
   The actuating device  30  for the stop  28  can be controlled by a control device  29 , which is shown only in  FIG. 5  in such a way that a change of cylinder  03  from the first or the second position AN, AB into the third position AUS is prevented by the stop  28  at least in the case in which the printing group  01 , or the transfer cylinders  03 ,  04  are operated above a defined threshold number of revolutions, or at the production number of revolutions. The stop  28  is only released into the position AUS when the printing group  01  has been stopped, or is operated at a number of revolutions below a threshold number of revolutions, or is in a set-up operation, i.e. a number of revolutions asynchronous in relation to the production number of revolutions. 
   In an advantageous embodiment, at least the third position AUS can be detected by a signal emitter, which is not specifically represented, for example by a limit switch, wherein the signal is also supplied to the control device  29 . 
   If the printing group  01  can be driven by its own drive motor  22  independently of a further printing group, the angular speed, or the number of revolutions of the drive motor  22 , or of one of the cylinders  03 ,  04 ,  07 ,  08 , or the circumferential speed at the transfer cylinder  03 , for example, are determined and supplied to the control device  29 , in which a comparison with the existing operational state is performed. If, for example, the condition exists, in which the printing group  01  is being operated in readiness for production, or is operating above a threshold value, the stop  28  is placed into its effective position, in which effective position of stop  28  a position change of the cylinder  03  or cylinder  04  into the third position AUS is blocked. 
   It is also advantageous for the protection of the drive connection and the press operators if the printing group  01  can be operated with cylinders in the position AUS only in defined modes of operation, for example only during set-up operations, i.e. when the cylinders are driven at a limited number of revolutions. A maximum number of revolutions can also be preset for this, for example, which maximum number of revolutions can correspond to the threshold number of revolutions for the change from the position AB into the position AUS. This can be preset by use of the control device  29  for controlling the drive motor  22 . In this case, an acceleration, independently of the running of the paper web  06 , to a number of revolutions which is synchronous with the printing operation can only take place in a position which is located between the positions AUS and AN and is limited in the direction AUS by the stop  28 , for example in the position AN. The limitation is preferably provided via the electronic elements, i.e. for example via the control device  29 . 
   The control device  29  also prevents a change of the cylinder  03  or cylinders  03 ,  04  from the position AUS, or from the position AB, into the position AN if, in the course of the operation of the printing press, i.e. when the paper web  06  passes through the printing gap  02 , the printing group  01  does not run at a number of revolutions which is synchronous with the running speed of the paper web  06 , or if the printing group  01  is not in a driven connection with the drive motor  22 . 
   The above-described device, as well as the above-described operational situations, also apply to printing groups  01  whose cylinders  03 ,  04  forming the print position  02 , one of which is possibly also embodied as a satellite cylinder form a driven connection which is independent of the drive mechanism of the forme cylinders  07 ,  08  and which is driven by its own drive motor. Thus, for example, in a rubber-against-rubber printing group, the two transfer cylinders  03 ,  04  can be driven by one drive motor, and the two forme cylinders  07 ,  08  can be driven by one by or two further drive motors which are suitable for the production operation. 
   This also applies if one or if several transfer cylinders  03 ,  04  are driven together with a satellite cylinder, and the associated forme cylinders  07 ,  08  are driven separately. 
   In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the printing group  01  can also be driven together with a second printing group  31 , as seen in  FIG. 4 , which second printing group  31  has gear wheels  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  36  of two further transfer cylinders and two further forme cylinders by a common drive motor  37 , with only the gear wheels  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  36  of cylinders of the second printing group  31  being represented in  FIG. 4 . In this case, it is advantageous, if driving takes place from the drive motor  37  via one gear wheel  38 , or  39  in the direction toward the printing groups  01 , or  31 , respectively. At least one of the gear wheels  38 ,  39  is embodied so that by use of a coupling  41 ,  42 , as seen  FIG. 5  it can be selectively connected with, or disconnected from, the gear wheel  16  of the first printing group  01 , or the gear wheel  42  of a forme cylinder  43  of the second printing group  31 . This can, for example, be accomplished by the use of gear wheels  38 ,  39  which are displaceable in the axial direction. 
   The information regarding an open coupling state of each of the coupling  41 ,  42  is sent to the control device  29 , for example via limit switches, which are not specifically represented, whereupon the pivoting of the associated transfer cylinder into the position AN is prevented by the control device  29 . If the printing group  01 ,  31  runs synchronously with the production and/or the engaged coupling  41 ,  42 , the change into the position AUS is blocked via the actuating device  30  and the stop  28 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . For controlling the actuating device  30 , it is also possible to utilize the number of revolutions of the printing group  01 ,  31 , or of the transfer cylinder  03 , and to process it in the control device  29 . 
     FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  show a printing unit embodied in the form of an H-printing unit, wherein the lower printing group  31  is disengaged and a pivotable transfer cylinder, that is associated with the gear wheel  33 , is in the third position AUS. The upper printing group  01  is engaged and the transfer cylinder  03  is in the first, in contact position AN. 
   In a preferred embodiment, which is not depicted , one of the two gear wheels  38 ,  39  can also be embodied as a double gear wheel  38 ,  39 , which cannot be coupled, wherein one half of the double gear wheel meshes with the gear wheel  16 ,  32  of the forme cylinder  07 ,  43 , and the other half meshes with the gear wheel  21  of the drive motor  37 . In an advantageous embodiment, the halves can be embodied to be displaceable in relation to each other for registration, for example between the two printing groups  01 ,  31 , or between further units of the printing press. 
   In all cases in which two printing groups  01 ,  31  can be driven by a common drive motor  37 , it is advantageous, for the purpose of set-up operations, to provide an auxiliary drive mechanism, which is not specifically represented, in the drive connection of a printing group  01 ,  31  which auxiliary drive mechanism can be disengaged. 
   The mode of functioning of the printing unit in accordance with the present invention is as follows: 
   As is the case with customary double printing groups, the printing groups  01 ,  31  of the printing unit can each be operated during “normal” printing operations selectively in a position AN and AB. It is also additionally possible to guide the paper web  06  during the printing operation through the printing group  01 , or  31  while this printing group  01 ,  31  is not participating in the printing operation, i.e. is inactive. To this end, the printing group  01 , or  31 , or its transfer cylinders  03 ,  04 , are pivoted into the position AUS. As long as the printing group  01 ,  31  is operated at a number of revolutions above a threshold number of revolutions, and/or a coupling  41 ,  42  possibly located between the drive motor  37  and the printing group  01 ,  31  is closed, the change into the third position AUS is blocked. 
   If the drive mechanism of the printing group  01 , or  31  is no longer operated synchronously with the running of the paper web  06 , or is operating at a number of revolutions below the threshold number of revolutions, pivoting of the transfer cylinders  03 ,  04  into the position AUS is released by the control device  29  in that the stop  28  is brought into an ineffective position. This can take place either when the drive motor  22  driving the printing group  01 , or the printing group  31 , are no longer driven synchronously with the paper web  06 , but instead are in a set-up operation, or are stopped. If the printing group  01 ,  31  is driven by a common drive motor  37  via a switchable coupling  41 ,  42 , the release takes place, for example, on the basis of the open coupling state of the coupling  41 ,  42 . 
   For the purpose of accelerating the printing speed, or the printing number of revolutions, the printing group  01 ,  31  must initially be brought out of the position AUS into an intermediate position, for example into the position AB. The printing group  01 ,  31  can then be returned into the position AN only when the circumferential speed, or the corresponding number of revolutions, corresponds to that of the paper web  06 . 
   In the case of the embodiment of the printing unit with two printing groups  01 ,  31 , a 2/2 printing operation, and also an alternating 1/1 printing operation, for the purpose of a flying plate change, can take place by use of the printing unit. To this end, one of the printing groups  01 ,  31  is placed into the position AN, while the other printing group  31 ,  01  is placed into the position AUS. Now a set-up operation, for example a plate change, is possible in connection with the printing group placed in the position AUS. 
   In an advantageous embodiment, the printing group  31 ,  01  must now first be brought into the intermediate position again, for example into the second, out of contact position AB, before the printing group  31 ,  01  can again be accelerated. If the number of revolutions of the printing group  31 ,  01  has again been synchronized with the running of the web, i.e. has been accelerated again and engaged, if required, the blockage for movement into the first, in contact position AN is removed, and the printing group  31 ,  01  can again be brought into the position AN. It is now possible, for example, to bring the first printing unit  01 ,  31  into the third, removed from each other, position AUS for set-up as soon as the number of revolutions drops below the threshold number of revolutions, or the respective coupling  42 ,  41  is released. 
   While preferred embodiments of a printing unit, in accordance with the present invention, have 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 web being printed, the overall structure of the printing press 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 appended claims.