Abstract:
A device for adjusting a frame of a printing press carrying a conveyor belt relevant to printing modules in the three-dimensional axial directions. At least a first guide is provided on the frame for guiding a plate arranged on the frame in a horizontal direction x lengthwise to the frame by a first guiding component for adjusting the frame in the appropriate direction, whereby two walls perpendicular to the plate are arranged parallel to each other. Second guides are provided in a vertical direction y to the frame, on which two movable guiding components are positioned, and between the two guiding components, a third guiding component is arranged, which can be moved to the third guides on the second guiding components in the direction z to the flat surface of the frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates in general to adjusting the frame of a printing press, and more particularly to adjusting a printing press frame carrying a conveyor belt with respect to printing modules.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In printing presses, transporting frames extend on which conveyor belts are stretched. Printing stock is transported on the conveyor belts and provided with tonered images by the printing modules arranged close to the conveyor belts. The exact alignment of the printing drums of the printing module with the printing stock is of crucial importance in this context. It is important that the narrow bearing surface of the printing drum on the printing stock, which is also described as nip or compression cleavage, is positioned with great precision on the printing stock. Shifting of the nip leads to printing errors on the printing stock, as can easily be understood.  
           [0003]    On this subject of register control, the state of the art proposes a great number of solutions that basically concern the control of the register during the run of the printing press. However, with respect to the conveyor belt or printing stock, the nip may already be misaligned before the printing operation. The register controls for controlling the registerability in the machine direction and transversely to the machine direction of the conveyor belt somewhat change the speed of the conveyor belt or the speed of the printing drum accordingly in the event of a misalignment in the machine direction of the conveyor belt. In the event of a misalignment transverse to the machine direction of the conveyor belt, the axial position with respect to the printing drums is somewhat altered.  
           [0004]    Misalignments are corrected to a certain extent, but a misalignment of the height of the printing drum with respect to the conveyor belt, i.e., the distance between the printing drum and the conveyor belt or printing stock or the bearing pressure between them is not controlled by the register controls. Furthermore, there are mechanical devices that adjust the frame to the conveyor belt in the direction of the belt path and in the direction transverse to the belt path prior to the printing process, in order to achieve an optimal alignment of the frame with the printing drums for the first time or to re-establish it after a certain operating period of the printing press and in order to prevent a misalignment or a distortion of the frame. These devices include costly adjustment structures.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The task of the invention is to provide a simple device for adjusting a printing module of a printing press with respect to the frame of the printing press. The invention solves the task, whereby a device is provided for adjusting a frame of a printing press carrying a conveyor belt with respect to the printing modules, in which at least one of the first guides on the frame for guiding a plate arranged on the frame in a horizontal direction x lengthwise to the frame by a first guiding component for adjusting the frame in the appropriate direction. Vertical to the plate, two walls are arranged parallel to each other that have two guides in the vertical direction y to the frame which has two movable guiding components. Between the two guiding components, a third guiding component is arranged, which can be moved to the third guides positioned on the second guiding components in the direction z to the flat surface of the frame.  
           [0006]    The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a view, in perspective of the printing press frame adjusting mechanism, according to this invention; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the printing press frame adjusting mechanism according to FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    Referring now to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates part of a perspective view of a frame  1  of a printing press. Mounted on the frame  1  are rollers  3  on which a continuous conveyor belt or web lies and which conveys paper sheets through the printing press. It is extremely important that the conveyor belt is in the proper position, with reference to the printing drums that are positioned on top of the conveyor belt to which they are transferred. At least one horizontal first guide  2  extends to the plate  5 , whereby two horizontal first guides  2  are illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    Accordingly, the plate  5  has first guiding components  4  that engage with the first guides  2 . The engagement of the first guiding components  4  of the plate  5  with the first guides  2  makes it possible to horizontally move the plate  5  along the frame  1 . As a result, the first guiding components  4  for engaging with the first guides  2  of the frame  1  can slide back and forth in the frame.  
         [0012]    The plate  5  is attached to the frame  1  by a first set screw  6  that is inserted through the plate  5  via the first tap holes  19 . Firmly connected with the plate  5  are a first side wall  13  and a second side wall  14 , which are both perpendicular to the plate  5  and which preferably have recesses  25 . The first side wall  13  and the second side wall  14  are connected at the underside via a floor plate  18 .  
         [0013]    Two guides  22  are located on the inner surface of the first side wall  13  and on the inner surface of the second side wall  14 . The second guides  22  of the first side wall  13  and the second side wall  14  engage with a second guiding component  15  and a second guiding component  15 ′. A third guiding component  17  is located between the second guiding component  15  and the second guiding component  15 ′. Attached to the third component  17  are third guides  23  which engage with the second guiding component  15  on the one side and the second guiding component  15 ′ on the other side, which make it possible to slide the third guiding component  17  back and forth between the second guiding component  15  and the second guiding component  15 ′ in the z direction toward the frame  1 .  
         [0014]    A fastening component  21  is attached to the outer end face of the third guiding component  17 . The fastening component  21  has a hole for the insertion of a dowel  11 . On one side, the fastening component  21  has a support  7  with two holes  20  on its top side, and on the side, the dowel  11 . The support  7  is connected with the fastening component  21  by a bushing/pin connection, whereby a bushing or a recess, which is also known as a pit, is located on the fastening component  21 , into which the pin on the fastening component is inserted and which forms a secure connection between the fastening component  21  and the support  7 .  
         [0015]    A second set screw  9  and an adjusting screw  10  extend through the floor plate  18  via tap holes. The second adjusting screw  10  is inserted as seen from below behind the floor plate  18  in a thread on the underside of the second guiding component  15 . As seen from below, the thread of the adjusting screw  10  is inserted behind the floor plate  18  into a thread in the underside of the second guiding component  15 ′. Located in a recess  25  of the second side wall  14  is a third set screw  29 , which extends through the second side wall  14  and which is inserted in the side wall that is turned away from the second side wall  14  of the second guiding component  15 ′.  
         [0016]    The function of the invention is as follows. If it is determined that the nip or compression cleavage of the printing press is incorrectly positioned, i.e., the printing drum is misaligned with the conveyor belt, the device ensures the mechanical adjustment of the nip with respect to the conveyor belt. Such misalignments occur, for example, when the frame is moved from its idle position during maintenance.  
         [0017]    A deviation in the approximately horizontal direction lengthwise to the frame indicated by the x arrows is corrected by pulling or pushing on the dowel  11  in the x direction. To this end, the dowel  11  is removed by pulling it out of its secured position, whereby a pin of the dowel  11  is pulled out of the fastening component  21 . Then the device is moved to the left or the right according to FIG. 1 by pulling or pushing in the x direction, against which the frame  1  remains in a fixed position. The pulling or pushing causes the first guiding component  4  of the plate  5  to move into the first guides  2  with the plate  5  in the respective horizontal direction lengthwise to the frame  1 . The second guiding components  15 ,  15 ′ and the third guiding component  17  remain fixed in their position during this process. The pulling or pressing of the dowel  11  thus causes a shifting of the printing module connected with the support by a clamping device in the first guides  2 .  
         [0018]    Once the device has been moved in the desired manner in the x direction, the dowel  11  is locked in a secured position, and the printing module is positioned in a fixed alignment with the frame  1 . Since the frame  1  remains in a fixed position and is not moved, while the support  7  on the printing module is moved, the alignment of the printing module with respect to the to the frame  1  is altered and corrected. The device is moved in the direction of the z arrows in a similar manner as described above. The third set screw  29  is loosened for this purpose, i.e., the bearing pressure of the third set screw  29  is reduced laterally to the second guiding component  15 ′ by the second side wall  14 . Pushing or pulling the dowel  11  in the direction of the z arrow moves the third guiding component  17 , which is connected with the dowel  11  by a fastening component  21 , backwards or forwards relevant to the observer level according to FIG. 1. During this process, the third guiding component  17  slides to the third guides  23 , which protrude from the second guiding component  15  and from the second guiding component  15 ′, along it. The third guiding component  17  has recesses for this purpose, which, engage the third guides  23 , similar to the manner in which the second guides  22  engage the second guiding components  15 ,  15 ′. In this manner, the printing module connected with the support  7  can be moved on both sides in the z direction, whereby the frame  1  remains fixed in its position. Once the device has been moved in the desired z direction, the third set screw  29  is securely tightened, i.e. the bearing pressure of the third set screw  29  on the second guiding component  15 ′ is increased and the adjusted z direction is set.  
         [0019]    The printing module is now located in a fixed alignment with the frame  1 . Both of the adjustments of the device in the x direction and in the z direction described above are only exemplary; further possibilities of moving the third guiding component  17  and the plate  5  with the first guiding component  4  are conceivable, particularly adjustments by micrometer screws. However, tests have shown that the sensitivity of the above-mentioned manual adjustments for the targeted registerability of printing presses, in which the printing module is manually adjusted with respect to the frame  1 , is sufficient.  
         [0020]    In conclusion, the adjustment of the device in the y direction is described. To this end, the second set screw  9  is loosened, which is inserted in the second guiding component  15  in the idle position and sets the device in the y direction. This makes it possible to move the device in the y direction perpendicular to the frame  1 . By turning the set screw  10 , which is inserted into a thread of the second guiding component  15 ′, the second guiding component  15 ′ together with the second guiding component  15  and the third guiding component  17  are moved upward, whereby the second guiding components  15 ,  15 ′ slide along to the second guides  22  and the third guiding component  17  is fastened to the second guiding components  15 ,  15 ′ and moves with them. The adjusting screw  10  with the corresponding tapped hole in the second guiding component  15 ″ makes it possible to adjust the device in the y direction in the micrometer range. The fastening component  21  is, as mentioned, connected with the third guiding component  17 , so that the printing module is moved up or down in the y direction by the support  7  at the fastening component  21 . Following the precise adjustment of the position in the y direction in the micrometer range, the second set screw  9  is securely tightened in such a way that it is inserted in the second guiding component  15 , and thus locks the second guiding component  15 ′ and the third guiding component  17  into position. By this setting, the device and the printing module are set in the y direction.  
         [0021]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
       Parts List  
       [0022]    [0022] 1  Frame  
         [0023]    [0023] 2  First guides  
         [0024]    [0024] 3  Rollers  
         [0025]    [0025] 4  First guiding component  
         [0026]    [0026] 5  Plate  
         [0027]    [0027] 6  First set screw  
         [0028]    [0028] 7  Support  
         [0029]    [0029] 9  Second set screw  
         [0030]    [0030] 10  Adjusting screw  
         [0031]    [0031] 11  Dowel  
         [0032]    [0032] 13  First side wall  
         [0033]    [0033] 14  Second side wall  
         [0034]    [0034] 15  Second guiding component  
         [0035]    [0035] 15 ′ Second guiding component  
         [0036]    [0036] 17  Third guiding component  
         [0037]    [0037] 18  Floor plate  
         [0038]    [0038] 19  First tap holes  
         [0039]    [0039] 20  Second tap holes  
         [0040]    [0040] 21  Fastening component  
         [0041]    [0041] 22  Second guides  
         [0042]    [0042] 23  Third guides  
         [0043]    [0043] 25  Recess  
         [0044]    [0044] 29  Third set screw