Abstract:
An apparatus for transferring different media into a rotatably mounted component of a machine, such as a rotary leadthrough, includes a connection for introducing the media to a stator and through a rotor into the rotatably mounted component. The invention can be used, for example, on a plate cylinder of a printing press.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2009 015 080.3, filed Mar. 31, 2009; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The invention relates to an apparatus for transferring different media into a rotatably mounted component of a machine. Apparatuses of that type are known as rotary leadthroughs and are used to provide a connection for introduction of the media to a stator and through a rotor into the rotatably mounted component. The invention also relates to a printing press having the apparatus. 
         [0003]    Transfer apparatuses which are configured as so-called rotary transfer apparatuses are known from the prior art. There is, for example, European Patent EP 0 435 164 B1, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,159, in which a rotary transfer apparatus for introducing compressed air into a rotating part of a printing press is described. The apparatus is configured in such a way that a cylinder journal of the rotating part is extended and configured at the same time as a rotor. Channels are guided out of the interior of the rotatable part to the outside into the rotor. The channels are formed by radially and axially parallel bores and then end in a chamber. In embodiments having a multiplicity of channels, the chambers are separated from one another by correspondingly sealed anti-friction bearings. A supply of compressed air is provided from outside into the chambers. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 10 2007 060 792 A1, corresponding to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2008/0148974, is known from the prior art. That document describes an apparatus for transferring or producing electrical energy or for transferring signals into a machine which processes printing materials. A rotationally movable component of a machine is driven by an electric motor which is situated directly on the shaft of the rotationally movably mounted component. Furthermore, apparatuses for transferring electrical energy or for transferring signals are disposed in a common housing. 
         [0005]    A disadvantage of the previously known prior art is that different media cannot be transferred jointly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a rotary transfer apparatus for transferring different media and a printing press having the apparatus, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known apparatuses and printing presses of this general type and with which at least one further different medium can be transferred into a rotatably mounted component. 
         [0007]    With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a rotary transfer apparatus for transferring compressed air or hydraulic fluid into a rotatably mounted component of a machine. The rotary transfer apparatus comprises a pressure-tight housing, a stationary part, a rotor, a connection guiding the compressed air or hydraulic fluid into the stationary part and through the rotor to the rotatably mounted component, and at least one additional component disposed in the pressure-tight housing for transferring at least one further medium. 
         [0008]    The apparatus affords the advantage that, in addition to the transfer of compressed air, further media such as electrical energy, signals or data or drive energy can also be introduced into the rotatably mounted component. The basic advantage of the invention resides in it being possible for an additional component, which is responsible for introducing the further medium, to be accommodated in a pressure-tight housing. 
         [0009]    If a corresponding space is provided for this purpose, the transfer of electrical energy or signals/data can be provided in it through the use of transfer apparatuses which have contacts or are contactless. The transfer of compressed air, as a result of which the pressure-tight housing is under positive pressure, does not generally disturb the additional component, since the air can flow around a component of this type. It is merely to be ensured that the compressed air is dry, which is usually prevented by corresponding precautions in a compressed-air supply. 
         [0010]    Instead of a transfer apparatus for electrical energy, etc., a drive motor which moves the rotatably mounted component could also be accommodated in the pressure-tight housing. A direct drive which is attached on one of the cylinder journals of the rotatably mounted component would be advantageous in this case. However, it is to be ensured in this case that the feed lines of the drive motor are sealed when they are led through into the pressure-tight housing, so that there is no pressure loss. 
         [0011]    A further possibility includes a gear mechanism being accommodated within the pressure-tight housing, in which the gear mechanism can also additionally be combined with the drive motor which is mentioned in the introduction. It is possibly to be ensured that very fine particles which are detached from the gear mechanism as a result of abrasion do not pass into the pneumatic system. To this end, the feed lines and discharge lines which supply the system with compressed air can be equipped with filters. 
         [0012]    In addition to the actual object of the rotary transfer apparatus, namely the transfer of compressed air for a pneumatic system in the rotatably mounted component, a vacuum can also be active in the pressure-tight housing. That is to say, if a vacuum is required in the rotatably mounted component, a reversal of the pressure level can take place. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the transfer apparatus is used for transferring fluid, such as oil, for supplying a hydraulic system in the rotatably mounted component. If the hydraulic system in the rotatably mounted component has a restricted volume, a single-channel configuration is also conceivable in this case. That is to say, the pressure which is applied from outside ensures that a hydraulically moving actuating element performs a function in the rotatably mounted component. If a restoring movement is to take place, the pressure is canceled and a mechanical spring in the hydraulic actuating element ensures that the latter assumes its initial position again. The oil is pressed back through the use of the spring. However, it would also be conceivable that the introduced oil is not provided for supplying a hydraulic system, but rather for cooling a cylinder which in this case represents the rotatably mounted component. In a configuration of this type, however, the introduced oil has to be able to flow through the cylinder and exit the cylinder again. In this case, an outlet opening on the opposite cylinder side would be conceivable. 
         [0014]    As described in the introduction, a drive motor for the rotatably mounted component could be accommodated in the pressure-tight housing. There are motors which can be oil-cooled in the actual operating case, in order to increase performance, or in order to achieve a smaller overall size with the same performance in comparison with noncooled motors. Motors of this type could be used when the cylinder is cooled, as described above. 
         [0015]    However, it is also conceivable that the drive motor which is situated in the pressure-tight housing is operated hydraulically. To this end, the hydraulic fluid is introduced, as is provided for the compressed air, but a return line on the housing is required, through which the hydraulic fluid which has driven the motor is guided out of the pressure-tight housing again. 
         [0016]    With the objects of the invention in view, there is concomitantly provided a printing press comprising the apparatus according to the invention. It is possible for the rotatable component to be a cylinder or a drum. The cylinder can, in particular, be a so-called plate cylinder, on which a printing plate is clamped. The introduced compressed air can be used for controlling clamping devices, through which the printing plate is clamped. In an application of this type, the additionally introduced energy can be used for the supply of actuating motors which are situated in the plate cylinder. For an application in which different pneumatic components situated in the cylinder are to be actuated differently, there is provision for the additional component in the pressure-tight housing to be a transfer apparatus for signals/data which has contacts or is contactless. A controller which controls the actuation of the different pneumatic components can therefore be supplied in the cylinder. However, the same could also be provided on a paper-conveying drum in a printing press. 
         [0017]    Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0018]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a rotary transfer apparatus for transferring different media and a printing press having the apparatus, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0019]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary, diagrammatic, longitudinal-sectional view of a rotary leadthrough; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal-sectional view of a rotary leadthrough having an additional drive motor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is seen a rotatably mounted component  1  which is mounted rotatably between two bearings  2  and  3 . Each of the bearings  2  and  3  support a respective cylinder journal  4 ,  5 , between which the rotatably mounted component  1  is situated. The cylinder journal  5  opens into a pressure-tight housing  6 . A bearing  7  disposed between the pressure-tight housing  6  and the cylinder journal  5 , ensures an unrestricted rotational movement of the cylinder journal  5  in the pressure-tight housing  6  and ensures a sealing action. Firstly, a bore  8  which is situated in the cylinder journal  5  guides compressed air, for example, through the bore  8  and out of the interior of the pressure-tight housing  6  to a pneumatic system  9 . One end of the bore  8  is connected to the pneumatic system  9  by a line  10 . Secondly, a rotating part or rotor  11  of a transfer apparatus  12  is situated on the cylinder journal  5 . A line  13  is guided from this rotating part  11  of the transfer apparatus  12  through the cylinder journal  5  to an electrical system  14  in the rotatably mounted component  1 . The electrical system  14  can be a controller, an actuating motor, a data processing unit or the like. 
         [0023]    A stationary part  15  of the transfer apparatus  12 , which is connected over a line  16  to a plug element  17  that is situated on an outer side  18  of the pressure-tight housing  6 , is situated opposite the rotating part  11  of the transfer apparatus  12 . Depending on requirements, the transfer apparatus  12  can be contactless or can have contacts, with corresponding sliding contacts being required in the case where the transfer apparatus  12  has contacts. The sliding contacts are not shown, since that part is not considered to be relevant to the invention. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, a connection  19  for the supply of compressed air is situated on the outer side  18  of the pressure-tight housing  6 . If the compressed air is guided into the pressure-tight housing  6 , the compressed air passes through the rotating bore  8  to the pneumatic system  9 . In order to ensure that the pressure-tight housing  6  is not corotated by the rotating cylinder journal  5 , the pressure-tight housing  6  is fixed through the use of screws  21  on a frame wall  20  which holds the bearing  3 . 
         [0025]    For the case in which the pneumatic system  9  includes a plurality of components or systems  9 ,  9 ′ and  9 ″, there is provision for the electrical system  14  to assume the actuation of the individual pneumatic systems  9 ,  9 ′,  9 ″. In this case, the electrical system  14  is a controller, from which actuating lines  22 ,  22 ′,  22 ″ are connected to the pneumatic systems  9 ,  9 ′,  9 ″. In this case, the supply of compressed air is brought about through lines  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″ which are connected to a distributor  23 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows an illustration of a rotary leadthrough, into which a drive motor  24  for the rotatably mounted component  1  is integrated. The drive motor is constructed as a brushless motor, having magnets  25  which are integrated into the cylinder journal  5  and rotate within a magnetic field which is built up by coils  26 . The coils  26  are supplied with current through lines  27 . In addition, signals which are necessary to actuate the coils  26  can be sent over the lines  27 . The cylinder journal  5  is provided with a bore  8  which opens at one end into a line  10 . The line  10  supplies a pneumatic system  9  which is fed from a connection  19 . The pressure then propagates in the interior of the pressure-tight housing  6  and passes through the bore  8  and the line  10  to the pneumatic system  9 . The pressure-tight housing  6  is mounted and sealed with respect to the cylinder journal  5  by a bearing  7 . The pressure-tight housing  6  is fixed against rotation on the frame wall  20  through the use of screws  21 . 
         [0027]    As an alternative, hydraulic fluid can also be fed-in in the connection  19 , if the interior of the rotatably mounted component  1  is a hydraulic system  28 . The hydraulic fluid then propagates in a similar way and passes to the hydraulic system  28 . A controllable valve  29  is provided for regulating the pressure which is introduced into the hydraulic system  28 . An advantage of the introduction of hydraulic fluid is that it simultaneously damps oscillations which result in the rotatably mounted component or are transmitted by it.