Patent GB-966192-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to rotary printing machines
IPC: B41F13/00
Filed: 1961-07-03
Abstract: 966,192. Rotary printing presses. CHAMBON Ltd. July 3, 1961 [March 20, 1961], No. 23917/61. Heading B6C. A rotary printing press for continuously printing series of cheques, the wordings of which vary from one series to the other, comprises printing apparatus 1 and 3 paired as one set and printing apparatus 2 and 4 forming a second set, the sets being adapted to be alternatively operated, a counting device preset for counting the number of cheques to be printed in each series, and a device, controlled by said counting device which acts, as soon as the number of cheques to be printed in a series is reached, to automatically shut-off the apparatus, such as 2 and 4-printing said series, and put into service the apparatus-such as 1 and 3- which have been preset for printing a further series, the arrangement being such that no loss of paper will occur between two successive series. The first apparatus of each set, i.e. 1 and 2, may be used for printing the necessary wording on a series of cheques whilst the second apparatus of each set, i.e. 3 and 4, may be used to add the serial numbers of the cheques. The cheques are printed on a paper web 5 passing through the apparatus 1 ... 4, are cut to the necessary size at 6, and are removed from the press on a belt 7 after passing through a counting device 8. Whilst one apparatus set is in printing position the cylinders of the other set are spaced from the moving web and stopped so as to enable the operator to manually position the text and adjust the numbering device ready for printing the next series. The counting device 8 causes signals to be transmitted on lines T1 and T2, those lines being connected to an electrical control device 9 which actuates mechanisms 1a . . . 4a associated with the apparatus 1 . . . 4 respectively, causing the various successive operations to occur. Each apparatus 1, 2, 3 or 4, which is driven from a shaft 12 connected through pinions 13, 14, 16, 17 to printing and impression cylinders 18 and 10, comprises an inking device 19 having an associated fixed roller 20 and a swinging roller 21 the latter being coupled to each slidable bearing 22 of the printing cylinder 18 through bell-crank levers 58, 56, and a pin and slot arrangement 57a, 58a, such that upward movement of the cylinder 18, which occurs when the latter disengages from the associated impression cylinder 10, also moves the roller 21 and spaces it from the cylinder 18. The bearings 22, which are movable in slots 23a in the apparatus side frames 23, are controlled by levers 24, 24a pivoted on axis 25 carried by the frames 23 and connected by a cross-bar 67 Each lever has at one end a slot 26 bearing a pin 60 integral with the bearing 22 with which it co-operates. At the other end the levers carry respective rollers 27, 27a contactable by eccentrics 28, 28a secured on a shaft 36 carrying a pinion 30 fixedly secured to a Maltese cross 29. This cross is rotated when appropriate by a lever 32 rotated by a shaft 33 carrying a pinion 33a in engagement with a pinion 12a interlocked with the driving shaft 12, so that the shaft 33, and consequently the lever 32, may perform a complete revolution for each rotation of the shaft 12 and, hence the cylinder 18. The shaft 33 is transversally slidable so that a roller 34 on the lever 32 may engage the cross 29 when an electromagnet 35 actuating a bell-crank lever 35a is energized. This electromagnet 35 effects the engagement and disengagement of the cylinder 18 with the impression cylinder 10 energization of the magnet, which occurs in the automatic function of the machine's controls, moving the shaft 33 to actuate the cross 29 and thus the eccentrics 28, 28a to depress the said other ends of the levers 24, 24a, and therefore raise the bearings 22 and with them the inking roller 21. The shaft 33 is spring-loaded, de-energization of the magnet 35 causing the shaft 33 to disengage the roller 34 from the cross 29. In the numberprinting apparatus 3 and 4, shaft 36 carries an eccentric 37, Fig. 6, which normally presses, through a lever 38, and a roller 39, the wheels 71 of the numbering apparatus into operation. When the shaft 36 rotates on actuation of the electromagnet 35-to withdraw the cylinder 18 from the cylinder 10, the eccentric 37 allows the lever 38 to pivot under the action of a spring 61 such that the wheels 71 are rendered inoperative. Each printing apparatus 1 . . . 4 is coupled to the main driving shaft 41 of the press in response to two signals emanating from the automatic control. The first couples the cylinders and inking train through an electromagnetically controlled friction coupling 44 whilst the second energizes an electromagnet 47 which moves a claw member 46, fixed to the shaft 12, against a spring into engagement with a claw member 45 carried by a helical gear 43 idly mounted on the shaft 12 and in engagement with the shaft 41. The second signal corresponds to the moment when the relative speed between the shaft 41 and 12-connected by the coupling 44- is small. In order to raise bearings 22 far enough for removal when after the printing of a series of cheques the printing cylinder of an apparatus has to be removed for fresh treatment of the cylinder such as re-engraving a hand wheel 63a fast to a shaft 63 carrying worm wheels 53, 53a is provided which, on rotation causes the wheels 53, 53a to depress the said other ends of the levers 24, 24a through worm wheels 54, 54a on a crossbar 64 which wheels carry threaded spindles 65, 65a supported by springs 66, 66a on a crossbar 67 connecting the levers 24, 24a. The shaft 63 may be motor driven, in which case motor actuation may be controlled by the automatic control mechanism of the machine. Each printing apparatus also comprises a safety table 55 adapted to be introduced by the operator between the cylinders to trip a stop 68 and thus allow dismantling of the bearings 22 to proceed. The table also actuates a safety contact such that the re-setting into operation of the apparatus is prevented until the necessary manual operations such as the replacement of the printing cylinder have been effected and the table removed. The inking roller 21 is held away from the cylinder 18 after the latter has been raised from the impression cylinder 10 by a spring-loaded lever 59 which is controlled by an electromagnet 52 such that the inking roller is prevented from re-engagement with the cylinder 18 until the apparatus is once more fully coupled to the machine drive when a signal from the automatic control to the magnet 52 energizes same to withdraw the lever 59. If the machine is to print 6000 cheque forms using the apparatus 2 to print the wording whilst the numbering is effected on the apparatus 4, a little before the end of the printing, say at 5850 cheques, a signal is transmitted through a line T1 from the counting device 8 in order to initiate the transfer of printing from the apparatus 2 and 4 to the apparatus 1 and 3. This transfer entails the coupling to the machine drive of the cylinders of the apparatus 1 and 3 and the subsequent inking of their printing cylinders such that on the completion of the printing of the 6000 cheques by the apparatus 2 and 4 the apparatus 1 and 3 are ready to commence printing a new series whilst the apparatus 2 and 4 are tripped-out. A signal is transmitted from the device 8 through a line T2 at the 6000 cheque mark to terminate the transfer operations. When the apparatus 1 and 3 have produced their predetermined number of printed cheques or other sheets of like form signals are again transmitted from the device 8 through the lines T1 and T2 in order to transfer the printing on the continuously moving paper web 5 to the apparatus 2 and 4. When starting the machine the automatic controls are so arranged that depression of the " start " button automatically ensures the transmission of signals similar to those passed through the lines T1 and T2 to thus assure the coupling to the machine drive and inking of the cylinders of the pair of apparatus 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 selected to commence printing. The printing of a numbered series of cheques may be interrupted at any time outside the transfer operations in order that the production of blank cheques may be effected on the apparatus 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 not in use by depressing a button which transmits a signal similar to that normally transmitted through the line T2 to trip-out the operating apparatus whether it be 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 simultaneously engaging the other apparatus. Depression of the button, which will have no effect if the automatic transfer between apparatus pairs is taking place, actuates a device which in effect stops the counting device 8 and keeps a record of the number of numbered cheques already produced in order that the series may be completed after the manufacture of the blank cheques. Such re-starting of the series printing is effected automatically. The machine also comprises a safety device which actuates when there is some delay in preparing the apparatus. Two minutes before the termination of counting the device 8 will deliver a signal t 1 . If at this moment the operator has not finished the preparation of the waiting apparatus the machine will slow down to its minimum speed. Two minutes before the end of the counting at this speed the device 8 delivers a second signal t 2 . If the operator has not finished at this moment the machine will stop after two minutes. If the operator has finished before the occurrence of the second signal t 2  the machine will automatically resume its maximum speed. Figs. 7a and 7b (not shown) illustrate the control circuit of the machine.