Patent GB-435877-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to rotary intaglio printing
IPC: B41F9/10
Filed: 1934-04-28
Abstract: 435,877. Printing-machines. WEISS, A., 2823, Avenue I, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. April 28, 1934, No. 12916. [Class 100 (ii)] A rotary-intaglio printing-machine which is especially applicable for printing in two or more colours is constructed so as to be capable of printing in an ink which dries quickly owing to the use of a highly volatile solvent such as petroleum ether, or carbon tetrachloride. The printing-roller dips in a fountain, and the scraper is adjustably mounted in a wall of the ink fountain in a plane passing through the axis of the cylinder so as to be adaptable to cylinders of varying size. The machine is constructed with framework which can be extended to support further printing- units, and each printing-unit comprises a printing-roller 14 or 14<1>, which rotates in an ink fountain which is fitted with closure means adapted to prevent evaporation of the solvent and to permit of a free circulation of the ink by means of a pump 388, Fig. 11, thus causing the ink to maintain a constant consistency and to produce a uniform impression. The web 1 to be printed is led from a roll 2, Fig. 18, and is passed over a roller 3, between a roller 4 and an adjustably driven feed belt 5, over rollers 8 and a roller 9 which controls the tension of the web, thence round a roller 10 arranged at the base of the ink-duct to feed rollers 11, 12 and the printing-roller 14 and impression roller 13. A conveyer band 15 carries the printed web to the second couple 13<1>, 14<1>. Additional couples C, D, Fig. 18 may be used and the final product is directed by rollers 18, 19 to a folding-apparatus. The printing-roller 14, Fig. 8, is mounted on a shaft 109 formed with a tapered part 111 which engages a tapered hub 112 on the cylinder and the shaft also passes through a hub 110 on the cylinder. The shaft 109 is mounted in ball bearings in the sides 103, 104 of the ink fountain, and its end is slotted to receive a driving key 143 which is driven by worm gearing from the main driving-shaft 36. The impression roller 13 is mounted in ball bearings at the upper ends of adjustable rods 257. The closure means for preventing evaporation of the ink solvent comprises: (a) A pair of members 221, 222, Fig. 8, arranged in contact with the inner ends of the cylinders and the ends 103, 104 of the ink-fountain. The members 221, 222 are substantially semicylindrical in shape and are of the same size as the cylinder 14, but are capable of adjustment transversely to the axis of the cylinder 14 so as to be capable of registering with the tops of cylinders 14 of slightly different sizes. (b) A sealing shutter 246, 247, Fig. 2, pivotally supported by an adjustable plate 240, and provided with a flexible edge 247 which contacts normally with the cylinder under spring action. The plate 240 is adjustable to and from the cylinder, and the seal may be broken by the action of electromagnets 248. (c) A flexible sealing strip 223, Fig. 6, is clamped to the upper edge of a bracket 183, Fig. 6, in which is mounted a slide 182 carrying the doctor blade 193 which is reciprocated by a cam 179 on a shaft driven by worm gearing 171, 172, and other gears from the shaft of the worm wheel 159 geared to the shaft 36. The doctor blade 193 contacts with the members 221, 222 as well as with the cylinder 14 to produce even wear of the blade, and the strip 223 is cut away at 225, Fig. 6, but contacts closely with the upper parts of the members 221, 222 and with the ends 103, 104 of the fountain, as well as with the blade 193, so that the blade 193 and strip 223 together form an effective' seal at all positions of the blade. The side wall 185 of the fountain can be moved about its pivot 102 to permit of access to the cylinder, a catch 218 operated by a handle 219 serving to lock it in closed position. The side 185 is parallel to the line y-y, Fig. 2, joining the axis of the cylinder to the edge of the scraper to permit of adjustment of the bracket 183 in a direction parallel to the side 185 so that the scraper is adjustable in a plane passing through the axis of the cylinder. The ink fountain is supplied with ink from a tank 377, Fig. 11, formed of two compartments 379, 380 for containing ink solution, and solvent respectively and valves 382, 384, 385, 390, 400, Fig. 12, may be set so as to supply the fountain with ink, with solvent, or to drain the fountain. Normally the valves are set to supply ink from the compartment 379 to a pipe 392 which connects by pipes 395, Fig. 2, to the bottom of the fountain. Excess of ink is returned by a drain pipe 398 and valve 400 to the compartment 379 so that continuous agitation of the ink occurs. The cocks can be set to circulate solvent from the compartment 380, and this can be used to clean out the machine at the end of a run.