Patent GB-112337-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Automatic Stereotype Plate Finishing Machines.
IPC: B41D5/00
Filed: 1917-02-05
Abstract: 112,337. Goss Printing Press Co., (Goss Printing Press Co.). Feb. 5, 1917. Printing-surfaces; stereotype. - In stereotype-plate finishing-machines of the rotary drum type and particularly of the kind described in Specification 26923/09, means are provided, actuated automatically upon the rotation of the drum, for positively clamping the plate to the drum while cooling fluid is sprayed upon the plate; improved means for feeding the plate into and out of the drum, for positioning the plate in the drum, and for supporting the severed tail of the plate are provided also. As shown, the plate 46 is placed in a drum 12 adapted to be rotated to carry the plate past a :rotary cutter on a shaft 163 to sever the tail of the plate, and past a shaving knife 160 secured to a fixed shaft 15, to trim the ribs 46<a> of the plate, the inner end of the plate being simultaneously trimmed by a cutter secured to the shaft 15. During the finishing operation, the plate is cooled by liquid circulated through channels 14 in the drum and also sprayed on to the plate from nozzles 27. The plate is fed into and out of the drum by means of two series of intermittently rotated rollers 63, 64, and the plate is fed into the drum till its leading edge engages a stop 126 on a shaft 121 capable of a limited longitudinal and rotary movement against the action of a spring. The longitudinal movement of the shaft by the engagement of the plate 46 with the stop 126 automatically disconnects the driving-mechanism of the rollers 63, 64. The rollers 63, 64 work in vertical slots in side bars 43, 44 adapted, when the drum begins to rotate, to be raised automatically to lift the plate off the rollers 63, 64 and hold it in tight engagement with the drum. These bars are operated by arms 53, 54 on rock-shafts 49, 50 having arms 55 (one only of which is shown) carrying rollers 57 engaging annular rings 59 on the machine frame. Each ring has an opening 60 with curved inner edges and, when the drum is in the position shown, the rollers 57 enter the openings 60 and allow the bars 43, 44 to drop, thereby unlocking the plate from the drum. When the drum begins to rotate, the rollers 57 move out of the openings 60 and raise the bars 43, 44. This plate-clamping mechanism is similar to that described in Specification 1946/12, [Class 80 (iv), Mechanism &c.]. The drum is rotated by a worm-wheel 30 engaging a worm 31 loose on a driving shaft 33 but adapted to be connected to it by a clutch 36 operated by a hand-lever 40, Fig. 3, on a rock-shaft 39 which is connected by arm 138, link 137, and arm 136 to a rock shaft 133 carrying an arm 134, Fig. 2, provided with a stop-lug 135 adapted to coact with an arm 132 on a rock-shaft 96 on which is journaled a spring-pressed arm 127 provided with a roller 128 adapted to coact with a roller 129 on a shaft 74 journaled in brackets on the side of the drum. The depression of the handlever 40 to start the rotation of the drum also depresses the arm 134, allowing the arms 132, 127 to turn in a clockwise direction until the arm 132 engages a stop-pin 171, in which position the arm 132 is above the stop-lug 135 and prevents the return of the hand-lever 40 by its retracting spring 41 until just before the drum has completed a revolution, when the roller 129 engages the roller 128 and returns the arm 132 to its previous position. The hand-lever 40 is thereby raised to disconnect the clutch 36 and stop the drum. As the drum rotates, the plate moves clear of the stop 126 which then springs back into the path of the leading edge of the plate and the plate engages the stop and turns it about the axis of the shaft 121 so that it does not obstruct the removal of the plate from the drum. The plate-feeding rollers 63, 64 are carried by shafts 65, 66 provided with worms 70, 71 engaging wormwheels on the shaft 74 and on a similar shaft 75 on the opposite side of the machine. Each shaft 74, 75 is provided with a worm gear adapted to be engaged by worm gears 79, 80 on shafts 81, 82 journaled in pivoted brackets 83, 84. The shafts 81, 82 are constantly rotated by worm and bevel gearing 94, 92, 90, 88 from the driving shaft 33, and the brackets 83, 84 are adapted to be swung about their pivots to engage or disengage the gears 79, 80 from those on the shafts 74, 75 by pins 103, 104 and slotted arms 99, 100 on the rockshafts 96 and a similar shaft 97. The shafts 96, 97 have arms 105, 106 connected by links 107, 108 to the upper end 109, Figs. 3 and 9, of a rod 110 vertically slidable in a bracket on the machine frame. A spring 112 tends to hold the rod 110 depressed, and consequently the gears 79, 80 in the disengaged position. The rod is provided with a projection 113 adapted to coact with a catch 114 pivoted on the hand-lever 40. The catch 114 is connected by a pin 117 to a link 116 attached to the lower end of a lever, the upper end of which is operatively connected to the shaft 121 of the plate stop 126. When the hand-lever 40 is depressed, the catch engages beneath the projection 113 so that, on the upward movement of the handlever, the rod 110 is raised and the gears 79, 80 are engaged to drive the rollers 64 to feed out the finished plate and to feed in the next plate until, by the movement of the stop 126 as described above, the link 116 withdraws the catch 114 from the projection 113. A support 147 adapted to receive the tail piece of the plate is pivoted to an arm 149 on a rock shaft 150 provided with a hooked arm 151 normally engaged by a stud 146 on an arm 145 of a rock-shaft 139. A second arm 141 on the shaft 150 carries a roller 143 lying in the path of the roller 129. The tail-support 147 is also connected by a slotted link 152 to the arm 149. The shaft 150 is normally held in the position shown by a tension spring 158 on a rod connected to an arm 155 on the shaft, The severed tail drops upon the support 147 and, at the same time, the roller 129 engages the roller 143, turning the shaft 139 against the action of a spring 144 upon it, thereby freeing the hooked arm 151 from the stud 146. The weight of the tail and support 147 then turns the shaft 150 against the action of the spring 158 thus lowering the support 147 and allowing the tail to slide out of the machine.