Patent GB-191302750-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Finishing and Cooling Curved Stereotype Plates.
IPC: B41D5/00
Filed: 1913-02-03
Granted: 1914-02-03
Abstract: 2750. Printing Machinery Co., [Wood, H. A. W.]. Feb. 3. Printing-surfaces; stereotype. - Relates to machines for trimming and cooling curved stereotype plates, of the kind in which the plate travels by gravity down an inclined runway through a trimming arch and on to a cooler, and consists in the provision of means whereby the exit of the plate from the arch is automatically accompanied by a stoppage of the driving-motor and the alinement of a movable part of the runway within the arch with the main runway, and of means for stopping the plate as it enters the cooler. The machine comprises a frame A having a platform B with side guides b for receiving the plate from the casting-apparatus. The plate thus slides into the shaving-arch D, during which movement the straight edges are trimmed by stationary cutters, one being pivotally mounted to permit of a lateral displacement of the plate as it enters the arch. The inside of the plate is shaved by a knife 27 on the shaft 26 driven by worm gearing from a transverse shaft 23, operated by worm gearing from the motor shaft 18. The starting-switch 13 for the motor F is operated by a rod 12 from a treadle 10, which is held in a position to close the switch, against the action of a spring 140, by a latch 16 operated by the devices for clamping the plate in the arch D. Passing down the centre of the shaft 26 is a shaft 32 driven by spiral gearing 31 from the shaft 18, which drives by means of bevel-gearing 35, 36 a shaft 37 carrying a cutter 39 for cutting-off the head of the plate. Cutters 40 at the ends of the shaving- knife 27 cut a groove at each end of the plate and remove the sharp edges. The plate while it is being trimmed abuts against stops 51, which are normally forced into the path of the plate by springs 50 and are periodically removed therefrom by projections 52 on members 49 rocked by links 48 from a lever 47 rocked by a cam 45 on the shaft 26. At one side of the arch is a shaft 53 carrying a clamping- arm 54, on which are pivoted sections 56 of the runway. When the arm 54 is drawn down, the members 56 slide along the ledge 58 and aline with the main runway. The arm 54 is raised to clamp the plate G by the spring 140 and lowered by the rod 14. At the completion of the trimming operation, the latch 16 holding the treadle arm 15 in the running position is disengaged by the contact of the lever 47 with a projection 64 on the latch. Leaving the arch, the plate moves by gravity on to the concave continuation of the runway in the cobbler E, where it is arrested by coming into contact with a plate 71 mounted on a shaft 81, connected bv arms 72 with spring plungers 73. Also mounted on the shaft 81 are two arms 82 each of which carries a grooved roller 84, forced towards the centre of the machine by helical springs. As the plate advances, the edge thereof engages the groove and forces the rollers apart against the pressure of the springs. The plate is cooled by a water spray from a semicylindrical pipe, to which water is admitted by way of a valve 76 controlled by one of the plungers 73. A partition 79 prevents the water from escaping towards the arch. The cooler is drained by a pipe 80.