Patent GB-496128-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to printing machines
IPC: B41F13/46
Filed: 1937-05-22
Abstract: 496,128. Printing - machines. HOE & CO., Ltd., R., and STONE, L. N. May 22, 1937, No. 14326. [Class 100 (ii)] Means for inserting latenews boxes in a printing- cylinder while it is running comprises a normally stationary loading head for the boxes to be inserted and holding them with their printing-surfaces below type height, means to speed up the head and register it with the printing-cylinder, and means for transferring a plate from the loading head to the cylinder with a movement in the major part of which the plate is below type height, and the final part of which is in a path inclined to the axis of the printing-head to bring the plate into longitudinal printing position at type height on the cylinder. The same transferring means may be used to withdraw boxes from the cylinder to the loading head. The loading head 4, Figs. 2 and 6, is loose upon the shaft 2 of the printing-cylinder co-operating with an impression cylinder to print on a web passing between them. The head 4 is provided with dovetailed grooves 57 to receive boxes comprising fixed jaw parts 59 and spring-pressed jaw parts 60 to clamp printing plates or slugs P with their surfaces slightly below type height. The boxreceiving grooves 68 on the printing-cylinder are formed in blocks 67 carried by spring- pressed pins 69 so that they are capable of slight radial movement on the cylinder. Projections 73 having inclined ends 74 extend into the grooves 68 and are engaged, towards the end of the longitudinal movement of the boxes into the grooves, by inclined faces 75 on the boxes so that as the boxes complete their longitudinal movement, they are also, with the blocks 67 moved outwardly to bring the plates P to type height. In this position spring- pressed locking-blocks 75<1> engage recesses 76 in the boxes to retain them in position. Finger levers 81 pivoted at 80 are provided for releasing the blocks 75<1> from the recesses when required. The transference of the boxes from the head 4 into the printing-cylinder is effected by pushers 17 which enter boxes 62 in the boxes and engage plates 63 which project slightly into the bores. These plates 63 are pivoted at one end and pressed outwardly by springs, and if no plate P is present in the box, the plate 63 is pressed outwardly clear of the bore 62 so that boxes not containing plates P are not transferred by the pushers. The means for speeding up the head 4 and bringing its grooves 57 into register with the grooves 68 prior to the transference of the boxes comprises a clutch sleeve 5 slidably keyed on the shaft 2 and adapted to co-operate with a clutch face 8 on an adjacent sleeve 9 rotatable and slidable upon the shaft 2. The inner end of the sleeve 9 is provided with a number of spaced keyways 11<1>, Fig. 3, leading to an annular recess 14, Fig. 4, into which a single registering stop 15 projects from the sleeve, one side of this stop being in line with one side of a single keyway 16 in the sleeve. The sleeve 9 is connected by a stirrup 50 to a carriage 49 threaded on to a screwed rod 48 carrying a bevel wheel 47. The sleeve 5 is connected by linkage 22, 26, 27 to a rotatable and axially slidable shaft 33 carrying a hand wheel 34 and bevel gear 32. Upon moving the shaft 33 axially to engage the gears 32, 47. the sleeve 5 is moved to engage the clutch face 8 to drive the sleeve 9 frictionally at the speed of the shaft 2. The shaft 33 is then rotated to move the sleeve 9 towards a key 13 having a spaced front portion 12. This portion 12 enters one of the keyways 11<1> and passes into the recess 14. At this time the drive through the clutch faces ceases and, in consequence, the sleeve 9 lags until the key part 12 engages the registering stop 15, after which the key enters the keyway 16 and the sleeve 9 is then positively rotated at the speed of the shaft 2. The pushers 17 which are carried by a flange 18 on the sleeve 9 and engage openings in a plate 19 fixed to the loading head 4, cause the head to rotate in unison with the sleeve 9. Continued movement of the sleeve 9 on the key 13 causes transference of the boxes as described above. The pushers 17 may be used to withdraw boxes from the cylinder 1 to the head 4 and for this purpose are provided with spring-pressed hooks 82 adapted to engage behind the plates 63 in the boxes. As the pushers enter the boxes on the cylinder, the pushers engage projections 91 on the finger levers 81 to release the boxholding locking-members 75<1>. The pushers 17 are rotatably mounted on rods 85 so that they can be turned to bring the hooks into an operative or inoperative position as required. An inclined slot 87 in the pusher engaging a pin on the rod 85 also projects the pushers forward so that the hooks are in position to engage behind the plates 63. Means may be provided whereby, when a single box is to be inserted into or removed from the printing-head, movement of the box in the inclined part of its path is prevented while the plate is adjacent the web. Upon the screwed rod 48, Figs. 2 and 8, are a pair of ratchet wheels 117, 118 of opposite hand, and co-operating pawls 114, 115, normally clear of the wheels, are pivoted at 115 and pivotally connected at 113 to a vertically slidable shaft 97 connected at its upper end to a lever 104 carrying a roller 110 co-operating with a cam 111 which is so set on the shaft 2 that its gap 112 registers with the roller 110 while the box to be inserted or removed is facing the web. Springs 100, 102 on the rod normally hold the roller 110 clear of the cam 111, but during the movement of the box in the inclined part of its path, a striker 92 on the carriage 49 engages a roller on a bell-crank 93 and, through link 94 and bell-crank 95, causes compression of the springs so that at every passage of the cam gap 112 past the roller 110, the rod is depressed to move the pawls 114, 115 into engagement with the ratchet wheels 117, 118 and thus prevent operation of the screw 48. Specification 495,456 is referred to.