Patent GB-767975-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to unit-drive rotary printing press speed control means
Inventor: DEAN JOHN RAYMOND
IPC: B41F13/004
Filed: 1954-05-14
Abstract: 767,975. Brush gear for electric motors. REYROLLE & CO., Ltd., A. May 13, 1955 [May 14, 1954], No. 14266/54. Class 35. [Also in Group XVI] In a rotary printing press having a number of printing units with folders interposed at suitable intervals arranged so that a desired number of printing units can be associated with a folder as a press group, each unit is driven by a separate variable-speed electric motor and each folder may be similarly driven, the units and folders are selectively coupled to the press register shaft through individual clutches, the speed regulator of each unit motor and each folder motor, if any, is operated by a separate hydraulic slave cylinder coupled hydraulically to a separate hydraulic master cylinder so as to follow movement of the latter, and the various master cylinders are mechanically linked together in groups, each operated in synchronism to produce synchronized speed regulation of the motors associated with that group. The machine illustrated comprises five groups A-E, each including three printing units and one folder, the groups A, B being shown in the drawing. The arrangement is such that any printing unit can be coupled to either of the two folders adjacent its group. The speeds of the motors are controlled by circumferential movement of their brush rockers, the folder-motor rockers 19 and the unit motor rockers 10, 11, 12. Each rocker is controlled by the movement of a piston in a hydraulic slave cylinder 20 (folder) or 15, 16, 17 (printing unit) hydraulically coupled to a hydraulic master cylinder 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30. Each group of master cylinders consists of seven, mechanically coupled and driven in synchronism by a crank-shaft 40 rotated by a pilot motor 41. Each folder slave cylinder 20 is coupled to its corresponding master cylinder 21. The unit cylinders 15, 16, 17 are connected respectively to selector valves 33, 38, 39 and thence either to the cylinders 25, 26, 27 in the same group, or to the cylinders 28, 29, 30 in the adjacent group to the right. The selector valves also connect both ends of the master cylinders not selected to a hydraulic supply pipe 61 to render them ineffective. Each motor 41 is controlled for rotation in either direction by " Increase speed" buttons 50 and " Decrease speed " buttons 49, to effect synchronized speed control of all units associated by means of the selection valves with the folder which is also controlled by the same motor 41. Closing of a button 50 or 49 energizes a solenoid 46 or 45 to close contacts 44 or 43 in the motor supply circuits. Rotation of the crank-shafts 40 to limit positions of the pistons causes limit switches 52 or 51 to open and stop the motors 41. The slave and master cylinders are connected to hydraulic supply pipes 62, 61 through individual normally closed valves 66, 64. Means are provided to restore the slave cylinders to synchronism if this is disturbed. Each of the valves 64, 66 is opened by its associated piston reaching its stroke limit in the " decreased speed " direction, thus breaking the interlock, whereupon the master pistons are allowed a little overtravel. Opening of a valve 66 opens a corresponding zeroizing switch 68, and when all the switches 68 of the group are opened, the circuit of the solenoid 45 is broken and the motor 41 stops, with all the slave pistons in synchronism. Contacts 69 are mechanically coupled to the corresponding selector valves.