Patent GB-636907-A (GB)
Title: Multiple unit printing press
IPC: B41M1/42
Filed: 1947-07-04
Abstract: 636,907. Printing-machines. HUEBNER, W. C. July 4, 1947, No. 17729. Convention date, Aug. 9, 1946. [Class 100 (ii)] A rotary printing- machine is constructed so as to be capable of printing in one or more colours on each side of a web by different printing processes including planographic, offset, or a process in which the ink is applied by an electric field of force. The machine is constructed with a framework comprising a base 30, Figs. 1 and 5, and uprights 32 secured to a top member 35. The uprights 32 are standardized so that the framework can accommodate a number of tiers A, B, C, D, of printing or inking units, each comprising as many sections 39 as colours to be printed, an example of which is shown in Fig. 9. Each tier has a base member 44, Figs. 1 and 9, which is formed with a pair of pinions which engage racks 34 on the base 30 so as to permit of longitudinal adjustment of the tiers, and the upper sections of each tier are also fitted with pinions engaging racks depending from the top member 35. The pinions are geared together and operated by a crank-handle so as to permit of ready adjustment of the tiers. Each section 39 is fitted with a key 40 engaging a recess 41 in the one above, and screws 42 secure them. The base members 44 are held in adjusted position by a wedge 57. The printing members are held in position by means of flanged discs 59, 60, Fig. 9, the disc 59 being mounted in an eccentric bushing 61, which is rotatable to vary the lateral position of the printing member, and is held in position by a screw 62A engaging a slot in a flange of the bushing 61, which is mounted in an eccentric sleeve 62, and can be moved axially by screw mechanism to move the disc 59 to or from the disc 60, which is also mounted in adjustable eccentric bearings. The discs 59, 60 support various types of drum or cylinder according to the method of printing desired. An inner tube 76 is carried by the discs 59, 60 being mounted in a bearing 75 in the disc 59 and being connected by a tongue and groove to a tube 77 mounted in disc 60. The tube 76 is divided by a partition 97 into two sections, one of which is connected by a tube 99, Fig. 12B, to a reservoir 100 which supplies under fluid pressure ink or water to a porous printing member 93 mounted on the discs 59, 60. This member may be formed with image parts porous, and the ink absorbed by these parts may be transferred to the web W which passes around a cylinder 92 by the action of electric lines of force passing between electrodes 105, 106 connected by leads 109, 114 to an electric generator 111. The leads may pass to the second section of the stationary inner tube 76. The electric generator may be arranged in the units of the tier B, Fig. 1, or one generator may supply rheostats contained in several units of the tier B. As shown in Fig. 5 a web is printed in five colours on each side by means of two sets of tiers A, B, C, D, of which the cylinder in the tiers A are impression cylinders, in tiers D offset cylinders, in tiers C planographic cylinders, and tiers B inking-cylinders. To allow of access to the various cylinders the tiers such as B, C, Fig. 5, may be adjusted to the positions shown on the right hand side of Fig. 5. Also the electric or other drying devices 166 which are arranged close to the once-printed web, may be mounted in shelves in a carriage, which is movable on rails perpendicular to the racks 34, so as to permit withdrawal of the drying devices to permit of access to the tiers A. The units of the press are all driven from a common motor geared to a drive-shaft 83. The disc 60, Fig. 9, is driven from this shaft by worm-gears 85, 86, and gears 88, 72. The gear 72 transmits the drive to other discs 60. The shaft 83 also drives a wide gear on a shaft 120, Fig. 19, of an inking-apparatus such as is used to ink the planographic cylinders in tiers C. The shaft 120 is geared to ink-transfer rollers 125, 126 which are rotated and also reciprocated longitudinally by cam grooves in an extension of the shaft 120. The roller 126 receives ink from a reservoir roller 131 which has a porous surface and is supplied with ink from a perforated central pipe connected to a source of ink under pressure. The rollers 125 supply ink to the forme rollers 102 via idle transfer rollers 115. The rollers 102 may act as pressure rollers only if no ink is supplied to them, and an electrostatic attraction element may replace the driving-gear on the shaft 120. In Fig. 21, a trough 148 is fitted inside a printing-cylinder which may be formed with porous printing images or with impervious images surrounded by porous parts, and the trough is maintained at the same level as a reservoir containing water or ink according as the printing is to be by planographic or electric action. A roller 151 transfers the water or ink to the printing- surface.