Patent GB-936710-A (GB)
Title: Printing unit drive
IPC: B41F13/00
Filed: 1962-02-05
Abstract: 936,710. Rotary presses; drive arrangements. MIEHLE - GOSS - DEXTER Inc. Feb. 5, 1962 [Feb. 9, 1961], No. 4430/62. Class 100 (2). In a rotary printing press unit having two printing couples each comprising a plate and an impression cylinder, 24, 22 and 23, 21, the drive to the cylinders is through gearing which allows, through the appropriate setting of hand wheels 61, 62, disconnection of the drive or rotation of the couples in either rotational direction. The shaft of each impression cylinder 21 or 22, Fig. 2, has an extension 55 or 56 carrying slidably relative thereto a gear 48 or 49 having helical teeth suitable for meshing engagement with either a gear 47 or 46, both of the gears being rotatably mounted on a stub-shaft 45, projecting from the unit frame wall 11, such that when coupled to the unit drive through bevel gearing 36, 37, 51, 52 and 53 they rotate in opposite directions. The spacing between the gears 46 and 47 is such that either or both gears 48, 49 may be moved to positions therebetween of non-engagement. The interengagement between the shaft extension 55 or 56 and the associated gear 49 or 48 is of a helical spline arrangement which allows the gears to smoothly mesh with the continuously rotating gears 46 and 46. The drive arrangements are centralized in the unit to allow ready access to the space beneath the cylinders between the frame walls 11 and 12. Each impression cylinder 22 or 21 is mechanically drive coupled to its associated plate cylinder 24 or 23 through helical gearing 28, 27 and 29, 30. Each plate cylinder drives associated inking trains through gearing 59. As shown in Fig. 3, with particular reference to gear 49, each gear 48, or 49 is moved into each of its three positions 49, 49a, 49b, through actuation of a hand wheel 62 which rotates a threaded rod 66 so moving therealong an interengaging nut member 68 which is secured to the gear 49 through a bearing 75 and a sleeve 76. Incorporated in the hand wheel is an indicator means which enables the operator to visibly ascertain the position of the gear 49 and a locking means through which each gear position is positively locked. The unit also embodies an extra colour plate cylinder 26 which may be selectively driven from the gear 29 of the impression cylinder 21 through the engagement therewith of a helical mesh gear 31 axially movable along an extension 121 projecting from the shaft of the cylinder 26. Both cylinders 23 and 26 carry gears 30 and 31 which may simultaneously or singly engage the gear 29, each gear 30, 31 having an identical actuating apparatus. As shown in Fig. 8, with reference to the gear 30, the latter is slidable along the shaft extension 121 being mounted thereon through a helical spline arrangement. Rotation of a worm 126 moves a worm-gear 129 which causes arms 132, 133 to move an annular member 134 axially of the extension 121. This member is connected to the gear 30 through a bearing 135 and a flange 136. The worm is rotatable through a socket member 140 having a square opening 141 which receives a suitably shaped rotating tool 142. Insertion of the tool shifts a locking pin 144, thus releasing the worm for rotation and the engagement of a pin 147 with the housing 13 of the unit and the member 140 ensures that the tool may only be withdrawn on rotation of the worm sufficient to locate the gear 30 in one of its two positions. An indicator device is mounted on the worm gear 129 which is viewable through an aperture 156 in the housing.