Patent Publication Number: US-6698352-B2

Title: Inking apparatus control means for rotary press

Description:
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-197726 filed on Jun. 30, 2000, including specification, claims, drawings, and summary is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an inking apparatus control means for a rotary press, and more particularly, to a mechanism for automatically modifying the conditions for operating an oscillating roller when cleaning an ink supply apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An ink supply apparatus of a printing press for supplying ink to a surface of a plate attached to a plate cylinder comprises an ink fountain for storing ink, and a group of rollers for transferring ink from the ink fountain while uniformly distributing the ink in respective directions. The ink transferred to the end portion of the group of rollers is supplied to the plate cylinder via an ink form roller. 
     In general, such an ink supply apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an “inker”) for effecting an ink supply operation employs a drive system such that the ink supply apparatus is mechanically connected to a driving side (main unit), which includes a plate cylinder and which rotates the plate cylinder, to thereby receive rotational torque from the driving side. 
     Further, for a short-time operation such as operation for printing preparation or operation for maintenance and cleaning of the inker, there has been developed a system for breaking a mechanical connection between the inker and the driving side by means of a clutch and for rotating the inker independently of the main unit by means of a separate drive source (motor) (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 63-315244). 
     Meanwhile, when a rainbow printing is to be performed for preventing forgery, an oscillation apparatus is built into the inker in order to adjust oscillation conditions such as an oscillation width of an oscillating roller and the number of times of oscillation strokes. 
     A known oscillation apparatus is of a hydraulic-control-type, in which ink stored in the ink fountain is supplied to the oscillating roller, and the oscillating roller is reciprocated along an axial direction thereof by means of a hydraulic cylinder, whereby the ink is supplied to the plate cylinder while being spread in the axial direction of the oscillating roller (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 63-264352 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 63-170138). 
     When the above-described inker is to be cleaned, the inker is mechanically disengaged from the main unit, and the group of rollers and the oscillating roller are rotated, while cleaning solution is jetted from cleaning nozzles toward the group of rollers. Such cleaning work has been performed while the oscillation width and the number of times of oscillations of the oscillating roller set for an ordinary printing are maintained. 
     In order to effectively perform the cleaning of the inker, the preset oscillation width can be changed to increase the oscillation width of the oscillating roller. However, in this case, the oscillation width of the oscillating roller must be reset to the original value after completion of the cleaning. Therefore, in actuality, cleaning has generally been performed with the oscillation width of the oscillating roller being maintained. 
     Therefore, cleaning of the group of rollers of the inker, as generally performed, was not always efficient. 
     Notably, since the oscillation speed is maintained constant during an ordinary printing, the oscillation speed has been difficult to change during cleaning. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide inking apparatus control means, which can automatically change conditions for operating an oscillating roller when a group of rollers of an inker are cleaned and which can automatically restore the original conditions after completion of the cleaning. 
     Another object of the present invention is to complete cleaning of the ink unit within a short period of time. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an inking apparatus control means for a rotary press, comprising an oscillating roller rotatable in a circumferential direction and reciprocatable along an axial direction thereof; and control means for controlling at least one of an oscillation width of the oscillating roller and a number of times of oscillations (i.e., oscillation speed) of the oscillating roller relative to a number of revolutions (i.e., rotational speed) of a plate cylinder, wherein at least one of the oscillation width of the oscillating roller and the number of times of oscillations of the oscillating roller relative to the number of revolutions of the plate cylinder assumes a designated value such that during a cleaning work, at least one of the oscillation width of the oscillating roller and the number of times of oscillations of the oscillating roller relative to the number of revolutions of the plate cylinder assume a predetermined value. 
     Preferably, the inking apparatus control means further comprises an oscillation-width adjustment mechanism for adjusting an oscillation width of the oscillating roller; and oscillation-width adjustment means for operating the oscillation-width adjustment mechanism, wherein the control means controls operation of the oscillation-width adjustment means such that the oscillation width of the oscillating roller assumes a designated value such that the oscillating roller oscillates over a preset oscillation width during the cleaning work. 
     Preferably, the inking apparatus control means further comprises an oscillation mechanism for reciprocating the oscillating roller; and oscillation-mechanism drive means for operating the oscillation mechanism, wherein the control means controls operation of the oscillation-mechanism drive means, on the basis of the number of revolutions of the plate cylinder, such that the number of times of oscillations of the oscillating roller relative to the number of revolutions of the plate cylinder assumes a designated value and such that the number of times of oscillations of the oscillating roller assume a predetermined value during the cleaning work. 
     Preferably, the control means rotates the oscillating roller at a preset number of revolutions (rotational speed) In this case, the oscillation mechanism drive means preferably rotates the oscillating roller at least during a cleaning work. 
     Preferably, the inking apparatus control means further comprises a clutch for permitting and stopping transmission of rotation from the oscillation mechanism drive means to the oscillating roller. More preferably, the inking apparatus control means further comprises a main motor for rotating the plate cylinder and the oscillating roller; and connecting/disconnecting means for stopping and permitting transmission of rotation from the main motor to the oscillating roller, wherein the clutch is brought into connected and disconnected states in such a manner that a transmission of rotation from the oscillation-mechanism drive means to the oscillating roller is stopped when rotation is transmitted from the main motor to the oscillating roller by the connecting/disconnecting means and that rotation is transmitted from the oscillation-mechanism drive means to the oscillating roller when transmission of rotation from the main motor to the oscillating roller is stopped by the connecting/disconnecting means. 
     Preferably, the inking apparatus control means further comprises a switch for starting the cleaning work, wherein in response to an operation of the switch, the control means control the oscillation-width adjustment means such that the oscillating roller oscillates over a preset oscillation width. 
     Preferably, the inking apparatus control means further comprises a switch for starting the cleaning work, wherein in response to an operation of the switch, the control means controls the oscillation-mechanism drive means such that the number of times of oscillations of the oscillating roller assumes a preset value. 
     Preferably, the inking apparatus control means further comprises a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the oscillating roller and a distribution roller supported rotatably in a circumferential direction and unmovable in an axial direction; setting means for setting conditions such that at least one of the oscillation width and the number of times of oscillations of the oscillating roller increases at the beginning of the cleaning; and a memory for storing at least one of a set value for the oscillation width and a set value for the number of times of oscillations of the oscillating roller, which set value is used before the setting is performed by setting means, wherein upon completion of the cleaning, the set value is read from the memory, and one of the oscillation width and the number of times of oscillations are reset to the original values used before the cleaning. In this case, preferably, the setting means sets one of the oscillation width and the number of times of oscillations of the oscillating roller to a maximum value; and/or the control means causes the oscillation-mechanism drive means to operate at a higher speed. 
     Preferably, the cleaning work is performed in a space formed as a result of separating a first frame which supports the cylinder and a second frame which supports the oscillating roller. 
     Preferably, the inking apparatus control means further comprises an oscillation mechanism for reciprocating the oscillating roller; an oscillation-mechanism drive means for operating the oscillation mechanism; an oscillation-width adjustment mechanism for adjusting an oscillation width of the oscillating roller; and oscillation-width adjustment means for operating the oscillation-width adjustment mechanism. 
     Preferably, the oscillation mechanism includes a swing member which swings upon operation of the oscillation-mechanism drive means, a moving member movably supported on the swing member, and an engagement member rotatably supported on the moving member and being in engagement with the oscillating roller; and the oscillation-width adjustment mechanism is configured such that, upon operation of the oscillation-width adjustment means, the oscillation-width adjustment mechanism moves the moving member to thereby adjust a distance between a swing center of the swing member and a rotation center of the engagement member. In this case, preferably, the moving member is slidably supported on the swing member. 
     Preferably, the oscillation mechanism includes a crank mechanism whose input side is connected to the oscillation-mechanism drive means, a swingably-supported swing lever whose base end side is connected to the output side of the crank mechanism, a slide lever slidably supported by the swing lever such that a distal end side of the slide lever can move toward and away from a swing center of the swing lever, a first link plate whose one end side is rotatably supported by the distal end side of the slide lever, a swingably-supported swing plate, the other end side of the first link plate being rotatably connected to the base end side of the swing plate, and a cam follower provided at the distal end side of the swing plate and inserted into a groove wheel of the oscillating roller; and the oscillation-width adjustment mechanism includes a worm gear connected to the oscillation-width adjustment means, a worm wheel in meshing engagement with the worm gear, a transmission shaft coaxially connected to the worm wheel, a second link plate whose one end side is connected to the transmission shaft, and the slide lever whose base end side is rotatably connected to the other end side of the second link plate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1A is a view schematically showing a overall structure of a preferred embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an inker of an ink supply apparatus of a double-sided, multicolor offset press; 
     FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a hydraulic cylinder; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the inker portion; 
     FIG. 3 is a side sectional view schematically showing the structure of a main portion of the oscillating roller oscillation apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view as viewed from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view as viewed from the direction of arrow V in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a horizontally-sectioned development view of a main portion of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an oscillation-width controller; 
     FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an oscillation-speed controller; 
     FIG. 9 is a flowchart for an oscillation-width control; 
     FIG. 10 is a flowchart for an oscillation speed control; 
     FIG. 11 is a block diagram of another example of the oscillation-width controller; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the structure of a drive force transmission mechanism of the inker; 
     FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an inker cleaning work; and 
     FIG. 14 is a flowchart for automatically modifying oscillation width at the time of cleaning work. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a double-sided, multicolor offset press will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A to  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1A, a sheet-feed table  11  is disposed within a feeder unit  10 . 
     A feeder board  12  is provided in the feeder unit  10 . The feeder board  12  feeds paper sheets  1  from the sheet-feed table  11  to a printing unit  20  one sheet at a time. 
     A swing apparatus  13  for transferring the paper sheets  1  to a transfer cylinder  21   a  of the printing unit  20  is provided at the distal end of the feeder board  12 . 
     The transfer cylinder  21   a  is in contact with an impression cylinder  22   a  via transfer cylinders  21   b  to  21   d . A blanket made of rubber is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the impression cylinder  22   a.    
     A rubber cylinder  22   b  is in contact with the impression cylinder  22   a  at a position downstream of the transfer cylinder  21   d.    
     A plurality of (four in the present embodiment) plate cylinders  23   a  are in contact with the impression cylinder  22   a  at positions upstream of the transfer cylinder  21   d  in such a manner that the plate cylinders  23   a  are arranged along the circumferential direction at predetermined intervals. 
     A plurality of (four in the present embodiment) plate cylinders  23   b  are in contact with the rubber cylinder  22   b  at positions upstream of the impression cylinder  22   a  in such a manner that the plate cylinders  23   b  are arranged along the circumferential direction at predetermined intervals. 
     A transfer cylinder  24  is in contact with the impression cylinder  22   a  at a position downstream of the rubber cylinder  22   b.    
     A delivery cylinder  31  of a delivery unit  30  is in contact with the transfer cylinder  24 . A sprocket  32  is coaxially fixed to the delivery cylinder  31 . 
     Further, a sprocket  33  is provided in a delivery unit  30 . 
     A delivery chain  34  is extended between and wound around the sprockets  32  and  33 . 
     A plurality of delivery grippers (not shown) are provided on the delivery chain  34  at predetermined intervals. 
     Delivery tables  35   a  and  35   b , on which printed paper sheets  100  are placed are provided in the delivery unit  30 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, an inker  25  for supplying ink is provided for each of the plate cylinders  23   a.    
     The inker  25  includes ink fountains  25   a  for holding ink; fountain rollers  25   b  for feeding ink from the ink fountains  25   a ; ductor rollers  25   c  for drawing the ink fed by the fountain rollers  25   b ; distribution rollers  25   d  for kneading the drawn ink; oscillating rollers  25   e  for spreading the ink in the axial direction through reciprocating movement along the axial direction; form rollers  25   f  for supplying the ink to the corresponding plate cylinder  23   a ; and a drive roller  25   g  for rotating these rollers  25   b  to  25   f  in an interlocked manner. 
     Further, an inker  25  having a similar structure is provided for each of the above-described plate cylinders  23   b.    
     Moreover, a hydraulic cylinder  26  serving as frame moving means (not shown) is provided in the inker  25 . The hydraulic cylinder  26  is used to move the inker  25  from a position indicated by a solid line to a position indicated by a two-dot chain line as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. 
     When the inker  25  is moved to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1A, the inker  25  separates from the impression cylinder  22   a  and the plate cylinders  23   a , so that the inker  25  is mechanically disengaged from the main unit, as will be described later. 
     A sensor  27  for detecting the inker frame  20   a  is supported above the hydraulic cylinder  26  as shown in FIG.  1 B. The present embodiment is configured such that an electromagnetic clutch  120 , as shown in FIG. 12, can be turned ON when the sensor  27  becomes impossible to detect the inker frame  20   a , and the electromagnetic clutch  120  cannot be turned ON when the sensor  27  detects the inker frame  20   a.    
     That is, the clutch  120  cannot be turned ON when the inker frame  20   a  and a main unit frame  20   b  are in proximity to each other. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3-6, a support base  41  is attached to an inker frame  20   a  of the printing unit  20  to be located in the vicinity of a shaft end portion of the oscillating roller  25   e.    
     A pair of L-shaped swing levers  43  are provided on the support base  41 . The bent center portion of each swing lever  43 , located between the distal end and base end thereof, is pivotaly supported by a support pin  42  such that the swing lever  43  can swing in a direction toward and away from the oscillating roller  25   e.    
     The swing levers  43  are connected together by a plate  43   b  and bolts  43   a.    
     A slide groove  43   c  is formed on each swing lever  43  to be located between the distal end and the bent center portion thereof. 
     A block  43   d  is slidably attached to the slide groove  43   c  of each swing lever  43 . 
     The block  43   d  is supported by the corresponding end portion of a pin  45 . 
     The distal end portion of a slide lever  44  and a first end portion of a first link plate  46  are rotatably connected to the pin  45 . 
     In other words, the distal end portion of the slide lever  44  and the first end portion of the first link plate  46  are supported by the swing levers  43  via the pin  45  and the blocks  43   d  such that they can move toward and away from the support pin  42 . 
     The base end portion of a swing plate  48  is rotatably connected to a second end portion of the first link plate  46  via a pin  49 . A portion of the swing plate  48  located between the distal end and base end thereof is pivotally supported on the support base  41  via a support pin  47 . 
     A cam follower  50  is attached to the distal end portion of the swing plate  48 . 
     The cam follower  50  is inserted into a groove wheel  25   ea  provided at the shaft end portion of the above-described oscillating roller  25   e.    
     The shaft end portion of the oscillating roller  25   e  is slidably supported such that the oscillating roller  25   e  can reciprocate in the axial direction thereof. 
     Meanwhile, a casing  51  is attached to the support base  41 . The casing  51  includes an oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  which can be rotated in regular and reverse directions and is equipped with a brake. 
     A gear  53  and a drive gear  54  are coaxially attached to the drive shaft of the motor  52 . 
     The drive gear  54  is in meshing engagement with a transmission gear  55  rotatably supported on the casing  51 . 
     One end portion of a drive shaft  56 , which is rotatably supported on the support base  41  via a bracket  41   a , is coaxially connected to the transmission gear  55 . 
     A worm gear  57  is coaxially attached to the drive shaft  56 . 
     A worm wheel  58 , which is rotatably supported on the support base  41 , is in meshing engagement with the worm gear  57 . 
     A transmission shaft  59  is rotatably supported on the support base  41 , and one end portion of the transmission shaft  59  is coaxially connected to the worm wheel  58 . 
     One end portion of a second link plate  60  is fixedly connected to the transmission shaft  59 . 
     The other end portion of the second link plate  60  is rotatably connected to the base end portion of the slide lever  44  via a pin  61 . 
     That is, when the motor  52  is driven, the slide lever  44  is moved via the drive gear  54 , the transmission gear  55 , the drive shaft  56 , the worm gear  57 , the worm wheel  58 , the transmission shaft  59 , the second link plate  60 , and the pin  61 , so that the slide lever  44  slides along the slide groove  43   c  of the swing lever  43  together with the pin  45  and the block  43   d . As a result, the pin  45 , serving as the center of swinging motion of the first link plate  46 , can be brought closer to and further away from the support pin  42  serving as the center of swing motion of the swing levers  43 . Thus, the distance between the pins  42  and  45  can be adjusted. 
     A potentiometer  62  is provided within the casing  51 . 
     A gear  63  is coaxially attached to the input shaft of the potentiometer  62  and is in meshing engagement with the gear  53 . 
     Therefore, when the motor  52  is driven, the gear  53  rotates, and the rotational amount of the gear  53  is detected by the potentiometer  62  via the gear  63 . Thus, the distance between the pins  42  and  45  can be detected. 
     On the inker frame  20   a , the base end portion of a support shaft  64  is supported in a cantilever manner in the vicinity of the support base  41  such that the axis of the support shaft  64  becomes parallel to the axis of the oscillating roller  25   e.    
     A transmission gear  65  is coaxially attached to the support shaft  64  at a position near the inker frame  20   a.    
     A rotary drum  66  is coaxially attached to the distal end portion of the support shaft  64 . 
     A universal joint  67  is attached to one end surface of the rotary drum  66  to be offset with respect to the center axis of the rotary drum  66 . 
     The base end portion of a shaft  68  is connected to the universal joint  67 . 
     The distal end portion of the shaft  68  is connected to the base ends of the swing levers  43  via a universal joint  69 . 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the transmission gear  65  is in meshing engagement with a drive gear  71  of an oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  via a gear train  100 . 
     Specifically, the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is fixedly supported on the inker frame  20   a , and the drive gear  71  of the motor  70  is in meshing engagement with an intermediate gear  101 . An intermediate gear  102 , which is coaxial and integral with the intermediate gear  101 , is in meshing engagement with an intermediate gear  103 . Further, an intermediate gear  104 , which is coaxial and integral with the intermediate gear  103 , is in meshing engagement with the transmission gear  65  via an intermediate gear  105 . 
     Therefore, when the drive gear  71  is rotated through operation of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70 , the rotary drum  66  is rotated via the intermediate gears  101  to  105 , the transmission gear  65 , and the support shaft  64 . As the rotary drum  66  rotates, the universal joint  67  revolves, and consequently, the shaft  68  reciprocates along its axial direction. This reciprocating motion of the shaft  68  is transmitted to the base ends of the swing levers  43  via the universal joint  69 , so that the distal ends of the swing levers  43  can be swung about the support pin  42 . 
     Moreover, as shown in FIG. 12, a gear train  110  and an electromagnetic clutch (tooth clutch)  120  are disposed between the intermediate gear  103  and the distribution roller  25   d.    
     Specifically, similar to the case of the oscillating rollers  25   e , the distribution roller  25   d  is rotatably supported on the inker frame  20   a . A transmission gear  111  is attached to one end of the distribution roller  25   d , and is in meshing engagement with one coupling gear  113  of the electromagnetic clutch  120  via an intermediate gear  112 . 
     In addition to the coupling gear  113 , the electromagnetic clutch  120  has a coupling gear  114 , which is coaxial with the coupling gear  113 . The coupling gear  114  is in meshing engagement with the intermediate gear  103 . 
     When electricity is supplied to the electromagnetic clutch  120 , the coupling gear  113  and the coupling gear  114  are united by means of electromagnetic attraction force. When no electricity is supplied to the electromagnetic clutch  120 , the coupling gear  113  and the coupling gear  114  can rotate freely. 
     Therefore, when the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is operated in a state in which electricity is supplied to the electromagnetic clutch  120 , its rotation is transmitted to the distribution roller  25   d  via the gear trains  100  and  110 . 
     The electromagnetic clutch  120  is controlled by a control apparatus such that the electromagnetic clutch  120  comes into an engaged state only when the inker  25  is driven solely, and comes into an disengaged state during ordinary printing. 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the other ends of the distribution roller  25   d  and the plurality of oscillating rollers  25   e  are mutually coupled through a gear train  130  and are connected with the main unit via a clutch  140  (in FIG. 12, a portion of the gear train  130  is omitted for simplification). 
     The clutch  140  is in an engaged state at all times, except the case in which the number of colors to be printed is small. 
     Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 12, the drive force from a drive motor  28  of the main unit, serving as the first motor, is transmitted to the oscillating rollers  25   e  and the distribution roller  25   d  via the clutch  140  and the gear train  130 , so that these rollers  25   e  and  25   d  rotate. 
     When the inker  25  is moved to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1A by means of the hydraulic cylinder  26 , the inker frame  20   a , which supports the distribution roller  25   d  and the oscillating rollers  25   e  separates from a main unit frame  20   b , which supports the impression cylinder  22   a  and the plate cylinders  23   a , as shown in FIG.  12 . Consequently, the engagement between the gear train  130  of the inker  25  and the clutch  140  of the main unit is broken to establish a state in which the main unit and the inker  25  can be driven independently of each other. 
     The hydraulic cylinder  26  for moving the inker  25  is controlled by an unillustrated control apparatus in such a manner that the inker  25  is positioned at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1A only when the inker  25  is driven solely and that, during ordinary printing, the inker  25  is positioned at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1A where the form rollers  25   f  come into contract with the plate cylinders  23   a.    
     The hydraulic cylinder  26  serves as connecting/disconnecting means for separating the main unit and the inker  25  from each other and for connecting the main unit and the inker  25  to each other. Therefore, instead of moving the inker frame  20   a , the main unit frame  20   b  may be moved, insofar as such a function is achieved. 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  and the potentiometer  62  are connected to an oscillation-width controller  80 . The oscillation-width controller  80  controls the amount of rotation of the motor  52  on the basis of a signal from the potentiometer  62 . 
     An oscillation-width setting unit  81  for inputting command signals such as an oscillation width of the oscillating roller  25   e  is connected to the oscillation-width controller  80 . 
     The oscillation-width controller  80  includes a conversion table  82  for effecting conversion between an oscillation width set by the oscillation-width setting unit  81  and a value detected by the potentiometer  62 . 
     Accordingly, the oscillation width set by the oscillation-width setting unit  81  is converted to a target value by the conversion table  82 ; and the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  is driven such that the value detected by the potentiometer  62  becomes equal to the target value. 
     Moreover, the oscillation-width controller  80  includes an oscillation width memory  83  for storing an oscillation width of the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  at the time of cleaning and an oscillation width memory  84  for storing an oscillation width of the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  before the cleaning. 
     A most preferable value for the oscillation width of the oscillating rollers  25   e  at the time of cleaning, generally the maximum oscillation width, is stored in the oscillation width memory  83  in advance. 
     At the time of cleaning, the maximum oscillation width is read out of the oscillation width memory  83  and is set for the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52 , as will be described later. 
     An oscillation width of the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  before cleaning; i.e., an oscillation width of the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  for ordinary rainbow printing, is stored in the oscillation width memory  84 . 
     The oscillation width for ordinary rainbow printing is read out of the oscillation width memory  84  after completion of the cleaning, as will be described later. 
     Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 8, the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  and a rotary encoder  72  connected to the motor  70  are connected to an oscillation-speed controller  90 . The oscillation-speed controller  90  controls the motor  70  while checking the rotational speed of the motor  70  on the basis of a signal from the rotary encoder  72 . 
     A rotary encoder  73  for detecting the rotational speed of the transfer cylinder  21   a ; i.e., the rotational speed of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b , and an oscillation speed setting unit  91  for inputting command signals such as the oscillation speed of the oscillating roller  25   e  corresponding to the rotational speed of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b  are connected to the oscillation-speed controller  90 . 
     Accordingly, the oscillation-speed controller  90  controls the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  on the basis of a signal from the rotary encoder  73 , while checking the signal from the rotary encoder  72 , such that the oscillation speed of the oscillating roller  25   e  becomes equal to the value input and designated by the oscillation speed setting unit  91 . 
     Further, the oscillation-speed controller  90  includes a conversion table  93  for effecting conversion between rotational speed of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b  detected by the rotary encoder  73  and voltage value of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70 . 
     Moreover, the oscillation-speed controller  90  includes an automatic cleaning button  92 , a rotational speed memory  94  for storing a rotational speed of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  at the time of cleaning and a rotational speed memory  95  for storing a rotational speed of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  before performance of cleaning. 
     When the automatic cleaning button  92  is operated, as shown in FIG. 13, a cleaning solution is jetted from a plurality of cleaning-solution jetting nozzles  96  toward the distribution rollers  25   d . Thus, the distribution rollers  25   d  are cleaned, and the cleaning solution is collected by drain receivers (cleaning doctors)  97  via the oscillating rollers  25   e.    
     It is to be noted that the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  may be controlled such that the oscillation width and oscillation speed of the oscillating rollers  25   e  become maximum in response to operation of the automatic cleaning button  92 . 
     The most preferable value for the rotational speed of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  at the time of cleaning, generally the maximum rotational speed, is stored in the rotational speed memory  94  in advance. 
     At the time of cleaning, the maximum rotational speed is read out of the rotational speed memory  94  and is set for the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70 , as will be described later. 
     A rotational speed of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  before cleaning; i.e., a rotational speed of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  for ordinary printing, is stored in the rotational speed memory  95 . 
     After completion of the cleaning, the rotational speed for ordinary printing is read out of the rotational speed memory  95  and is set for the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70 , as will be described later. 
     As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the oscillation-width controller  80  and the oscillation-speed controller  90  are connected to each other, and the oscillation-width controller  80  drives the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  after checking the drive state of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  via the oscillation-speed controller  90 . 
     In the present embodiment, a crank mechanism is constituted by the support shaft  64 , the transmission gear  65 , the rotary drum  66 , the universal joint  67 , the shaft  68 , the universal joint  69 , etc.; an oscillation mechanism is constituted by the clank mechanism, the support base  41 , the support pin  42 , the swing levers  43 , the slide lever  44 , the pin  45 , the first link plate  46 , the support pin  47 , the swing plate  48 , the pin  49 , the cam follower  50 , etc.; an oscillation-width adjustment mechanism is constituted by the support base  41 , the drive gear  54 , the transmission gear  55 , the drive shaft  56 , the worm gear  57 , the worm wheel  58 , the transmission shaft  59 , the second link plate  60 , the pin  61 , the slide lever  44 , etc.; oscillation width control means is constituted by the gears  53  and  63 , the potentiometer  62 , the oscillation-width controller  80 , the oscillation-width setting unit  81 , etc.; and oscillation speed control means is constituted by the rotary encoders  72  and  73 , the oscillation-speed controller  90 , the oscillation speed setting unit  91 , etc. 
     In the double-sided, multicolor offset press equipped with the above-described oscillation apparatus for the oscillating roller  25   e , when the paper sheet  1  is transferred from the sheet-feed table  11  of the feeder unit  10  to the transfer cylinder  21   a  via the feeder board  12  and the swing apparatus  13 , the paper sheet  1  is transferred to the impression cylinder  22   a  (having unillustrated grippers) of the printing unit  20  via the transfer cylinders  21   b  to  21   d  and passes through the space between the impression cylinder  22   a  and the rubber cylinder  22   b.    
     At this time, ink from the inker  25  is supplied to each of the plates attached to the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b . As a result, ink held on the plate of each plate cylinder  23   a  at portions corresponding to an image thereof is supplied to the blanket at the outer circumferential surface of the impression cylinder  22   a , and ink held on the plate of each plate cylinder  23   b  at portions corresponding to an image thereof is supplied to the blanket at the outer circumferential surface of the rubber cylinder  22   b . Therefore, as the paper sheet  1  passes through the space between the cylinders  22   a  and  22   b , the image of the impression cylinder  22   a  is transferred onto one face of the paper sheet  1  and the image of the rubber cylinder  22   b  is transferred onto the other face of the paper sheet  1 . 
     The paper sheet  1  having undergone double-sided, multicolor printing is transferred to the delivery cylinder  31  via the transfer cylinder  24 . Subsequently, after having been gripped by the grippers of the delivery chain  33 , the paper sheet  1  is conveyed to the delivery tables  35   a  and  35   b  and is then delivered. 
     When ink is supplied from the inker  25  to the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b  in the above-described manner, the oscillation width and oscillation speed of the oscillating roller  25   e  are adjusted as follows. 
     Oscillation-width Adjustment 
     When an oscillation width of the oscillating roller  25   e  is input to the oscillation-width setting unit  81 , as shown in FIG. 9, the oscillation-width controller  80  first checks whether the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is being operated, on the basis of the signal from the oscillation-speed controller  90  (step Sa1). 
     When the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is stopped, the oscillation-width controller  80  waits, without proceeding to the next step, until the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  starts its operation. When the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is operating, the oscillation-width controller  80  proceeds to the next step. 
     This is because if the oscillating roller  25   e  is operated while the various rollers  25   a  to  25   g  of the inker  25  are stopped, the roller surface may be damaged due to friction therebetween. 
     Next, the oscillation-width controller  80  reads the oscillation width input from the oscillation-width setting unit  81  (step Sa2), and obtains a value of the potentiometer  62  corresponding to the input oscillation width, on the basis of a conversion table which defines the relationship between oscillation width of the oscillating roller  25   e  (the distance between the pins  42  and  45 ) and value of the potentiometer  62  (step Sa3). Subsequently, the oscillation-width controller  80  reads the current value of the potentiometer  62  (step Sa4) and checks whether the read value of the potentiometer  62  is equal to the value obtained in the above-described step Sa3 (step Sa5). When these values are equal to each other, the oscillation-width controller  80  returns to the above-described step Sa2 (the current status is maintained). When these values are not equal to each other, the oscillation-width controller  80  proceeds to the next step. 
     When the above-described two values are not equal to each other, the oscillation-width controller  80  operates the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  (step Sa6), reads the present value of the potentiometer  62  (step Sa7), and checks whether the read value of the potentiometer  62  is equal to the value obtained in the above-described step Sa3 (step Sa8). When these values are not equal to each other, the oscillation-width controller  80  repeats the above-described steps Sa6 to Sa8 until these values become equal to each other. When the values becomes equal to each other, the oscillation-width controller  80  proceeds to the next step. 
     When the above-described two values become equal to each other, the oscillation-width controller  80  stops the operation of the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  (step Sa9), and checks whether the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is being operated (step Sa10). When the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is operating, the oscillation-width controller  80  returns to the above-described step Sa2. When the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is stopped, the oscillation-width controller  80  ends the control. 
     Through this operation, the distance between the pins  42  and  45  is set via the drive gear  54 , the transmission gear  55 , the drive shaft  56 , the worm gear  57 , the worm wheel  58 , the transmission shaft  59 , the second link plate  60 , the pin  61 , and the slide lever  44 . 
     Oscillation-speed Adjustment 
     When an oscillation speed of the oscillating roller  25   e  (the number of revolutions of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b  during each round of reciprocating travel of the oscillating roller  25   e ) is input through the oscillation speed setting unit  91 , as shown in FIG. 10, the oscillation-speed controller  90  first checks whether the transfer cylinder  21   a  is being rotated; i.e., whether the printing press is being operated, on the basis of the signal from the rotary encoder  73  (step Sb1). 
     When the printing press is not being operated, the oscillation-speed controller  90  waits, without proceeding to the next step, until the printing press is started. When the printing press is operating, the oscillation-speed controller  90  proceeds to the next step. This is because if the oscillating roller  25   e  is operated while the various rollers  25   a  to  25   g  of the inker  25  are stopped, the roller surface may be damaged due to friction therebetween. 
     Next, the oscillation-speed controller  90  reads the oscillation speed input from the oscillation speed setting unit  91  (step Sb2), reads the rotational speed of the transfer cylinder  21   a ; i.e., the rotational speed of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b  from the rotary encoder  73  (step Sb3), and obtains a voltage value of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  corresponding to the rotational speed of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b , on the basis of a conversion table which defines the relationship between rotational speed of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b  and voltage value of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  (step Sb4). Subsequently, the thus-obtained voltage value is divided by the input oscillation speed to thereby obtain the voltage value of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  corresponding to the oscillation speed (step Sb5). Subsequently, the oscillation-speed controller  90  drives and controls the motor  70  in accordance with the voltage value (step Sb6). 
     Subsequently, the oscillation-speed controller  90  checks whether the printing press is being operated (step Sb7). When the printing press is operating, the oscillation-speed controller  90  returns to the above-described step Sb2. When the printing press is stopped, the oscillation-speed controller  90  ends the control. Through this operation, the pin  45  is moved via the drive gear  71 , the transmission gear  65 , the support shaft  64 , the rotary drum  66 , the universal joint  67 , the shaft  68 , the universal joint  69 , and the swing levers  43  such that the pin  45  reciprocatively revolves about the support pin  42  with a period which always corresponds to the rotational period of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b . Consequently, the swing plate  48  is moved via the first link plate  46  and the support pin  47  such that the swing plate  48  swings about the pin  49  with a period which always corresponds to the rotational period of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b . Thus, via the cam follower  50  inserted into the groove wheel  25   ea , the oscillating roller  25   e  reciprocates a plurality of number of times which always corresponds to the rotational period of the plate cylinders  23   a  and  23   b.    
     Therefore, the above-described oscillation apparatus has the following advantages. (1) Since the oscillation width of the oscillating roller  25   e  is adjusted through control of the rotational amount of the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52 , and the oscillation speed of the oscillating roller  25   e  is adjusted through control of the rotational speed of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70 , the control mechanism for the oscillating roller  25   e  can be simplified. (2) Since the state of oscillation of the oscillating roller  25   e  is controlled by the above-described motors  52  and  70 , the oscillating roller  25   e  can be operated with high responsiveness, and the oscillation of the oscillating roller  25   e  can be adjusted finely and easily. 
     Accordingly, the above-described oscillation apparatus enables the oscillation state of the oscillating roller  25   e  to be adjusted with high responsiveness by use of a simple mechanism. 
     When an induction motor is used for the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52 , as shown in FIG. 7, the oscillation-width controller  80  is not required to have a driver for the motor  52 . However, when an oscillation-width adjustment motor  52 ′ composed of an ordinary servomotor is employed as shown in FIG. 11, an oscillation-width controller  80 ′ having a driver for the motor  52 ′ is used. 
     Sole Drive of Inker 
     In the printing press having the above-described configuration, at the time of cleaning work or maintenance, the inker  25  can be driven solely by use of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70 . 
     That is, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1A, the inker  25  is separated from the main unit, and electricity is supplied to the electromagnetic clutch  120  in order to establish a mechanical connection between the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  and the distribution rollers  25   d  and the oscillating rollers  25   e  via the gear train  110 . 
     Subsequently, when the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is operated, rotation of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is transmitted to the oscillating rollers  25   e  via the gear train  100 , the shaft  68 , and the swing plate  48 , so that the oscillating rollers  25   e  reciprocate. Simultaneously, rotation of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is transmitted to one distribution roller  25   d  via the gear trains  100  and  110  and is further transmitted to the remaining distribution rollers  25   d  and the oscillating rollers  25   e  via the gear train  130 , so that the plurality of distribution rollers  25   d  and the oscillating rollers  25   e  are rotated. 
     As described above, a cleaning work or maintenance work for the inker  25  can be performed in a state in which the plurality of distribution rollers  25   d  and the oscillating rollers  25   e  are rotated. Further, since the inker  25  is separated from the main unit, in the main unit as well, a cleaning work such as exchange of plates of the plate cylinders  23   a  can be performed simultaneously with the maintenance work for the inker  25 . 
     Moreover, since the inker  25  is separated from the main unit, a worker can enter into a space between the rubber cylinder  22   b  and the inker  25 . Therefore, maintenance such as exchange of a blanket of the rubber cylinder  22   b  can be performed. 
     That is, the present embodiment enables different types of maintenance to be performed at the printing unit and the inker. 
     The above-described electromagnetic clutch  120  and the hydraulic cylinder  26  of the inker  25  may be controlled by the control apparatus in such a manner that they are simultaneously turned on and off through an automatic operation. Alternatively, the control may be performed such that the electromagnetic clutch  120  is brought into an engaged state automatically when the inker  25  is separated from the main unit by the hydraulic cylinder  26 . 
     Alternatively, the control may be performed such that the electromagnetic clutch  120  is brought into a disengaged state automatically during ordinary printing; i.e., in a state in which the inker  25  is connected to the main unit by the hydraulic cylinder  26 . 
     Moreover, instead of the hydraulic cylinder  26  for moving the inker  25 , the clutch  140  may be used in order to establish and break the connection between the main unit and the inker in a manner interlocked with the electromagnetic clutch  120 . 
     As described above, in the printing press of the present embodiment, the inker  25  having the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is provided with the electromagnetic clutch  120  for establishing and breaking the connection between the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  and the distribution rollers  25   d  and the oscillating rollers  25   e ; and the clutch  140  for establishing and breaking the connection between the inker  25  and the main unit. Therefore, during an ordinary printing, the oscillating rollers  25   e  can be reciprocated axially by means of the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70 , and during cleaning or maintenance, the oscillating rollers  25   e  and the distribution rollers  25   d  can be rotated simultaneously with the reciprocation of the oscillating rollers  25   e.    
     Therefore, disposition of a motor for solely driving the inker becomes unnecessary, so that the number of motors disposed for each inking unit for a single color can be reduced, and thus cost and size can be reduced. 
     Automatic Modification of Oscillation Width and Oscillation Speed during Cleaning Work 
     Moreover, in order to enable cleaning work to be performed efficiently, during the cleaning, the oscillation width and oscillation speed of the oscillating rollers  25   e  are changed automatically in the manner described below, in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG.  14 . 
     First, a judgment is made as to whether conditions for sole drive of the inker  25  are satisfied, i.e., whether the state in which the inker  25  is separated from the main unit and the state in which the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is mechanically connected to the distribution rollers  25   d  and the oscillating rollers  25   e , via the gear train  110  are both established (step Sc1). 
     When the conditions for the sole drive of the inker are satisfied, the oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70  is operated in order to transmit its rotation to the oscillating rollers  25   e  via the gear train  100  and other components to thereby reciprocate the oscillating rollers  25   e , and to transmit the rotation to one distribution roller  25   d  via the gear trains  100  and  110  and transmit the rotation further to the remaining distribution rollers  25   d  and the oscillating rollers  25   e  to thereby rotate the distribution rollers  25   d  and the oscillating rollers  25  (step Sc2). 
     Subsequently, when the automatic cleaning button  92  is operated, as shown in FIG. 13, the cleaning solution is jetted from the plurality of cleaning-solution jetting nozzles  96  toward the distribution rollers  25   d . Thus, the distribution rollers  25   d  are cleaned, and the cleaning solution is collected by the drain receivers (cleaning doctors)  97  via the oscillating rollers  25   e  (step Sc3). 
     Subsequently, the oscillation width of the oscillating roller  25   e  before the cleaning; i.e., an oscillation width of the oscillating rollers  25   e  for ordinary rainbow printing, is stored in the oscillation width memory  84  (step Sc4); and the previously stored oscillation width of the oscillating rollers  25   e  at the time of cleaning (hereinafter referred to as the “maximum oscillation width”) is read out of the oscillation width memory  83  (step Sc5). 
     An operation command is supplied to the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  (step Sc6), and the oscillation width, measured by the potentiometer  62 , is compared with the maximum oscillation width (step Sc7). The supply of the operation command to the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  is continued until the oscillation width measured by the potentiometer  62  becomes equal to the maximum oscillation width (step Sc8). 
     The oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  is stopped after the oscillation width, measured by the potentiometer  62 , has become equal to the maximum oscillation width (step Sc9). 
     Since the cleaning of the inker  25  is performed while the oscillating rollers  25   e  are rotated and oscillated over the maximum oscillation width, the inker  25  is cleaned more efficiently as compared to the case in which the oscillating rollers  25   e  are oscillated over the oscillation width for ordinary printing. 
     After completion of the cleaning of the inker  25  (step Sc10), the previously stored oscillation width for ordinary printing is read out of the oscillation width memory  84  (step Sc11). Subsequently, an operation command is supplied to the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  (step Sc12), and the oscillation width measured by the potentiometer  62  is compared with the oscillation width read out of the oscillation-width memory  84  (step Sc13). The supply of the operation command to the oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  is continued until the oscillation width measured by the potentiometer  62  becomes equal to the oscillation width read out of the oscillation-width memory  84  (step Sc14). The oscillation-width adjustment motor  52  is stopped after the oscillation width measured by the potentiometer  62  has become equal to the oscillation width read out of the oscillation-width memory  84  (step Sc15). 
     After completion of the cleaning of the inker  25 , the operation conditions are automatically changed such that the oscillation width of the oscillating rollers  25   e  is reset to the value before the cleaning. Therefore, when the same printing material as that printed before the cleaning is printed, re-adjustment becomes unnecessary. 
     Although the flowchart shown in FIG. 14 is for automatic modification of the oscillation width of the oscillating rollers  25   e , the oscillation speed of the oscillating rollers  25   e  can be modified in a similar manner. 
     That is, the flowchart is modified through replacement of “oscillation width” in steps Sc4 to Sc14 with “oscillation speed” and replacement of “oscillation-width adjustment motor  52 ” with “oscillation-mechanism drive motor  70 ”; and the oscillation width memories  83  and  84  are replaced with rotational speed memories  94  and  95 . Thus, the cleaning of the inker  25  is performed, while the oscillating rollers  25   e  are rotated at a preset maximum rotational speed; and after completion of the cleaning of the inker  25 , the operation conditions are changed automatically such that the oscillation speed of the oscillating rollers  25   e  is reset to the value before the cleaning. 
     Therefore, the inker  25  is cleaned more efficiently as compared to the case in which the oscillating rollers  25   e  are oscillated at the oscillation speed for ordinary printing, so that the cleaning time can be shortened. It is to be noted that the cleaning of the inker may be performed in a state in which the oscillating rollers  25   e  are rotated at a rotational speed lower than the maximum rotational speed. 
     When printing is resumed after completion of the cleaning, the oscillation speed is reset to the original value. Therefore, when the same printing material as that printed before the cleaning is printed, re-adjustment becomes unnecessary. 
     It is to be noted that since the load of oscillation drive decreases during the cleaning of the ink rollers, no problem occurs even when the oscillation speed is increased. 
     As described above, the operation conditions are automatically modified in response to the operation of the automatic cleaning button  92  such that the oscillation width and oscillation speed of the oscillating rollers  25   e  are maximized, the inker can be cleaned efficiently. In addition, since the oscillation width and oscillation speed of the oscillating rollers  25   e  are reset to the original values after completion of the cleaning work, re-adjustment becomes unnecessary. 
     As having been described specifically on the basis of the embodiments, in the present invention, set values such as oscillation width and oscillation speed of the oscillating rollers can be modified automatically at the time of cleaning or other work for an ink supply apparatus. Therefore, the cleaning work and other related works can be performed efficiently. 
     In addition, since the oscillation width and oscillation speed of the oscillating rollers  25   e  are reset to the original values after completion of the cleaning, re-adjustment becomes unnecessary, and ordinary printing is not hindered. 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.