Patent Publication Number: US-9403355-B2

Title: Variable printing machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a variable printing machine for printing print images which are different in top-bottom length. 
     2. Background Art 
     There has hitherto been proposed a variety of variable printing machines whereby print images different in top-bottom length are printed on a continuous sheet or web of paper so that there may be no extra space between succeeding printed images. 
     For example, there have been proposed an intermittent feed type variable printing machine (JP 2004-351640 A) and a sleeve exchangeable cylinder type variable printing machine (JP 2009-190402 A). 
     In an intermittent feed type printing machine, the printing surface is constituted by a circumferential portion of the peripheral surface of a printing cylinder. Printing on the continuous web of paper is effected intermittently by repeating a cycle of its forward feed of travel, stop and backward feed of travel. The top-bottom length of a print image is shorter than the peripheral length of the printing cylinder. 
     In a sleeve exchangeable cylinder type variable printing machine, a printing sleeve is mounted removably on a supporting shaft to constitute a printing cylinder. The printing surface is constituted by the total length of the peripheral surface of the printing cylinder. The printing sleeve is exchanged among ones of different diameters to change the peripheral length of the printing cylinder for printing. The top-bottom length of a print image is identical to the peripheral length of the printing cylinder. 
     The intermittent feed type variable printing machine, while furnishing printed images of top-bottom lengths that can be set as desired, cannot much raise the speed of their production because of repetitions of forward feed to travel, stop and backward feed to travel of a continuous web of paper, and it is therefore not suited for large-lot production. 
     It also raises problems such as that an apparatus needed to so feed a continuous web of paper becomes complex and costly, and a control software required to control operations of the apparatus becomes highly costly. 
     The sleeve exchangeable cylinder type variable printing machine allows a continuous web of paper to be fed to travel at a fixed rate and achieving an enhanced rate of print production, and hence it is suited for large-lot production. And, the apparatus for feeding a continuous paper is simple and inexpensive and so is a software for controlling operations of the apparatus. Because of change in diameter of a printing cylinder, however, there arises a problem that an impression cylinder may not properly be in contact with the printing cylinder, thereby giving rise to incorrect image printing. 
     In view of problems as mentioned above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a variable printing machine, i.e. a machine for printing images different in top-bottom length by change in diameter of a printing cylinder, in which the printing cylinder and an impression cylinder can be brought into a proper state of contact with each other, thereby achieving correct image printing. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a variable printing machine, characterized in that it comprises: 
     a printing cylinder exchangeably mounted on a main frame of the machine, the printing cylinder being exchangeable from one printing cylinder to another, and 
     an impression cylinder mounted on the main frame so as to be movable towards and away from the printing cylinder, whereby 
     the impression and printing cylinders are brought into and held in contact with each other to effect printing. 
     In the variable printing machine mentioned above, the present invention may specifically be implemented in that the printing cylinder comprises a shaft and a sleeve adapted to be fitted on the shaft so that the sleeve can be fitted on and can be extracted from the shaft, the machine including: 
     a first end bearing member with which the shaft is rotatably supported at a first axial end portion of the shaft in a cantilever structure from the main frame to render the sleeve exchangeable from one sleeve to another. 
     If the invention is so implemented as mentioned above, exchanging one sleeve with another of a different diameter on a common shaft allows a printing cylinder to be changed in diameter, facilitating an operation of changing the diameter of a printing cylinder. 
     In the variable printing machine mentioned above, the present invention may specifically be implemented in that the machine includes a turning frame member having a second end bearing member for supporting a second axial end portion of the shaft rotatably, the turning frame member being mounted on the main frame so as to be turnable between
         a first position where it is positioned (stands or lies) opposite to (facing) a second axial end portion of the printing cylinder and   a second position where it is separated from the second axial end portion of the printing cylinder so as to render the sleeve extractable from the shaft,       

     the second end bearing member with the turning frame member in the first position being movable between
         a support position where the second end bearing member is fitted on, and thereby rotatably supports, the second axial end portion of the shaft and   a parted position where it is extracted from, and thereby releases support of, the second axial end portion of the shaft.       

     With the invention so implemented as mentioned above, the second end bearing member with the turning frame member while in the first position is allowed to take a support position to support the second axial end portion of the shaft rotatably. And, the second end bearing member is allowed, when it takes a parted position, to release support of the second axial end portion of the shaft, whereby it is made possible to support the second axial end portion of the shaft over a long period of time in a state that an axial deflection of or thrust load on the shaft may not develop. 
     Moreover, from the state that the second end bearing member is moved to lie at the parted position where it comes off and is parted from the second axial end portion of the shaft, the turning frame member is allowed to turn to take the second position where the sleeve can be extracted from, and another sleeve can be fitted on, the common shaft of the printing cylinder, thereby permitting the sleeves to be readily exchanged. 
     Further, moving the second end bearing member to the parted position whereafter turning the turning frame member over from the first position to the second position prevents the second end bearing member from interfering with the second axial end portion of the shaft to develop such as scoring therein. 
     In the variable printing machine mentioned above, the present invention may specifically be implemented in that the machine includes a turning frame member being mounted on the main frame and having a second end bearing member for supporting the second axial end portion of the shaft rotatably, wherein 
     the turning frame member is movable between
         a first position where the turning frame member is positioned opposite to the second axial end portion of the shaft so as to allow the second end bearing member to take a support position where it is fitted on, and support rotatably, the second axial end portion of the shaft and   a parting position where the second end bearing member takes a parted position where it is extracted from, and releases support of, the second axial end portion of the shaft, and       

     the turning frame member with the second end bearing member in the parted position is turnable between
         the parting position and   a second position where it is separated from the second axial end portion of the printing cylinder so as to render the sleeve extractable from the shaft.       

     This, too, allows the second axial end portion to be supported as mentioned above, one sleeve to be exchanged with another as mentioned above and the second end bearing member to be prevented from developing such as scoring as mentioned above. 
     In the variable printing machine mentioned above, the present invention may specifically be implemented in that the printing cylinder is constituted by a plate and a blanket cylinder, the impression cylinder being brought into and held in contact with the blanket cylinder for printing, 
     the plate cylinder comprises a plate cylinder shaft and a plate cylinder sleeve adapted to be fitted on the plate cylinder shaft so that the sleeve can be fitted on and can be extracted from the plate cylinder shaft, 
     the blanket cylinder comprises a blanket cylinder shaft and a blanket cylinder sleeve adapted to be fitted on the blanket cylinder shaft so that the sleeve can be fitted on and can be extracted from the blanket cylinder shaft, 
     each of the plate and blanket cylinder shafts has a first axial end portion rotatably supported in a cantilever structure with a first end bearing member from the main frame, 
     each of the plate and blanket sleeves is exchangeable from one sleeve to another 
     the blanket cylinder shaft is movable towards and away from the plate cylinder shaft, and 
     the impression cylinder is movable towards and away from the blanket cylinder shaft. 
     As the invention is so implemented as mentioned above, exchanging each of the plate and blanket cylinders with one of a different diameter changes the diameter of each of the plate and blanket cylinders, permitting images different in top-bottom length to be printed. 
     Moreover, when each of the plate and blanket cylinders is exchanged with one changed in diameter, moving a new blanket cylinder allows bringing it and a new plate cylinder in a proper state of contact with each other and also allows moving the impression cylinder to bring it and the blanket cylinder in a proper state of contact with each other. 
     In the variable printing machine mentioned above, the present invention may specifically be implemented in that the main frame has a first and a second side main frame member, the machine including 
     the first and a second end bearing member for plate cylinder and a turning frame member for plate cylinder, 
     the first axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft being rotatably supported with the first end bearing member for plate cylinder from the first side main frame member, 
     the turning frame member for plate cylinder being mounted on the second side main frame member, turnably between
         a first position where it is positioned opposite to the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft and   a second position where it is separated from the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft so as to render the plate cylinder sleeve extractable from the plate cylinder shaft, and       

     the turning frame member for plate cylinder having the second end bearing member for plate cylinder for supporting a second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft so as to be rotatable; the machine further including 
     a first and a second side auxiliary frame member mounted on the first side main frame member and the second side main frame member so as to be movable towards and away from the plate cylinder shaft, respectively, and 
     the first and a second end bearing member for blanket cylinder and a turning frame member for blanket cylinder, 
     the first axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft being rotatably supported with the first end bearing member for blanket cylinder from the first side auxiliary frame member, 
     the turning frame member for blanket cylinder being mounted on the second side auxiliary frame member, turnably between
         a first position where it is positioned opposite to the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft and   a second position where it is separated from the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft so as to render the blanket cylinder sleeve extractable from the blanket cylinder shaft, and       

     the turning frame member for blanket cylinder having the second end bearing member for blanket cylinder for supporting the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft so as to be rotatable; 
     the second end bearing members for plate and blanket cylinders with the turning frame members for plate and blanket cylinders each at the first position being each movable between
         a support position where it is fitted on, and rotatably supports, the second axial end portion of the plate/blanket cylinder shaft and   a parted position where it is extracted from, and releases support of, the second axial end portion of the plate/blanket cylinder shaft.       

     In this way, the first and second side auxiliary frame members can be moved to move the blanket cylinder towards and away from the plate cylinder shaft. 
     In the variable printing machine mentioned above, the present invention may specifically be implemented in that the turning frame member for plate cylinder has a plate cylinder housing member provided with the second end bearing member for plate cylinder and being movable between
         a position where it takes the support position and   a position where it takes the parted position,       

     the turning frame member for blanket cylinder has a blanket cylinder housing member provided with the second end bearing member for blanket cylinder and being movable between
         a position where it takes the support position and   a position where it takes the parted position, and move units are provided at opposite sides across the second end bearing members in the housing members for plate and blanket cylinders, respectively, the move units being operable to move the housing members, respectively.       

     Operating a plurality of move units in the arrangement mentioned above allows moving the housing relative to the turning frame member. 
     In the variable printing machine mentioned above, the present invention may specifically be implemented in that the main frame has a first and a second side main frame member, the machine including 
     a first and a second end bearing member for plate cylinder and a turning frame member for plate cylinder, 
     the first axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft being rotatably supported with the first end bearing member for plate cylinder from the first side main frame member, 
     the turning frame member for plate cylinder being mounted on the second side main frame member of the main frame and having a second end bearing member for plate cylinder for supporting a second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft rotatably, 
     the turning frame member for plate cylinder being movable between
         a first position where the turning frame member for plate cylinder is positioned opposite to the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder so as to allow the second end bearing member for plate cylinder to take a support position where it is fitted on, and rotatably supports, a second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft and   a parting position where the second end bearing member for plate cylinder takes a parted position where it is extracted from, and releases support of, the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft,       

     the turning frame member for plate cylinder with the second end bearing member in the parted position being turnable between
         the parting position and   a second position where it is separated from the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder so as to render the plate cylinder sleeve extractable,       

     the machine further including 
     a first and a second side auxiliary frame member mounted on the first and second side main frame members, respectively, so as to be movable towards and away from the plate cylinder shaft, and 
     a first and a second end bearing member for blanket cylinder and a turning frame member for blanket cylinder, 
     the first axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft being rotatably supported with the first end bearing member for blanket cylinder from the first side auxiliary frame member, 
     the turning frame member for blanket cylinder being mounted on the second side auxiliary frame member and having the second end bearing member for blanket cylinder for supporting a second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft rotatably, 
     the turning frame member for blanket cylinder being movable between
         a first position where the turning frame member for blanket cylinder is positioned opposite to the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder so as to allow the second end bearing member for blanket cylinder to take a support position where it is fitted on, and rotatably supports, the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft and   a parting position where the second end bearing member for blanket cylinder takes a parted position where it is extracted from, and releases support of, the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft,       

     the turning frame member for blanket cylinder with the second end bearing member in the parted position being turnable between
         the parting position and   a second position where it is separated from the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder so as to render the blanket cylinder sleeve extractable.       

     In this way, too, the first and second side auxiliary frame members can be moved to move the blanket cylinder towards and away from the plate cylinder shaft. 
     In the variable printing machine mentioned above, the present invention may specifically be implemented in that the machine further includes a first side arm swingably attached to the first side main frame member, 
     a second side arm swingably attached to the first side main frame member, 
     the impression cylinder being mounted between the first and second side arms, and 
     a means for swinging the first and second side arms in synchronism with each other to move the impression cylinder towards and away from the blanket cylinder. 
     This allows an impression cylinder to be simply moved to come in a proper state of contact with the plate and blanket cylinder whose diameters are each changed. 
     According to the present invention, changing the diameter of a printing cylinder allows print images different in top-bottom length to be printed on a continuous sheet or web of paper so as to leave no extra space between succeeding printed images thereon. And, moving an impression cylinder by a particular distance in accordance with a particular diameter of the printing cylinder for printing allows bringing about a proper state of contact of the impression cylinder with the printing cylinder, thereby yielding correct printed images. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       In the Drawing: 
         FIG. 1  is diagrammatic front view of a variable printing machine, illustrating a form of implementation of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a transverse sectional view enlarged in detail of a plate cylinder mounting structure in the machine shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view illustrating a plate cylinder shaft in the state that support of its second axial end portion is released; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating a plate cylinder sleeve in the state that it is extracted; 
         FIG. 5  is a transverse sectional view enlarged in detail of a blanket cylinder mounting structure in the machine shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  a sectional view illustrating a blanket cylinder shaft in the state that support of its second axial end is released; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view illustrating a blanket cylinder sleeve in the state that it is extracted; 
         FIG. 8  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a mechanism for moving an auxiliary frame member; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a plate cylinder; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of a blanket cylinder; 
         FIG. 11  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a mechanism for moving an impression cylinder; 
         FIG. 12  is a view illustrating in schematic form a state of engagement of gears in a drive mechanism for a plate and a blanket cylinder; 
         FIG. 13  is an explanatory view of plate and blanket cylinders having their diameter decreased; 
         FIG. 14  is an explanatory view of plate and blanket cylinders having their diameter increased; 
         FIG. 15  is a detailed sectional view, developed centered on one axis, of a gear arrangement shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a transverse sectional view illustrating a structure in a second form of embodiment in which a turning frame member for plate cylinder is mounted; 
         FIG. 17  is a transverse sectional view of the turning frame member for plate cylinder as it is moved to a parting position; 
         FIG. 18  is a transverse sectional view the turning frame member for plate cylinder as it is turned to a second position; 
         FIG. 19  is a transverse sectional view illustrating a structure in a second form of embodiment in which a turning frame member for blanket cylinder is mounted; 
         FIG. 20  is a transverse sectional view of the turning frame member for blanket cylinder as it is moved to a parting position; and 
         FIG. 21  is a transverse sectional view the of the turning frame member for blanket cylinder as it is turned to a second position. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a main frame  1  has a plate cylinder  2 , a blanket cylinder  3  and an impression cylinder  4  rotatably mounted thereon, the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  each constituting a printing cylinder. 
     A printing sheet or web of paper  65  is nipped between the blanket and impression cylinders  3  and  4  and fed to travel rightwards (in the direction of the arrow) as it is wound on the impression cylinder  4  while having a print image printed thereon. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the main frame  1  has a first side main frame member  1   a  and a second side main frame member  1   b  on a first side (one side) and a second side (the other side) axial of the cylinders, respectively. 
     The plate cylinder  2  has a plate cylinder shaft  20  and a plate cylinder sleeve  21  removably mounted to fit on the plate cylinder shaft  20  so as to be fitted on and to be extracted from the plate cylinder shaft  20 . 
     The plate cylinder shaft  20  and the plate cylinder sleeve  21  for their joint rotation are made integral with each other by fitting a key (not shown) on the plate cylinder shaft side in a key groove (not shown) on the plate cylinder sleeve side. 
     The plate cylinder shaft  20  and the plate cylinder sleeve  21  can be made fastened together by a fixing mechanism  22  so that they may not axially move relatively. Such fastening can also be made released, i.e. unfastened. 
     The fixing mechanism  22  has a rotary shaft  22   a  rotatably mounted in an axial center of the plate cylinder shaft  20 , a fastening finger knob  22   b  attached to a second side axial end portion of the rotary shaft  22   a,  and an axial pair of lugs (coupling members)  22   c  which can each be pushed against an inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder sleeve  21  by a cam (not shown) formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft  22   a.  The lug  22   c  pushed against the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder sleeve  21  is fastened thereto, fastening the plate cylinder shaft  20  and the plate cylinder sleeve  21  together by frictional force so that they may not move axially relative to each other. When the lug  22   c  is parted from the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder sleeve  21 , the plate cylinder shaft  20  and the plate cylinder sleeve  21  are unfastened so that they may axially move relative to each other. 
     A first axial end of the plate cylinder shaft  20  is axially supported in a cantilever structure with a first end bearing member  10  with which the first side main frame member  1   a  is provided. This allows one plate cylinder sleeve  21  to be exchanged at the side of the second side main frame member  1   b  with another plate cylinder sleeve  21  different in diameter, thereby changing the diameter of the plate cylinder plate  21 . 
     The second side main frame member  1   b  has an opening  11  for insertion and extraction of the plate cylinder  2  and is provided with a turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  which is mounted on thereon so as to be turnable horizontally by a hinge  13 . 
     The turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is turned between a first position where it lies in contact with the outer surface of the second side main frame member  1   b  and stands (or lie) opposite to or facing the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder  2  and a second position where it lies out of contact with the outer surface of the second side main frame member  1   b  and is separated from the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder  2 , permitting the plate cylinder sleeve  21  to be extracted through the opening  11 . 
     The turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  has a hole  14  through which a portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  that is closer to its second axial end portion can pass, and in which a plate cylinder housing member  15  is fitted so that it is attached to the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12 . 
     With a second end bearing member  16  mounted in the cylinder plate housing member  15 , the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  is supported so that it can be rotated and it can be inserted and pulled out. 
     And, when the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is at the first position, operating a move unit  17  moves the plate cylinder housing member  15  towards and away from the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12 . The plate cylinder housing member  15  while maintaining its position parallel to the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is moved between a position where the second end bearing member  16  takes a support position to support the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  and a position where it takes a release or parted position to release the support. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the move unit  17  is provided at each of both right hand side and left hand side of the plate cylinder housing member  15  while the plate cylinder shaft  20  of the plate cylinder  2  is supported at a position intermediate between the right and left hand sides of the plate cylinder housing member  15  so that operating the right hand and left hand move units  17  translates the plate cylinder housing member  15  axially of the plate cylinder shaft  20 . 
     The second end bearing member  16  as shown in  FIG. 3  comprises a cylindrical bearing box  16   a  fitted in and fastened to a hole  15   a  in the plate cylinder housing member  15 , a bearing  16   b  attached to the bearing box  16   a  and a bearing inner ring  16   c  incorporated in the bearing  16   b  through a slidable needle-type or cylindrical bearing. The second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  is fitted in bearing inner ring  16   c  so that it can be inserted and extracted. 
     The move unit  17  as shown in  FIG. 3  has a male screw  17   a  fitted to the plate cylinder housing member  15  so that it can be rotated but may not be moved axially, a fixing knob  17   b  with which the male screw  17   a  is provided and a guide bar  17   c  fixed to the plate cylinder housing member  15 . 
     The male screw  17   a  is let into and through a hole  12   a  in the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  to screw with a female screw  18  in the second side main frame member  1   b.    
     The guide bar  17   c  is let into and through a hole  12   b  and then into a guide hole  19  in the second side main frame member  1   b,  there by guiding the plate cylinder housing member  15  so as to be movable axially of the plate cylinder  2 . 
     The guide bar  17   c  has an end portion larger in diameter than the hole  12   b  so that it may not come off the hole  12   b,  limiting its movement towards the second side of the plate cylinder housing member  15 . 
     In this manner, the plate cylinder housing member  15  can, with the guide bar  17   c  and the hole  12   b,  be moved smoothly while maintaining its axial parallel position. 
     And, starting from the state that the male screw  17  comes in contact with the female screw  18 , the fixing knob  17   b  is rotated in the direction in which the male screw  17   a  fastens to screw with the female screw  18 . This allows the plate cylinder housing member  15  to be moved towards the first axial side and, as shown in  FIG. 2 , to be fitted in the hole  14  in the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12 . The bearing inner ring  16   c  of the second end bearing member  16  is then fitted on the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20 , permitting the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  to be engaged, and supported rotatably, with the second end bearing member  16 . 
     Rotating the fixing knob  17   b  in the direction in which the male screw  17   a  loosens in the state shown in  FIG. 2  moves the plate cylinder housing member  15  towards the second axial side and in the direction in which the bearing inner ring  16   c  of the second end bearing member  16  comes out of the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20 . 
     And, from the state that the male screw  17   a  comes out of the female screw  18 , the plate cylinder housing member  15  with the fixing knob  17   b  held in a hand is moved towards the second axial side to cause the second end bearing member  16  as sown in  FIG. 3  to take a release or parted position where its bearing inner ring  16   c  is parted from the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20 , releasing support of the latter. 
     Since the plate cylinder housing member  15  is moved axially of the plate cylinder  2  relative to the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  and thereby the second end bearing member  16  (the bearing inner ring  16   c ) is fitted on, and extracted from or pulled out of, the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  in this manner, the second end bearing member  16  is prevented from undergoing a partial wear due to scoring as in the case when it is simply fitted on and pulled out of the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20 . Hence, the second end bearing member is rendered capable of rotatably supporting the shaft stably and without development of axial deflection of or thrust load on the shaft over a long period of time. 
     Mention is next made of an operation to alter the diameter of the plate cylinder  2 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the state of printing operation. In this state, the turning frame member for the plate cylinder  12  is at the first position, the plate cylinder housing  15  is received and fitted in the hole  14  of the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  and the second end bearing member  16  is at the support position where it is fitted on and thereby supports the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20 . 
     From the state shown in  FIG. 2 , operating the move unit  17  to move the plate cylinder housing member  15  causes the second end bearing member  16  to take the parted position where it is parted from, and thereby releases support of, the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     From the state shown in  FIG. 3 , the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is turned on the hinge  13  towards the second position to take the second position shown in  FIG. 4  where the opening portion  11  of the second side main frame member  1   b  is opened. 
     The fixing finger member  22   b  of the fixing mechanism  22  is rotated to release axial fixing between the plate cylinder shaft  20  and the plate cylinder sleeve  21 , making the plate cylinder sleeve  21  slidably movable axially of the plate cylinder shaft  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the plate cylinder sleeve  21  is extracted axially of the plate cylinder shaft  20  and removed from the plate cylinder shaft  20 . 
     And, a plate cylinder sleeve  21  of a different diameter is inserted axially of the plate cylinder shaft  20 , and the plate cylinder sleeve  21  on fitting the key and key groove together by a turn of the plate cylinder sleeve  21  is fitted on the plate cylinder shaft  20 . 
     By a further turn of the fixing finger member  22   b  of the fixing mechanism  22 , the plate cylinder shaft  20  and the plate cylinder sleeve  21  are frictionally fastened and fixed together so that they may not be moved axially. 
     Next, in the state that the plate cylinder housing member  15  lies at the position where the second end bearing member  16  takes the parted position, the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is turned on the hinge  13  to the position where the axial center of the second end bearing member  16  and the axial center of the plate cylinder shaft  20  are made coincident with each other (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     With the fixing knob  17   b  in the fixing mechanism  17  thrust by a hand, the plate cylinder housing member  15  is moved towards the first side to press the male screw  17   a  against the female screw  18 . Pressing the male screw  17   a  against the female screw  18  while turning the fixing knob  17   b  screws the male screw  17   a  into the screw  18 . A force of screwing which then develops is used to fit and thrust the bearing ring  16   c  of the second end bearing member  16  onto the second axial end portion of the late cylinder shaft  20 . The second end bearing member  16  is thus brought into a support state that it supports rotatably the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Also, the plate cylinder housing member  15  is pressed against the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  to press the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  against the outer surface of the second side main frame member  1   b,  fixing it at the first position. 
     Mention is next made of a mounting structure of the blanket cylinder  3 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the first and second side main frame members  1   a  and  1   b  of the main frame  1  are provided outside with a first and a second side auxiliary frame member  50  and  51 , respectively, which are movable towards and away from the plate cylinder  2 . 
     For example, a right and left hand side pair of first side linear guide members  52  is mounted on the outer surface of the first side main frame member  1   a  so as to make the first side auxiliary frame member  50  movable towards and away from the plate cylinder  2 . 
     A right and left hand side pair of second side linear guide members  53  is mounted on the outer surface of the second side main frame member  1   a  so as to make the second side auxiliary frame member  50  movable towards and away from the plate cylinder  2   
     The first and second side liner guide members  52  and  53  comprise rails  52   a  and  53   a  attached to the outer surfaces of the first and second side main frame members  1   a  and  1   b,  respectively and guides  52   b  and  53   b  with which the first and second side auxiliary frame members  50  and  51  are provided on their inner surfaces, respectively. The guides  52   b  and  53   b  are provided on the rails  52   a  and  53   a  to move along them slidably, respectively. 
     The blanket cylinder  3  has a blanket cylinder shaft  30  and a blanket cylinder sleeve  31  removably fitted on the blanket cylinder shaft  30  so as to be fitted on and to be extracted from the plate cylinder shaft  30 . 
     The blanket cylinder shaft  30  and the blanket cylinder sleeve  31  for their joint rotation are made integral with each other by fitting a key in a key groove. 
     The blanket cylinder shaft  30  and the blanket cylinder sleeve  31  can be made fastened together by a fixing mechanism  32  so that they may not axially move relatively. Such fastening can also be made released, i.e. unfastened. 
     The fixing mechanism  32  as with the fixing mechanism  22  for the plate cylinder  2  is provided with a rotary shaft  32   a,  a finger knob  32   b  and a lug (coupling member)  32   c.    
     To wit, the blanket cylinder  3  is essentially identical in structure to the plate cylinder  2 . 
     The second side auxiliary frame member  52  has a turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  mounted thereon so as to be turnable horizontally on a hinge  55 . 
     The turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  is turned between a first position where it closes an opening  51   a  of the second side auxiliary frame member  51  and stands opposite to a second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft  30  and a second position where it opens the opening  51   a  to allow the blanket cylinder sleeve  31  to be extracted through the opening  11 . The opening  51   a  is opposite to the opening  11  of the second side main frame member  1   b.  Through these openings  11  and  51   a  the blanket cylinder  3  can be passed. 
     The turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  has a hole  56  in which the blanket cylinder housing member  57  is fitted so that it is attached to the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54 . 
     A first axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft  30  passes through a hole  58  in the first side main frame member  1   a  and is supported in a cantilever structure with a first end bearing member  60  with which the first side auxiliary frame member  50  is provided. 
     The second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft  30  passes through the opening  11  of the second main frame member  1   b,  and through the opening  51   a  of the second side auxiliary frame member  51 , projecting towards the second axial side. The second axial end portion is supported with a second end bearing member  61  in the blanket cylinder housing member  57  so that it can be rotated and axially inserted and extracted. 
     And, by operating a move unit  62 , the blanket cylinder housing member  57 , when the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  is at the first position, is moved towards and away from the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  and translated axially of the blanket cylinder  3  between a position where the second end bearing member  61  takes a support position and a position where it takes a parted position. 
     The second end bearing member  61  when in the support position is fitted on, and rotatably supports, the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft  30  and when at the parted position is extracted from, and releases the support of, the second axial end portion. 
     The second end bearing member  61  as with the second end bearing member  16  provided in the plate cylinder  15  mentioned above, is provided with a bearing box  61   a,  a bearing  61   b  and a rearing inner ring  61   c  in which the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft  30  is fitted so as to be insertable and extractable. 
     The move unit  62  as with the move unit  17  provided in the plate cylinder housing member  15  is provided with a female screw  62   a,  a fixing knob  62   b  and a guide bar  62   c.    
     The male screw  62   a  is passed through a hole  54   a  in the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  and screwed with a female screw  63  in the second side auxiliary frame member  51 . 
     With the guide bar  62   c  passed through a hole  54   b  of the turning frame member  54  and inserted into a guide bore  64  in the second side auxiliary frame member  51 , the blanket cylinder housing member  57  is guided so as to be movable axially of the blanket cylinder  3 . 
     The guide bar  62   c  has an end portion larger in diameter than the hole  54   b  so that it may not be pulled out of the hole  54   b,  limiting its movement towards the second side of the blanket cylinder housing member  57 . 
     The move unit  62  as shown in  FIG. 1  is provided at each of both right hand side and left hand side of the blanket cylinder housing member  57  and the blanket cylinder shaft  30  of the blanket cylinder  3  is supported at a position intermediate between the right and left hand sides of the blanket cylinder housing member  57  so that operating the right hand and left hand move units  62  translates the plate cylinder housing member  57  axially of the blanket cylinder shaft  30 . 
     To wit, the mounting structure of the blanket cylinder  3  is shown that is in large part identical to that of the plate cylinder  2  and differs in that while the plate cylinder  2  is supported by the first side main frame member  1   a  and the plate cylinder housing  15  attached to the turning frame member  12  mounted on the second side main frame member  1   b,  the blanket cylinder  3  is supported by the first side auxiliary frame member  50  and the blanket cylinder housing member  57  attached to the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  mounted on the second side auxiliary frame member  51 . 
     The auxiliary frame member  50 ,  51  is used to move the blanket cylinder  3  towards and away from the plate cylinder  2  as will be mentioned later herein. 
     The blanket cylinder  3  as with the plate cylinder  2  is exchangeable. 
     To wit, the blanket cylinder housing member  57  by operating the move unit  62  is moved from the state of printing operation shown in  FIG. 5  to the parting position where the second end bearing member  61  takes the parted position as shown in  FIG. 6 , thereby releasing support of the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft  30  by the second end bearing member  61 . 
     And, as shown in  FIG. 7 , after the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  is turned on a hinge  55  to a second position, axial fixing between the blanket cylinder shaft  30  and the blanket cylinder sleeve  31  by the fixing mechanism  32  is released and the blanket cylinder sleeve  31  is pulled out. 
     A blanket cylinder sleeve  31  of a different diameter is fitted on the blanket cylinder shaft  30  and, by fitting the key and key groove, is fastened thereto so that the blanket cylinder sleeve  31  may not be rotated relative thereto. 
     By operating the fixing mechanism  32 , the blanket cylinder sleeve  31  is fixed to the blanket cylinder shaft  30  so as not to be axially moved relative thereto. 
     The turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  is turned to return to the first position shown in  FIG. 6  where the second end bearing member  61  and the blanket cylinder shaft  30  are allowed to coincide with each other in axial center. 
     Thereafter, the blanket cylinder housing member  57  by operating the move unit  62  is moved towards the first axial side to allow the second end bearing member  61  as shown in  FIG. 5  to be fitted on the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft  30  and to rotatably support the second axial end portion. The turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  is then fastened to the second side auxiliary frame member  51 . 
     The first and second end bearing members  60  and  61  with which the first and second axial end portions of the blanket cylinder shaft  30  are rotatably supported from the first and second side auxiliary frame members  50  and  51 , respectively, are each of eccentric bearing to allow the blanket cylinder  3  to move away from the plate cylinder  2  and the impression cylinder  4 . 
     For example, the second end bearing member  62  has the bearing box  61   a  whose inner peripheral surface is decentered to its outer peripheral surface and which is fitted rotatably in a bore  57   a  of the blanket cylinder housing member  57 . Rotating the bearing box  61   a  by a rotary means (not shown) displaces the blanket cylinder shaft  30 , thereby moving the blanket cylinder  3  towards and away from the plate cylinder  2  and the impression cylinder  4 . 
     Likewise, the first end bearing member  60  has the bearing box  60   a  whose inner peripheral surface is decentered to its outer peripheral surface and which is rotatably received and supported in a bore  50   a  of the first side auxiliary frame member  50 . 
     The rotary means for the bearing box  61   a  may be of, though not limited to, a structure with an arm fixed to the bearing box  61   a  and having a link connected thereby which is swung by a cylinder or an electric motor to rotate the gear box  61   a.    
     As the blanket cylinder  3  is moved away from the plate and impression cylinders  2  and  4 , the operation to exchange a plate on the plate cylinder  2  is facilitated, also facilitating an operation of paper passing. 
     As mentioned above, exchanging the plate and blanket cylinder sleeves  21  and  31  with ones different in diameter to change the peripheral length of the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  allows printing images different in top-bottom length. As the diameter of the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  is changed, however, the state arises that the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  are not properly in contact with each other. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a variable printing machine in which with the center of a plate cylinder  2  (the center of a plate cylinder shaft  20 ) fixed in position, the center of a blanket cylinder  3  (the center of a blanket cylinder shaft  30 ) is moved in accordance with a top-bottom length of print images (a diameter of the plate cylinder  2 , the blanket cylinder) whereby the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  are positioned properly in contact with each other. 
     Specifically, a first and a second side auxiliary frame member  50  and  51  are moved towards a first and a second side main frame member  1   a  and  1   b  to move the blanket cylinder  3  towards and away from the plate cylinder, thereby changing a distance in center between the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  whereby if the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  are changed in diameter, it is ensured that the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  are positioned in a proper state of contact with each other. 
     Mention is made of a mechanism for moving the first and second side auxiliary frame members  50  and  51  with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 8 . 
     A drive shaft  71  for rotation by a motor for movement  70  is rotatably supported with the first and second side main frame members  1   a  and  1   b.    
     A first side feed ball screw  73  is mounted rotatably with a bracket  72  on the first side main frame member  1   a.  A first end of the first side feed ball screw  73  is screwed with a first side ball nut  74  provided in the first side auxiliary frame member  50  and its second end is connected to a first end portion of the drive shaft  71  with a bevel gear  75  to constitute a first side ball screw mechanism. 
     A second side feed ball screw  77  is mounted rotatably with a bracket  76  on the second side main frame member  1   b.  A first end of the second side feed ball screw  77  is screwed with a second side ball nut  78  provided in the second side auxiliary frame member  51  and its second end is connected to a second end portion of the drive shaft  71  with a bevel gear  79  to constitute a second side ball screw mechanism. 
     Rotating the drive shaft  71  with the motor for movement  70  rotates the first and second side feed ball screws  73  and  77  synchronously with each other, causing the first and second side auxiliary frame members  50  and  51  to move relative to the first and second side main frame members  1   a  and  1   b.  The motor for movement  70  which needs to be precision controllable may be a servo motor 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the plate cylinder shaft  20 , the blanket cylinder shaft  30  is hollow in shape, having a cylindrical body  20   c,    30   c  between a first axial end shaft portion  20   a,    30   a  and a second axial end shaft portion  20   b,    30   b.    
     The plate cylinder sleeve  21 , the blanket cylinder sleeve  31  is constructed of a cylinder  21   a,    31   a  made of an aluminum alloy and formed on its inner peripheral surface with numbers of disk shaped annular ribs  21   b,    31   b  axially spaced apart from each other. The outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the cylinder  21   a,    31   a  are finished by mechanical machining. Mounting by fitting the ribs  21   b,    31   b  of the cylinder  21   a,    31   a  on the plate cylinder shaft  20 , the blanket cylinder shaft  30  provides a structure having numbers of hollows  2   a,    3   a  between the plate cylinder shaft  20  and the plate cylinder sleeve  21 , between the blanket cylinder shaft  30  and the blanket cylinder sleeve  31 . 
     The plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  so constructed can be light-weighted. 
     The plate and blanket cylinder sleeves  21  and  31 , each made of a rib structure having the cylinder  21   a,    31   a  formed with the ribs  21   b,    31   b  and made of aluminum alloy are light-weighted, the structure then facilitating operations of exchanging the plate and blanket cylinder sleeves  21  and  31 . 
     Mention is next made of a structure of mounting an impression cylinder  4 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 11 , the main frame  1  has an arm member  40  mounted therein swingably towards the blanket cylinder  3 , the arm member  40  having the impression cylinder  4  mounted thereon rotatably. 
     And, swinging the arm member  40  with a swing mechanism  41  is designed to allow the impression cylinder  4  to move towards and away from the blanket cylinder  3  and thus to change the distance between the centers of the blanket and impression cylinders  3  and  4 . 
     Thus, in printing images different in top-bottom length with a blanket cylinder  3  changed in diameter and an impression cylinder  4 , the impression cylinder  4  and blanket cylinder  3  can be brought into contact in proper state with each other by using the arm member  40  swung in accordance with the size of a diameter of the blanket cylinder  3  so as to change the distance between the centers of the impression and blanket cylinders  4  and  3 . 
     The arm member  40  has a first side arm  42  mounted on an inner surface of the first side frame member  1   a  so as to be swingable vertically and a second side arm  43  mounted on an inner surface of the second side frame member  1  so as to be swingable vertically. Between the first and second side arms  42  and  43 , the impression cylinder  4  is mounted rotatably. 
     The impression cylinder  4  is positioned below the blanket cylinder  3 . When the first and second side arms  42  and  43  are swung upwards, the impression cylinder  4  is moved towards the blanket cylinder  3 . When the first and second side arms  42  and  43  are swung downwards, the impression cylinder  4  is moved away from the blanket cylinder  3 . 
     The swing mechanism  41  comprises a motor for swing  44 , a rotary shaft  45  rotatably supported by and between the first and second main frame members  1   a  and  1   b  and rotated by the motor for swing  44 , and a ball screw mechanism  46 . 
     The ball screw mechanism  46  has a pair of feed ball screws  46   a  and a pair of ball screw nuts  46   b.    
     The first and second side main frame members  1   a  and  1   b  have a pair of levers  47   a  mounted therein rotatably so as to be rotatable about the rotary shaft  45 . The levers  47   a  have a bracket  47  mounted between them which has the feed ball screws  46   a  in pairs supported thereon rotatably. 
     The ball nuts  46   b  in pairs are connected rotatably to a connecting rod  48  rotatably connected between the first and second side arms  42  and  43 . 
     The feed ball screws  46   a  in pair are connected to the rotary shaft  45  via bevel gears  49 , respectively. 
     Rotating the rotary shaft  45  with the motor for swing  44  rotates the feed ball screws  46   a.  Rotation of the feed ball screws  46   a  causes the connecting rod  48  to move vertically to move the first and second side arms  42  and  43  vertically in synchronism with each other. 
     The motor for swing  44  which needs to control swinging of the arm member  40  in precision should be a servo motor. 
     The plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  are rotated by a single driving motor  80  as described below while the impression cylinder  4  is rotated by another driving motor (not shown). 
     These driving motors to meet with changing the top-bottom size of print images should preferably be a servo motor, stepping motor or the like but may be any motor that can be controlled to rotate normally and reversely. 
     Using plate and blanket cylinders having peripheral lengths in millimeter, inch or any other size system to meet with top-bottom lengths of print images in millimeter, inch or any other size system, printing is effected with the plate, blanket and impression cylinders  2 ,  3  and  4  which are rotated, each without slipping, synchronously with travel of the in-feed printing sheet of paper  65   
     Mention is next made of a mechanism for driving the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the plate cylinder  2  (plate cylinder sleeve  21 ) and the blanket cylinder  3  (blanket cylinder sleeve  31 ) are shown in contact with each other. If the diameter of the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  is changed, it is seen that the center  2 A of the plate cylinder  2  is unvaried in position and the center  3 A of the blanket cylinder  3  is moved on the line X in a direction along the first, second linear guide  52 ,  53 , changing the distance L between the centers of the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3 . 
     For example, if the diameter of the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  is decreased, the center  3 A of the blanket cylinder  3  is moved on the line X towards the center  2 A of the blanket cylinder  3 , decreasing the distance L between the centers as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     If the diameter of the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  is increased, the center  3 A of the blanket cylinder  3  is moved on the line X away from the center  2 A of the blanket cylinder  3 , increasing the distance L between the centers as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     The plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  (the plate and blanket cylinder shafts  20  and  30 ) are connected to the output shaft of a single motor via gears. Then, in fact the distance L between their centers cannot be increased without disengagement of the gears and cannot be decreased by their presence. 
     The present invention accordingly provides an arrangement in which a drive gear  81  connected to the output of the drive motor  80  is engaged with a plate cylinder gear  82  fastened to the plate cylinder shaft  20  and an intermediate gear  83 , the intermediate gear  83  being engaged with a blanket cylinder gear  84  fastened to the blanket cylinder shaft  30 . 
     The plate cylinder gear  82  has a center  82 A which is identical to the center  2 A of the plate cylinder  2 , and the blanket cylinder gear  84  has a center which is identical to the center  3 A of the blanket cylinder  3 . 
     The center  83 A of the intermediate gear  83  is positioned at a side opposite to a side of the center  82 A of the plate cylinder gear  82  across the line Y connecting the center  81 A of the drive gear  81  and the center  84 A of the blanket cylinder gear  84  to each other 
     The intermediate gear  83  and the blanket cylinder gear  84  are connected by a link mechanism so that when the blanket cylinder gear  84  is moved on the line X, the intermediate gear  83  in mesh with the drive gear  81  and the blanket cylinder gear  84  is moved to change the distance between the center  81 A of the drive gear  81  and the center  84 A of the blanket cylinder gear  84 . 
     The link mechanism comprises a first link  86  swingably mounted at its one end portion with a support shaft  85  on the first side main frame member  1   a,  an intermediate shaft  87  mounted to the other end portion of the first link  86 , and a second link  88  rotatably mounted at its one end portion to the intermediate shaft  87 . The first and second links  86  and  88  are rotatably connected together by the intermediate shaft  87 . 
     The other end portion of the second link  88  is rotatably mounted to the blanket cylinder shaft  30 . The second link  88  is rotatable about the center  3 A of the blanket cylinder  3 . 
     The intermediate shaft  87  is rotatably connected to the center  83 A of the intermediate gear  83  to make the center  83 A of the intermediate gear  83  identical to the center of revolution of a part that connects the first and second links  86  and  88  together. 
     The center  85 A of the support shaft  85  (the swinging center  86 A of the first link  86 ) is made identical to the center  81 A of the drive gear  81 . 
     Thus, rotating the drive gear  81  with the drive motor  80  rotates the plate cylinder gear  82  and the intermediate gear  83  in one direction and rotates the blanket cylinder  3  in the other direction, thereby rotating the plate cylinder  2  in one direction and the blanket cylinder  3  in the other direction. 
     Here, the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  are made identical in diameter to each other, the drive gear  81 , the plate cylinder gear  82 , and the intermediate cylinder  83  and the blanket cylinder gear  84  are made identical in size to one another. The plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  are made rotating at an identical speed in opposite directions. 
     If the diameter of the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  is decreased from the state shown in  FIG. 12 , the center  3 A of the blanket cylinder  3  as shown in  FIG. 13  is moved on the line X towards the center  2 A of the plate cylinder  2 . Then, the first and second links  86  and  88  are rotationally moved into a dogleg shape, and the intermediate gear  83  while in mesh with the drive gear  81  and the blanket cylinder gear  84  has its center  83 A moved away from the line Y. This causes the center  84 A of the blanket cylinder gear  84  to move towards the center  82 A of the plate cylinder gear  82 , bringing the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  smaller in diameter into contact with each other. 
     If the diameter of the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  is increased from the state shown in  FIG. 12 , the center  3 A of the blanket cylinder  3  as shown in  FIG. 14  is moved on the line X away from the center  2 A of the plate cylinder  2 . Then, the first and second links  86  and  88  are rotationally moved into a nearly linear shape, and the center  83 A of the intermediate gear  83  is moved towards the line Y. This causes the center  84 A of the blanket cylinder gear  84  to move away from the center  82 A of the plate cylinder gear  82 , bringing the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  larger in diameter into contact with each other. 
     In this manner, the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  can be rotated with a single drive motor  80 , using a gear-type transmission mechanism. 
     A variable printing machine in the form of implementation mentioned above has advantages as mentioned below. 
     It allows a plate and a blanket cylinder  2  and  3  changed in diameter to be effectively utilized to print images different in top-bottom length so as to leave no extra space between the succeeding printed images on a continuous sheet or web of paper while permitting continuous paper to be continuously fed to travel, preferably continuously forwards without need to repeat a paper feed cycle of forward travel, stop and backward travel, thus the machine preferably increasing the rate of production and rendering it suitable for large-lot production while enhancing the production efficiency and product quality and reducing the cost of production. 
     Moreover, feeding of continuous sheet to travel can be simplified so that complex control may be unnecessary with no need for expensive software. An intermittent feed mechanism may be unneeded. 
     In exchanging the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3 , only the plate and blanket cylinder sleeves  21  and  31  can be exchanged which can readily be carried manually while the plate and blanket cylinders  20  and  30  remains unchanged which are heavy in weight and size. This makes unnecessary a massive device such as a crane and transport truck and ensures performing a safe exchanging operation. 
     The plate and blanket cylinder sleeves  21  and  31 , in particular when formed in a rib structure and by casting an aluminum alloy, can be much light-weighted and allows an operator to easily handle an exchanging operation manually, facilitating the exchanging operation, with maintenance and inspection that can be carried out in a short period of time, improving the efficiencies of operations and production. 
     In a variable printing machine of the forms of implementation mentioned above, it is yet possible for a continuous sheet or web of paper to be intermittently fed by repeating a paper feed cycle of forward travel, stop and backward travel to print images different in top-bottom length so as to leave no extra space between the succeeding printed images. 
     While in the forms of implementation mentioned above the plate and blanket cylinder sleeves  21  and  31  are exchanged, it is yet possible for the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  to be wholly exchanged. 
     Also, while the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  constitute the printing cylinders, the plate cylinder  2  may only constitute the printing cylinder. 
     In this case where printing is to be effected with the plate and impression cylinders  2  and  4  in contact with each other, the impression cylinder  4  may be moved towards and away from the plate cylinder  2  whose axial center is held unchanged in position. 
     While in the forms of implementation mentioned above, the plate and blanket cylinder housing members  15  and  57  having the second end bearing members  16  and  61  are shown mounted in the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  and the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54 , respectively, the second end bearing members  16  and  61  may directly be mounted in the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  and the turning frame member  54  for blanket cylinder, respectively, so as to be movable between the support and parted position. 
     It is also possible that the second end bearing members  16  and  61  may be securely connected to the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  and the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54 , respectively; the turning frame members  12  and  54  may be made movable axially of the plate and blanket cylinders  2  and  3  while rendering the second end bearing members  16  and  61  each movable between the support position (in which the turning frame member  12  and  54  lie each in the first position) and the parted position; and the frame members  12  and  54  in the parting position, i.e., with the second end bearing members  16  and  61  in the parted position, may each be made turnable between the parting position and the second position. 
     Mention is next made of a structure of mounting the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  with reference to  FIGS. 16 to 18 . 
     The turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is formed with a bore  12   c  in which the bearing box  16   a  of the second end bearing member  16  is fitted and secured, thereby connecting and mounting the second end bearing member  16  to the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12 . 
     To one lateral side of the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12 , there is attached and fastened one side portion  13   a  of the hinge  13  having the other side portion  13   b,  the one and other side portions  13   a  and  3   b  being of one piece turnable on the hinge  13 . 
     The other side portion  13   b  of the hinge  13  is supported so as to be movable axially of the plate cylinder  2  and so supported by a hinge guide means  90  with which the second side main frame member  1   b  is provided. 
     The one lateral side of the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is thereby supported from the second side main frame member  1   b  so as to be movable axially of the plate cylinder  2  via the hinge  13 . 
     The other lateral side of the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is supported from the second side main frame member  1   b  so as to be movable by a selected distance axially of the plate cylinder  2  via a guide means  91 . 
     The hinge guide means  90  has a bracket  90   a  fastened to the second side main frame member  1   b  and a guide shaft  90   b  mounted between the second side main frame member  1   b  and the bracket  90   a,  the guide shaft  90   b  extending parallel to the plate cylinder  2 . 
     And, the other side portion  13   b  of the hinge  13  is made slidably movable along the guide shaft  90   b.    
     The guide means  91  has a guide pin  91   a  mounted at a portion on the other lateral side of the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12 . The guide pin  91   a  extending parallel to the center axis of the plate cylinder  2  is adapted so as to fit in and to come out of a support bore portion of the second side main frame member  1   b,  e.g., a bearing  91   b  to support the other lateral side portion of the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  movably until the guide pin  91   a  comes out of the bearing  91   b.    
     Thus, the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is mounted to the second side main frame member  1   b  so as to be movable axially of the plate cylinder  2  towards and away from, and while maintaining its parallel position to, the second side main frame member  1   b.  The turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  translates between an access position where the second end bearing member  16  takes the support position where it is fitted on, and thereby rotatably supports, the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  as shown in  FIG. 16  and a parting position where it takes the parted position where it is extracted from, and thereby releases support of, the second axial end portion of the plate cylinder shaft  20  as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     And, the turning frame member  12  in the access position shown in  FIG. 16  is in contact with the outer surface of the second side main frame member  1   b,  closing the opening  11   b.  To wit, it takes the first position mentioned above. 
     The turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  in the parting position shown in  FIG. 17  is turned on the hinge  13  as shown in  FIG. 18  to open the opening  11 , taking a second position to render the plate cylinder sleeve  21  extractable from the opening  11 . 
     Also, there are provided a positioning means  92  for positioning the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  in the access position (the first position), a locking means  93  for locking the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  to hold it in the access position, and an operating member  94  operated to move the turning frame member for plate cylinder from the access position to the parting position. 
     The positioning means  92  comprises positioning pins and holes  92   a  and  92   b  provided in the right and left hand sides of the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12 . When the turning frame member  12  is arrived at the access position, the positioning holes  92   b  are fitted on the positioning pins  92   a  to achieve positioning. 
     The locking means  93  comprises a locking screw rod  93   a,  a finger knob  93   b  attached to the locking screw rod  93   a  and a locking screw hole  93   c  formed in the second side main frame member  1   b.  When the locking screw rod  93   a  is screwed with the locking screw hole  93   c  by the finger knob  93   b,  the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  is locked at the access position (see  FIG. 16 ). 
     The locking means  93  releases the locking state by disengaging the locking screw rod  93   a  from the locking screw hole  93   c  (see  FIG. 17 ). 
     The locking means  93  is provided in each of the right and left hand side of the turning frame member  12  across the plate cylinder  2 . 
     The operating member  94  includes a handle  94   a.  By putting a hand on the handle  94   a,  the turning frame member  12  is moved from the access position to the parting position. 
     Such operating members  94  are provided in the right and left hand side of the turning frame member for plate cylinder  12  across the plate cylinder  2  to allow it to be moved by right and left hands. 
     Mention is next made of a structure of mounting the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  with reference to  FIGS. 19 to 21 . 
     The bearing box  61   a  of the second end bearing member  61  is fitted in a bore  54   c  in the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  to fix the second end bearing member  61  to the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54 . 
     One side portion  55   a  of the hinge  55  is fastened and attached to one lateral side of the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  and the other side portion  55   b  of the hinge  55  is attached to the second side auxiliary frame member  51  with a hinge guide means  90  so as to be movable axially of the blanket cylinder  3 , whereas the other lateral side of the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  is supported from the second side auxiliary frame member  51  with a guide means  91  so as to be movable axially of the blanket cylinder  3  by a selected distance. 
     Thus, the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  is mounted to the second side auxiliary frame member  51  so as to be movable axially of the blanket cylinder  3  towards and away from, and while maintaining its parallel position to, the second side auxiliary frame member  1   b.  The turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  translates between an access position where the second end bearing member  61  takes the support position where it is fitted on, and thereby rotatably supports, the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft  30  as shown in  FIG. 19  and a parting position where it takes the parted position where it is extracted from, and thereby releases support of, the second axial end portion of the blanket cylinder shaft  20  as shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     And, the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  in the access position shown in  FIG. 19  is in contact with the outer surface of the second side auxiliary frame member  51 , closing the opening  51   a.  To wit, it takes the first position mentioned above. 
     The turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  in the parting position shown in  FIG. 20  is turned on the hinge  55  as shown in  FIG. 21  to open the opening  51   a,  taking a second position to render the blanket cylinder sleeve  31  extractable through the openings  11  and  51   a.    
     The hinge guide means  90  and the guide means  91  may be those as shown in and described in connection with  FIG. 16 . 
     Also, the turning frame member for blanket cylinder  54  is provided with a positioning means  92 , a locking means  93  and an operating means  94 . While these means may essentially be those as shown in and described in connection with  FIG. 16 , the positioning means  92  provided in the right hand side may comprise a guide piece  92   c  fastened and attached to the second side auxiliary frame member  51  and a guide roller  92   d  mounted rotatably at right hand side end of the turning frame member  54 . Here, rotational movement of the guide roller  92   d  along the guide piece  92   c  is designed to achieve positioning. 
     The construction in which to move the blanket cylinder  3  towards and away from the plate cylinder  2  is preferably but not be limited to one as described above. For example, the first and second end bearing members  60  and  61  may be movably provided in the first side main frame  1   a  and the blanket cylinder housing  57 , respectively, so that the first and second end bearing members  60  and  61  may be moved by move mechanisms as for the first and second side auxiliary frame members  50  and  51 , respectively. 
     The construction in which to move the impression cylinder  4  towards and away from the blanket cylinder  3  should preferably be but not be limited to one as described above. For example, it may be one in which to move for the blanket cylinder  3  as mentioned above.