Improvements in Wiping and Polishing Mechanism for Printing Presses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wiping and Polishing Mechanism for Printing
Presses.
I, EUGENE SEMPLE BRADFORD, a Citizen of the United States, residing on 77th
Street, near 5th Avenue, in the City of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and
State of New York, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
My invention has relation to printing presses, and particularly to those of the
rotary plate type, and it comprises in such connection improvements in plate
wiping and polishing devices or mechanisms for printing presses
My invention stated in general terms, consists of the improvements in printing
presses when constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter
described and claimed.
The nature and characteristic features of my present invention will be more
fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a printing press embodying main features of
my invention with the plate cylinder of the same occupying a position to the
right of the printing press..
Fig. 2, is a top or plan view of Fig. 1, certain portions being broken away in
order to more fully illustrate the polishing and wiping devices of the printing
press with the plate cylinder shown in contact with the polishing device of my
present invention.
Fig. 3, is a detail view of the polishing device enlarged, illustrating the same
in top or plan view.
Fig. 4, is a side elevation, partly sectioned, of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5, is a sectional view on the line a-, of Fig. 3.
Fig. 6, is a sectional view on the line y-y reduced of Fig. 4, looking toward
the polisher head.
Fig. 7, is a sectional view on the line -, of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8, is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of mechanism for
controlling the operation of the polishing device.
Fig. 9, is a view partly in section and partly in elevation at right angles to
Fig. 8.
Fig. 10, represents details thereof; and
Figs. 11 and 12, are respectively views in longitudinal section and front
elevation of a spool adapted to be used in conjunction with the wiping and
polishing devices.
Referring to the drawings, the plate printing press or machine of my said
invention comprises an impression cylinder A, and a plate cylinder B, both
suitably journaled in bearings in the frame-work C, of the machine. The bear-
ings w, of the impression cylinder, are preferably supported in vertical guides w¹,
and a spring 2, and a set-screw w³, are provided, whereby the position and
pressure of the impression cylinder A, is readily and efficiently adjusted.

page_text: D), represents a drag for wiping a printing plate 134, carried by the printing
cylinder B, of the printing press after it has been inked by the inking-rollers
and b, of an inking apparatus fully described and shown in the British Letters
Patent No. 10811 dated May 23rd 1899. This device consists of a frame d, in
which are mounted the shafts d, the preferably square portion of which carries
two spools, upon which an apron e is wound, as illustrated in Fig. 1, of the
drawings. The apron passes from one of the spools &², up over a roller c', then
down beneath a roller e³, supported on the frame d, then up over a roller e³, and
then down to the other spool d. The rollers el and e³, are in close proximity
to the passing printing plate B', carried around by the printing cylinder B, as
illustrated in Fig. 1, so that the apron e, wipes the face of the plate 131; these
rollers and e³, are supported on stems e, which pass loosely through the
sleeves e, secured to the frame d. Springs e, are placed between the sleeves e³,
and the heads of the rods e, so as to keep the rollers e¹ and e³, in their outer
position with a spring pressure, and the lower ends of the rods e, are provided
with thumb-nuts e, by which the position of the rollers e and c³, may be
adjusted. On the shaft, of one of the spools 2, is mounted a ratchet wheel es,
engaged by a pawl e", on a lever e.. This lever e¹, is connected by a rod f, to
a crank-arm f, on the main shaft L, of the press or machine. As the wheel
revolves an oscillating movement is imparted to the lever e, causing the spool 2,
to be intermittently turned by means of the ratchet-wheel e, and thus the apron
to be moved at intervals from one of the spools 2, onto the other, and presenting
thereby clean surfaces of the apron to the engraved plate B, each time the
plate comes round. When the apron e, has passed from one roller onto the other,
it may be reversed and the other side of it used by changing the spool. The
spools, are held under tension in the frame d, by means of pins which are
held inwardly by means of springs d, pressing against their outer ends.
H, represents a polisher for wiping the plate B, after it has been wiped by the
drag D. But one of these polishers has been shown, yet it is to be understood
that any desired number may be employed. The polisher shown is driven
from the counter-shaft g, which is provided with a gear-wheel g, meshing with
a pinion g, on the shaft g³, to which the driving pulley g, is secured, as illustrated
in Figs. 1 and 2. The gear-wheel g', also meshes with a gear-wheel, that
engages a pinion g, on the shaft g. On this shaft is a bevel-wheel 8, that engages
with a bevel-wheel h. The bevel-wheel h, of the polisher, is formed upon or
secured to a sleeve ¹, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and fits over and is splined to a
shaft 2, and turns with it. The shaft ², being capable, however, of longitudinal
movement within the sleeve h. To the inner end of the shaft 2, is secured the
polisher head 3, and surrounding the shaft 2, is a spring h, which serves to force
the polisher-head always towards the plate cylinder B. The sleeve h', is held by
and fits in a bracket or housing, supported on a block 6, as illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. This block is held between standards i, as illustrated in Fig. 2,
by means of bolts h, fitting the slots, in the upper ends of the standards. The
housing, can be moved slightly endwise on the block h, and the block can be
moved in a vertical direction slightly by the bolts h, fitting in the slots i¹, of the
standards, whereby the face of the polisher can be readily adjusted with relation
to the surface it has to operate upon. 8, represents a lever pivoted at h³, to the
housing, and the outer end of which is forked to span the shaft ², and engage
ball bearing collars 10, fixed and movably connected with the shaft 2. The
inner end of the lever is forked to receive a threaded rod h", tapped into the
housing, and which rod is provided with a thumb-nut 2. By tightening the
thumb-nut 13, the lever 18, draws the shaft 2, and consequently the polisher
head, away from the plate cylinder B. By loosening the nut 4, the shaft and
the polisher-head will be forced towards the plate cylinder B, by means of the
spring. The polisher head is revolved by means of the gearing described, the
rotation of the bevel-wheel h, by the gear connections, causing the polisher head
to rotate in a similar manner. The polisher head ³, carries an apron 4, of

page_text: suitable cloth wound on spools 15 and h¹, and are of the same character as those
for the wiper 1), illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. The apron h14, passes over the
front or face of the head h³, as illustrated in Fig. 4.
applied to the spool of ribbon or apron, such as a screw pin ", passing through
A tension device may be
5 the bearing of the shaft h18, and bearing against said shaft and a spring h¹, to
resist the turning of said screw-pin
For shifting or moving the ribbon or apron 44, in an intermittent manner, is
provided preferably a set of friction wheels k, and, the friction wheel k,
being splined in a sleeve ", which is journaled on a fixed hub or hollow stud +,
projecting from the housing h³, and the friction wheel ² being mounted on the
shaft, of the polisher head 3. The shaft, is provided with a worm 6, pre-
ferably encased and indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4, which engages
with a worm-wheel, on the shaft 20, of the apron mechanism, as shown in
section in Fig. 5. The intermediate friction wheel, is journaled on a support
projecting from the polisher head 3. Semi-circular brake-shoes and 10, pivoted
at and 2, to the housing or frame ³, embrace the sleeve and are normally
held apart by a spring 4, so as to release the sleeve and allow it to turn freely
on the hub, of the housing h³.
inclined surface, on a collar 2, fixed to one of the brake-shoes by a set screw 74
A. shaft 7, carries a pin 7, engaging with an
and the other end of the shaft /, carries nuts, engaging with the other brake
shoe, so that as the shaft 7, is turned the pin 7, riding upon an incline 3, forces
the brake shoes together and thus checks the rotation of the sleeve, and the
friction wheel k, splined thereon, as will be readily understood from Fig. 5, of
the drawings. As the shaft h2, is turned the polisher-head will be rapidly revolved,
polishing the plate B, of the plate cylinder B, and the friction wheels and 2,
will revolve around the center of the friction wheel k, at the same time rotating
the same, and the friction wheels and 2, will not revolve on their axis until
the movement of the friction wheel k, is checked by the brake-shoes and 10,
and when this takes place, the friction wheels and 2, will be turned on their
respective axes and the apron shifted along the face of the polisher-head by the
action of the worm and worm-wheel. The brake-shoes and 10, are applied by
the rocking of the shaft 1. This is done by means of a crank, on the shaft 7,
which is pivotally connected to two rods m and m³, sliding in fixed guides m²,
and carrying pins or rollers m³, engaging with projections or tappets on the cam-
drum. The periphery of the cam-drum n, has a groove ¹, in which is fixed a
block or tappet ³, that comes against the roller m³, on the rod m, and thereby
rocks the shaft, in one direction and by means of the pin , working on the
incline surface, closes the brake-shoes upon the hub k³, of the friction-wheel k,
and holds the pinion from turning, when, as already described the apron will be
shifted along the face of the polisher-head.
On the inner face of the cam-drum n, is a projection or tappet n³, which engages
with the pin or roller m³, of the rod m¹, and after the parts have been shifted as
above, thereby throws the rod m³, and with it the crank 1, and shaft 7 in the
opposite direction to that in which they were moved by the tappet n², thus
eleasing the pin 1, from the incline, and allowing the spring 15, to separate
he brake-shoes from the hub 3, whereupon the friction-wheel k, rotates freely
s before and the shifting of the apron ceases.
The tappet block 2, is held in the groove ¹, of the cam drum, by a flange
n its inner end, fitting into enlargements ', in the groove n', and is held to its
djustment by a pawl, pivoted thereto and which engages notches », in one
all of the groove, the pawl being pressed into engagement with the notches by
eans of a spring #, and being drawn out of engagement with the notches, when
is desired to adjust the blocks by means of the pin 8, projecting from the
awl, as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, of the drawings.
In order to guide the apron h, straight while it is being drawn over the face
f the polisher-head 3, and keep it from crowding to one side or the other, by
ason of inequalities or deviation from the proper direction of the edges or ends

page_text: of the polisher head, there is provided an adjustable edge-piece at one or both
ends of the polisher-head, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, wherein o, represents such
edge-pieces secured to the polisher head ³, by means of bolts o¹, passing through
the slots 3, in such edge-pieces. By loosening the bolts the edge-pieces can be
adjusted to exact perpendicularity to the line of travel of the apron and by then
tightening up the bolts the apron will be guided accurately, with no tendency
to crowd to one side or the other.
The object of the spline connection between the friction wheel k, and its hub A³,
is to permit the polisher head 3, with the friction wheels k, and 12, to be
moved longitudinally under the influence of the spring 4, and the adjusting
device without interfering with the friction-wheel connections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
_
1. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable cylinder adapted to
receive and support a removable printing plate, a rotary polisher provided with
a head having an apron, said polisher being pivotally supported at one end only
and the other end free so that said head with its apron is adapted to occupy
different angles of inclination with respect to the position of the printing plate
of said cylinder in action, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable cylinder adapted to
receive and support a removable printing plate, a rotary polisher provided with
a head having an apron, said polisher being pivotally supported at one end
only and the other end free so that any portion of the apron of said head may
be brought into contact with the printing plate of said cylinder in action, and
an edge piece detachably and adjustably connected with either end of said head,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable cylinder adapted to
receive and support a removable printing plate, a horizontally and vertically
adjustable rotary polisher provided with a head carrying an apron, said polisher
being supported at one end only and a slotted edge piece adjustably connected
with either end of said head so as to prevent crowding of the apron of said head
in the direction of rotation of the same, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable cylinder adapted to
receive and support a removable printing plate, a rotary polisher provided with a
head carrying an apron, said polisher being pivotally supported at one end only
and the other end free to swing so as to bring any portion of said head with its
apron into contact with the printing plate of said cylinder, and adjustable guides
consisting of slotted end pieces with bolts extending through the slots of said
pieces into the ends of said head, substantially as and for the purposes described.
5. In a machine of the character described, a polishing apron, a polisher-head
provided with apron-carrying devices, means for rotating the polisher-head, a
housing in which the polisher-head is mounted, friction brake devices mounted
on said housing and friction wheels engaging with one another and also engaging
with the brake and apron carrying devices, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
6. In a machine of the character described, a frame, a pair of spools mounted
in said frame, an apron adapted to be wound from one spool onto the other, a
pair of spring pressed rollers over which said apron passes, an intermediate roller
under which the apron passes, and means for moving one of the first mentioned
spools to shift said apron, substantially as and for the purposes described.
7. In a machine of the character described, a printing plate cylinder, a pair of
spools, an apron adapted to be wound from one spool onto the other, rods upon
which said rollers are mounted, a set-screw engaging said rods and a spring
engaging said set-screws to prevent turning thereof and said set-screw adapted to

page_text: maintain said apron taut and said rollers in such condition as to yield when
said apron is shifted, substantially as and for the purposes described.
8. In a machine of the character described, a frame, a pair of spools supported
in said frame, an apron adapted to be wound from one spool onto the other a
pair of rollers over which said apron passes, rods upon which said rollers are
mounted, sleeves through which said rods pass, nuts on the lower ends of said
rods, and springs between said sleeves, and rollers over which said apron passes,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
9. In a machine of the character described, a polisher carrying an apron, means
for actuating said polisher, and means for intermittently moving said apron,
consisting of friction-wheels connected with the apron carrying devices, a pair
of brake-shoes applied to one of said friction-wheels, one of said brake-shoes being
provided with an inclined part, and means for applying the shoes consisting of a
rock-shaft provided with a pin adapted to engage with the other brake-shoe, and
means for rocking said shaft, substantially as and for the purposes described.
10. In a machine of the character described, a polisher head, means for turning
said polisher-head, means for intermittently moving an apron, consisting of
friction-wheels connected to said polisher-head and a pair of brake-shoes applied
to the friction-wheels of the head, one of said brake-shoes being provided with an
inclined part, and means for applying the shoe, consisting of a shaft provided
with a pin adapted to engage said inclined part on one of the brake-shoes, and
said shaft also engaging with the other brake-shoe, and means for rocking said
shaft, said means connected with said crank, a grooved-wheel, and an adjustable
block in said wheel, substantially as and for the purposes described.
11. In a machine of the character described, a polisher having a gear supporting
housing, an operating shaft passing through said housing, a lever pivoted to said
housing and engaging with said shaft, and a set-screw for adjusting said lever,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
12. In a machine of the character described, a polisher having a housing, a
shaft passing through said housing, a lever pivoted to said housing and engaging
with said shaft, a threaded rod tapped in said housing, and a thumb-nut on said
rod for adjusting said lever, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 23rd day of March A¨1)
1890
EUGENE SEMPLE BRADFORD,
Per J. G. Lorrain, M.I.Mech. E., M.I.E.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent.