Type Slugs Clamp In A Printing Plate Cylinder

Abstract

In a printing cylinder having a slot adapted to receive type slugs, first clamp means are fixedly mounted on one side of said cylinder to grip one end of the slugs. Second clamp means are rotatably mounted on the other side of said cylinder with a screw type connection and includes a gripping cam jaw. The cam jaw is formed to bear downwardly on the other end of said slugs as said jaw is rotated, and inwardly as the second clamp means is rotatably tightened.

Description

This invention relates to means for clamping type slugs in a printing plate cylinder.

More particularly, the invention relates to a clamping jaw which is mounted on a ring mounted on a nut which is rotatably mounted on the printing cylinder. When the jaw is rotated into clamping position it cams the printing slugs down to their proper position and as the nut is tightened, the clamp jaw moves inwardly and clamps the printing slugs.

Accordingly, the principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved printing plate cylinder means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for clamping type slugs in a printing plate cylinder.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for clamping type slugs in a printing plate cylinder having a clamping jaw mounted on a hand controlled ring mounted on a nut which is rotatably mounted on the printing plate cylinder so that the clamp can be tightened by rotating the nut by hand, without the use of any tools.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the clamping jaw along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the Figures, the invention generally comprises a printing cylinder 1, which is adapted to be clamped to the shaft 3 of the printing press by means of bolts 2 and loose clamp segment 1' in conventional manner. The cylinder has a plurality of slots 4, 5, 6, etc., which are adapted to receive type slugs 7.

At one end of the printing cylinder is a fixed position clamp jaw 8, which is bolted to the body of the cylinder 1. At the other end of the printing cylinder is a rotatable clamp jaw 10, which is mounted on a mounting ring 11, which in turn is mounted on a nut 12 and clamped thereto by set screws 11'. The nut 12 is threadedly mounted on the threaded projection 1a of the printing cylinder.

The set screw 11' arrangement is for adjustment so that when assembly 10, 11, is against stop pin 13, the nut 12 is rotated to clamp type slugs securely and then the set screws are locked. This minimizes vibratory wear on jaws and can be set for variations in linotype mold lengths.

In order to insert the type slugs 7, in the printing cylinder, the type slugs are axially slid into the slots 4, 5, 6, etc., and wedged under the fixed position clamp 8. The insertion is done with the movable jaw 10 rotated away from the slots 4, 5, 6, etc. The jaw 10 and ring 11 are then rotated so as to cause the movable jaw to press the type slugs 7, downwardly. The jaw is shaped at 10' to cam the slugs down. The nut 12 is then tightened to clamp the slugs. Due to the mechanical advantage incorporated in the nut 12, slight hand pressure is sufficient to cause the jaw 10 to firmly clamp the type slugs. The size of the nut 12 and ring 11 are made to hold conveniently in the hand of the operator and the outside surface is preferably knurled to provide a good grip. The thread size on the nut is preferably coarse and chosen so that only a small turn angle is needed to provide full clamping. A stop pin 13 is provided in the plate cylinder to stop the clamp 10 in the proper position.

Instead of the several slots to receive the type slugs, a large single slot may be used. If the type slugs have rectangular bodies, they must then be separated by wedges. However, the type slugs may be made with tapering bodies. This is preferable since it eliminates the necessity for spacing wedges and permits closer line spacing.

Claims

I claim:

1. Means for clamping type slugs in a small arc of a printing cylinder having a projecting portion and having at least one slot in said cylinder parallel to the axis of said cylinder and adapted to receive type slugs inserted along said axis from the end of said cylinder,

first fixed position clamp means mounted on one side of said cylinder to clamp said slugs at one end, a ring encircling said projecting portion of said cylinder for rotation thereon,

second clamp jaw means rotatably mounted on said ring on the other side of said cylinder, said clamp jaw being adapted to be rotated clear of the end of said slot,

said clamp jaw means being cantilevered over said slugs and rotatable to leave said slots open at their end and the leading edge of said cantilvered portion being formed to cam said slugs downwardly as said jaw means is rotated over said inserted slugs, wherein said rotatably mounted clamp jaw means is tightened by means comprising,

a nut threadably mounted on a projecting portion of said plate cylinder,

said ring being rotatably mounted on said nut,

said nut having a shoulder adapted to retain said ring,

said clamp jaw being mounted on said ring,

said nut having a diameter chosen so as to be gripped by the hand of the operator, said nut having coarse threads so it can be tightened with a small turn angle with slight hand pressure.