U.S. patent number 3,858,508 [Application Number 05/318,455] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-07 for offset printing machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ricoh Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Tamaki Kaneko, Katsumi Mizuno.
United States Patent |
3,858,508 |
Kaneko , et al. |
* January 7, 1975 |
OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE
Abstract
An offset printing machine which is provided with a printing
operation step switching member having an automatic-non-automatic
switching actuating member and operative to carry out a master
plate feed step in which a master plate is supplied to a master
cylinder, an etching solution application step in which an
ink-repellent etching solution is applied to the master plate
mounted on the master cylinder and a master plate discharge step in
which the master plate is removed and discharged from the master
cylinder upon completion of duplication of the master plate.
Inventors: |
Kaneko; Tamaki (Tokyo,
JA), Mizuno; Katsumi (Tokyo, JA) |
Assignee: |
Ricoh Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,
JA)
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[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to November 14, 1989 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
27301116 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/318,455 |
Filed: |
December 26, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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71171 |
Sep 10, 1970 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 15, 1969 [JA] |
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44-73074 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
101/132; 101/148;
101/142 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41F
7/26 (20130101); B41L 29/16 (20130101); B41L
19/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41L
19/00 (20060101); B41L 29/16 (20060101); B41L
29/00 (20060101); B41F 7/00 (20060101); B41F
7/26 (20060101); B41f 007/06 (); B41f 007/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;101/132,132.5,140,141,142,144,145,148 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bagwill; Robert E.
Assistant Examiner: Suter; R. E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cooper, Dunham, Clark, Griffin
& Moran
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 71,171, filed Sept.
10, 1970 .
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An offset printing machine having a master cylinder (1) with
gripping means (98) for releasably holding a master plate (90)
thereon and comprising an actuation member (4) movable from a
neutral position to a first position (4A) to activate a master
plate feed unit (39) to feed said master plate (90) to the master
cylinder (1), said master plate feed unit (39) comprising:
a master plate feed tray (89) for supporting a stack of master
plates (90);
master plate feed means (87) operable, when actuated, to feed said
master plate (90) from the stack of master plates (90) on the
master plate feed tray (89) toward the master cylinder (1);
master plate feed command means (58) having a neutral position in
which it is out of driving connection with the master plate feed
means (87) and a released position in which it is drivingly
connected with the master plate feed means (87) to actuate the
master plate feed means (87) only for a defined segment of the
rotation of the master cylinder (1) to thereby cause the feeding of
said master plate toward the master cylinder;
master plate feed cam means (60, 63, 79) having a neutral position
in which it is out of driving connection with the gripping means
(98) and a released position in which it is drivingly connected
with the gripping means (98) of the master cylinder (1) for
temporarily opening the gripping means (98) only at a defined
rotational position of the master cylinder (1) with respect to the
feed tray (89) to cause the gripping means to receive the leading
edge of said master plate fed thereto, and for thereafter closing
the gripping means to hold said master plate;
means (28, 47, 53) for drivingly connecting the actuation member
(4) with the master plate feed command means (58) and with the
master plate feed cam means (60, 63, 79) for moving the two last
mentioned means from their neutral to their released positions when
the actuation member (4) is moved from its neutral position (4) to
its first position (4A) to thereby feed said master plate (90) from
said stack of master plates (90) on the master plate feed tray (89)
to the master cylinder (1); and
means (18) for selectively disabling the driving connection between
the actuation member (4) and the master plate command means (58)
and the master plate feed cam means (60, 63, 79) to thereby
selectively prevent the feeding of said master plate (90) from the
master plate feed tray (89) to the master cylinder (1) when the
actuation member (4) is moved from its neutral position to its
first position (4A), said disabling means (18) comprising a
switching actuation member (18) and means for mounting the
switching actuation member (18) on the actuation member (4) for
movement between a neutral position with respect to the switching
member (4) in which it does not interfere with the driving
connection of the switching member (4) with the master said command
means (58) and the master plate feed cam means (60, 63, 79) to
thereby allow the switching member (4) to cause the feeding of said
mater plate (90) toward the master cylinder (1) when the switching
member (4) is moved from its first to its second position, and a
released position with respect to the switching member (4) in which
the switching actuation member (18) disables the driving connection
between the actuation member (4) and the master plate feed command
means (58) and the master plate feed cam means (60, 63, 79) to
thereby prevent the feeding of said master plate (90) from the
master plate feed tray (89) in response to moving the switching
member (4) to its first position, and to thereby allow for manual
feeding of said master plate (90).
2. An offset printing machine as in claim 1 wherein the master
plate feed command means (58) include a segmental gear (80)
moveable with the master plate feed command means (58) between a
neutral position and a released position, and wherein the master
plate feed means (87) include a rotatable gear train (86) drivingly
connected with a master plate feed means (87) to cause said master
plate feed means to feed a master plate (90) from the master plate
feed tray (89) towards the master cylinder (1) when said gear train
(86) is rotating, and including a pinion (81) drivingly connected
with the segmental gear (80) to be rotated thereby as the segmental
gear moves between its neutral and its released position and a gear
set (83, 84, 85) driven by the pinion (81) to drive the gear train
(86) when the pinion (81) is rotated by the segmental gear (80), to
thereby cause the master plate feed means (87) to feed a master
plate (90) from the master plate feed tray (89) toward the master
cylinder (1).
3. An offset printing machine as in claim 1 wherein the master
plate feed cam means (60, 63, 79) include a master plate feed cam
(63) having a cam surface (63a), and wherein the gripping means
(98) include a cam follower roller (97) which engages said cam
surface (63a).
4. An offset printing machine as in claim 1 including a master
plate discharge unit (39), wherein said actuation member (4) is
movable to a section position (4B) to activate said master plate
discharge unit (39) to discharge the master plate (90) held on the
master cylinder (1) by the gripping means (98), said master plate
discharging unit (39), comprising:
master plate discharge cam means (70) having a neutral position in
which it is out of driving connecting with the gripping means (98)
and a released position in which it is drivingly connected with the
gripping means (98) to temporarily open the gripping means (98)
only at a defined rotational position of the master cylinder (1)
with respect to the discharge unit (39);
stripping means (114) having a neutral position in which it does
not engage the master plate (90) held on the master cylinder (1)
and a released position for stripping the master plate (90) held on
the master cylinder (1); and
means (36, 66, 68, 107) drivingly connecting the actuation member
(4) with the master plate discharge cam means (70) and with the
stripping means (114) for moving the two last mentioned means from
their neutral positions to their released positions when the
actuation member (4) is moved to its second position (4B).
5. An offset pringing machine as in claim 4 wherein the means (36,
66, 68, 107) drivingly connecting the actuation member (4) with the
master plate discharge cam means (70) and with the stripping means
(114) comprise a lever (66, 68) having: a first arm drivingly
connected to the actuation member (4) and moveable thereby between
a neutral position and a released position, a second arm (68)
drivingly engaging the master plate discharge cam means (70) and
moveable together with the first arm (66) between a neutral
position and a released position to move thereby the master plate
discharge cam means (70) between its neutral and its released
position, and a third arm (107) drivingly engaging the stripping
means (114) and moveable, together with the first and second arm,
between a neutral and a released position to move the stripping
means (114) from their neutral to their released position
respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to offset printing machines. More
particularly, the invention is concerned with an offset printing
machine which is provided with a printing operation step switching
member adapted for pivotal movement so that a series of printing
steps including a master plate feed step in which a master plate is
automatically fed to a master cylinder, an etching solution
application step In which an etching solution is automatically
applied to the master plate mounted on the master cylinder, an
inking step in which ink is applied to the master plate on the
master cylinder, a duplicating step in which one copy sheet after
another is fed between blanket and impression cylinders for
duplicating the master plate on the master cylinder, and a master
plate discharge step in which the master plate on the master
cylinder is removed and discharged from the master cylinder upon
completion of duplication thereof can be carried out smoothly in
succession by moving the step switching member in pivotal motion
step by step to thereby switch between the aforementioned
stops.
This invention has as its object the provision of an offset
printing machine provided with a printing operation step switching
member characterized by having an automatic-non-automatic switching
actuating member which is operative to switch the master plate feed
step for feeding a master plate to the master cylinder and the
master plate discharge step for removing and discharging the master
plate from the master cylinder upon completion of duplication
thereof between automatic operation and non-automatic operation. If
the master plate is made of aluminum and not suited for automatic
master plate feeding, then the master plate feed step can be
operated manually by actuating the printing operation step
switching member while maintaining the automatic-non-automatic
switching actuating member inoperative. Thus, this invention
permits to switch the printing machine from an automatic master
plate feed operation and discharge operation to a non-automatic
master plate feed and discharge operation or vice versa when
desired by means of a single printing operation step switching
member.
Additional objects as well as features and advantages of the
invention will become evident from the description set forth
hereinafter when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a rotary offset printing machine
comprising one embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II--II of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing only the
automatic-non-automatic switching actuating member as it is
disposed in it lower position in a printing step switching
member;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 2;
FIGS. 5 to 7 are sectional views along the line V--V of FIG. 2,
FIG. 5 showing the printing step switching member in its neutral
position, FIG. 6 showing the printing step switching member in its
master plate feed position and FIG. 7 showing the printing step
switching member in its master plate discharge position;
FIG. 8 is a front view of one embodiment of the automatic master
plate discharge command cam;
FIG. 9 is a front view of one embodiment of the automatic master
plate feed command cam;
FIG. 10 is a side view of an automatic master plate feed and
discharge unit comprising an automatic master plate feed mechanism
and automatic master plate discharge mechanism;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 10 showing the parts in a
state in which a command to feed a master plate has been
issued;
FIG. 12 shows the parts in a state in which master plate feed
mechanism has been rendered operative after a command to feed a
master plate has been issued;
FIG. 13 is a side view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the interior
of the master plate feed and discharge from which a side plate has
been removed;
FIG. 14 is a side view of a master plate grip pawl opening and
closing mechanism provided in a master cylinder;
FIG. 15 is a side view of the master cylinder and master plate
delivery rollers showing the leading end of a master plate being
gripped by the master cylinder;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 10 showing the parts in a
state after a command to discharge the master plate has been
issued;
FIG. 17 is a side view of the master plate discharge mechanism
showing the interior of a master plate discharge device by
eliminating the side plate of FIG. 10;
FIG. 18 is a side view of an etching command mechanism included in
the master plate feed and discharge unit;
FIG. 19 is a side view of an etching solution application
device;
FIG. 20 is a sectional view of an immersion roller operating
mechanism for the etching solution application device;
FIG. 21 is a side view of an operation control device for the
etching solution application device;
FIG. 22 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 21 showing the etching
solution application device in an operative position as a result of
actuation of the operation control device;
FIG. 23 is a side view of an inking device for applying ink to the
master plate on the master cylinder;
FIG. 24 is a side view of a cleaning device for cleaning the
blanket cylinder; and
FIG. 25 is a side view of the cleaning device showing the device in
an operative position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
1. switching Device, in Association with Printing Operation Step
Switching Member, for Selecting Between Automatic and Non-Automatic
Operation
In FIG. 1, a master cylinder 1, blanket cylinder 2 and impression
cylinder 3 are supported by side plates 5 for rotation in
respective directions in conjunction with one another. As shown in
FIG. 2, a printing operation step switching member 4 is tubular in
shape and has a base secured to a bevelled surface 6a formed at the
forward end of a tubular shaft 6 which is rotatably mounted on a
minor diameter portion 7a of a core shaft 7. Secured to the base of
the tubular shaft 6 is a click plate 8 having a wave-shaped portion
8a (See FIG. 1) in its peripheral edge. A pin 12 attached to a
lever 11 urged by a spring 9 to move in pivotal motion in an
anticlockwise direction about a shaft 10 presses against the
wave-shaped portion 8a of the click plate 8 which cooperates with
the pin to click stop the step switching member 4 in positions A,
B, C and D when it is moved from its neutral position N in FIG. 1
to these positions.
Straddling the upper surface of the tubular shaft 6 is a support
member 13 (See FIG. 4) which has a U-shaped support 14 secured to
its upper surface. An automatic-non-automatic switching member 15
is pivotally supported by a shaft 16 connected to the U-shaped
support 14. A forked portion 15a is formed in one arm of the
automatic-non-automatic switching member 15 and maintained in
engagement with the base of the step switching member 4. A coil
spring 17 is mounted over the base portion of the step switching
member 4 for maintaining the forked portion 15a of the
automatic-non-automatic switching member 15 in an upper position.
Thus the automatic-non-automatic switching member 15 is urged to
move in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft 16
by the spring 17 as shown in FIG. 2.
A switching actuating member 18 for actuating the member 15 is
fitted in the step switching member 4 in such a manner that a head
18a of the member 18 projects upwardly above the upper end of the
member 4. Secured to the lower end of the actuating member 18 is a
pin 19 loosely received in a slot 4a formed in the base portion of
the step switching member 4. The forked portion 15a of switching
member 15 presses at its upper surface against the pin 19 as the
member 15 is urged by the biasing force of the spring 17 to move in
pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft 16.
Accordingly, the pin 19 is maintained in engagement with the upper
edge of the slot 4a, so that the head 18a of the member 18 projects
slightly upwardly above the upper end of the member 4.
As shown in FIG. 2, a short cylinder 20 is loosely fitted over the
major diameter portion of the core shaft 7. An automatic master
plate discharge command cam 21 (See FIG. 8) and automatic master
plate feed command cam 22 (See FIG. 9) are rotatably mounted on the
short cylinder 20. The other arm 15b of the member 15 extends
through a radial slot 8a (See FIG. 4) formed in the click plate 8
and has a forward end which is disposed in cam portions 21a and 22a
of the cams 21 and 22 respectively. When the member 18 is in its
upper position in the member 4 with its head 18a projecting
upwardly above the upper end of the member 4 as shown in FIG. 2,
the forward end of the other arm of the member 15 is maintained in
engagement (See FIG. 5) with arcuate edges 21a1 and 22a1 (See FIGS.
8 and 9) of the cams 21 and 22 respectively. The cams 21 and 22
have arms 21b and 22b respectively. The cam 21 is urged by a spring
23 mounted on the arm 21b to rotate in a clockwise direction, and
the cam 22 is urged by a spring (not shown) mounted on the arm 22b
to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. However, the cams 21 and
22 are maintained in their neutral positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 5
respectively by keeping the arms 21b and 22b in abutting engagement
with a stopper 24 attached to one of the side plates 5.
If the switching member 18 is moved to its lower position from its
upper position in FIG. 2, then the pin 19 moves downwardly in the
slot 4a to move the member 15 in an anticlockwise direction about
the shaft 16 as shown in FIG. 3 against the biasing force of the
spring 17. Accordingly, the forward end of the other arm 15b of the
member 15 moves from its dash-and-dot line position 15bA to its
solid line position shown in FIG. 3 where it is brought into
contact with mountain-shaped edges 21a2 and 22a2 (See FIGS. 8 and
9) of the cam portions 21a and 22a of the cams 21 and 22
respectively.
If the member 4 is moved from its neutral position N to its
dash-and-dot line position A in FIG. 1 while the member 18 is in
its lower position in the member 4, then the member 15 moves in the
same direction and the forward end of its arm 15b comes into
engagement with one end of the mountain-shaped edge 22a2 of the
automatic master plate feed command cam 22, thereby rotating the
cam 22 in the same direction (See FIG. 6). The mountain-shaped edge
21a2 of the cam 21 is slightly displaced from the mountain-shaped
edge 22a2 of the cam 22 so that the former cam may not interfere
with the movement of the latter cam.
Referring to FIG. 5, a follower arm 25 is pivotally mounted on a
shaft 26 secured to a side plate and urged by a spring (not shown)
to move in pivotal motion in an anticlockwise direction about the
shaft 26. Mounted on a shaft secured to the follower arm 25 is a
roller 27 which is maintained in pressing engagement with the crest
of a wave-shaped cam portion 22c formed in the cam 22 (See FIG. 9).
As the cam 22 rotates in conjunction with the movement of the
member 4 to its position A as aforementioned, the roller 27 is
brought into engagement with the depression of the wave-shaped
portion 22c, so that the follower arm 25 moves in pivotal motion in
an anticlockwise direction about the shaft 26 (See FIG. 6).
As shown in FIG. 5, a master plate feed command pin 28 is secured
to the free end of the follower arm 25. The pin 28 which extends
through an opening 5a formed in one of the side plates 5 and is
directed toward the master plate feed mechanism in the interior of
the printing machine moves in the opening 5a from a position shown
in FIG. 5 to a position shown in FIG. 6 as the follower arm 25
moves in pivotal motion as aforesaid. The pin 28 in this position
moves a member connected to a master plate feed device and etching
solution application device subsequently to be described and gives
instructions to start operating.
If the member 4 is moved from he neutral position N to the
dash-and-dot line position A while the member 18 is in its upper
position in the member 4, then the forward end of the arm 15b of
the member merely moves in sliding motion on the arcuate edges 21a1
and 22a1 of the cams 21 and 22 respectively, so that neither cam 21
nor cam 22 rotates. Accordingly, master plate feed and etching
solution application are carried out not automatically but manually
by the respective operators.
If the member 4 is moved from its position A to its position B in
FIG. 1, the forward end of the arm 15b of the member 15 moves in
sliding motion leftwardly from either of its positions shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6. If the member 18 has been pressed down, as shown in
FIG. 3, then the arm 15b is in the position shown in FIG. 6. Since
the cam 21 is locked in position by the stopper 24, the forward end
of the arm 15b of the member 15 moves downwardly along the
mountain-shaped edges 21a2 and 22a2 when the member 4 is further
moved to its position B. Accordingly, the member 18 is restored to
its original position shown in FIG. 2 when the member 4 is moved
from its position A to its position B.
Thus, when the member 4 is moved from its position A to its
position B in FIG. 1, it is not possible to optionally carry out
inking of the master plate either automatically or manually and
inking is carried out automatically at all times when the member is
in its position B. As the member 4 is moved from its position B to
its position C, copy sheet feed is carried out automatically while
inking is also carried out. The commands to carry out inking and
copy sheet feeding are carried out practice by some of the groups
of levers and cams shown in FIG. 1. In the copy sheet feeding step,
copy sheets 30 resting on a copy sheet feed tray 29, shown in FIG.
1, are fed successively to the impression cylinder 3, and printed
copy sheets are discharged onto a printed copy sheet tray 31. The
number of copy sheets to be printed is controlled by a counter
32.
When the copy sheet feed is completed, the member 4 is returned
from its position C to its neutral position N through the positions
A and B in FIG. 1. At this time, the member 4 is being moved while
the member 18 is in its upper position in the member 4, thereby
preventing the next succeeding master plate from being fed to the
master cylinder while the preceding master plate is still on the
master cylinder. While the member 4 moves from its position C to
its position B, the forward end of the arm 15b of the member 15
idly moves on the arcuate edges 21a1 and 22a1 of the cams 21 and 22
respectively as aforementioned without moving the member 18 to its
lower position from its upper position in the member 4.
If the member 4 is moved from its neutral position N to its
position D in FIG. 1 while the member 18 is in its actuated, i.e.,
its lower position in the member 4, then the forward end of the arm
15b of the member 15 moves while it is maintained in engagement
with the right end of the mountain-shaped edge 21a2 of the
automatic master plate discharge command cam 21 in FIG. 5, thereby
rotating the cam 21 in a clockwise direction about the core shaft
7. A follower arm 33 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 34 secured to
one of the side plates 5 and urged by a spring (not shown) to move
in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft 34 in
FIG. 5. Mounted on a shaft secured to the follower arm 33 is a
roller 35 which is maintained in contact with a depression of the
wave-shaped cam portion 21c of the cam 21. As the cam 21 rotates as
aforementioned, the roller is brought into contact with the crest
of the wave-shaped cam portion 21c of the cam 21, so that the
follower arm 33 moves in pivotal motion in an anticlockwise
direction about the shaft 34 (See FIG. 7).
In FIG. 5, a master plate discharge command pin 36 is secured to
the forward end portion of the follower arm 33 and extends through
an opening 5b formed in one of the side plates 5 and is directed
toward the master plate discharge mechanism in the interior of the
printing machine. When the follower arm 33 moves in pivotal motion
in a clockwise direction as the member 4 is moved, the pin moves
from a position shown in FIG. 5 to a position shown in FIG. 7 in
the opening 5b to command a master plate discharge device (FIGS.
16, 17) and cleaning device (FIGS. 24, 25) to start operating.
The cam 22 is constructed such that the mountain-shaped edge 22a2
has a length sufficiently great not to interfere with rotation of
the cam 21 when it is moved by the member 15. The master plate feed
command pin 28 and master plate dishcarge command pin 36 play an
important role in giving instructions to start master plate feed
and master plate discharge. The operation of the pins 28 and 36 is
subsequently to be described.
2. Automatic Master Plate Feeding and Discharging Unit
FIG. 10 shows in a side view a master plate feed and discharge unit
39 which is removably mounted on the printing machine. The unit 39
comprises a pair of side plates 40 disposed in face-to-face
relationship and each formed in the upper portion with a cutout 41
which engages a shaft 42 secured to the opposite side plates 5 of
the printing machine, and in the inner end of the lower portion
with a cutout 43 which engages a shaft 44 secured to the opposite
side plates 5 of the machine. Pivotally mounted on a shaft 45
secured to the side plates 40 is a lever 46 which pivotally
supports a command member 47 through a shaft 48. The lever 46 is
urged by a spring 49 to move in pivotal motion in an anticlockwise
direction about the shaft 45. This pivotal movement of the lever 46
is precluded by a bent portion 46a at the free end of the lever 46
being engaged by a hook 50a of a locking member 50 which is
pivotally mounted on a shaft 51 secured to the side plates 40.
Disposed below the command member 47 are a two-arm member 52 and
another locking member 53 which are pivotally mounted on the shaft
51 secured to the side plates 40 as aforementioned. The locking
member 53 is formed with a hook 53a upwardly and obliquely
leftwardly of the shaft 51 and a bent portion 53b rightwardly of
the shaft 51. The two-arm member 52 has one arm 52a which is
suspended by a spring 54 from a pin 55 secured to the side plates
40 and the other arm 52b which is connected to the bent portion 53b
of the locking member 53 by a spring 56.
Still referring to FIG. 10, a master plate feed lever 58 pivotally
supported by a shaft 57 secured to the lower left portion of the
side plates 40 is urged by the biasing force of torsion spring of
high force (not shown) to move in pivotal motion in an
anticlockwise direction about the shaft 57. Normally, a pin 59
attached to the forward end of the lever 58 is engaged by the hook
53a of the locking member 53 so that the lever 58 may be locked in
place in its position shown in FIG. 10. A follower 60 is disposed
rightwardly of the lever 58 and pivotally supported by a shaft 61
secured to the side plates 40. The follower 60 is urged by a spring
62 to move in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the
shaft 61, but the pivotal movement of the follower in a clockwise
direction by virtue of the spring 62 is precluded by a bent portion
60a of the follower 60 abutting against a projection 58a of the
lever 58.
An elongated master plate feed cam 63 extending between one of the
side plates 40 and the lever 53 is pivotally supported by a shaft
64 secured to the side plates 40. A compression spring 65 is
mounted between the cam 63 and shaft 61, so that the cam 63 is
urged by the biasing force of the spring 65 to move in pivotal
motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft 64. The cam 63
presses at its right side edge against a left end 60b of the
follower 60.
A command lever 66 which is maintained in contact at its forward
end portion with the master plate discharge command pin 36 is
secured to a shaft 67 which pivotally supports another follower 68.
The follower 68 presses against at its upper edge a projection 66a
of the command lever by virtue of the biasing force of a
compression spring 69 mounted between a bent portion 66b of the
command lever 66 and a bent portion 68c of the follower 68.
Disposed between the master plate feed lever 58 and master plate
feed cam 63 is an elongated master plate discharge cam 70 which is
pivotally supported by the shaft 57. Attached to the forward end of
the cam 70 is a pin 71 (See FIG. 16) which normally presses against
a cutout 68a of the follower 68 by virtue of the biasing force of a
spring 73.
If the printing operation step switching member 4 is moved from its
neutral position N to its master plate feed position A, then the
roller 27 is brought into contact with the depression 22c of the
master plate feed cam 22 in FIG. 8, so that the master plate feed
command pin 28 moves from its phantom position 28A to its solid
line position and causes the command lever 47 to move in pivotal
motion in the clockwise direction about the shaft 48. During the
pivotal movement of the lever 47, a pin 74 attached to the right
end of the lever 47 pushes the upper side edge 62a of the two-arm
member 52 (See FIG. 11) and causes the two-arm member 52 to move in
pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft 51 against
the biasing forces of the springs 54 and 56. As a result, the
locking member 53 is charged by the spring 56. However, since the
pin 59 on the lever 58 and the hook 53a of the locking member 53
presses strongly against each other while a roller 75 provided in
the lever 58 is maintained in touch with a small force with a cam
76 secured to the master cylinder 1 as shown in FIG. 12, the
locking member 53 is prevented from moving in pivotal motion about
the shaft 51. If the cam 76 rotates in an anticlockwise direction
and moves from its position in FIG. 10 to its position in FIG. 11
in which the cam 76 slightly moves by its projection 76a the roller
75, the force with which the pin 59 and hook 53a are maintained in
pressing engagement with each other is reduced, thereby permitting
the locking member 53 to move in pivotal motion in a clockwise
direction about the shaft 51 under the influence of the spring 56.
This unlocks the master plate feed lever 58.
Further anticlockwise rotation of the cam 76 brings the roller 75
of the lever 58 into contact with the depression 76b of the cam 76
as shown in FIG. 12. This causes the lever 58 to move in pivotal
motion in the anticlockwise direction about the shaft 57, so that
the projection 58a of the lever 58 is released from engagement with
the bent portion 60a of the follower 60 and the follower 60 is
moved in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft 61
by the biasing force of the spring 62.
During the clockwise movement of the follower 60, it moves at its
left end 60b the master plate feed cam 63 to the left as shown in
FIG. 12 against the biasing force of the spring 65, thereby
bringing a pin 77 attached to the forward end portion of the cam 63
into engagement with an offset portion 79a of a locking arm 79
pivotally supported by a shaft 78 secured to the side plates 40.
Thus, the master plate grip pawls provided on the master cylinder 1
are ready to be opened and closed.
During the pivotal movement of the master plate lever 58 in an
anticlockwise direction, a pinion 81 in meshing engagement with a
segmental gear 80 mounted on the central portion of the lever 58 is
caused to rotate in a clockwise direction about a shaft 82. In FIG.
13, rotation of the shaft 82 which is affixed to the pinion 81 (See
FIG. 12) is transmitted to a master plate feed roller 87 through
gears 83, 84 and 85 and a gear train 86. Clockwise rotation of the
roller 87 about a shaft 88 supplies the uppermost copy sheet of a
stack of master plates 90 resting on a master plate feed table 89
to a pair of delivery rollers 91 and 92. Provided on the shaft 88
for rotating the feed roller 87 is a oneway clutch 93 which
transmits rotation to the roller 87 when the shaft 88 rotates in a
clockwise direction and does not transmit rotation to the roller 87
when the shaft 88 rotates in an anticlockwise direction upon
returning of the segmental gear 80 to its original position in FIG.
12.
In FIG. 12, when the roller 75 of the master plate feed lever 58 is
moved to the right by a protuberance 76c of the cam 76 and
consequently the lever 58 is moved in pivotal motion about the
shaft 57 against the biasing force of the torsion spring of high
force (not shown), the pinion 81 is rotated in a reverse direction
by the segmental gear 80.
Rotation of shaft 82 in an anticlockwise direction in FIG. 13
causes, through the one-way clutch 93, the delivery roller 91 to
rotate in an anticlockwise direction and deliver the master plate
90 to the master cylinder 1. The one-way clutch 93 does not
transmit to the roller 91 the rotation of shaft 82 when the latter
rotates in a clockwise direction. This prevents the roller 87 and
the pair of rollers 91 and 92 from rotating simultaneously.
As shown in FIG. 14, pawl opening and closing means is provided on
one side of the master cylinder 1. If the master cylinder 1 rotates
in an anticlockwise direction, then a roller 97 mounted on a
follower arm 96 pivotally supported by inner end walls 1a of the
master cylinder 1 is pressed by a side edge 63a of the master plate
feed cam 63 which is ready for operation, and the follower arm 96
moves in pivotal motion in an anticlockwise direction about the
shaft 95. As shown in FIG. 15 a shaft 101 to which master plate
grip pawls 98, stoppers 99 and fixture for supporting an aluminum
master plate 100 are secured is rotatably supported by two inner
ends 1a of the master cylinder. The shaft 101 is urged by the
biasing force of a spring 102 to rotate in a clockwise direction.
At the outside of the end walls of the master cylinder, an arm 103
secured to one end of the shaft 101 is formed with a bent portion
103a against which a roller 104 on the free end of the follower arm
96 is caused to press by the biasing force of a spring 105.
As the master cylinder 1 rotates in an anticlockwise direction and
the roller 97 is moved to the left by the side edge 63a of the
master plate feed cam 63, the ollower arm 96 moves in pivotal
motion in an anticlockwise direction about the shaft 95. Rotation
of the follower arm 96 in the anticlockwise direction causes the
arm 103 to move in an anticlockwise direction together with the
shaft 101 against the biasing force of the spring 102, thereby
opening the grips pawls which grip the forward end 90a of the
master plate 90 delivered by the delivery rollers 91 and 92.
Further anticlockwise rotation of the master cylinder 1 causes the
roller 97 to kick a forward end 79b of the locking arm 79 (See FIG.
12). This releases the pin 77 on the master plate feed cam 63 from
engagement with the offset portion 79a of the locking arm 79 and
permits the cam 63 to move in pivotal motion in a clockwise
direction about the shaft 64 by virtue of the biasing force of the
spring 65 to be restored to its original position.
If the printing operation step switching member 4 is moved to its
position B in FIG. 1 after the step of feeding a master plate to
the master cylinder has been performed, the step of inking the
master plate on the master cylinder will be initiated. If the
member 4 is further moved to its position C, the step of feeding
copy sheets between the blanket cylinder 2 and impression cylinder
3 will be initiated and duplication of the master plate will be
begun. If the member 4 is moved to its position D after a
predetermined number of copy sheets have been printed, the roller
35 (See FIG. 7) will be pushed out by the projection 21c of the cam
plate 21, so that the master plate discharge command pin 36 moves a
small distance in pivotal motion in an anticlockwise direction
about the shaft 34.
As the movement of the master plate discharge command pin 36 from
its dash-and-dot line position 36A to its solid line position in
FIG. 16 causes the command lever 66 to move in pivotal motion in a
clockwise direction about the shaft 67, the follower 68 is pulled
by the spring 69 and moves in pivotal motion in the same direction
as the lever 66 in slaved relationship. At this time, the pin 71
attached to the free end of the master plate discharge cam 70 is
released from engagement with the cutout 68a of the follower 68 and
brought into engagement with an offset portion 68b thereof. That
is, the master plate discharge cam 70 rotates in an anticlockwise
direction against the biasing force of the spring 73 into a
position shown in FIG. 16.
As the master cylinder 1 has rotated in an anticlockwise direction
and the roller 97 on the follower arm 96 is moved to rotate in an
anticlockwise direction about the shaft 95 by the master plate
discharge cam 70 which is standing by, the grip pawls 98 (See FIG.
15) are opened in the same manner as in the master plate feed step
to release the leading end of the master plate 0 on the master
cylinder 1.
During the pivotal movement of the command lever 66 in a clockwise
direction, an actuating arm 107 secured to the shaft 67
substantially integral with the lever 66 and having a screw 106
connected to its forward end portion (See FIG. 17) moves in pivotal
motion in the same direction as the lever 66. This causes a master
plate keep-down means 108 to move in pivotal motion about a shaft
109 from a position shown in FIG. 13 to a position shown in FIG. 17
in which a keep-down belt 110 of the means 108 presses against the
outer peripheral surface of the master cylinder 1. The keep-down
belt 110 is trained about a plurality of rollers 112 and 113
secured to shafts 109 and 111 respectively and travels in the
direction of the arrow when it is brought into pressing engagement
with the master cylinder 1. The leading end portion of the master
plate 90 released from the grip pawls 98 by the cooperation of the
master plate discharge cam 70 with the follower arm 96 is stripped
from the master cylinder 1 by stripper pawls 114 and removed from
the master cylinder 1 by the action of the keep-down belt 110, and
discharged by a discharge roller 115 integral with the shaft 109
and a roller 116 maintained in pressing engagement with the roller
115. This completes the master plate discharge step.
As shown in FIG. 10, a pusher 116 of the L-shape is pivotally
supported by a shaft 117 secured to the forward end of the master
plate feed lever 58. The L-shaped pusher 116 is urged to move in
pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft 117 by a
compression spring 118 mounted between a longer arm of the pusher
116 and the projection 58b of the lever 58. The clockwise pivotal
movement of the pusher 116 is precluded by a bent portion 116a
formed in the pusher 116 abutting against a right side edge of the
master plate feed lever 58.
The pusher 116 normally rides on the bent portion 50b of the
locking member 50 as shown in FIG. 10, and the bent portion 116a of
the pusher 116 is normally spaced apart from the right side edge of
the master plate feed lever 58. If the master plate feed lever
moves in pivotal motion about the shaft 57, then the forward end of
the pusher 116 is released from engagement with the bent portion
50b of the locking member 50 and the pusher 116 moves a small
distance in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft
117 by virtue of the spring 118 till the bent portion 116a thereof
abuts against the right side edge of the master plate feed lever 58
as shown in FIG. 12.
When the master plate feed lever 58 moves in pivotal motion in a
clockwise direction about the shaft 57 and returns to its original
position, it causes the forward end of the pusher 116 to move the
bent portion 50b of the locking member 50. As a result, the locking
member moves in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the
shaft 51 against the biasing force of a curved spring 119 mounted
between the bent portion 50c of the member 50 and the pin 55,
thereby releasing the free end of the etching command lever 46
locked in place by the hook 50a of the member 50.
Releasing of the etching command lever 46 from engagement with the
locking member 50 simultaneously with the completion of the feeding
of a master plate to the master cylinder plays an important role in
the actuation of the etching solution application device presently
to be described.
3. Device for Automatically Applying an Etching Solution to the
Master Plate on the Master Cylinder
As shown in FIG. 13, the master plate feed and discharge unit 39
comprises support arms 120 each secured to one of the opposite ends
of the shaft 45 substantially integral with the etching command
lever 46. The support arms 120 support bearings 121 for an etching
roller subsequently to be described. An etching unit designated
generally 122 in FIG. 19 and comprising various elements of the
etching solution application device includes a pair of side plates
123 disposed in face-to-face relation. Each side plate 123 is
formed with a cutout 124 on its right side which engages the shaft
42 secured to the side plates 5 of the machine proper (See FIG. 1),
and with a cutout 125 on its left side which engages a shaft 126
secured to the side plates 5 of the machine proper like the shaft
42, so that the unit 122 is removably mounted on the machine
proper. A locking member 128 is pivotally supported by a shaft 127
secured to the upper left portions of the side plates 123, and
urged to move in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the
shaft 127 by the biasing force of a compression spring 130 mounted
between a bent portion 128a of the member 128 and a pin 129
attached to the side plates 123. The locking member 128 is formed
at its lower end portion with a hook 128b which is adapted to
engage the shaft 126 so as to thereby secure the side plates 123 of
the unit 122 to the machine proper.
An immersing roller 133 is secured to a shaft 132 journalled at
opposite ends by bearings 131 each mounted on one of the side
plates 123 (See FIG. 20). The immersing roller 133 has a portion
which is immersed in an etching solution 135 contained in a tank
134 which is supported by a pair of supporters 137 mounted on a
shaft 136 and juxtaposed to the side plates 123 as shown in FIG.
16. The pair of bearings 131 each pivotally support plate 138 to
which a pin 139 is attached. Each support plate 138 is urged to
move in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft 132
by the biasing force of a compression spring 140 mounted between a
pin 139 attached to each support plate 138 and the shaft 127.
Mounted on the support plates 138 are the bearings 121 referred to
hereinabove which support a shaft 142 substantially integral with
an etching roller 141. As the support arms 120 pivotally move about
the shaft 45 from a dash-and-dot line position to a solid line
position in FIG. 18, the bearings 121 which rest on the support
arms 120 as aforementioned moves a small distance with the support
plates 138 about the shaft 132 in slaved relation so as to thereby
bring the outer peripheral surface of the etching roller 141 into
engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the master cylinder
1.
On the other hand, each support plate 138 is formed in its upper
end portion with a bent portion 138a to which an adjusting screw
143 is connected. Each adjusting screw 143 abuts at its forward end
against a bent portion 123a of each side plate 123. By rotating the
adjusting screws 143 to adjust the distance between the screws 143
and the side plates 123, it is possible to control the force with
which the etching roller 141 bears against the master cylinder
1.
Each support plate 138 is formed at its projection 138b with a
key-hole type opening 144 which loosely receives therein a bearing
147 for supporting a shaft 146 substantially integral with a
transfer roller 145. The transfer roller 145 is urged by the
biasing forces of extension springs 148 each mounted between one of
the bearings 147 and a bend portion 138c of the projection 138b of
one of the support plates 138 to bear against the outer peripheral
surfaces of the immersing roller 133 and etching roller 141. The
transfer roller 146 functions to supply the etching solution on the
immersing roller 138 to the etching roller 141. Disposed below the
transfer roller 145 is an idle roller 149 which is rotatably
mounted on a shaft 150 between the support plates 138 and
maintained in meshing engagement with a gear 151 secured to the
etching roller 141 and a gear 152 secured to the immersing roller
133, so that rotation of the immersing roller 133 is transmitted to
the etching roller 141.
The etching roller 141 is adapted to rotate in an anticlockwise
direction about a shaft 142 and its outer peripheral surface moves
in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the outer
peripheral surface of the master cylinder 1 indicated by the arrow,
so as to thereby enhance the effect of etching of the master
plate.
The immersing roller 133 is driven by a mechanism connected to a
main electric motor (not shown) of the machine proper. In FIG. 20,
a follower gear 153 is secured by a screw 154 to the outer end of
the immersing roller 133 and maintained in meshing engagement with
a driving screw 155 disposed below the gear 153. This facilitates
mounting and removal of the etching unit 122 on the machine proper.
A driving shaft 157 to which the driving gear 144 is secured by a
pin 156 is rotatably supported by a bearing 158 secured to right
side plate 5 of the machine proper and a bearing 161 disposed below
a blanket 160 secured by a screw 159 to the side plate 5. Loosely
fitted over the driving shaft 157 in a position between the right
side plate 5 of the machine proper and the bearing 161 is a clutch
which forms a pair with a clutch disc 163 secured to the shaft 157
by a pin 164. A chain 166 is trained about a sprocket wheel 165
substantially integral with the clutch 162 and a sprocket wheel
(not shown) secured to the output shaft of the main electric motor
of the printing machine, so that the torque developed by the
electric motor is transmitted to the driving shaft 157 through the
clutch 162 and clutch disc 163.
As aforementioned, if the printing operation step switching member
4 is moved to the master plate feed position A in FIG. 1, the
master plate feed command pin 28 will be actuated and cause the
master plate feed lever 58 to move in pivotal motion back and forth
about the shaft 57. During the return movement of the lever 58, the
pusher 116 kicks at its forward end 116b the bent portion 50b of
the locking member 50 as shown in FIG. 20, thereby releasing the
free end of the etching command lever 46 from engagement with the
locking member 50. As a result, the lever 46 moves in pivotal
motion in an anticlockwise direction about the shaft 45 to give
instructions to the etching solution application device shown in
FIG. 19 to initiate the etching step. That is, the support arms 120
substantially integral with the lever 46 move from their
dash-and-dot line positions to their solid line positions in FIG.
18. The bearings 121 resting on the support arm 120 for supporting
the shaft 142 of the etching roller 141 rotates in an anticlockwise
direction about the shaft 132 in slaved relation to the movement of
the support arms 120, thereby bringing the etching roller 141 into
pressing engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the master
cylinder 1. This permits the etching roller to apply an etching
solution to the surface of the master plate 0 (not shown) mounted
on the master cylinder 1.
It should be noted that the clutch 162 and clutch disc 163 shown in
FIG. 20 engage each other to cause the immersing roller 133 and
etching roller 141 to rotate only when the member 4 is moved to the
master plate feed position A in FIG. 1, and that the clutch is
disengaged and the aforementioned rollers stop rotating when the
member 4 is moved to any other position than the position A.
Description of means for causing engagement and disengagement of
the clutch 162 and clutch plate 163 will be omitted.
The etching step is terminated when the member 4 is moved from the
master plate feed position A. If the member 4 is moved to the
inking position, then the master plate feed command pin 28 moves to
the phantom position 28A in FIG. 11 and causes the bent portion 46b
of the etching command lever 46 to move in a clockwise direction
about the shaft 45. As a result, the lever 46 is returned from its
position in FIG. 18 to its position in FIG. 10. This results in the
bearings 121 of the etching roller 141 being returned to the
phantom positions shown in FIG. 18 by the support arms 120. Thus,
the etching roller 141 is released from pressing engagement with
the master cylinder 1. When the etching command lever 46 has
returned to its original position, the bent portion 46a at the
forward end of the lever 46 is engaged by the hook 50a of the
locking member 50 under the influence of the spring 119, so that
the etching command lever 46 is locked in its original
position.
4. Preliminary Etching Roller Wetting Device
Application of an etching solution to a master plate is
automatically started as the instructions are given to the etching
solution application device simultaneously as the master plate is
mounted on the master cylinder. Heretofore, it has been impossible
to perform an etching solution application operation satisfactorily
when the instructions are given to the etching solution application
device and the etching roller is rapidly brought into pressing
contact with the master plate on the master cylinder because the
former is not sufficiently wet to do the task. The prior art
etching solution application device has had a disadvantage in that
a certain period of time has to elapse before a sufficiently large
amount of etching solution is supplied from the immersing roller in
the etching solution tank to the etching roller. Another
disadvantage has been that rubbing of the surface of the master
plate by a dried etching roller cause damage to the master plate.
These disadvantages can be obviated by supplying a substantial
amount of etching solution to the etching roller beforehand prior
to actuation of the etching solution application device.
In FIG. 1, a plate having an arm 167 is secured to the tubular
shaft 6. Pivotally supported a shaft 169 secured to the forward end
of the plate is the right end of a connecting rod 168 which has a
left end pivotally supported by a shaft 172 secured to the free end
of a crank arm 171 substantially integral with a shaft 170 which is
supported at opposite ends by the left and right side plates 5 of
the printing machine. The shaft 170 extends outwardly through the
right side plate 5 (See FIG. 20) and carries at its end a cam 173
as shown in FIG. 21. Thus, the cam 173 is connected to the printing
operation step switching member 4 through the arm 167, connecting
rod 168 and crank arm 171, and moves in the same direction as the
member 4 when the latter is moved from its neutral position N to
its positions A, B, C and D. In FIG. 21, a follower lever 174 is
disposed to the right and in the vicinity of the cam 173. The lever
174 is pivotally supported by a shaft 175 secured to the right side
plate 5 of the machine, and urged to move in pivotal motion in an
anticlockwise direction about the shaft 175 by the biasing force of
a compression spring 177 mounted between a bent portion 174a on the
right end of the lever 174 and a pin 176 attached to the right side
plate 5. This anticlockwise movement of the lever 174 brings a
roller 179 pivotally supported by a shaft 178 secured to the left
end of the lever 174 into pressing engagement with a major diameter
portion 173a of the cam 173. Maintained in contact with a minor
diameter portion 173b of the cam 173 is a roller 181 of a switch
180 which is adapted to actuate the main switch of the printing
machine as the roller 181 rides on two major diameter portions 173c
and 173d of the cam 173 upon movement of the member 4 to any of the
positions other than the neutral position.
Attached to the clutch disc 163 is a pin 182 which is adapted to
rotate about the shaft 157 only when the roller 179 of the follower
lever 174 rides on the major diameter portion 173a of the cam 173
as shown in FIG. 21. If the roller 179 is brought into contact with
a minor diameter portion 173e of the cam 173 and the follower lever
174 moves in pivotal motion a small distance about the shaft 175 as
shown in FIG. 22, then the pin 182 abuts against an offset portion
174a of the lever 174 and stops it from rotating.
As aforementioned, the cam 173 rotates in conjunction with the
movement of the member 4. It is when the member 4 is moved to the
inking position B or the copy sheet feed position C shown in FIG. 1
that the roller 179 of the lever 174 is brought into contact with
the minor diameter portion 173e of the cam 173 as shown in FIG. 22.
When the member 4 is disposed in the master plate feed position A
or master plate discharge position D, the roller 179 is in contact
with the major diameter portion 173a of the cam 173. Accordingly,
movement of the member 4 to the master plate feed position A or
master plate discharge position D causes the rollers 133, 145 and
141 of the etching unit 122 (See FIG. 19) to rotate; movement of
the member 4 to the inking position B or copy sheet feed position C
does not cause the rollers 133, 145 and 141 to rotate.
If the member 4 is moved to the master plate feed position A while
the switching actuating member 18 is in its lower position within
the member 4 in FIG. 1, then the master plate feed cam plate 22
rotates in an anticlockwise direction about the shaft 7 (See FIG.
2) and gives instructions to the master plate feed and discharge
device 39 to start feeding a master plate as aforementioned. Upon
completion of feeding of the master plate to the master cylinder 1,
instructions are given to the etching command lever 46
substantially integral with the shaft (FIG. 18) to start applying
an etching solution, whereby the shaft 45 is rotated a small
angular distance in an anticlockwise direction. As a result, the
support arms 120 secured to the shaft 45 move from the dash-and-dot
line position to the solid line position in FIG. 18, so that the
bearings 121 for the etching roller resting on the support arms 120
rotate in an anticlockwise direction about the shaft 132. This
brings the etching roller 141 into pressing engagement with the
master plate C on the master cylinder 1.
On the other hand, when the member 4 is moved to the master plate
feed position A, the crank arm 171 is moved in pivotal motion in an
anticlockwise direction through the arm 167 secured to the tubular
shaft 6 and the connecting rod. This causes the cam 173
substantially integral with the crank arm 171 to rotate a small
angular distance in an anticlockwise direction from its position in
FIG. 21. Anticlockwise rotation of the cam 173 causes the roller
181 of the switch 180 to ride on the major diameter portion 173c of
the cam 173, so that the main switch of the printing machine is
actuated and the clutch 162 shown in FIG. 20 is rotated. During the
rotation of the cam 173 caused by the movement of the member 4 to
the master plate feed position A, the roller 179 of the follower
lever 174 remains in contact with the major diameter portion 173a
of the cam 173 and consequently the follower lever 174 remains in
its position in FIG. 21. Therefore, the clutch disc 163 rotates
with the clutch 152 as the switch 180 is actuated because the
offset portion 174a of the lever 174 is not in the path of rotation
of the pin 182 attached to the clutch disc 163. Thus, the rotation
transmitted to the clutch 162 is transmitted to the shaft 157 and
rotates the rollers 133, 145 and 141 on the support plates 138 (See
FIG. 19).
To sum up, the rollers of the etching unit are rotated beforehand
while a master plate is being fed to the master cylinder upon
movement of the member 4 to the master plate feed position A, so
that the etching solution application roller can be wetted with an
etching solution. Upon completion of the mounting of the master
plate on the master cylinder, the etching solution application
roller is actuated to start applying the etching solution to the
master plate on the master cylinder. When a series of master plates
are duplicated successively, the preliminary etching solution
application roller wetting step can be carried out in the same
manner if the member 4 is moved to the master plate discharge
position D after completion of duplication of one master plate.
This ensures that an etching solution application operation is
performed satisfactorily upon completion of mounting of the next
successive master plate on the master cylinder.
5. Device for Terminating the Rotation of the Etching Solution
Application Roller
The etching solution application step is carried out as soon as a
master plate is mounted on the master cylinder. In the etching
solution application step, the transfer roller is brought into
pressing engagement with the immersing roller immersed in the
etching solution in the etching solution tank and the etching
solution application roller to supply the etching solution to the
etching solution application roller which is caused to press
against the master plate on the master cylinder to apply the
etching solution to the master plate. If the aforementioned rollers
are permitted to rotate idly while the etching solution application
step is not performed or when the etching solution application
roller is not maintained in pressing contact with the master
cylinder, the etching solution supplied from the tank will be
collected on the outer peripheral surface of the etching solution
application roller. If the amount of the solution collected is too
great, the solution may be scattered and spoil the master plate.
Thus, it is necessary to cause the etching solution application
roller to remain stationary when other steps than the etching
solution application step or the inking and copy sheet feed stops
are performed.
Movement of the member 4 from the master plate feed position A to
the inking position B causes the cam 173 connected to the member 4
to rotate in an anticlockwise direction from its neutral position
in FIG. 21, bringing the roller 179 into contact with the minor
diameter portion 173e of the cam 173. If the roller 179 is brought
into engagement with the minor diameter portion 173e as shown in
FIG. 22, then the follower lever 174 moves small distance in
pivotal motion in an anticlockwise direction about the shaft 175
and causes the offset portion 174a to be disposed in the path of
movement of the pin 182 attached to the clutch disc 163 so that the
offset portion 174a may engage the pin 182. This causes the clutch
disc 163 to stop rotating, so that the immersing roller 133 (See
FIG. 20) driven by the shaft 157 substantially integral with the
clutch disc 163 also stops rotating and the supply of the etching
solution to the etching solution application roller is shut
off.
6. Device for Inking the Master Plate
Upon completion of the etching solution application step, inking of
the master plate is initiated.
In FIG. 23, an oscillator roller 183 supported by a shaft 184
secured to the machine proper in suitable positions is disposed
upwardly and obliquely leftwardly of the master cylinder 1. A pair
of support members 185 and 186 are oscillatably supported by the
shaft 184. Loosely received in an opening 187 of the keyhole type
formed in the forward end portion 185a of an arm of the support
member 185 extending above the master cylinder 1 is a bearing 188
which supports a shaft 190 of an inking roller 189. The bearing 188
is urged to move toward the oscillator roller 183 by the biasing
force of an extension coil spring 250 mounted between a bent
portion 185d formed at the forward end of the support member 185
and the bearing 188. This movement of the bearing 188 is precluded
by an arm 192 which is secured to the forward end of a bent arm
186b of the support member 186 and formed with an offset portion
192a in the lower end of one side edge thereof. With the bearing
188 pressing against a side edge of the arm 192, the inking roller
189 is spaced apart a small distance from the oscillator roller
183.
An inking roller 193 forming a pair with the inking roller 189 is
journalled by bearing means identical with that of the inking
roller 189 and disposed in a forward end portion 186a of a
downwardly extending arm of the support member 196. A bearing
received in a bearing operating 194 is urged to move toward the
oscillator roller 183 by the biasing force of a coil spring 196.
This movement of the bearing 195 is precluded by the lower end edge
of an arm 185b of the support member 185. With the bearing 195
pressing against the lower end edge of the arm 185b, the inking
roller 193 is spaced apart a small distance from the oscillator
roller 185. The arm 185b is formed with an offset portion at the
end of one side edge thereof.
A compressive spring 199 of relatively great force is mounted
between a pin 197 attached to the upper end of one support member
195 and a pin 198 attached to the bent arm 186b of the other
support member 186. The biasing force of the spring 199 urges one
support member 185 to move in pivotal motion in a clockwise
direction about the shaft 184 and the other support member 186 to
move in pivotal motion in an anticlockwise direction about the
shaft 184. The pivotal movement of one support member 185 caused by
the spring 199 is restricted by the engagement of a roller 200
supported by the support member 185 with a rotary cam 201, and the
pivotal movement of the other support member 186 caused by the
spring 199 is restricted by the engagement of a roller 202
supported by the support member 189 with the rotary cam 201. With
the rollers 200 and 202 pressing against major diameter portion
201a of the rotary cam 201 as shown in FIG. 25, the two inking
rollers 189 and 193 are spaced apart a small distance from the
master cylinder 1.
The rotary cam 201 is mounted on the aforementioned shaft 170 and
adapted to rotate through a predetermined angle in conjunction with
the movement of the member 4. The various elements shown in FIG. 23
are disposed in positions which they assume when the member 4 is in
its neutral position.
A fountain roller 203 disposed leftwardly of the inking roller 193
is supported on a shaft 204 rotatably supported by the machine
proper which loosely supports an oscillator member 205. The
oscillator member 205 has a rightwardly and obliquely upwardly
extending arm which is formed with a cutout 208 which loosely
receives therein a bearing 209 supporting a shaft 208 of a ductor
roller 207 pressing against the fountain roller 203.
The oscillator member 205 is urged to move in pivotal motion in a
clockwise direction about the shaft 204 by the biasing force of a
spring 211 mounted between a pin 210 attached to an immovable
member (not shown) and a leftwardly extending arm of the member
205. This movement of the member 205 is restricted by the
engagement a projection 205 thereof with a projection 186d of the
support member 186.
Movement of the member 4 from its neutral position to its master
plate feed position A causes the rotary cam 201 to move through a
predetermined angle in an anticlockwise direction, thereby bringing
the rollers 200 and 202 of the two support members 185 and 186
respectively into engagement with minor diameter portions 201b of
the cam 201. This causes the support member 185 and the support
member 186 to move in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction and
an anticlockwise direction respectively about the shaft 184.
Pivotal movements of the support arms 185 and 186 brings the
bearing 188 of one inking roller 189 into engagement with the
offset portion 192a of the arm 192 and the bearing 195 of the other
inking roller 193 into engagement with the offset portion 185c of
the arm 185b of the member 185. This results in the two inking
rollers 189 and 193 pressing against the oscillator roller 183, so
that the ink is formed by these three rollers 183, 189 and 193.
With the two rollers 200 and 202 being maintained in engagement
with the small diameter portions 201b of the rotary cam 201, the
two inking rollers 189 and 193 are prevented from pressing against
the master cylinder 1.
The master plate O on the master cylinder 1 which has been inked as
aforementioned is caused or press against the blanket cylinder 2
(see FIG. 1) to transfer the inked image of the master plate to the
blanket cylinder 2 which is maintained in contact with the
impression cylinder 3, so that the inked image of the master plate
is transferred to copy sheets fed between the blanket and
impression cylinders successively. This printing step is carried
out by known process, its description herein being omitted.
7. Blanket Cylinder Cleaning Device
Upon completion of printing of a predetermined number of copy
sheets, the master plate on the master cylinder is removed and
discharged, and the inked image left on the blanket cylinder is
removed by cleaning the outer peripheral surface of the blanket
cylinder. This completes the duplication of one master plate.
In FIG. 24, a follower lever 212 is pivotally supported by a shaft
213 secured to side plates (not shown) so that the lever 212 may be
disposed leftwardly of the cam 173 previously described. The lever
212 is urged to move in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction
about the shaft 213 by the biasing force of a compression spring
214 connected at one end to one of the side plates 5 of the machine
end at the other end to the lever 212. Supported by a shaft 215
secured to right end portion of the lever 212 is a roller 216 which
is urged by the biasing force of the spring 214 to press against
the major diameter portion 173a of the cam 173. Supported by a
shaft 217 secured to the left end portion of this lever 212 is a
roller 218 against which presses a bent portion 220a of an
actuation lever 220 pivotally supported by a shaft 219 secured to
the side plates (not shown) and urged to move in pivotal motion in
an anticlockwise direction.
Disposed to the left and in the vicinity of the blanket cylinder 2
is a cleaning unit generally designated 221 which is removably
mounted on the printing machine by fitting pins 223 attached to the
lower portions of two side plates 222 of the unit 221 in opening
(not shown) formed in the left and right side plates 5 of the
printing machine. The cleaning pins 223 can be removed from the
opening in the right and left side plates of the machine by moving
a knob 224 inwardly of the unit 221, thereby permitting to
removably mount the unit 221 on the printing machine.
The cleaning unit 221 is urged to move in pivotal motion in a
clockwise direction about the pins 223 by the biasing force of a
compression spring 225 connected at one end to one of the side
plates 5 of the machine and at the other end to a projection 222a
of one of the side plates 222. This clockwise movement of the
cleaning unit 221 is restricted by the engagement of a pin 226
attached to the inner side of one of the side plates 222 with a
lower bent portion 220b of the actuation lever 220. Thus, the unit
221 is normally held in the position shown in FIG. 24.
The cleaning unit 221 comprises a tank 228 containing a cleaning
liquid 227. Recesses 228a are each formed in one of the opposite
side walls of the tank 228 for supporting a shaft 230 of a water
ductor roller 229 partly immersed in the cleaning liquid 227.
Maintained in contact with the upper portion of the outer
peripheral surface of the water ductor roller 229 to a cleaning
roller 232 pivotally supported by a shaft 231 secured to the side
plates 222. The cleaning roller 232 is adapted to press against the
outer peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder 2 rotating in the
direction of arrow in FIG. 24 as the cleaning unit 221 moves in
pivotal motion in a clockwise direction about the pins 223. The
cleaning cylinder 232 maintained in contact with the rotating
blanket cylinder 2 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction
about the shaft 231 by the frictional dragging between the two
cylinders. An adjusting screw 233 is threadably connected to a bent
portion 222b formed in the left upper portion of one of the side
plates 222. The force with which the cleaning cylinder presses
against the blanket cylinder 2 can be adjusted by causing the
adjusting screw 233 to abut against a stopper 234 attached to one
of the side plates 5 of the printing machine.
The roller 181 of the main switch 180 is positioned against the
minor diameter portion 173b of the cam 173 as aforementioned. If
the member 4 is moved from its neutral position to any other
position in FIG. 1, then the roller 181 rides on the major diameter
portion 173c or 173d and actuates the switch 180 for starting the
printing machine.
If the member 4 is moved to the master plate feed position A in
FIG. 1, a master plate will be automatically mounted on the master
cylinder and an etching solution will be applied to the master
plate. If the member 4 is moved to the inking position B to apply
ink to the master plate on the master cylinder 1 and then the
member is moved to the copy sheet feed position C, copy sheets will
successively be supplied to the impression cylinder 3 and the inked
image of the master plate transferred to the blanket cylinder 2
will be transferred to the successively fed copy sheets. If the
member 4 is moved to the master plate discharge position D after a
predetermined number of copy sheets have been printed, the master
plate mounted on the master cylinder 1 will be removed and
discharged from the master cylinder.
When the member 4 is moved to each of the aforementioned step
positions, the movement of the member 4 is transmitted to the crank
arm 171 through the connecting rod 168 and the cam 173, which is
substantially integral with the crank arm 171, rotates in the same
direction as the direction of movement of the member 4. If the
member is moved in one direction from its neutral position to the
positions A, B and C in FIG. 1, the roller 216 of the follower
lever 212 shown in FIG. 24 remains in contact with the major
diameter portion 173a of the cam 173, so that the lever 212 remains
in the position shown in FIG. 24. However, if the member 4 is moved
in the other direction from its neutral position to the position D,
then the cam 173 rotates from its position in FIG. 24 in a
clockwise direction, so that the roller 126 is brought into
engagement with a minor diameter portion 173f.
Engagement of the roller 216 with the minor diameter portion 173f
of the cam 173 causes the follower lever 212 to move in pivotal
motion in a clockwise direction about the shaft 212. The actuation
lever 220 which presses at its bent portion 220a against the roller
218 of the follower lever 212 moves in pivotal motion about the
shaft 219 in slaved relation to the follower lever 212. As a
result, the actuation lever 220 is released from locking engagement
ith the cleaning unit 221 which is moved in a clockwise direction
about the pins 223 by the biasing force of the spring 225, This
causes the cleaning roller 232 of the cleaning unit 221 to press
against the outer peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder 2 as
shown in FIG. 25. As the blanket cylinder 2 rotates in the
direction of the arrow, the cleaning roller 232 and water ductor
roller 299 rotate in a clockwise direction and anticlockwise
direction respectively, so that the cleaning liquid is applied to
the outer peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder 2 to eraze the
inked image thereon. The cleaning step can be terminated by
returning the member 4 from the master plate discharge position D
to the neutral position in FIG. 1 and thereby rotating the cam 173
from its position shown in FIG. 25 to its position shown in FIG. 24
to restore the follower lever 212 and actuation lever 220 to their
original positions.
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