US3348478A

US3348478A - Rotary endless chain printing machine

Info

Publication number: US3348478A
Application number: US430277A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter F Gancarz; William A Marion
Original assignee: AMERICAN PAPER PRODUCTS Co
Current assignee: AMERICAN PAPER PRODUCTS Co
Priority date: 1965-02-04
Filing date: 1965-02-04
Publication date: 1967-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-24

Description

Oct. 24, 1967 GANCARZ ET AL 3,348,478

ROTARY ENDLESS CHAIN PRINTING MACHINE' Filed Feb. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHAIN ADVANCING MECHANIS INVENTORS I I WALTEREGANCARZ Fig 2. I WILLIA A.MARION 7 IA I BY? ATTORNEY Oct. 24, 1967 w. F. GANCARZ ET AL 3,348,478

ROTARY ENDLESS CHAIN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TORS WALTER F. GANCARZ WILLIAM A. MARION ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,348,478 ROTARY ENDLESS (Ii-IAIN PRINTING MACl-lilNE Walter F. Gancarz and William A. Marion, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to The American Paper Products Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 4, 1%5, Ser. No. 430,277 Claims. (Cl. 101-91) This invention relates to improvements in printing cylinders of the type having an endless chain of typelinks, and more particularly to printing cylinders of the type described, for use in rotary print presses for printing envelopes and the like wherein dates, numbers or other relative changeable data is to be printed.

These rotary print presses normally are equipped with a printing cylinder, an impression cylinder and a date printing cylinder which are geared together to rotate in unison. The date printing cylinder carries an endless chain made up of type-links which are successively brought into printing position upon rotation of the cyl-- inders. This chain is supported by guides which are radially adjustable to permit a slight variation in the number of type-links in the chain. The maximum number of typelinks which can be included in the chain has heretofore been limited by the diameter of the date printing cylinder.

These rotary print presses are employed, for example,

in printing sets of church envelopes. Each'set includes one envelope for each week of the year. Seven extra envelopes normally are included in the set, one for each of the seven holy days. In the past, the seven extra envelopes were printed separately and inserted by hand into each of the sets of envelopes.

Accordingly, as an overall object, the present inven tion seeks to provide an improved date printing cylinder capable of printing a greater number of envelopes than heretofore possible with conventional rotary print presses.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for converting printing cylinders of conventional rotary print presses whereby a greater number of envelopes may be automatically printed, the conversion being accomplished without increasing the diameter of the date printing cylinder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved date printing cylinder of a given diameter having a greater number of type-links than conventional printing cylinders of the same diameter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an endless chain of type-links of improved construction.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved date printing cylinder having a novel support member rotatable about the rotational axis of the printing cylinder. At the periphery of the support member, there is provided a discontinuous guide track which is surrounded by and engaged by an endless chain of typelinks. A drive pinion is carried by the date printing cylinder in alignment with the discontinuous guide track. The drive pinion is disposed interiorly of the endless chain and is engaged in driving relation therewith. The drive pinion serves to bring the type-links successively into printing position.

Chain guide members are supported by the date printing cylinder in alignment with the discontinuous guide track. The chain guide members, however, are disposed exteriorly of the endless chain of type-links and are engaged therewith. The overall arrangement is such that the endless chain is engaged with and extends externally of the discontinuous guide track and the drive pinion and internally of the chain guide members. The discontinuous guide track, the drive pinion and the chain guide members support the endless chain for movement along a circuitous path of travel, which permits the ice length of the endless chain to be greater than the circumference of the date printing cylinder. Hence, in the present date printing cylinder, the number of type-links in the endless chain is greater than the number of typelinks of the endless chains of conventional date printing cylinders. The chain guide members are supported for movement toward and away from the support member so as to place the endless chain under tension.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line II of FIG. 2, illustrating the date printing cylinder of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line II-Il of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of an improved endless chain of type-links, with portions cut away to show details;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 1, illustrating chain guide members;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line V-V of FIG. 2, illustrating adjustment means for the chain guide members;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View, similar to FIG. 1, illustrating an alternative adjutment means for the chain guide members; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIIVII of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a date printing cylinder 10 and an impression cylinder 12. The impression cylinder 12 of of conventional construction and is rotated by a drive gear 14. The date printing cylinder 10 comprises, in general, a drive shaft 16 having a drive gear 18 meshing with the drive gear 14 whereby the date printing cylinder 10 and the impression cylinder 12 are rotated in unison. A conventional drive means, schematically illustrated at 2% serves to rotate the drive shaft 16 at the desired speed.

Secured to the drive shaft 16 is a support member 22 provided with a discontinuous guide track, indicated generally by the numeral 24. A drive pinion or sprocket 26 is supported by a rod 28 in alignment with the discontinuous guide track 24. The rod 28 has its ends journaled in and supported by spaced, mounting plates 30 which are secured to and rotate with the drive shaft 16. Chain guide members 32 are supported by rods 34 in alignment with the discontinuous guide track 24. The rods 34 extend between and are secured to the spaced, mounting plates 30. An endless chain 36 of type-links 38 is engaged with and extends externally of the discontinuous guide track 24 and the drive pinion 26 and is engaged with and extends internally of the chain guide members 32.

The endless chain 36 employed in the date printing cylinder 10, includes fifty-nine of the type-links 38, i.e., one of the type-links 38 for each of the fifty-two weeks of a calendar year and one of the type-links 38 for each of the seven holy days. It should be evident, however, that the endless chain 36may contain more than or less than fifty-nine of the type-links 38 as required. The important fact to note is that it is now possible to auto matically print fifty-nine sequential dates on a set of fifty-nine envelopes.

The endless chain 36 meshes with and is advanced by the drive pinion 26. A chain advancing mechanism, schematically illustrated at 40, serves to advance the endless chain 36 upon rotation of the date printing cylinder 10 whereby each of the type-links 38 are brought successive ly into a printing position indicated at P. Since the chain advancing mechanism 40 is conventional in the art, it

has not been completely illustrated in the drawings. However, for a better understanding of the operation of the date printing cylinder 10, it will be sufficient to state that the chain advancing mechanism 46 could comprise, for example, a pinion carried by the rod 28, which meshes with an idler gear having, in this instance, fifty-nine teeth and being rotatable about the central axis of the drive shaft 16, and a cam actuated pawl engageable with and for rotating the idler gear through successive increments, the overall arrangement being such that the endless chain 36 is advanced along its circuitous path by one type-link 38 after each complete revolution of the date printing cylinder 10. Thus, after each complete revolution of the date printing cylinder 10, the next successive type-link 38 is moved into the printing position. For a more complete description of chain advancing mechanisms suitable for use with the present date printing cylinder, attention is directed to US. Patent Nos. 1,792,642 and The printing position P is defined as that position of the date printing cylinder 10 wherein each of the typelinks 38 is dispose-d adjacent to the impression cylinder 12. At this time, an envelope or the like (not shown) will be interposed between the impression cylinder 12 and the type-link 38 whereby an impression is made on the envelope.

The support member 22 comprises a generally cylindrical steel member provided with a pair of opposed cutouts 42 and a central cutout 44. The pair of opposed cutouts 42 serves to receive the chain guide members 32 and those portions of the endless chain 36 engaged with the chain guide members 32. The central cutout portion 44 receives the drive pinion 26.

The discontinuous guide track 24 is disposed along the periphery of the support member 22 and comprises edge portions 46 of the support member 22, each of which is provided with a projecting rib 48 (shown in FIG. 2) receivable within slots 50 provided in the typelinks 38 of the endless chain 36; and a plurality of roller members 52 rotatably supported within slots 54 formed in the support member 22 at the ends of the opposed cutouts 42. Hence, the endless chain 36 is supported for movement along a circuitous path of travel which permits the length of the endless chain 36 to be greater than the circumference of the date cylinder 10. Accordingly, the

number of type-links 38 contained in the endless chain 36 is greater than the number of type-links contained in endless chains of prior-art date printing cylinders. Therefore, a greater number of successive envelopes may be printed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, at least one set or pair and preferably two pairs of the chain guide members are employed in the present date printing cylinder 10. The chain guide members 32 preferably comprise two spaced roller or bearing

members

56a, 56b which 2116 coaxially aligned and positionable along an enlarged shaft portion 58 of the rod 34. The bearing member 56a is retained on the enlarged shaft portion 58, for example, by being forced over the knurls 60 provided on the enlarged shaft portion 58. The bearing member 56b is provided with a collar 62 through which extends a set screw 64, for securing the bearing member 56b to the enlarged shaft portion 58. Hence, both of the bearing

members

56a, 56b are adjustable along the enlarged shaft portion 58. The outer races of the bearing

members

56a, 56b are freely rotatable about the shaft 34 and hence provide freely rotatable surfaces for guiding the endless chain 36 along its circuitous path of travel about the support member 22. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the rod 34 is threaded at each end and is provided with pairs of nuts 66 for securing the rod 34 to the spaced, mounting plates 30. The length of the threaded end portions of the rod 34 is such that the rod 34 may be moved transversely of the support member 22 so as to position the chain guide members 22 in alignment with the discontinuous guide track 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the endless chain 36 is composed of a plurality of type-links 38 each having hinge elements 68 projecting therefrom. Each adjacent pair of the type-links 38 are hinged together by means of a link pin 78 extending through the hinge elements 68. In the present endless chain 36, the length of the link pins 70 is greater than the width of the individual typelinks 38, the arrangement being such that the link pins 70 engage the outer races of the bearing

members

56a, 56b of the chain guide members 32, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the bearing

members

56a, 56b are spaced apart by a distance which is slightiy greater than the width of the type-links 38. Therefore, the type-links 38 pass between the bearing

members

56a, 56b during the advancement of the endless chain 36 along the discontinuous guide track 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive pinion 26 is of improved design and serves to support each of the type-links 38 at a plurality of points when at the printing position P, whereby each of the type-links 38 is rigidly supported during a printing operation. Therefore, a lesser number of smudged imprints will occur. The drive pinion 26 has a body portion 76 through which the rod 28 extends. Set screws 78 secure the drive pinion 26 to the rod 28. The drive pinion 26 is provided with a central sprocket 88 which is receivable within the slots 50 formed in the type-links 38. The central sprocket 80 engages the central portions of the link pins 78 during the passage of the typelinks 38 around the drive pinion 26. Lateral or outboard sprockets 82 are provided at the ends of the body portion 76. The outboard sprockets 82 are spaced apart by a distance which is greater than the Width of the individual type-links 38 and, therefore, engage the projecting end portions of the link pins 70. When each of the typelinks 38 is at the printing position P, it is supported at six spaced points. As can be seen in FIG. 1, one of the typelinks 38 is disposed at the printing position. This typelink 38 has two link pins 70, one on each side, whose central portions are engaged with the central sprocket 8t! and whose projecting end portions are engaged with the lateral or outboard sprockets 82. Hence, each of the link pins 70 on either side of the type-link 38 is supported at three spaced points along its length. It should be evident then that each of the type-links 38 is rigidly supported when at the printing position P and therefore a fewer number of smudged imprints will result.

The chain guide members 32 are supported for movement toward and away from the support member 22 whereby longer or shorter length endless chains may be supported in the present date printing cylinder 10 and whereby the endless chain 36 may be placed under an appropriate amount of tension. As illustratedin FIG. 5, each end of the rod 34 extends through a radially extending elongated slot 84 formed in each of the mounting plates 30. In this embodiment, the chain guide members 32 are displaceable radially of the drive shaft 16.

An alternative means for supporting each of the guide members 32 for movement toward and away from the support member 22 is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Corresponding numerals will be employed to identify corresponding parts already described. As can be seen, the bearing

members

56a, 56b which comprise the chain guide members 32, are rotatably supported on a shaft 88 having an end portion 90 of reduced diameter. A support arm 92 has a first end 94 detachably secured to the support member 22 by means of a machine screw 96, and a second end 98 in which the end portion 90 of the shaft 88 is secured. It should be evident that when the machine screw 96 is loosened, the arm 92 is pivotal thereabout whereby the chain guide members 32 may be moved toward or away from the support member 22.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with certain specific embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit recarried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide members carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; and an endless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally of said chain guide members; successive ones of said type- ,links being movable into printing position with a point on the periphery of said data printing cylinder rotating about said rotational axis through a circle of given diameter; the length of said chain being greater than the circumference of said circle.

2. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, the combination comprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; a discontinuous guide track comprising edge portions of said support member and roller members carried by said support member; a drive pinion carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide members carried by saidprinting cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; and an endless chain of typelinks engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally of said chain guide members; successive ones of said type-links being movable into printing position with a point on the periphery of said date printing cylinder rotating about said rotational axis through a circle of given diameter; the length of said chain being greater than the circumference of said circle.

3. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, the combination comprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member; a drive sprocket carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide members carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; and an endless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuous guide track and said drive sprocket and internally of said chain guide members; each of the type-links having a rod projecting from each end thereof and being engageable in said drive sprocket; successive ones of said typelinks being movable into printing position with a point on the periphery of said date printing cylinder rotating about said rotational axis through a circle of given diameter; the length of said chain being greater than the circumference of said circle.

4. In a date printing cylinder of a given diameter, having ,a rotational axis, the combination comprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member; a drive pinion carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide members carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track, said chain guide members comprising at least one pair of spaced, coaxially aligned roller members; ,and an endless chain of typelinks engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally of said chain guide members, each of the typelinks having a rod projecting from each end thereof; said roller members being spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of said type-links; said type-links being positioned to pass between said spaced roller members with said rods engaging the outer surfaces of said roller members.

5. In a date printing cylinder of a given diameter, having a rotational axis, the combination comprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member; a drive pinion carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide members carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track, said chain guide members comprising sets of spaced, coaxially aligned roller members carried by said printing cylinder and positioned at the discontinuities of said discontinuous guide track; and an endless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally of said sets of said roller members; each of the type-links having a rod projecting from each end thereof; the roller members of each of said sets of roller members being spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of said type-links; said type-links being positioned to pass between the spaced roller members of each of said sets of roller members with said rods engaging the outer surfaces of said roller members.

'6. In a date printing cylinder of a given diameter, having a rotational axis, the combination comprising: a supand internally of said chain guide members; each of the type-links having a rod projecting from each end thereof; said rods being engageable with said drive sprockets for moving said endless chain; the roller members of said pair of roller members being spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of said type-links; said type-links being positioned to pass between said pair of roller members with said rods engaging the outer surfaces of said pair of roller members.

7. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, the combination comprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; ,a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member; a drive pinion carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide members positioned in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; means supporting said chain guide members for movement toward and away from said support member; and an endless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally of said chain guide members; successive ones of said type-links being movable into printing position with a point on the periphery of said date printing cylinder rotating about said rotational axis through a circle of given diameter; the length of said chain being greater than the circumference of said circle.

3. In a rotary print press for printing relatively changeable data on envelopes and the like, the combination of a printing cylinder comprising a drive shaft supporting spaced mounting plates, a support member rotatable with said drive shaft and positioned between said mounting plates, a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member, a drive pinion rotatably supported by said mounting plates in alignment with said discontinuous guide track, chain guide members supported by said mounting plates in alignment with said discontinuous guide track, said drive pinion and said chain guide members being positioned .at the discontinuities in the discontinuous guide track, an endless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally of said chain guide members, and means operatively connected with said drive pinion for advancing said endless chain upon rotation of said printing cylinder to bring the type-links successively into printing position; successive ones of said type-links being movable into printing position with a point on the periphery of said date printing cylinder rotating about said rotational axis through a circle of given diameter; the length of said chain being greater than the circumference of said circle.

9. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, the combination comprising: a support member rotatable about said rotational axis; a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member; a drive pinion carried by said printing cylinder in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide members positioned in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; arm means for supporting said chain guide members, said arm means being pivotally supported by said support member whereby said chain guide members are movable toward and away from said support member; and .an endless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuous guide track and said drive pinion and internally of said chain guide members; successive ones of said type-links being movable into printing position with a point on the periphery of said date printing cylinder rotating about said rotational axis through a circle of given diameter; the length of said chain being greater than the circumference of said circle.

10. In a date printing cylinder having a rotational axis, the combination comprising: a drive shaft supporting spaced mounting plates; a support member rotatable with said drive shaft and positioned between said mounting plates; a discontinuous guide track at the periphery of said support member; a drive pinion rotatably supported by said mounting plates in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; chain guide members; rod means extending between said mounting plates for supporting said chain guide members in alignment with said discontinuous guide track; means for detachably securing the ends of said rod means to said mounting plates whereby said chain guide members are supported for movement toward and away from said support member; and an endless chain of type-links engaged with and extending externally of said discontinuous guide track ,and said drive pinion and internally of said chain guide members; successive ones of said type-links being movable into printing position with a point on the periphery of said date printing cylinder rotating about said rotational .axis through a circle of given diameter; the length of said chain being greater than the circumference of said circle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 710,997 10/ 1902 Pitney 101-79 777,898 12/ 1904 Houghton 101-60 1,421,884 7/1922 Yohns 101-122 1,792,642 2/1931 Jones 101-91 1,974,369 9/ 1934 Shomaker 101-111 2,116,609 5/1938 Shomaker 101-91 2,807,999 10/1957 Koeber 101-91 3,216,348 11/1965 Oldenburg et a1. 101-111 X WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A DATE PRINTING CYLINDER HAVING A ROTATIONAL AXIS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A SUPPORT MEMBER ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID ROTATIONAL AXIS; A DISCONTINUOUS GUIDE TRACK AT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER; A DRIVE PINION CARRIED BY SAID PRINTING CYLINDER IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DISCONTINUOUS GUIDE TRACK; CHAIN GUIDE MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID PRINTING CYLINDER IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DISCONTINUOUS GUIDE TRACK; AND AN ENDLESS CHAIN OF TYPE-LINKS ENGAGED WITH AND EXTENDING EXTERNALLY OF SAID DISCONTINUOUS GUIDE TRACK AND SAID DRIVE PINION AND INTERNALLY OF SAID CHAIN GUIDE MEMBERS; SUCCESSIVE ONES OF SAID TYPELINKS BEING MOVABLE INTO PRINTING POSITION WITH A POINT ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DATA PRINTING CYLINDER ROTATING ABOUT SAID ROTATIONAL AXIS THROUGH A CIRCLE OF GIVEN DIAMETER; THE LENGTH OF SAID CHAIN BEING GREATER THAN THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID CIRCLE.