US1541568A - Semiautomatic plate-finishing machine - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1925.

. 1,541,568 C. E. HOPKINS SENIAUTOMATIC PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 11, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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C. E. HOPKINS SEMIAUTOMATIC PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 11,- 1916 3 Shegts-Sheen -2 l um/Mo;

June 9, 1925.

7 1,541,568 c E, HOPKINS SEMIAUTOMATIC PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Jilillllllllllllll lllllill'l'illlllhlil'HHEH! v smx Original Filed Dec. 11, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet s flzarlea Patented Jane 9, 1925,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAIR-LES E. HOPKINS, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY; THE PLAINFIELD TRUST COM- PANY ADMINISTRATORDF SAID CHARLES E. HOPKINS, DECEASED.

'SEMIAUTQMATIC PLATE-FINISHING MACHINE.

Original application filed December 11, 1916, Serial No. 136,191. Divided and this application filed September 26, 1922. Serial No. 5903307.

1 0 all to 710% it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. HoPKINs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and use ful Improved Semiau'tomatic Plate-Finishing Machine of which the following is a specification. This is a division of Patent No. 1,483,549, granted'Oct. 31, 1922, on an application originally filed Dec. 11,1916, Serial No. 136,191.

This invention relates to'the finishing of stereotype plates for use in printing machines. The principal object of it is to provide a finishing machine of a simple and extremely reliable construction especially designed for newspaper "plants having small circulation that do not require a full automatic machine. I

This machine is designed to be operated by one man. The mechanism is arranged so that the operator can stand at the side of the machine to control the casting of the plate and inspect the plate, thereafter push 'the plate over guideways and align it with the finishing tools, and then start-the finishing mechanism, after, the completion of which the operator draws the finished 'plate back over the guideways and removes it from the machine by hand.

The right end portion of the core in my said patent is provided with projecting ledges at its straight sides for forming c0- acting recesses and in this case stopsare located in the guideways for engagin in these recesses, and for positioning the plates relative to the finishing tools when the plate is removed from the core.

Reference is to be had to the accompany.

ing drawings which show a preferred form of this invention and in which Fig. l is a plan of a complete finishing machine Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine with the finishing arch and gear covers removed to show the mechanism below; I

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine showing the finishing mechanism partly in section to illustrate the interior thereof;

Fig. 4: is a front end view of the machine; F1g.'5 18 a face view of the cam for controlling the periodic stopping of the finishing mechanism Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view thercof,. and

Fig. 7 is an end view of the same.

The machine is shown supported between side frames A and B, and cross frames C and D.

The operator pushes the cast plate along the frame toward and onto t'heguideways '62 and 62 and into position to be finished.

Positioning the cast plate P longitudinally with respect to the finishing tools is done by forming recesses in the straight sides of each cast plate and locating corresponding stops. When the curved plate is pushed along the guideways 62-62 the recesses engage against stops 64, fast on the guideways which position the plate longitudinally with respect to the finishing tools.

Finishing. v

The means shown for finishing the stereotype plate, 'by' separating the riser from the type face portion of the'cas't, beveling the of a revolving shaving knife and a beveling tool located upon the knife carrier,-'and a cir- 'cular saw fast on a spindle which operates in bearings formed at one side of'the'kni'fe carrier. V I

The rotary shaving knife carrier 70 is mounted in "bearings formed on top of cross frames C and D (see Fig. 2). The usual shaving knife 71 is attached to anextension of the carrier 70. The knife is of a length sufficient to engage all the ribs cast within the pl'ates concavity. At the forward end of the shaving knife is fixed a beveling tool 72. Oppositethisbevcling tool is located the circular saw 73, which is fast on the forward end of a saw Spindle 74, which operates in bearings formed in the knife carrier. This saw is causedto revolve at a high rate of speed by a pinion 75 fast on the opposite end of the saw spindle. The pinion 75 meshes with an intermediate gear 76 mounted loosely on a hearing formed on the knife carrier. These two gears are driven through a large gear 77, fast on one end of a shaft T8 operating in bearings in the cross frames C and D. To the opposite end is made fast a beveled gear 79 which meshes with alike gear 80, fast on the driving shaft 81.

To the forward end of the knife carrier is fast a worm gear 82 which is intermittently driven by a worm 83 loose on the driving shaft 81.

In operation the saw revolves continuously at a high rate of speed, while the knife carrier makes but one revolution for each cycle of operations.

The cast plate is held in axial alignment with the knife carrier by an arch 90, whose concavity is of the same radius as the curved plate to be finished. Topermit the entrance of the plate within the arch one of the guideways 62 is made movable vertically. This movement of the guideway 62 is accomplished by a lifting mechanism consisting of two rock arms 91 fast one on each rock shaft 92. The loose ends of the rock arms carry a connecting bar 93 which operates along a surface formed on the under side of the guideway 62.

This guideway 62 operates in guides fast on the inner faces of the cross frames C and D. When a plate is positioned on the guideways 62 and 62 and against the stops 6 1, the operator lifts up on arock lever 94L until the rock arms 91 are vertical, which causes the guideway 62 to raise that side of the cast plate up into finishing position within the arch 90.

As the cast plate may vary in circumference, owing to shrinkage or varying thickness in the matrix used, spring actuated plungers are located in recesses formed in the rock arms 91 beneath the bar 93 and the pivot bearings of the said bar are somewhat elongated to permit of the slight vertical. operation necessary.

Hand operated means for starting and automatic means for thereafter stopping after each cycle of operations are provided and include a sliding clutch jaw 100, mounted on the driving shaft 81. This clutch jaw is located so it will engage in corresponding jaws formed on one end of the worm 83. hen the machine stops after completing a cycle of operations, the sliding jaw 100 is held out of engagement against the pressure of a spring 101 also mounted on the driving shaft by an anti-friction roller located in a channel in the slide jaw, and mounted on the loose end of a rock arm 102, which is pivoted on the cross frame C. This rock arm carries one end of a square sliding rod 103.,provided with a right angular extension 104:, which, when the machine is stopped engages against a lug 105 formed on a cam plate 106 fast on the inner face of the worm gear 82.

The act of lifting the guidcway through the rock handle 9-1:, to clamp the plate up in the arch, swings a rock arm 10? fast on the shaft 02 to which the handle is fixed. The loose end of the rock arm 107 engages against a collar 108 fast on the slide rod 103, and advances the same so that its right angular extension 10 1 moves out of engagement under the lug 105, on the cam plate 100. This frees the rock lever 102 and permits the spring 101 to advance the sliding jaw 100 into engagement with the jaws on the worm 88, whereupon the worm commences to revolve with the driving shaft-and carries the worm gear through one revolution. Near the end of the revolution the slide rod extension 10 1 is engaged by a bevel camway 109, formed in front of the stop lug 105 on the cam plate 106 and is pushed backwards and in front of the advancing lug 105, which lug forces the clutch jaws out of engagement whereupon the cycle of operation ceases.

In operation the saw first engages the plate in the operation of separating the riser from the type face portion of the cast plate. In doing this the saw cuts a groove. As the saw nears the end of its operation the shaving knife commences its operation of smoothing off the interior ribs, thereby making the plate the proper thickness.

Simultaneously with the commencement of the shaving operation the beveling tool enters the saw cut and starts the operation of beveling that end of the type face portion of the plate to the required angle.

Although I have illustrated and described only one form of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without de iiarting from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Thercfore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. In a curved stereotype plate finishing apparatus, the combination with a shaving arch, of a stationary guideway arranged on one side of said arch, a movable guideway for the edge of the plate arranged along the other side of the arch, a pair of rock arms arranged to move with a parallel motion under the movable guideway, a bar connecting the ends of said rock arms and movable with them, the movable guideway resting on said bar and being arranged to move up and down therewith.

2. In a curved stereotype plate finishing ap i aratus, the combination with a shaving arch, of a stationary guideway arranged on one side of said arch, a vertically movable guideway for the edge of the plate arranged along the other side of the arch, a horizontal bar ovable upwardly and 1 ongitud-inar1 on which the movable fdeaavy' rests a move up and down there i'th for clam-ping the plate in the arclnand means for moving the bar upwardly with a pa allel motion.

3. In astereotype plate finishing apparatus, the c'ombinationof an arch, finishing tools operative beneath the arch, guideways over which a stereotype plate can be moved beneath the arch, stops for engaging depressions cast in the plate, a mechanism for moving the finishing tools to engage the plate when positioned beneath the arch, and means for clamping the said plate up in the arch and starting the finishing tools through their cycle of operation and thereafter stopping upon the completion of their cycle.

at. In a stereotype plate finishing apparatus, the combination of a plate supporting arch, revolving finishing tools, a guideway at each side of the tools upon which a cast plate can rest, a driving mechanism for the tools, a clutch for connecting the tools with the driving means, and means for raising a guideway to clamp 21- plate into the dome of the arch and close the clutch during a cycle of operations.

5. In a stereotype plate finishing apparatus, the combination of a plate supporting arch, a shaft beneath the arch carrying finishing tools, a driving shaft, a clutch on the driving shaft, a spring for holding the clutch normally in, a cam movable with the finishing tool shaft, a rock arm having a roller thereon for engaging the clutch and holding it out of active position against the action of the spring when the machine is stopped, said cam having means for pushing the rock arm back at that time and holding it in that position, and means whereby when a plate is clamped in the arch the rock arm will be released from the cam, and the spring will throw in the clutch to start the machine.

6. In a stereotype plate finishing apparatus, the combination of a plate supporting arch, a shaft carrying finishing tools, a driving shaft, a clutch on the driving shaft, a spring for holding the clutch normally closed, a rock arm having a roller thereon for engaging the clutch and holding it out of active position against the action of the spring when the machine is stopped, a cam rotatable with the finishing tool shaft and constituting means for pushing the rock arm back at that time and holding it in that position, manually operated means for clamping a plate in the arch, and means whereby when a plate is clamped in the arch the rock arm will be automatically released from the cam to throw in the clutch and start the machine.

7 In a stereotype plate finishing apparatus, the combination with an arch and a finishing tool shaft concent c t e efinishing tool shaft, aspring for normally closing the clutch, a rock arm having means for operating the clutch, a" cam rotatable w'i'tlithe' finisliing tool shaft and adapted to swing the rock arm back so" a's to hold'the clutch out when the machine is stopped, a pair of guides under the arch for the straight edges of the plate, one of said guides being movable, means connected with the movable guide for lifting it and clamping the plate in the arch, and means whereby when said means is'operated to clamp the plate the rock arm will be freed from the cam and the clutch will be allowed to close to start the machine. automatically.

8. In a stereotype plate finishing apparatus, the combination with an arch and a finishing tool shaft concentric therewith, of a driving shaft, a clutch for connecting the driving shaft to rotate the finishing tool shaft, a spring for normally closing the clutch, said clutch having a circumferential channel, a rock arm having a roll engaging in said channel, a cam rotatable with the finishing tool shaft and adapted to swing the rock arm back so as to hold the clutch out when the machine is stopped, a pair of guides under the arch for the straight edges of the plate, one of said guides being movable, a pair of parallel rock shafts having parallel arms connected with the movable guide for lifting it and clamping the plate in the arch, and means whereby when said rock shafts are turned to clamp the plate the rock arm will be freed from the cam and the clutch will be allowed to close, a bar connecting the parallel arms on which the movable guide rests, a slide rod carried by said bar at one end and supported at the other end by the rock arm and having a projection on the end for engaging the cam and operating the rock arm.

9. In a curved stereotype plate finishing apparatus, the combination with a shaving arch, of a stationary guideway and a movable guideway for the edges of the plate arranged along the sides of the arch, a pair of rock arms arranged to move with a parallel motion under the movable guideway, a bar connecting the ends of said rock arms and movable with them, the movable guideway resting on said bar and being arranged to move up and down therewith, each of said rock arms having a spring pressed plunger and the bar having elongated bearings for receiving the ends of said plungers to support the edge of the plate yieldingly and compensate for plates or matrices of varying thicknesses.

10. In a curved stereotype plate finishing apparatus, the combination with a shaving arch, of a stationary guideway and a m0V able guideway for the edges of the plate arranged along the sides of the arch, a pair of rock arms arranged to move under the movable guideway, the movable guideway being arranged to move up and down therewith, each of said rock arms having a spring pressed plunger, and the bar having bearings for receiving the ends of said plungersto support the edge of the plate yieldingly and compensate for plates or matrices of varying thicknesses.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS.

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