US1982830A - Inking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1934.,

C. J. RICHTER INKING MECHANISM Filed March 31, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l zz I/// V 25 INVENTOR ATTORNEa Filed March 31, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNE Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Printing Press Illinois Company,

a corporation of Application March 31, 1932, Serial No. 602,139

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel and improved inking mechanism and more particularly to such a mechanism for use with newspaper printing presses.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forthin part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein l5 and constituting a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

0f the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section, through an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View looking from the line 2'2 of Fig. 1, with certain parts omitted for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed view with certain parts broken away, illustrating a modifled embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, composite view with certain parts being shown in section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and other parts being shown in plan.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel and improved inking mechanism particularly adapted for use with newspaper printing presses. Another object is the provision of an inking mechanism in which the 40 several page widths of the ductor roller can be individually moved toward and away from the ink fountain roller and ink drum to individually vary the pressure of contact between the rollers and drum, as well as to permit the use of rollers of slightly different diameters. A further object is the provision of an improved means for silencing one or more page widths of the inking mechanism when only a portion of the full number of pages is to be printed.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, the ink fountain is of conventional construction and includes a rotatably mounted fountain roller 10, dipping into the ink contained in ink trough 11,

together with suitable means (not shown) for regulating and minutely controlling the amount of ink remaining on the surface of the fountain roller as it rotates. An ink drum 12, also of conventional construction, is rotatably mounted 0 parallel to the fountain roller and spaced therefrom, and has ink transferred to it from the fountain roller by the ductor mechanism about to be described. The ink drum, as is usual, cooperates with other rollers which distribute the ink and transfer it from roller to roller, finally depositing the ink in a thin film on the surface of the printing member.

The ductor mechanism forming part of the present invention comprises a shaft 14, extending from one side of the printing press and ink fountain to the other and oscillatably journalled in the usual side frames of the press. Keyed to shaft 14, and held against axial movement thereon by means of set screws 15, are pairs of radially extending arms 16. The members of each pair are spaced from each other a distance equal to the width of the pages to be printed by the press, and the arms are preferably positioned in substantial radial alinement with the portions of the inking mechanism corresponding to the margins of the pages to be printed.

For transferring ink from the fountain roller to the ink drum, a plurality ofrollers 17 of substantially uniform size are mounted in the arms 16, each roller being of a length approximately equal to the width of the printed portion of the pages. These rollers are preferably individually journalled and are movable into and out of axial alinement with each other and maybe contacted alternately with the fountain roller and ink drum.

For rotatably journalling the transfer rollers or sections, each section 1'7 is provided at its ends with a short stub-shaft 18 of reduced diameter which is projected into a ball bearing 19 seated in block 20. The adjacent ends of the several roller sections are positioned close together and the roller sections are held against axial movement by means of suitable shoulders formed on the shaft 18 and block 20, in engagement with the inner and outer races of the bearing,respectivelyl Means are provided for bodily moving the various roller sections into and out of contact alternately with the fountain roller 10 and the ink drum 12, to transfer ink from the ink fountain to the inking train, and for this purpose oscillating mechanism is driven by the press and connected with the roller supporting arms 16. This mechanism may be of any desired construction, but as embodied, comprises a press driven, oscillating shaft 22 to which is keyed a slotted arm 23, which is connected with a short arm 24 keyed to shaft 14, by means of link 25. Link 25 is pivotally connected with arm 24, and is plvotally connected with the slotted arm 23 by means of the variably positionable pivot pin 26. Pin 26 is normally positioned to give sufficient throw to roller supporting arms to press the several roller sections 17 into firm contact with the fountain roller 10 and then the ink drum 12.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for individually variably positioning the several roller sections to move them out of operative relation with the fountain roller and ink drum and thereby silence the corresponding page width of the inking mechanism when no printing plates are to be inked thereby. For this purpose, blocks 20, which support the and bearings for the individual roller sections, are formed with projecting tongues 28 on their opposite upper and lower sides to cooperate with corresponding grooves 29 formed in the forked ends 30 of the arms 16, thereby permitting the blocks and roller sections to be moved in and out radially of the arm supporting shaft 14. An end plate 31 is provided at the end of each of the forked arms and is secured to the outer extremities of the forks by means of screws 32, while it carries a rotatable threaded member 33 midway between the forks. Threaded member 33 is held against axial movement in the arms by means of collar 34, and its inner end is threaded into a threaded socket 35 formed in the outer face of the bearing block 20. By turning the squared heads 36 on the threaded members at both ends of any roller section that section may be moved outwardly of the arms (into the: position shown by dotted lines, Figure 1) placing it out of operative relationship with respect to both the fountain roller and ink drum. h

After inking rollers have become worn, it is customary to remove a portion of the outer, resilient surface of the roller to render the surface true and of uniform diameter, and this operation reduces the diameter of the inking roller. In the ordinary operation of presses, a considerable supply of rollers accumulates, and by reason of the truing operation, their size is not uniform. Heretofore, it was generally necessary to carefully select the rollers so that they would be of substantially the same diameter, but with the present invention, a wide variation in roller diameter does not interfere with the satisfactory operation of the inking mechanism, inasmuch as the individual roller sections may be moved in and out to insure the same degree of pressure between them and the fountain roller and ink drum regardless of the diameter of the roller sections.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a modified embodiment of the present invention, which is particularly adapted for use with roller sections of substantially uniform diameter and facilitates the silencing of any of the page widths. In this embodiment, the bearings for the individual roller sections are mounted in eccentric sleeves which may be rotated to position the inking roller sections either for contact or to maintain them out of contact with the fountain roller and ink drum.

Only two oscillating, roller supporting arms 16' need be employed, one at either end of the ink fountain, connected together by means of a relatively stiff shaft 40, which extends from one side of the fountain to the other, being rigidly supported in the ends of the arms. On this shaft are mounted the several transfer roller sections 1'7, each of page width and these sections are individually rotatably journaled on the shaft 40. At either end of each section is provided an eccentric sleeve 41 closely fitted to the shaft but rotatable thereon. The eccentric sleeves for each particular section are interconnected and held against angular displacement by means of a long sleeve 42, surrounding the shaft 40 and fastened to the sleeves at their ends. Sleeves 41 are provided with a portion of reduced diameter on which is mounted a ball bearing assembly 43, having its inner race abutting against a shoulder 44 and its outer race fitted within the roller core and abutting against shoulder 45.

For facilitating the rotation of eccentric sleeves 41 to, move the roller sections into and out of operative relationship, small upstanding lugs 46 may be provided on the eccentric at the end of the roller section, and these lugs support a pin 4'7 extending between them and providing a grip for a tool by which the pin may be engaged to turn the sleeve. Means are also provided for retaining the eccentric sleeves in either of their positions, and for this purpose the shaft 40 is formed with a pair of shallow depressions 48, within each of the eccentric sleeves, the depressions being substantially diametrically opposed and circumferentially alined. Each sleeve 41 is provided with a radially extending bore into which is placed a ball 49, pressed against and into one of the depressions by means of spring 50 which is retained within the hole by means of screw plug v51.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1. An inking mechanism including in combination a plurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller and an ink drum to transfer ink from one to the other, all of said rollers being arranged end to end and means at one side of the mechanism for moving said rollers individually toward and away from the fountain roller and drum whereby different sizes of rollers may be mounted for simultaneous contact with the fountain roller or ink drum.

2. An inking mechanism including in combination a plurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller and an ink drum to transfer ink from one to the other, all of said rollers being arranged with their ends closely adjacent to each other and means for moving sztild rollers into and out of alinement with each 0 er.

3. An inking mechanism including in combination a plurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller and an ink drum to transfer ink from one to the other, all of said rollers being arranged with their ends in close adjacency and means for bodily oscillating said rollers into alternate contact with said fountain roller and drum.

4. An inking mechanism including in combination a plurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller and an ink drum to transfer ink from one to the other, all of said rollers being arranged end to end, means for bodily oscillating said rollers into alternate an ink drum to transfer ink from one to the other,

guides in which the ends of said rollers are individually movable into and out'of axial alinement with each other and rotatably mounted and means for individually variably positioning the several sections whereby the several sections of the mechanism may be individually silenced.

6. An inking mechanism including in combination a plurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller and an ink drum to transfer ink from one to the other, and

guides in which the ends of said rollers are individually movable, said guides being positioned ably positionable and means for moving the guides to contact the roller sections alternately with the fountain roller and ink drum.

8. An inking mechanism including in combination aplurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller and an ink drum to transfer ink from one to the other. a

shaft supported adjacent to said fountain roller and drum and on which the sections are rotatably mounted and means for individually moving the roller sections on said shaft toward and away from the fountain roller and drum. 1 9. An inking mechanism including in combination a plurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller and an ink drum to transfer ink from one to the other, a shaft supported adjacent to said fountain roller and drum and on which the sections are rotatably mounted, eccentrics supporting the roller sections on said shaft and individually rotatable to move individual sections out of alinement with the remaining section.

10. 'An inking mechanism including in combination a plurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller and ink drum,

a shaft adjacent to said fountain roller and drum and surrounded by said sections, eccentrics on said shaft at the ends of each section, and on which the sections are rotatably mounted and means for rotating the eccentrics for each section and retaining the eccentrics in different position.

11. An inking mechanism including in combination a plurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller and ink drum, a shaft adjacent to said fountain roller and drum and surrounded by said sections, eccentrics on said shaft .at-the ends of each section and on which the sections are rotatably mounted and oscillatable arms on which said shaft is mounted.

12. An inking mechanism including in combination a plurality of sectional transfer rollers to be contacted with a fountain roller andink drum, a shaft adjacent to said fountain roller and drum and surrounded by said sections, eccentrics on said shaft at the ends of each section and on which the sections are rotatably mounted, oscillatable arms on which said shaft is mounted and means interconnecting the eccentrics for each section to cause them to move in unison as one is moved.

' CHAS. J. RICHTER.

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