US1904709A - Printing attachment for bag making machines - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1933. T. M. AVERY-ET AL, 1,904,709

PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 28, 1930 12 Sheets-Sheet l z/ io ATTORNEY l I INVENTORS I Ap 1933- T. M. AVERY ET AL.

PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1930 S R mm m M g QM E QM N m m A .UQMN \\.N,U mN m m m... *9 A 1 -WUF I--!I---:!-E:\I :& Em i am 9Q W i- I Q M Q h ?m H w w Q Nm \1 mwx @KN Mm W N mm m MN. NNN. |||I ll w l wl Q\. II N NV \mw m m N\ Q51 NN I I 1 l IMWNMXH q 41 3 M i .h HW H m wnwm ll mm Y ,l h k @NN 9 NWN Q 1 GM QT R ATTORN EY April 18, 1933. T. M. AVERY ET AL.

PRINTING ATTACHMENT FORBAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1930 12 Sheets-Sheet f5 M 4m rm m H Mm fim April 18, 1933.

T. M. AVERY ET AL PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAGMAKING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1930 12 sheets sheet 4 ATTORNEY Apn] 18, 1933. T. M. AVERY El AL PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1930 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY April 18, 1933.

T. M. AVERY ET AL PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1930 1; Sheets-Sheet 6 I I I l INVENTOR$ MANN BY y/W/flm? ATTORNEY April 18, 1933. T. M. AVERY ET AL PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 26, 19:50

12 Sheets-Sheet 7 NNN INVENTORS ATTORNEY April 18, 1933 T. M. AVERY ET AL PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1930 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTORNEY April 18, 1933.

" T. M. AVERY ET AL PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTORNEY April 18, 1933. T. M. AVERY ET AL PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1930 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 ATTORNEY April 8, 1933- T. M. AVERY ET AL 1,904,709

PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1950 12 Sheets-Sheetll ATTORNEY April 18, 1933. T. M AVERY ET AL 1,904,709

PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Filed May 28, 1950 12 SheetS-Sheet lZ INVENTORS 7km: /7. fivzzkY if? ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUE M. AVERY, OF GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK, AND WILLIAM M. SEITZINGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO UNION IBAG' AND PAPER CORPORATION, OF HUDSON FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR BAG MAKING MACHINES Application filed May 26,

The present invention relates to improvements in printing mechanism and more particularly to printing attachments for bag making machines, and it provides an im- 5 proved mechanism or attachment of this kind whereby the construction thereof is improved and rendered more compact and accessible and the operation thereof is improved and adjustments of the elements are facilitated.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a printing attachment for bag making machines wherein the printing mechanism is capable of being withdrawn from the frame of the machine to facilitate changing of the printing surfaces or for other purposes, such withdrawal rendering the printing mechanism easily accessible, and means being provided for maintaining the elements of the printing mechanism in proper timed relation with the bag making nnn-hine. such withdrawable mounting of the printing mechanism enabling the same to be constructed more compactly than heretofore.

Another object is to provide improved means for mounting and driving the printing rolls and their cooperating rolls whereby some of these rolls may be thrown out of operation. or the entire printing mechanism may be thrown out of operation if desired to enable the printing mechanism to remain idle while unprinted bags are being made in the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide other improvements in printing attachments for bag making machines whereby such machines are rendered capable of operating rapidly and in an improved manner and the printing attachment may be placed closely adjacent to the bag making mechanism. thereby materially shortening the length of the machine.

F To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and com- 1930. Serial No. 455,919.

binations and arrangements all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a side elevation, with parts broken away of a bag making machine equipped with a printing attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention:

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the printing attachment on an enlarged scale and as viewed from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the printing attachment on an enlarged scale, it being shown partly in section on the line 3-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 represents a vertical section through the printing mechanism, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, some of the elements of the printing mechanism being omitted:

Fig. 5 represents, on a reduced scale, a. horizontal section taken on the line 5 of Fig. 4 but showing the printing mechanism withdrawn or in laterally extended relation to the frame of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view. partly broken away, of one of the ink fountain supports;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the printing mechanism, showing the printing and impression rolls and the inking means therefor;

Fig. 10 is a detail view on an enlarged scale and taken partly in section on the line 1010 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a detail view partly in section, of the clutch for connecting and disconnecting the printing attachment relatively to the bag making machine;

Fig. 12 is a detail view on an enlarged scale, partly in section on the line 1212 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of a portion of one of the ink fountain covers;

Fig. 14.is a bottom plan view of a portion of one of the ink fountain covers;

Fig. 15 is a top lan view of one of the ink fountains showing the shaft for the ink feeding roll mounted therein;

Fig. 16 represents a vertical section through one of the ink fountains on the line 16 16 of Fig. 15, the cover being shown in position and the shaft for the ink feeding roll being removed;

Fig. 17 represents a section on an enlarged scale taken on the line-17--17 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 18 represents a section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 1818 of Fi 3;

Fig. 19 is an end elevation of one of the printing rolls; v

Fig. 20 is a face view, partly in section, of one of the printing rolls;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view of an end of one of the idler rolls and its bearing;

Fig. 22 represents a section taken on the line 2222 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a view partly in section, of one of the relatively smaller idler rolls, showing the lubricating means for the bearing thereof;

Fi 24 is a top plan view of the ink feedmg evice; I

Fig. 25 represents a vertical section through the ink feeding device taken on the line '2525 of Fig. 24; and

Fig. 26 represents a vertical section through the ink feeding device taken on the line 26-26 of Fig. 24.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the different views. The invention is shown in the present instance as a printing attachment for bag making machines, but some of the improvements provided by the present invention may be used in printing mechanisms employed for other purposes. The preferred construction of the printing mechanism is shown in the accompanyin drawings and will be hereinafter descri ed in detail, but it is to be'understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise con- 1 struction shown as equivalent constructions may be used and such will be included within the scope of-the claims.

The printing attachment is shown in the accompanying drawings as applied to a bag making machine of well known construction which receives the paper or bag material in the form of a continuous strip from a roll or other supply and folds the longitudinal edges of the strip inwardly to form a tube which are folded to close the bottoms thereof, bag making machines of this kind being well known to those skilled in the art and examples thereof being shown and described in U. S. Letters-Patent Nos. 1,517,099 and 1,539,624 granted Nov. 26, 1924 and May 26. 1925 respectively to T. M. Avery, so that detail illustration and description thereof is deemed unnecessary, it being sufficient to set forth that 1 represents a main stationary frame of the bag making machine having a bracket 2 at one end to receive a roll of paper 3 from which the bags are to be made, the strip of paper being passed over idler rollers 4 and 5 and between paste applying rollers 6 which apply a. line of paste along one edge of the strip, after which the strip passes under a former 7 having folding devices associated therewith and which fold the longitudinal edges of the strip inwardly and paste them to form a tube, the tube thus formed passing between draw rolls 8 driven from the main drive shaft 8 through he gear 10, and between pinch rolls 9 and being severed in suitable lengths to form bag sections by the usual striker or breaker 210 carried by a shaft 211 driven by the gears 212 from one of the pinch rolls 9, the bag sections being then fed on to the rollers 11 and the associated mechanism commonly used in machines of this class for folding, and closing the bottoms of the bags, the striker and the draw rolls 8 and pinch rolls 9 and other arts of the machine being driven, as is well nown, in proper timed relationship, and a shaft 12 driven by the gears 213 from the striker shaft 21.1, serves to drive the printing attachment in proper timed relationship with the bag making machine to maintain correct registry between the printing impressions produced on the strip and the lengths or portions of the strip which subsequently form the bag sections. A trade-mark printer such as cmmnonly used on bag making machines of this class, is shown, it comprising a. printing roll 13 which is driven from a shaft 14, the latter being connected by gearing 15 to a shaft 16, the latter being maintained in bearings 17 fixed to the upper part of the main frame of the machine and connected by gears 18 to the drive shaft 12. The paper strip passes ljetween the printing roll 13 and impression roll 19 and the printing roll receives ink from an ink feeding roll 20 through an intermediate inking roll 21.

Since the construction and mode of operation of trade-mark printers as thus applied to bag making machines is well known, further illustration and description thereof is believed unnecessary.

The printing attachment provided by the present invention is mounted on the main frame of the bag making machine in the eoevoe path of the strip of paper or material from which the bags are made, so that it will apply printed impressions to the strip while the latter feeds continuously into the machine, and according to the present invention, the printing attachment, or the major portion thereof including the printing rolls, is mounted movably in the main frame so that itmay be withdrawn laterally therefrom so that it will be exposed ata side of the machine, thereby rendering the printing attachment readily accessible for -the changing of printing surfaces on the printing rolls. In the construction shown, the printing rolls 22, the inking rolls 23 and the ink feeding rolls 24 together with their ink supply fountains 25 and the driving means for such rolls are carried as a unit on the frame 26 which latter is bolted or otherwise fixed to a base plate 27 which extends transversely within the relatively fixed upper portion 1 of the main frame of the machine so that it may shift laterally into and out of position within said frame, the

' base plate 27 resting at its longitudinal edges on rollers 28 which are fixed or otherwise mounted on a horizontal shaft 29, the latter being supported in bearings 30 fixed to the outer side of the frame section 1*, and frame section 1 is provided with cross members 30 which rigidly connect the two sides of the frame section 1*, these cross members being provided with rails 31 on which the portion of the base plate 27 within the frame rests slidably. The construction just described enables the printing mechanism to occupy either an operative position within the stationary frame as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 or to be shifted laterally out of operative position within the frame so as to expose the printing mechanism at a side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 5, where the printing mechanism will be readily accessible. Preferably, the under side of the shiftable base plate 27 has a rack 32 secured thereto and the shaft 29 has a pinion 33 fixed thereon and meshing with the rack and shaft 29 preferably has a worm wheel 34 fixed to an end thereof and meshed with a worm 35, the latter having a crank or handle 36 connected thereto whereby the base plate carrying the printing mcchanism may be easily and quickly removed from the main frame of the machine or returned to operative position therein, by rotation of the crank or handle 36. By

providing the rollers 28 on the shaft 29 to support the laterally shiftable base plate, the weight of the latter and of the printing mechanism thereon, will have an antifriction support on the shaft 29 which will relieve friction between the laterally shiftable base plate and the stationary main frame, especially when the base plate and the printing mechanism thereon are in extended position, thereby enabling the printing mechanism to be shifted to and from operative position with minimum cflort. Downward tipping of the outer end of the base plate 27 when the latter is extended laterally from the stationary frame, is prevented by flanges 37 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the cross members 30 of the stationary frame and overhang the longitudinal edges of the base plate, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, and the movement of the base plate to and from operative position are limited by a stop strip 27 fixed to the under side thereof and arranged to abut against the respective sides of the main frame. The framework 26 which carires th printing mechanism as a unit thereon, comprises a pair of end members 38 having bearings in which the different rolls comprising the printing mechanism are mounted. The shafts 39 of the printing rolls are journalled at their ends in bearings 40 which are preferably mounted slidably in guides 41 in the respective end frames 38, compression springs 41 being mounted at the inner sides of the bearings and acting to force the bearings and the printing rolls thereon outwardly and set screws 42 carried by removable caps 42 on the end frame members 38 acting on the bearings 40 and serving as means for adjusting the printing rolls inwardly and outwardly and of maintaining them in different set adjustments.

The shafts 43 of'the inking rolls 23 are journalled at their ends in bearings 44 which are preferably slidably mounted in guides 45 formed in the members 38 of the framework so that the inking rolls may be adjusted toward and from the respective printing rolls to bring the peripheries of the inking rolls into proper ink transferring relationship with the printing surfaces on the printing rolls, springs 46 being preferably mounted at the inner sides of the bearings 44 and acting to yieldingly force the inking rolls against the respective printing rolls and set screws 47 abutting against the outer sides of the bearings 44 and providing adjustable means for limiting the pressure of the inking rolls against the printing rolls. Preferably, the set screws 47 are each carried by a sleeve 48 which is movably mounted in a cap 49 bolted or otherwise fixed to the respective end frame member 38 as shown in Fig. 18, the sleeve 48 having a. flange '50 thereon against which bear eccentric or cam surfaces 51 formed on the arms of a fork shaped lever 52, said arms being pivoted to the cap 49 by the pivot screws 53 whereby, when the levers 52 are swung downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 9, the low portions of the cam sur faces 51 will engage the flange of the sleeve 48 and the springs 46 will then be able to force the inking rollers 23 outwardly and into working contact with the respective printing rolls 22 but when the levers 52 are swung upwardly or into substantially horizontal position, the high portions of the cam surfaces 51 will engage the flange of the sleeve 48 and said sleeve and the said screw 47 carried thereby will be forced inwardly against the action of the springs 46 and the inking rollers 2-3 will then be held out of contact with the respective printing rolls. The shiftable mountings for the inking rolls enable either or both of these rolls to be disengaged from the respective print ing roll or rolls as for example when one of the printing rolls is not to receive ink or when the machine is standing idle, the disengagement of one or the other of the inking rolls from its respective printing roll while the machine is in operation rendering the respective printing roll inoperative so that no inked impression will be pro duced thereby so that printing may be done with one ink or one color when such is desired, and the disengagement of both inking rolls from the respective printin 1 rolls while the machine is idle avoiding attening of the inking rolls, which are usually com- .po-e(l of rubber, by contact with the printing rolls.

Ink is supplied to the inking rolls by the feed rolls 2% which are preferably composed of rubber and arc'maintained in contact with the printing rolls during the printing operation. These ink feeding rolls are mounted on shafts 5-1 which are journalled in hearings formed in the ends of the ink fountains 25, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, each of these ink fountains comprising a pan-like receptacle to contain a supply of ink and into which the respective'ink feeding. roll 24 dips, and a cover 56 which is bolted or otherwise removably secured to the bottom section and has an opening 57 therein through which the ink feeding roll is exposed so that it may contact with the periphery of the respective inking roll 23, as shown in Fig. 9. The ink feeding roll it picks up ink from the lower portion of the ink fountain and transfers the ink to the respective inking roll 23, and in order to prevent the picking up of excess ink by the ink feeding roll 24, a doctor or scraper preferably in the form of a strip of flat sheet metal, is bolted or otherwise secured within the ink fountain so that its free edge cmitacts with the periphery of the ink feeding roll 24 and scrapes or otherwise removes surplus ink therefrom. In order to prevent the escape of ink along the ends of the shaft 54 and its escape through the bearing 55, disks 59 are fixed on the shaft 54 beyond each end of the ink feeding roll 24, these diskspresenting circumfcrcntially extending flanges or edges which will throw any ink reacl'iing them from the shaft, and in order to prevent ink thrown from the disks 59 from reaching the bearings 55 from the under side of the cover 56, beads 60 are preferably formed on the under side of the cover 56 at the outer sides of the opening 57 to intercept any ink thrown against the under side of the cover and to conduct such ink along the beads and back into the ink fountain at opposite sides of the center of the shaft. The cover 56 of each ink foun .tain is also preferably provided with a lip 61 which underlies the respective inking roll 23 and serves to catch any ink dropping therefrom and to conduct such ink back into the ink fountain and this lip will also catch any ink which. might be thrown from the peripheries of the rollers 23 and 24 or either of them as shown in Fig. 9. The top of the cover 56 is also preferably provided with an upturned lip 62 which extends toward the periphery of the respective inking roll 23, this lip being opposite to the line of contact between the rolls 23 and ll and serving to catch any excess ink which might be squeezed between these rolls and thus thrown backwardly, spilling and waste of the ink being thereby avoided. The bottom wall of each ink fountain preferably slopes toward the center from the sides and ends thereof, as will be clear from Figs. 9 and 16, and atrough 63 leads from the lowermost point in the fountain to a conduit 64 to which a pipe 65 is connected, this pipe serving to supply ink to the fountain and also providing a drain through which the ink may be removed from the fountain when the operation of the machine is to be discontinued or a different ink is to be substi tuted, the sloping surfaces of the bottom of the ink fountain enabling all of the ink to drain completely and by gravity therefrom.

Means is provided for adjusting the ink fountains and the ink feeding rolls 24 to bring them into proper working relation with the respective inking rolls 23. As shown in the present instance. the ink fountains and the ink feeding rolls 24 mounted therein are each supported on and scoured bv the bolts 66 to the upper side of a bar 67, and each of these bars is slidably mounted on the laterally shiftable base plate 37, and means is provided for shifting the bars 67 to move the ink feeding rolls 24 in directions toward and from the inking rolls 23 to produce the precisely correct pressure between these rolls and for holding said bars in adjusted position. Preferably and shown in the present instance, screws 66 are provided atthe ends of the bars. each screw having flanges or heads 69 at its ends and having a threaded portion between such flanges, one end of the screw having a wrench-receiving head as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. Each end of each bar 67 is reduced with width to provide spaces between the bar and the flanges on the ends of the screw, and the upper side of the bar has a semi-cylindrical or threaded portion formed therein to receive and fit the threaded portion of the screw. A clamp 71 is provided to overhang each end of each bar 67, each of these clamps having a foot 72 thereon to bear on the upper surface of the base plate 27 and having a semi-cylindrical or segmental unthreaded recess 73 which overlies the respective end of the bar 67 and adapted to rotatably receive the threaded portion of the screw 68, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the edges of the clamp at the ends of the unthreaded recess 73 thereof being formed with semi-cylindrical or segmental recesses 74 to rotatably receive the flanges 69 on the ends of the screw. The recessed end of the clamp 71 which overlies the screw 68 is clamped frictionally upon the top of the bar 67 by a screw 75 which extends through the clamp and is secured in the base plate 27, this screw being located between the screw receiving recess 73 and the foot 72 of the clamp so that tightening of the screw will force the recessed end of the clamp downwardly against the top of the bar 67, and in order to prevent displacement of the clamp about the screw 75 as an axis. dowel pins 76 may be fixed in the clamp and engaged in holes 77 in the base plate 27. In the construction just described. the screws 68 at the ends of each bar 67 may be rotated in the respective clamps 71 and during such rotation of the screws the latter will be held by the heads or flanges 69 against axial movement relatively to the clamps, and since theclamps are held in fixed positions on the base plate :27 and the screws engage threaded portions in the ends of the bar 67, rotation of the screws will shift the bars 67 transversely of their lengths and the ink fountains and the ink feeding rolls 24 which are carried by bars 67 will be thereby shifted so that the precisely correct pressure between the inking rolls :23 and the respective ink feeding rolls 24: is produced to insure the proper transfer of ink from the latter rolls to the former rolls the individual adjusting screws at the ends of each bar enabling the ink feeding rolls to be adjusted angularly as well as bodily relatively to the respective inking rolls. v

The impression roll 78 with which the printing rolls 22 coact, is preferably mounted in the stationary upper frame section 1, it being held in working relation with the printing rolls while the printing mechanism is in operation but means is provided for withdrawing the impression roll from such working relation when the printin mechanism is to be withdrawn laterally rom the main frame. The impression roll 78 is mounted to revolve substantially free of friction on its supporting shaft 79 by roller or other antifriction bearings 80 interposed between the roller and its shaft, the impression roll being driven at the same peripheral speed as that of the printing rolls, as by the gear 78 fixed to one end of the impression roll and the cooperating gear 39 fixed to the shaft 39 carrying one of the printing rolls 22, these gears having pitch diameters equal to the diameters of the impression and printing rolls respectively and insuring accurate registration of the impressions made by the two printing rolls. Each end of the shaft 79, as shown in Figs. 3 and 17, is flattened at its opposite sides, as indicated at 81 to fit vertically in a guide 82 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the stationary frame portion 1". A spring 83 is supported in the bottom of each guide 82, these springs being of sufficient strength to normally support the impression roll in a raised position out of contact with the printing rolls. A plunger 84 is mounted to reciprocate in the upper portion of each guide 82 and to bear on the upper side of the respective end of the shaft, 79, and these plungers are simultaneously operated by a shaft 85 which is journalled in bearings fixed to the top of the stationary frame portion 1 so that the plungers will force both ends of the impression roll shaft downwardly to bring the impression roll into working relationship with the printing rolls or to permit the springs 83 to lift the impression roll out of working relationship with the printing rolls. As shown, the shaft 85 is provided near each end with a recessed or flattened portion 86 at one side thereof into which the plungers will be forced when such recesses are brought opposite thereto, the remainder of the circumference of the shaft where it is engaged by the plungers being unrecessed so that they will hold the plungers in lowered position and will thereby maintain the impression roller in work ing relation with the printing rolls. In order to enable the correct impression pres sure to be obtained between the impression roll and the printing rolls each of the plungers 84 is preferably composed of threaded sections as shown in Fig. 17 and which are relatively rotatable to lengthen or shorten the plungers as may be required, and a lock nut 87 is provided for holding the sections of each plunger in adjusted relation. The shaft 85 preferably extends beyond a side of the frame section 1 and is provided with a portion 88 which is angularly or otherwise formed to receive a suitable operating crank.

The printing rolls and the inking and ink feeding rolls are driven by gearing which insures rotation thereof at equal peripheral speed. The printing roll shafts 39 have gears 89 fixed thereon, these gears being of equal diameter and having a pitch diameter equal to the diameter of the printing rolls, and the shafts 43 of the inking rolls have gears 90 fixed thereon, these gears being of equal diameter and having a pitch diameter equal to that of the inking rolls, the gears 90 meshing with and being driven from the gears 89 on the respective printing rolls. The shafts 54 of the ink feeding rolls 24 have gears 91 fixed thereon which are of equal diameter and have a pitch diameter equal to that of the ink feeding rolls, these gears 91 meshing with and being driven from the gears 90 of the respective inking rolls. The gears 89, 90 and 91 are preferably located at the inner side of the framework 38, as shown in Fig. 2, and in order to suitably support the end of each ink feeding roll shaft 54, a bearing 92 is preferably provided for this shaft, engaging the same adjacent to the gear 91 thereon and being bolted or removably mounted on the upper side of the respective bar 67 as shown in Fig. 2.

Motion is imparted to the printing rolls to drive them and the inking and ink feeding rolls by a gear 93 which is fixed to a main driving shaft 94 which is located equidistantly from the centers of the printing roll shafts 39, this gear being located on the forward or outer sideof the framework 38 and meshing with a pair of gears 95 of equal size on the print roll shafts 39. The gears 95 are preferably adjustable angularly on the respective printing roll shafts in order to enable the printing rolls to be rotated or set to bring them into proper working relationship with each other and with the portions of the strip of paper which are to form the bag sections. For this purpose, a hand wheel 96 is fixed by a set screw 97 or other suitable means to the end of the respective printing roll shaft as shown in Fig. 10 and the respective gear 95 is rotatably mounted on a hub 98 formed on the hand wheel, and each hand wheel is formed with segmental slots 99 which extend therethrough to the respective gear 95 and bolts or screws 100 extend through the slots 99 in each hand wheel and are threaded or otherwise secured to the respective gear 95 so that tightening of these bolts or screws firmly or immovably locks each gear 95 to its respective hand wheel 96.

The main driving gear 93 is preferably provided with means for connecting and disconnecting it relatively to its driving shaft 94 whereby the printing mechanism may remain idle while the bag making machine is being operated to produce unprinted bags. As shown in the present instance, the hub 1010f the gear 93 is formed with a diametrically extending clutch groove 102 to receive a clutch tooth 103 which extends diametrically on the rear face of a clutch collar 104, the latter being splined on the shaft 94 by a key 105 which permits the clutch collar to be shifted to engage the clutch jaw 103 with the clutch groove 102 in the hubof the gear 93 as shown in Fig. 11, at which time the gear 93 will be clutched to the main driving shaft 94 or the clutch collar 104 may be shifted in an opposite direction to disengage the clutch jaw 103 from the clutch groove 102 as shown in Fig. 10 at which time the gear 93 will be disconnected from the main driving shaft 94 and the latter may be revolved freely while the printing mechanism remains idle. A spring pressed ball 106 is preferably fitted into the clutch collar 104 and is arranged to engage one or another of two suitably located rccesses 106 formed in the shaft 94 whereby the clutch collar 104 will be yieldingly held in either clutched or unclutched condition. In order to insure re-engagement of the clutch collar 104 with the gear 93 so that the latter will be in proper timed relation with the main driving shaft 94, a pin 107 is fitted into the side of the clutch collar 101 opposite to the hub of the gear 93 and the hub of the gear 93 is formed with a recess 108 which will receive the pin 107 when the clutch collar 104 is properly engaged therewith and this pin will prevent improperly timed engagement of the clutch jaw 103 with the recess 102.

The main driving shaft 94 for the printing attachment is driven from the shaft 16 which connects it in predetermined timed relation with the bag making machine, and the present invention provides means which permits lateral withdrawal of the printing mechanism from the main frame of the machine while maintaining the predeterininml timed relationship between the printing mechanism and the bag making machine. As shown in the present instance. the main driving shaft 94 of the printing mechanism is inserted into the end of a sleeve 109 and is fixed therein by a transverse pin 110 and a collar 111 which surrounds the sleeve and in which the pin is secured, and this collar bears a ainst the inner side of a bearing 112 in t e respective end member 38 of the shiftable framework 26, the end of the sleeve 109 adjacent to the gear 93 being journallcd in this bearing, as shown in Fig. 10 and the opposite end of the sleeve 109 being journalled in a bearing 113 in the other end I member 38 of the shiftable framework 26. A shaft 114 is fitted telescopically or slidahly within the end of the sleeve 109 opposite to that carrying the gear 93, this shaft being provided at its rear end with a bevel gear 115 which is fixed thereon and meshes with a cooperating bevel gear 116 which latter is fixed on the shaft 16. The end of the shaft 114 adjacent to the gear 115 is journalled in a bearing 117 which is mounted in fixed position on the stationary section 1 of the main frame. Axial movement of the shaft 114 relatively to the main frame is prevented by a. thrust collar 118 which is fixed on said shaft and bears against the in ner end of the bearin 117 as shown in Figs. 5 and 12, the hub o the gear 115 bearing against the outer end of said bearing, so that the shaft 114 is held from axial movemeut while the printin mechanism carryiug the sleeve 109 is shi ted into and out of the main frame and axial movement of the sleeve 109 vith the printin mechanism while the shaft 114 is helt from axial movement is permitted by the telescopic fit between said sleeve and shaft, but means is provided for maintaining the sleeve 109 and shaft 114 in connected or driving relationship at all times, such means consisting preferably of a key 119 (see Figs. 4 5 and 12), fitted into a key-way 120 formed longitudinally in a side of the shaft 114 and slidable endwise therein, this key being clamped by a split collar 121 which surrounds the sleeve 109 and abuts against the inner side of the bearing 113, the key extending through a slot 122 in the sleeve 109 and into the key-way 120 in the shaft 114 so that it forms a driving connection be tween said sleeve and shaft although permitting relative axial movement between them, the key being held in working position by the clamping action of the split col lar 121 thereon and being retained against displacement by the screw or bolt 123 which clamps the collar on the sleeve and clamps the key between its ends and also extends through the key, thereby preventing it from becoming displaced from the key-way 120. According to the construction just described, the sleeve 109 together with the main driving shaft 94 of the printing mechanism and the gear 93 fixed thereon will shift axially when the framework 26 carrying the print ing mechanism is withdrawn laterally from or returned to its normal position within the stationary frame section 1 but the shaft 114 will be held a ainst axial movement by the relatively fixed bearing 117 in which it is j ournalled, the axial key 109 sliding longitudinally in the key-way 120 in the shaft 114 and thus permitting axial movement of the sleeve 109 relatively thereto to take place, but the key and slot connection between said sleeve and shaft will maintain the driving connection between these elements or in other words, will prevent relative rotation between them, in consequence of which the timed relationship between the printing attachment and the bag making machine is maintained or is not disturbed by lateral withdrawal of the printing mechanism from the framework of the machine.

The present invention provides novel and improved printing rolls and means for adjusting them whereby accurate positioning or registration of the printed impressions therefrom upon the portions of the paper strip which are to constitute the bag sections and accurate registration of impressions in different colors in relation to each other when printing in a plurality of colors is being done, are attained. As shown in Figs. 2 and 10, each printing roll 22 is mounted on its respective shaft 39 so that it may shift axially thereon and a collar 124 is fixed on its respective shaft 39, this collar being preferably in the. form of a split clamp surrounding the shaft and immovably secured in proper adjusted position thereon by a clamping bolt 125. The collar 124'for each printing roll has a screw 126 rotatably mounted therein and arranged with its axis parallel to that of the print.- ing roll shaft 39, axial movement of the screw relatively to the collar being prevented by the engagement of the head 127 of the screw against one side of the collar and the engagement of a thrust member 130 fixed to the screw against the other side of the collar. The end of the screw 126 which extends toward the printing roll has a threaded engagement in a hole 131 formed in the adjacent end of the printing roll, the latter being thereby connected to the collar 124 so that rotation of the screw 126 will shift the printing roll axially, in one direction or the other, along the respective printing roll shaft, and a lock nut 132 is preferably threaded on the screw and arranged to abut against the end of the printing roll to lock the screw against rotation after it has been adjusted. The axial adjustment thus provided for each printing roll cnables the printing rolls and the printing surfaces thereon to be adjusted in a direction transversely of the length 'of the strip of paper or other bag making material which passes the printing rolls and receives printed impressions therefrom, although it will be understood that the printing rolls are driven from their respective shafts 3%) so that they rotate in proper timed relation therewith.

The printing surface for each printing roll is referably composed of rubber which is flexi le and is vulcanized on a strip of tough paper 183 or other flexible backing, the paper or backing 133 ear1 \ing the printing surface which is exposed on its outer side being extended around the major portion of the circumference of the printing roll which is cylindrical and smooth and provides a suitable support l'ht'l'cfol, and one side of the cirouinference of each, printing roll is formed with a slot or opcning 134 as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. into which the ends of the type carrying strip 133 are extended. A pair of winding shafts 135 are journalled in the opposite ends or heads of the printing roll and extend across the slot 134 at points within the circumference of the printing roll, these shafts having slots 136 formed to extend diametrically therein to receive the respective ends of the type carrying strip 133, and rotation of these winding shafts will wind the ends of the type carrying strip upon the respective winding shafts. Each winding shaft is provided with a squared or wrench-receiving end 137 by means of which it may be rotated, and each winding shaft has a ratchet wheel 138 fixed thereon and arranged to co operate with a ratchet pawl 139 pivotally mounted on a screw 140 secured in the outer side of the head of the printing roll, the ratchet wheels and pawls for the respective winding shafts being preferably located at opposite ends of the printing roll as shown so that a wrench or crank may be applied to each of these shafts and operated to adjust the same without interfering with a wrench or crank applied to the other winding shaft. By rotating the winding shafts in appropriate directions to wind the respective ends of the strip 133 thereon, this strip which carries the printing surface may be drawn taut around the periphery of the respective printing roll, the ratchet wheels and cooperating pawls serving to lock the winding shafts and thereby maintain the strip 133 under suitable tension..

By releasing the pawl holding either wind ing shaft and rotating the other winding shaft in a direction to wind the strip 133 thereon, the strip 133 may be adjusted in a direction circumferentially of the printing roll, and this adjustment of the strip 133 which carries the printing surface enables registration of the printed impressions in a direction longitudinally of the bag forming strip to be accomplished, thereby enabling the printed impressions to be located at the proper points in the height of the bags subsequently made from the bag forming strip and also enabling the impressions produced on the bag forming sections of the strip from the two printing surfaces to be accurately registered with one another, this being particularly advantageous when printing is being done in inks of different colors from the different printing rolls.

The idler rolls 4 and 5, over which the strip of paper or other bag making material passes are preferably supported by antifriction rollers to enable these rolls to revolve very freely and with minimum resistance to the bag forming strip, and means is provided for effectively lubricating the bearings. In Fig. 21, the relatively large idler roll 5 has a pin or journal 1.41 pressed or otherwise fixed in each end so as to project axially therefrom. and each of these pins has a journal portion 142 which is reduced in diameter and adapted to receive a roller bearing 143 the rollers of which bear there on, the roller bearing having a surrounding annular race 144 which fits closely within the ring-like portion 145 of a bracket 146, each of these bracket-s one of which is provided at each end of the idler roll, having a cylindrical stem 147 which adapted to removably and rotatably fit into a cylindrical socket 148 formed'in the stationary frame of the machine or in a bracket 149 which is bolted or otherwise secured thereto, the rotatable fit of the stem 147 of each bracket 146 in its socket enabling the bearing carried by the bracket 146 to aline itself with the journal of the idler roll in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the stem 147, and the annular opening in the bracket 146 which receives the annular outer bearing 144 is preferably flared or tapered toward the opposite ends thereof to provide an annular surface 150 within the bracket which is of relatively short axial length, the engagement of the outer bearing race 144 with this relatively shortannular bearing surface 150 enabling the outer bearing race and the bearing rollers carried by it to occupy different angular positions within the bracket 146 in a plane parallel to the axis of the stem 147, whereby the hearing will aline itself with the respective journal of the idler roll in such plane. The inner side of the bearing is preferably closed by a ring 151 having an annular flange which is pressed over the inner end of the bearing race 144 and the outer end of the bearing is preferably closed by a cap 152 which has an annular flange on its periphery which is pressed over the outer end of the bearing race 144 as shown in Fig. 21, the bearing being thereby closed toretain a lubricant therein. In order to lubricate the bearings of the idler roll, the latter is provided at each end with a fitting 153 which is countersunk in a recess 154 so that it lies below the periphery of the roll and will not be engaged by the paper thereon, this fitting being of any suitable type to receive grease or other lubricant from a high pressure grease gun of any of the well known kinds in common use. The fitting is threaded or otherwise secured in the outer end of a duct 155 which extends radially inwardly from the peripheral recess 154 to the center of the idler roll and into the journal pin 144. and the latter is formed with an axially extending duct 156 which leads from the inner end of the duct 155 to the outer end of the journal pin 141. By this arrangement, grease or other lubricant forced into the duct 155 by the application of a grease gun to the fitting 153 will pass through the axial duct 156 and from the outer end of this duct the grease will enter the bearing.

Each of the relatively smaller idlcr rolls 4 is provided with bearings and lubri *ating

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