US2065545A - Surface decorating method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9 1936. e. VON WEBERN 2,065,545

SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND- MPARATUS Filed April 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheetfl gvwwwto rl 51/070 l/a/v Maze 5 Sheets-Sheet q G.'VON WEBERN.

SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1955 Dec. 29, 1936.

Eu/up Von Maze 136% 1936' G. VON WEBERN SURFACE DECORATING METHOD ANI? APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 61/100 Va/Y M55? Defl 1936- 5. VON'WEBERN Q 2,065,545

' SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed April 23, 1955 5 Sheets-Shet 4 Dec. 29, 1936. VON WEBERN I 4 5 SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND APPARATUS I Filed April 23,1935 E Sheets-Sheet 5 gnaw 28 I Eu/00 Mn Maze/y Patented Dec.- 29, 1936 UNITED STATES- SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Guido von Webern, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Oxford Varnish Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 23, 1935, Serial No. 17,825

3 Claims. (01.101-154) may be replaced by a pattern roll of a different diameter, and the pattern transferred therefrom, 15 without altering the mechanism, and in which only such adjustments are required as would be required'when changing from one pattern roll to another pattern roll of/ the same diameter.

Another object is to provide a surface decorating machine which will smooth out the article to be decorated, so that articles, such as small pieces of. leather and the like, may be decorated without danger of folding or creasing the article.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for applying color to a decorating member, as, for instance, an etched pattern plate, in such a manner as to prevent deterioration of the pattern plate or printing member.

Other objects of the present invention will be- 30 come more apparent from the following description, reference being had to the preferred form of mechanism forcarrying out the method.

In the drawings, Fig. 1' is a side elevation of a preferred form of mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side 35 elevation of the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 on Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical section, as indicated by the line 4-4 on Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional 40 detail, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 55 on Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relative position of the various rolls; Fig. 7 is a sectional detail, illustrating one form of absolute stop-mechanism for the color 45 applicator roll; F18. 8 is'a diagram illustrating a step in the method used when decorating relatively small flexible articles, such as leather, or the like.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and 50 first to Figs. 1 and 2, substantially all the major parts of the machine are supported on a pair of side frame members, as l and i2, which are connected together by cross-frame members ll. Supported on these side frame members are suit- 55 able bracket arrangements for respectively supporting a pattern roll IS, a transfer or offset IS, an inking roll l'i, together with a platen roll i8.

The pattern roll may be an intaglio cylinder comprising a continuous etched copper plate, and

is arranged to contact with the surface of a transfer roll I6, which preferably comprises a continuous annulus of gum material, such as congealed glue and glycerin. All of the rolls are removably arranged on their respective brackets 10 to permit them to be readily changed.

The transfer or offset roll is is shown as mounted on a suitable shaft 20, carried adjacent its ends in suitable bracketmembers 2!, which are pivotally'mounted on a shaft 22, supported by the frame members it and {2. The rock arms are retained in their normal or active positions by an eccentric mechanism 25, hereinafter to be described in detail, but which isengaged by a cam slot 26 in a pivoted lever 21. The lever is arranged so that when the eccentric mechanism is in the left-hand portion of the slot, as shown in Fig. 2, the offset roll It will be in its active position, whereas, when the mechanism 25 is in the right-hand'portion of the slot 26, due to the 2 shifting of the lever about its pivot, the offset roll i6 will be lowered from its active position.

This enables the gum roll to be moved free of the pattern roll [5, which lies thereabove. A suitable spring-pressed plunger arrangement 28, carried by the lever 21, and arranged to engage openings 29 in the side frame member to, serve to maintain the lever and therefore the roll 116 in its active or inactive positions.

Each eccentric mechanism 25 comprises, as shown, in Fig. 5, a stud or rod 200 carried by its respective bracket member 2| and secured against relative rotation thereto by a squared end 2M. Rotatably mounted on each stud is a sleeve 202 having-an eccentric portion 203 en- 40 gaging the slotted opening 26 in the respective lever 21. Hence, when the sleeve is turned by means of an enlarged head 204, the axis of the stud will be changed, raising or lowering the coacting bracket 2| as desired. After the eccentric sleeve has been adjusted, it is clamped as a unit with its respective bracket 2i by a clamping nut .208, which threadingly engages the outer end of the stud 200.

The platen roll i8 comprises a comparatively hard surface roller,. mounted on a suitable shaft 30, supported in bracket members 3|, pivoted as at 32, to the frame members In and I2, respectively. Suitable pressure screws 33, can-led by the frame members I 0 and II, are arranged to urge the platen roll upwardly into contact with the offset roll and thereby provide a printing pressure.

The inking roller I1 is preferably a hard rubber roll and is drivingly carried by a shaft 35, the ends of which are engaged by a yoke 36, formed in respective levers 31, which are pivotally' mounted as at 2I0 to respective side frame members l and I2. The arrangement is such that the roll I1 may be adjusted toward or from the pattern roll I5, as desired, by swinging the levers 31 about their respective pivots, clamping them in place by a suitable clamping bolt 40 carried by the frame and passing through slotted openings 59 in the respective levers.

The pattern roll is drivingly secured to a suitable shaft 4|, which is journalled in upstanding brackets or arms 42 of the frame members I0 and I2. As shown in Fig. 2, each arm I has secured thereto half of a split bearing member 43, the other halves of which are carried by bracket members 44, which are pivoted adjacent their lower ends'as at '45 to respective frame arms M and are bifurcated adjacent their upper ends to permit pivoted clamping studs 46, which are threadingly engaged by suitable clamping members 41, arranged to coast with brackets 44 to maintain. them in position relative to the frame arm 42.

As shown, the bearing members 43 are provided with openings a, Nb and He, each opening being arranged to engage the shaft of a pattern roll having a different diameter. As shown in Fig. 6, the arrangement is such that the openings Ma, IIb and He are in a substantially straight line, which is substantially parallel with a hyperbolic curve defined by the locus of a point equi-distant from the periphery of the offset and ink rolls I 6 and I1. This arrangement permits the removal of one pattern roll and the substitution therefor of another pattern roll having a different diameter without changing the adjustment of the pattern roll and likewise permits the use of offset and feeding rolls of different diameters, which diameters are determined by functional operation of their respective rolls without regard to the use of a plurality of pattern rolls.

' The various rolls are driven by a suitable motor 50. As shown in Figs.' 1 and 3, the motor 50 is drivingly connected to a gear-reduction unit and the driven shaft, 52 of which, is provided with a bevelled pinion 53 arranged to mesh with a bevelled pinion 54, drivingly secured to a shaft 55, such shaft lying in a plane passing through the axis of theopenings Ila, Hi) and He in the patternroll bearing members 43. The shaft 55 is .mounted in suitable bearing brackets 56 and 51 carried by a frame member I2 and is 'provided with a suitable bevelled pinion 51 arranged to-mesh with a bevelled gear 58, carried by a shaft 60 journalled in the frame member I2.

Mounted on the shaft 50, and drivingly connected to the bevelled gear 59, is a gear 6| arranged to mesh with a pinion 62 mounted on a shaft 53 journalled in the frame member I2,

- and drivingly connected with a pulley 54, which in turn, through the medium of a suitable driving belt 65, and pulleys 51 and 50, drives the ink roll shaft 35 and the offset roll shaft 20 respectively,

The upper end of the shaft 55 is provided with a spline I0, arranged to engage a bevelled pinion II normally retained in a fixed position by a suitable pin 12 pasing through the hub of the pinion and a suitable opening in the shaft. The pinion II meshes with a bevelled gear I3,

which is drivingly secured to the pattern roll shaft.

When the pattern roll is removed and a pattern roll of the largest diameter substituted therefor, the bevelled pinion II is moved upwardly along its shaft and the pin 12 is inserted through an opening in the shaft, corresponding to the size of the pattern roll used. The gear, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, indicates the use of a pattern roll I5c, the shaft ll of which is positioned in the openings llc in the pattern roll bearing members. The pattern roll is provided with a bevelled pinion 130, which meshes with the bevelled gear II, when the pin I2 is in the opening 120 on the shaft 55. The relative sizes of the gears 13c and I3 is such that the pinion 12 will drive the rolls I5 and I50 at the same peripheral speed. It will therefore be seen that the speed of the pattern roll is controlled relative to the speed of the offset and inking rollers, and without requiring an adjustment of the mechanism which would alter in any way the speed-of any of the gearing.

As heretofore mentioned, the mechanism is especially arranged for use on an intaglio printing roll. I therefore provide a scraper or doctor blade mechanism which acts to remove excess color or ink from the roll, leaving color only in the low portions or pockets of the pattern. The doctor blade mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. As there shown, the doctor blade comprises a thin metallic blade 80, which is rigidly supported in a suitable shaft SI arranged to be seated in any of several recesses 82 in brackets 83, carried by respective frame members I0 and I2. The brackets are secured to their respective frame members by suitable bolts 84 passing through slotted openings 85 in the brackets to permit the brackets to beadjusted to carry the doctor blades toward or from the pattern roll. A suitable weight 86 carried by an arm 81 is rigidly secured to the doctor blade shaft 8|, and

' maintains the blade in contact with the periphery of the pattern roll.

The excess ink remaining on the offset roll I8 after the pattern has been transferred to the work is removed by a scraper blade 90. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the scraper 90 comprising a thin metallic blade mounted on a shaft or bar I05, the ends of which are carried by arms 9| pivoted as at 92 to the frame and provided with suitable adjusting screws 93 and 94, arranged to engage the frame to vary the pressure of the blade on the roll.

The doctor blade 80, as well as the scraper blade 90, are mounted for reciprocation relative to their respective rolls, to prevent undue wear on or scoring of the .pattem or offset rolls. As shown, the shaft 8| of the doctor blade 00 is mounted for reciprocation movement in thebracket members 83, and is provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with a grooved roller 05, arranged to be engaged by a pin 96, carried by a pivoted arm 91. The lever 91 also carries a pin 98, arranged to engage a cam groove 5! ins.

cam I00, rigidly secured to a stub shaft III jour-' nailed in the frame member I2. The cam I00 is driven by a suitable gear I02, drivingly secured to the stub shaft and meshing with the gear I heretofore described.

The shaft of the scraper 90 is similarly moimted for reciprocation in its bearings and carries a grooved ro11er'I06 (Fig. 1) arranged to be en- 75 gaged by a pin I01 carried by a pivoted lever I08. The lever I08, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a second pin I09 arranged to engage a cam slot H0 in a cam III carried by a stub-shaft II2 J'oumalled in the frame member I2. The shaft II2 has drivingly secured thereto a spur gear I I3 arranged to mesh with the gear 6| heretofore described, to thereby drive the cam I I0 and cause the reciprocation of the scraper blade.

Mechanism is provided to move the scraper 90 out of contact with the offset roll I6 whenever such roll is moved out of contact with the pattern roll. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the lever 21,

which rocks the ofiset roll free from the pattern roll, is secured to a shaft 210, pivotally carried by the frame members It and I2. When the leveri'l is swung in a clockwise direction, an arm 2i I, rigidly carried by the shaft 2I0, engages a lever 2I2 carried by the scraper roll shaft I05, rocking it against the action of a weighted arm M9 and removing the scraper from the offset roll. The inking roll I1 receives its ink from a suitable ink fountain, comprising a pan I20 which is" normally filled with ink and in which the lower portion of the ink roller rotates. In the past, it has been customary to maintain the ink roller in close contact with the pattern roll. I have, however, found that a pattern, such as an etched copper plate, has a tendency to rapidly wear and deteriorate to such an extent that the sharp impression can no longer be made therefrom. In

the past, this has been laid, to the action of the scraper blade or doctor blade on the roll. However, many improvements made in such doctor blades have had little effect upon the length of the life of the pattern.

I have found that, to a great extent, the wearing away of the pattern is due more to the rolling contact between the pattern and the inking roller than by the scraping action of the doctdr blade upon the pattern. I therefore find that when the inking roll is moved a slight distance away from the pattern roll, adistance sufiicient to prevent actual surface contact between the two rolls, the wearing of the life of the pattern roll is materially lengthened. I therefore position the inking roll so that it is spaced from the pattern roll a dis- 531cc sufficient to prevent contact between the two rolls, and yet which distance is less than the thickness of the film of ink or paint picked up by the inking roll. This provides the pattern with sufiicient ink or color and yet materially lengthens the life of the pattern. I therefore provide,.as shown in Fig. 7, a stop mechanism which will prevent the operator from bringing ink roll into contact with the pattern roll. As there shown, the pattern roll is extended beyond the edge of the pattern I 30, and is engaged by a disc roller I3I, drivingly secured to the ink rollshaft 35. The diameter of the roller I3I is slightly reater than the diameter of the ink roll. The distances have been exaggerated in the drawings to more clearly illustrate the principle embodied therein.

Small pieces of leather and similar materials are difficult to decorate, in that they have insufllcient rigidity to permit them to be fed into the bite of the offset and platen rolls in the same manner as metal, or even paper, sheets are fed. I therefore have provided a comparativelysimple method of decorating such materials and have incorporated mechanism to carry out such method as part of the decorating machine herein illustrated.

My improved method comprises feeding a sub- 1 'securing the articles to be decorated to this web before it enters the bite of the offset and platen rolls, either by means of the adhesive carried by the web or by suitable gummed wafers, and .after such articles have passed between the offset and platen rolls I remove the article from theweb.

The web I50 may be in the form of a continuous loop, or, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it may be a substantially continuous web, in roll form. As illustrated, the web is drawn upwardly from a roll of material I53, carried by suitable brackets I51, and passes around a guide roll I55, supported by a table I56 and thence across the table into the bite of the offset and platen rolls, as will be hereinafter more fully described. As the web passes across the table, the operator secures to -it the leather article indicated at W, Figs. 2 and 3, either bygum carried by the web or adhesive coated stickers I51. Thereafter, a continuous fabric belt I50, looped about drums IBI and I62, presses the work into intimate contact with the web and a suitable spring-pressed roll I63 urges the web and the article into intimate contact with the table top, thereby smoothing the article and. securely fastening it to the web.

Adjacent the forward or left-hand end of the canvas web or belt I50, I provide a pair of ironing rods I and HI. The rod I10, as shown in Fig. 2, has an eccentric end portion I13 arranged to be clamped in adjusted position relative to the about their pivot by suitable adjusting screws I18v arranged to co-act with respective levers I19, secured to the shaft I11. In this way the pressure on the web may be adjusted to smooth or iron out any wrinkles in the hides or articles.

The fabric felt I50 may be driven at the same peripheral speed as the platen roll I8. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the forward roller I6I about which the web belt I60 is looped, is provided with a pulley I80, which is driven by a pulley I8I drivingly carried by the shaft 63, heretofore described in detail.

The work pieces W are stripped from the paper web I50 after the impressions have been made upon the article by a suitable stripper knife I90. As shown in Fig. 1. the knife I90 comprises a thin metallic blade carried by a table I92 from which the workpieces are taken by the operator, or pass to a suitable conveyor I93 from any well-known type. The web I50 is thereafter wound about a suitable take-up reel I95 which may be frictionally driven in the usual manner by a pulley I96, frictionally connected to the take-up roll in the usual manner and driven by a driving belt I91 from a pulley I98, carried by the shaft III, heretofore described. 7.

From the foregoing description, it is obvious that I have provided an improved method and apparatus for decorating materials, and especially for decorating small leather or similar articles, which apparatus serves to iron or smooth out the wrinkles in the articles, and thereafter decorate the same, and I have provided an improved mechanism for carrying out such method.

I claim:

1. In asurface decorating machine, a main frame, a transfer roll carried by the frame, an ink roll carried by the frame, a pattern roll supporting device carried by the frame and arranged to support a plurality of sizes of pattern rolls in contact with the transfer roll and in intimate association with the inking roll, said supporting device arranged to retain the axes of the various sized pattern rolls in a line substantially parallel with a hyperbole. formed by the locus of a point equidistant from the periphery of the transfer and inking rolls.

2. In a surface decorating machine, a main frame, a transfer roll carried by the frame, an ink roll carried by the frame, a pattern roll supporting device carried by the frame and adapted to support a plurality of sizes of pattern rolls in contact with the transfer roll and in intimate association with the inking roll, means to drive the ink roll and the transfer roll, means to drive the pattern roll, said last-named means including a shaft in a plane of a line passing through the locus of the axes of the pattern roll positions, said line being substantially coincident with 'a hyperbolic curve defined by the locus of a point equidistant from the periphery of both the ink and offset rolls, a driving gear slidably mounted on said shaft, and a driven gear drivingly carried by the pattern roll and removable as a unit therewith.

3. A surface decorating machine having an ink roll, a transfer roll, a pattern roll mounting 'for pattern rolls of various sizes in cooperative relationship with both the ink roll and the transfer roll, said mounting being provided with means

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