US2033469A - Whirler for printing plates - Google Patents

Description

Mamh M11, 33%.

H. c. JONES 2,33,469

WHIRLER FOR PRINTING PLATES Filed Nov. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mg (\l N) a 5% INVENTOR Haw C Jones.

March 10, 1936. c. JQNES WHIRLER FOR PRINTING PLATES Filed Nov. 21, 1955 2 SheetsSheet 2 S 2 m C W H TTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES FATEN'E GFFIQE WIHRLER FOR PRINTING PLATES Harry G. Jones, New York, N. Y.

Application November 21, 1933, Serial No. 698,943

15 Claims. (Cl. 91-60) This invention relates to apparatus for spreading a wet coating on surfaces and for drying surfaces so coated, and relates particularly to that type of apparatus adapted to dry flat surfaces such as are used for example, in connection with light sensitive coatings employed in the photographic arts.

Such apparatus is frequently used for spreading and drying the sensitizing solution with which press plates are coated by rotating the plates, and are known as Whirlers. Attempts have been made heretofore to control the speed of the whirler to maintain said speed constant, but such attempts have been unsuccessful being subject to variations of speed, owing, for example, to variations in the speed of the motors used for the motive power and to other inherent defects in the mechanisms employed for this purpose.

My invention therefore contemplates the pro- Vision of simple and efiicient means of comparatively low cost and responsive to any increase in speed beyond an adjustable predetermined limit for maintaining the speed of the Whirler below such limit automatically and without the necessity for any attention on the part of the operator.

My invention further contemplates the provision of simple and efficient means for adjusting the speed and the speed limit of the whirler while it is in operation to compensate for varying conditions of drying.

My invention further contemplates the provision of efficient rotating means designed for rapid starting and minimum power consumption, the full power supplied to said means being utilized to overcome starting inertia and said means being arranged to apply power adjacent the peripheral edge of the revoluble plate-supporting means through simple and inexpensive reducing gears.

My invention further contemplates the provision of adjustable braking means automatically and substantially instantaneously operative when the speed of revolution of the whirler tends to increase beyond a predetermined limit.

My invention further contemplates the provision of simple and effective means for adequately supporting the revoluble disc, which constitutes the photographic plate-supporting portion of the apparatus, against vibration and in accurately horizontal position at all times.

of the parts being broken away, however, to show the underlying structure.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the automatic control portion of my new apparatus, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l and showing particularly, the braking means and the supports therefor.

In that practical embodiment of my invention illustrated herein by way of example, I have shown my invention applied to the spreading and drying of light sensitive solutions with which press plates for offset and other printing are coated, though it will be understood that my invention may be used in connection with the drying of other articles or surfaces without departing perform its supporting function. As shown, said frame comprises a plurality of spaced legs ll,

suitably braced and connected as by means of the cross members l2. Additional frame parts later to be mentioned, but not necessary to be described in detail, for supporting the rotating means, may be connected to and supported by one or more of the members l2 and the legs ll.

Supported and carried by said legs and the members I2 is the drip pan l3 comprising the preferably upright outer wall M, the bottom wall 15, which is provided with the opening or perforation l6, and the inner preferably upright wall ll. Said walls may be joined in any suitable manner as by means of the angle members l8 and Hi secured thereto as by welding, riveting or the like in a manner which is well understood. The pan lt is open at the top to permit access to the revoluble disc 2! to which the surfaces to be dried are secured, said pan receiving the excess solution thrown 01f the plate and disc during rotation of the disc. Adjacent the upper edge portion of the surface of the inner wall I! is secured the additional angle member 20 which serves as a partial support for the revoluble plate supporting disc M to aid in preventing vibration of the disc and to maintain it in accurately horizontal position during its revolution. Said disc is preferably provided on its under face with a wear plate as 22 which may be removably and replaceably secured to the disc and which is adapted to engage the upper surface of the angle 2!] to transmit part of the load from the disc 2! to the wall H.

For further supporting said disc in a true horizontal position during its revolution and to cooperate with the member 20 for maintaining said disc against distortion, and vibration, I prefer to provide a series of properly spaced pairs of anti-friction rollers so arranged as to engage the disc at its peripheral part. The upper roller 23 of each pair preferably engages the upper surface of the disc, While the lower roller 24 engages the lower or under surface thereof, said rollers being pivotally supported by the bracket 25, which is in turn secured to the upright wall of the drip pan.

During operation of the apparatus, a cover 26 of the usual type is arranged to close the open top of the drip pan. Said cover may, if desired, be provided with electric heating elements as 21 for accelerating the drying operation.

Means soon to be described are provided for suitably rotating the disc 2| at a constant predetermined speed after the plates to be dried thereon are secured thereto and the light sensitive solution applied to the plates. The plates, before being coated with the wet solution, are secured to the upper face of the disc 2| by any suitable means such as for example, the clamps 28 which engage the plate and which are adjustable in the preferably radial slots 29 of the disc. It thereby becomes possible to mount plates of various sizes on the disc for rotation thereof. It will be understood that when the sensitizing solution is laid on the plate after the plate has been clamped to the disc 2|, rotation of the disc spreads the solution by centrifugal force, evenly over the entire surface of the plate. It will further be understood that the rollers 23 and 24 and the supports l4 and 20 maintain the disc against vibration and in its proper and exact horizontal position so that the coating and drying operations may be adequately and efficiently carried out.

For pivotally supporting the disc, the central shaft 30 is secured to the disc hub 3| as by means of the pin 32. Said shaft 36 passes through and rotates in a suitable bearing 33 fixedly supported as by the cross member |2 of the frame through the intermediary of the arms 34. Connecting the shaft 30 to the speedometer 35 is the flexible shaft 36 whereby the speed of revolution of the disc 2| in feet per minute or in revolutions per minute is indicated by the speedometer at all times.

The means for rotating the disc includes simple and inexpensive reduction gearing arranged to utilize the full motive power for rapid starting and minimum power consumption. Said means includes the internal gear 31 which preferably comprises a series of similar arcuate segments 38. Said segments may be provided with suitable radial flanges as 39 secured together in any suitable manner as by means of the bolts 46, or by the plates 4| or both bolts and plates. Meshing with the gear 31 is the pinion 42 secured to and revoluble with the drive shaft 43. It will be understood that said shaft may be arranged comparatively close to the outer peripheral edge of the disc 2| and between said edge and the center of the disc, whereby an efiicient drive is provided.

' The drive shaft 43 is driven by a suitable motor as 44, which may be a comparatively inexpensive constant speed motor, and which is secured to the motor shaft 45 as by means of a suitable shaft coupling 46. a

The frame members 41, 48, 49, and 50, suitably arranged and secured to the remainder of the frame H) as to the leg II or to the member l2 and braced, serve to support the motor and the other drive and control means soon to be described. At its upper end, the shaft 43 may be supported in a suitable bearing bracket as 5| secured to the member l2.

Means are provided for automatically resisting and controlling rotation of the disc 2| when the speed of revolution of said disc increases beyond any selected or predetermined amount. Said means comprises a centrifugal brake 56 responsive to such increase in speed and serving to retard rotation of the disc by putting an increased load thereon and on the motor, and comprises further, the governor designated generally by the numeral 55. The governor 55 includes the collar 51, slidably keyed to the shaft 43 as by means of the sliding key 58 operating in the shaft keyway 59. Each pivoted at one of their ends to the ears 66 projecting from said collar, are the links 6|. At their other ends, said links are secured to the governor balls 62 as at the ears 63 projecting from said balls. The links 64 serve to pivotally secure said balls to the ears 65 projecting from the hub 66 of the preferably cylindrical brake member 61. The member 61 rotates with the shaft 43 being slidably keyed thereto by means of a suitable key. Said member 61 is urged towards the uppermost position thereof by means of a suitable spring 69 interposed between the hub 66 and. the collar 16 fixed to the shaft 43.

At its lower extremity, the member 61 terminates in an inwardly extending projection |,to the under surface of which is secured the brake lining 12 of any suitable material. For cooperating with the brake lining, a preferably cylindrical member as T3 is fixed in place as by securing said member to the frame bar 56. The cooperating brake member 13 is provided at its upper edge 5 position along the shaft 43 by means of the adjusting lever 16 pivoted as at 68 to a suitable lug projecting from the brake member 13. One end as 18 of said lever is provided with a suitable pin as 19 entering the groove of the collar 51, while the other end 8| of said lever is adjustably secured in place between the collars 82. Said collars are preferably fixed to the screw 83 which is adapted to be rotated in its internally threaded supporting brackets 84, as by means of the hand wheel 85.

The operation of my new apparatus is as follows:

The surface to be evenly coated and dried having been secured to the disc 2| and clamped in place by the clamps 28, and the cover 26 having been closed down on the drip pan, and the heater 21 energized if desired, the hand wheel 85 is rotated to arrange the collar 51 at the desired point along the shaft 43 corresponding to the maximum speed desired. Current being then supplied to the motor 44, the full power of the current is utilized to rotate the shaft 43, the balls 62 at this time being in their innermost position whereby the brake cylinder 61 has been lifted by the links 64 to its uppermost position, aided thereby by the action of the spring 69. As the motor starts, therefore, no braking action between the surfaces 12 and 15 can occur. The full power of the motor is thereby transmitted through the pinion |6 to the internal gear 31 to overcome the starting inertia of the disc 2| and to rotate said disc.

By the application of power near the periphery of the disc, a minimum quantity of such power is required and cumbersome reduction gearing eliminated.

During its rotation, the disc is supported on the angle member 20 which engages the wear plate 22. The peripheral edge of the disc is also supported and the disc maintained in its accurately horizontal position by the rollers 23 and '24. Such accurate support is highly desirable because of the necessarily light weight of the disc and the consequent tendency thereof to vibrate or to become distorted when rotated. The coating on the surface is spread by centrifugal force during the rotation of the disc, and the drying action proceeds.

' As soon as the motor 44 has reached its full speed permitted by the position of the collar 51, said speed is automatically maintained by the governor 55. That is, should the speed of the motor and consequently, of the disc tend to increase, the governor balls 62 fly outwardly, thereby pulling down the links M and therethrough, the brake member 55 and bringing the brake surfaces 12 and '55 into braking operation. The increased speed tendency is thereby substantially instantly arrested, reducing the speed of the shaft 43 sufiiciently to permit the balls 62 to move inwardly and thereby to lift the member 61 out of its braking engagement with the cooperating member 13.

Y The operator of the apparatus, by Watching the speedometer 35, may readily control or vary the speed of rotation of the disc 2! to meet varying conditions, this being done by rotating the hand wheel 85 to swing the lever 16 and thereby to raise or lower the collar 57 as required. The pressure on the braking surfaces E2 and 15 may thereby be varied during the operation of the apparatus. 7

It will be understood that the motor 44 may be a constant speed motor as distinguished from the much more expensive variable speed motors heretofore employed for operating whirlers since the constant speed is maintained in my improved apparatus by the braking action just described.

It will further be seen that I have provided a simple and effective means for automatically maintaining the speed of revolution of the rotating parts at a predetermined limit, for varying said limit as may be desired even while the apparatus is in operation, for accurately supporting the parts in the required positions, for applying the power thereto efficiently and economically, and that I have provided an apparatus well adapted to meet the severe requirements of practical use.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not desire to limit myself thereto but intend to claim my invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a whirler for rotating a photographic plate coated with a light sensitive solution, a revoluble disc adapted to support the plate, means for rotating the disc including a motor, a motor shaft, a pinion on said shaft, and a toothed gear adjacent the periphery of the disc and engaged by the pinion, and means for automatically controlling the speed of revolution of said disc including a centrifugal governor on the motor shaft, a brake member slidable on the shaft and surrounding the governor and pivoted thereto at one end of the governor, a fixed brake member mounted coaxially of the shaft, and means for fixing the other'end of the governor in a selected position on the shaft.

2. In a whirler, a revoluble plate-supporting disc, anti-friction means engaging and supporting the peripheral portion of the disc, means for additionally supporting the disc arranged between the anti-friction means and the central part of the disc, and a brake responsive to the increase in the speed of revolution of said disc for automatically controlling said speed.

3. In a drying whirler, revoluble plate supporting means including a disc, means for supporting the peripheral portion of the disc, additional means for supporting an area of the disc in outward spaced relation to the central part thereof, means for rotating the plate supporting means, including a motor shaft and a pinion on said shaft, the axis of rotation of said shaft being in spaced relation to the axis of said disc, and a gear arranged inwardly and adjacent the peripheral edge of said disc and in mesh with the pinion.

4. In a whirler of the character described, a revoluble disc, means spaced from the center of the disc and adapted to engage at least one of the surfaces of said disc for supporting the disc during the revolution thereof, and means for ro- K tating the disc including an internally toothed annular gear arranged adjacent the peripheral edge of the disc.

5. In a whirler for rotating a photographic plate coated with a light-sensitive solution, a

drip pan having an upright wall and a bottom wall having a. perforation therein and adapted to receive excess solution flowing off said plate, a

disc arranged for rotation within said pan, means carried by the upright wall of said pan for sup porting said disc during its revolution, and an additional upright wall spaced from the center of the disc and arranged inwardly of the upright wall of said pan and passing through the perforation of said bottom wall for supporting said disc.

6. In a whirler of the character described, a drip pan, a revoluble disc arranged for rotation within said pan, disc-rotating means including a member arranged within said pan and between the peripheral edge of said disc and the center thereof, the remainder of said rotating means being arranged beyond said pan.

'7. In a whirler of the character described, a revoluble plate-supporting disc, supported at an area spaced from its axis of revolution, a drive shaft for the disc arranged near the periphery of the disc, an internally toothed gear secured to the under face of the disc, a pinion on the shaft engaging the gear, a governor carried by the shaft, and a centrifugal brake operatively connected to the governor and operative to resist rotation of the shaft and of said disc beyond a predetermined maximum.

8. In a whirler for rotating a plate coated with a light-sensitive solution, a disc, means for clamping a plate to the disc, means for heating the disc, and gear means for positively rotating the disc including a shaft arranged near its periphery, an internally toothed gear secured to the disc, a pinion on the shaft engaging the gear, a constant speed motor for the shaft, a governor for said motor on the shaft, and a brake operatively connected to the governor and operated thereby to maintain the speed of the motor below a predetermined maximum.

9. In a whirler of the character described, a constant speed motor, a drive shaft for the motor, a ball governor on the shaft, a centrifugal brake on the shaft, means including pivoted links operatively connecting the governor to the brake for reducing the speed of the motor when said speed reaches a predetermined maximum, and means for adjusting the throw of the governor while the whirler is in operation including means for varying the normal angular positions of said links.

10. In a whirler of the character described, a plate-supporting disc, plate-clamping means on the disc, gear means for positively rotating the disc including an annular internally toothed gear secured to the under face of the disc, a centrifugal brake responsive to increase in the speed of rotation of the disc, and means adapted to be adjusted while the disc is rotating for controlling the operation of the brake.

11. In a whirler of the character described, a constant speed motor, a drive shaft for the motor, a revoluble plate-supporting disc arranged with its periphery adjacent the shaft, a pan substantially enclosing and supporting the disc, a pivot shaft for the disc passing through the pan and in spaced relation to the drive shaft, means for indicating the speed of rotation of the disc, cooperating gearing on the disc and drive shaft, a rotatable brake member on the drive shaft, a fixed cooperating brake member, a ball governor on the drive shaft including a grooved collar, pivoted links connecting the governor to the collar, pivoted links connecting the governor to the rotatable brake member to carry said brake members into engagement on the increase of the speed of the drive shaft beyond a predetermined maximum, a lever having one of its ends inserted into the groove of the collar, and manually operable means for swinging the lever and thereby adjusting the collar on the drive shaft to vary the throw of the governor.

12. In a whirler of the character described, a revoluble plate-supporting disc, a stationary pan surrounding the disc, means carried by the pan for supporting the peripheral portion of the disc, means on the pan for supporting the disc between said peripheral portion and the center of the disc, and a centrifugal brake for automatically controlling the speed of revolution of the disc.

13. In a whirler of the character described, a revoluble plate-supporting disc, a drip pan arranged about the disc, disc-supporting means on the pan, means for rotating the disc arranged between the center and the periphery of the disc, and means responsive to the speed of revolution of the disc for controlling said speed.

14. In a whirler for rotating a photographic plate coated with a light sensitive solution, a revoluble plate-supporting disc, means for rotating the disc including an upright shaft arranged adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the disc, a

form of a series of arcuate segments having teeth 7 on the inner peripheral edges thereof secured to the member adjacent its periphery and a pinion meshing with said teeth, said means including a centrifugal brake adapted to maintain the speed of said rotating means below a predetermined limit.

HARRY C. JONES.

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