US637581A - Apparatus for handling lithographic-printing tubes. - Google Patents

Description

m. 637,58I. Patented Nov. 2|, I899. E. HETT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LITHOGBAPHIC PRINTING TUBES.

(Application filed Jan. 31, 1898.)

(No Modei.)

'IIIIIIIIl INVENTOR WITNESSES THE uunms PEYERS co, wcwvumo. WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OE ICE.

EDWARD HETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LlTHOGRAPHlC-PRINTING TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,581, dated November 21, 1899.

Application filed January 31,1898. semi No. 668,588. (No model.)

To an whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD I-IETT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, (New Dorp,) in the county of Richmond, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Lithographic-Printing Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to printing-tubes for lithographic surfaces, and particularly to devices for handling'such tubes and for conveying them to and-from electrolytic baths in which they receive electrically deposited lithographic surfaces and for properly manipulating them in such baths, so that the electrically-deposited coating upon their surfaces shall be smooth, even, and of the same thickness throughout.

Its object is to provide mechanism for handling such printing-tubes by means of which they can easily, quickly, cheaply, securely, and with precision be carried to, be placed in, and be removed from such electrolytic baths and by means of which they can also be rotated during their insertion intoiand their removal from such baths and while they remain therein to prevent the electrical de posit from being irregular, uneven, or of different thicknesses upon different parts of the surface of such tubes, and to provide proper bearings for the tube-holders while in the baths, and a good electrical connection between the tubes and the rest of thecircuit through the electrolytic bath.

It consists of the devices herein shown and described, and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Heretofore in forming an electrically-deposited metallic lithographic surface upon printing-tube cylinders to be used in lithographic presses it has been necessary to con- Vey the tubes to and from the electrolytic bath and to insert them therein and withdraw them therefrom by hand. As such tubes are often large and heavy and are, moreover, delicate in construction and require careful handling, such work has heretofore necessarily been tedious and expensive and accidents to the tubes have not been infrequent. By means of my invention all this work is done by machinery. The tubes are handled easily, cheaply, quickly, and with safety and proved device viewed as shown by the arrow 0c in Fig. 3, showing in full lines the printingtube holder and printing tube connected thereto and in position in an electrolytic bath, the tube-holder and bath being shown in vertical section. This figure also shows in dotted lines the tube-holder and the tube mounted thereon at right angles to the tubeholder rod as in the act of being connected to the latter or of being removed therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the movable carriage viewed as shown by the arrow y in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the electrolytic bath, showing a tube-holder and tube in position. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the upper part of the electrolytic bath viewed as shown by the arrow 2 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the lower part of the tubeholder and printing-tube; Fig. 7 is a crosssection through the sameon the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

1 is a movable support or carriage, and 2 a tube-holder rod, by means of which the printing-tube holders and printing-tubes are handled, as will be hereinafter described. Garriage 1 is mounted upon axles 3 3, carrying wheels 4 4, which run upon rails 5 5. These rails are supported upon standards 6 6, se-

cured to beams 7 7,which are supported in any t he carriage so as to be capable of upward and downward movement relative to the our riageand so as to becapable of a rotary movement in its bearings, as will be presently described.

9 is a tube-holder having shoulders 10 10,

7 adapted to receive. and support a printing-J tube 11.- The printingrtube, holder 9 andthe.

tube-holder rod 2 are secured together by re-f movable bolts 12 12. When a tube-holder-is thus secured to a tube-holder rod andin the position shown by full lines in Fig, 1,,the

tube-holder and the'tubethat it-carries can be moved to any suitable position over any electrolytic bath by the movement ofthe movable carriage along the rails 5, and they can then be lowered into the bath by the,

downward motion'of tube-holder rod2, and

during this operation and while tube-holder and printing-tube are in the bath and while they arebeing removed therefrom a rotary" motion is given to them "by the rotation of tube-holder rod. 2' by mechanism to be presently described. Y i 1 The movement, of carriage' 1 in one. direc-' tion or the other along rails 5 is accomplished";

. by the following-described mechanism:

' electric-motor 15.

5'. shaft are loosely mounted upon it two bevin contact with either.

,13 is ashaft mounted upon the carriage-in bearings 14. It is preferably driven by an Toward one end of' this eled; gear-wheels 16 16,facing each other. Be-' tween them and-also mounted on the shaft 13;.

is acompound clutch 17. This clutch may be of any ordinary construction and revolves with the shaft. By means of any well-known midway between the two gear-wheels and not When ,in" the latter I position, both of the beveled gear-wheels remain at rest.

rotates with the shaft,

18 is a large beveled gear-wheel meshing with both of the beveled gear-wheels 16. I It' is mounted upon shaft 19, which shaft also carriesat its other end gear-wheel 20, the lat ter meshing with gear-wheel 21,mounted'uponr one of the axles 3 of carriage 1'. clutch 17 is thrown into engagement with one; of the beveled gear-wheels 16, gear-wheellS will rotate ina certain direction andcar'riagef 1 will be moved "in one direction along, the

Whenever rails; but when clutch 17 is thrown into en-' gagement with-the opposite beveled gear-- wheel 16 beveled gear-wheel 18 will rotate-in the reverse direction, moving the carriage the otherway along rails'5. Thus by means of,

the mechanism operating the clutch 17 the;

operator is enabled to move the carriage 1 to any desired position upon rails 5.

1 set of two beveled gear-wheels loosely mountedyupon shaft 13 andsimilarly controlled by' r t J compound clntch23 and meshing with large I .65

thnsraising or-lowering rod 2. l

Whenever the clutch is thrown a into engagement with one of them, thatwheel' sition. I I, 41 represents merit shaft of.az=printing:- tube holder-"id a lithographic press, such as is showmand described; in. my application for a patent; Serial v No. 552,641, filed June 13, 1895, renewed .Tn'ly i12,"1898,Se'rial No. 685,764, for the purpose '2 Y Y I .637 ,581.

Uponthe sameshaftuponwhich 27 is mount-z edisialsosecureda gear wheel28. Cut upon the surface of tube-holderrod 2 isa series of,

spur-teeth,each one completely encircling the rod., The spurateeth ofspur-wheel 28 mesh l with the spur-teeth of rod 2, and assp'ura,

wheel 28- rotates in one direction or the other rod 2 is raised or lowered. By operating clutch 123 so as toengagerwith'one or the-otherfof beveled gear-wheels '22 spur-wheel 28, is-

causedto rotate infone direction or the other,

The mechanism for rotating tube holder red 2 is-as followfs:29 is a beveledgear wheel loosely mounted upon shaft 13. 30 is a clutch upon the same shaftand 'when thrown into engagement with beveled gear 29c'auses2 that wheel to rotate with the shaft. Gear WheeI 29] meshes-with beveled gear-wheel 3101i shaft 32; Upon thissame shaft issecured'ge'an wheel 33, which meshes with gear-wheelo34' Whenever clutch 30, is thrown intoengagjes ment with beveled gear-wheel 29 onshaft 13,

worm-wheel 37 will revolve,- carrying with rod 2. g g

Tube-holder 9 is composed of aishaft 38,

which carries at. each end a'cylindrical'shoul der 10, upon which the printing-tube-ll' is adapted to rest. -Notches 39 39 are out on opposite sides of these shoulders to receive projections40 40 upon the-inner" surface of printing-tnbesll. -When a printing-tube 11 is slipped upon .the printing-tube holder, projections40 40are'brought into alinement with notches 39 39,and.after the, tube hasbeen slipped into position it is turned upon the. pri'ntingetnbe holder so as to bring the projections and notches into'the relativeposition shown in Fig. 7,,in which position the printing-tube is securely held upon th'eprint, ing -tube holder even. when the. printing-tube holder and printing-tube are in a'vertical poa pin in the. endof aperma;

of making connection with: shaft 38' ofrtubeholder9 for a purposeipresently' toberde- Themechanism forraisingorloweringtuhe-= l Y, holder rod 2 is. as follows: 22 22 form another scribed.

5 a wire'g42. At its lower 'end" 'thistwi're. runs a At the. opposite end of shaft38two bolts openings are left corresponding toFsi-Yniilar openings inthelower end of tube-holder rod 2 through which bolts 12 12 can" be passed to beveled gearwheel 24 uponshaft125; The

, o latter shaft carries at its other endwotrn 26,1 which meshes with large worrn-whee1z27.

through shoulder 10 to the outer side and preferably bends slightly backward to form a spring-point 43. When tube 11 is placed on the tube-holder, the spring-points 43 press against the inner surface of the printing-tube and insure a good electrical connection at such points. 1 preferably also run branches of the wire to the other shoulder, ending in similar spring-points 43 43, as clearly shown in the section forming the lower part of Fig. 1. The upper part of the wire runs to ametallic plate 44, mounted upon shaft 38. When the tube-holder is in the bath, a spring or brush 45 presses against and makes electrical connection with plate 44. Spring 45 is secured to arm 46 and standard 47, with which one of the wires 48, forming part of the circuit through the electrolytic bath, is connected. The opposite wire 49 of this circuit is c0nnected through post 50 with the hollow cylin drical zinc plate 51, immersed in the electrolytic bath.

52 represents the fluid of the electrolytic bath, which may be of any well-known composition.

53 is a wooden cross-bar secured to shaft 38 of the tube-holder, which is adapted when the tube-holder and printing-tube are in the bath to rest upon the upper surface of the cell of the bath to form a bearing for shaft 38.

54 54 are swinging screw-arms having ends pivoted at 55 in the framework of the electro lytic-bath cell. These swingupinto notchesin cross-bar 53. By tightening the screws crossbar 53 and tube-holder 9 are firmly held in position in the cell, in which position the tubeholder is free to revolve, carrying with it in its rotation printing-tube 11.

56 is a large worm-wheel fixedly mounted upon shaft 38.

57 is aworm mounted upon shaft58,adapted to be driven in any way for the purpose of rotating worm-wheel 56 and the tube-holder and printing-tube when disconnected from rod 2.

The axis 38 of tube-holder 9 projects at its lower end slightly below shoulder 10, as indicated by 59 in Fig. 1. When the tube-holder is in the bath, this end of the shaft fits into a corresponding bearing 60 in the lower part of the cell of the electrolytic bath. In this position the tube-holder has secure bearings at both ends.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: The printing-tube is first slipped over the shoulders 10 of tube-holder 9 while the latter is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, with projections 40 of the printingtube registering with notches 39 of shoulders 10. After the printing-tube is in position upon the tube-holder it is turned upon the tube-holder until projections 40 are in substantially the relative position shown in Fig. 7. Tube-holder 9 is then lowered, so as to hang vertically from the end of the tubeholder rod 2. The second bolt 12 is then put in, so as to hold it rigidly in a vertical position. Clutch 17 is thrown into engagement with the proper beveled gear-wheel 16, so as to cause carriage 1 to move along rails 5 in such a direction as to bring rod 2 and printing-tube holder 9 directly over the electrolytic bat-h into which it is desired to insert the printing-tube 11. Clutch 17 is then disengaged from gear-wheel 16. Clutch 23 is then thrown into engagement with'that one of the beveled gear-wheels 22 which will cause gear-wheel 28 to rotate in such a direction as to force rod 2 downward. Before printingtube 11 enters the bath clutch 30 is thrown into engagement with beveled gear 29, thus causing worm-wheel 37 to rotate rod 2. rotation is kept up during the entire immersion in the bath and until printing-tube 11 has been entirely removed from the bath. The object of causing the rotation to begin before the immersion begins and to continue during the entire immersion is to cause the electrical coating deposited upon the surface of the printing-tube to be smooth, even, and of the same depth over the entire surface of the printing-tube and to prevent the coating from becoming irregular and thicker in some places than in others. After the printingtube has been in the bath a sufficient length of time clutch 23 is thrown into engagement with the other beveled gear-wheel, whereupon rod 2 is raised until the printing-tube and printing-tube holder are removed entirely from the bath, when clutch'30 is thrown out of engagement from gear-wheel 39, thus stopping the rotation of rod 2 and printing-tube holder 9. When the tube-holder is at the proper height, clutch 23 is. thrown into its middle position. Clutch 17 is then thrown into contact with the proper beveled gearwheel 16 until carriage 1 is moved into the proper position for delivering the printingtubeas, for instance, opposite the permanent shaft of a printing-tube holder in a lithographic press such as is shown and described in my said applications, Serial Nos. 522,641 and 685,764. One of the plates 12 is then removed and the printing-tube holder is swung upinto a position at right angles with rod 2, as shown at dotted lines in Fig. 1. The printing-tube 11 is then removed from the printing-tube holder in any manner. As shown in my aforesaid applications, Serial Nos. 522,641 and 685,764, if it is desired to place it in position upon the press the permanent shaft of the tube-holder upon the press is made to engage with shaft 38 of tube-holder 9 by means of pin 41 in the manner shown and described in my said applications. Printing-tube 11 is then slipped 01f from printing-tube holder 9 onto the permanent shaft of the press and is then moved into position for printing in the press.

A number of electrolytic baths can, if desired, be employed, in that case the rails 5 being arranged to run over all of the baths. In case it should be desired to use the carriage 1 while a printing-tube remains in the This IIO

meshing with worm-wheel '56.

p tamerbaththe tube-holder rod 2lcan'be discon-TE necte'd from thetube-holder 9-bywithdraw v ing bolts 12;. In this case the rotation of the .2 tube-holder in the bath is arranged for by means of a worm-wheel 53, mounted on shaft 88-of the tube-holder, which meshes witha worm 57 uponshaft 58. This shaft 58 can-be driven in any manner, and where a series of electrolytic baths are used" it could .run to'all of them, having a worm 57 at each bath for.

one carriagecould be. usedwith any number. of electrolytic baths. a

By myimproved Ineansprinting-tubes are handled by machinery and are conveyed .to' and from electrolytic baths easily, quickly cheaply, and with safety and precision-" Ati thesame time means are provided for rotatpart of the surface of the tube is in contact. I

with the liquid of the bath. Simple and eifi;-' cient-bearingsarefurnished for the printingtube holder while in the bath, and goodele'c-L trical'connections are insured with theprinting-tube. 1

.What Iclaim as-new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

deposited coatingjin the electrolytic bath',hav-- ing shoulders for supporting; the printing tube, a shaft upon which the shoulders are -1nounted, a conductor running through: the

shaft and adapted to bear against the print ing-tube when inposition, and havingagcom I nection with the' electric circuit for opera-tring. the electrolytic bath, substantially as set forth. I

bathof a tube-holder, adapted to support a printing-tube while-receiving an electrically deposited coatin gin the electrolytic bath,havingfshoulders for supporting the printingtube, a shaft upon which the shoulders are mounted, a conductor running through the shaft and adapted to bear against theprintr ing-tubewhen in position andhaving 'a' con-. n'ection with the electric circuit for operating the electrolytic bath, a worm-wheel upon the shaftof the tube-holder, a Worm-shaft meshing with itandqmeans for driving said wormshaft, whereby the printing-tube will be reviolved while in the bath, substantially as set forth.

3; The combination with, a tube-holder,

' adapted to support a printing-tube while re:

ceivirg anelectrically-deposited coating in an electrolytic bath, having shoulders for supporting the printing-tube, a shaft Upon t which the shoulders are mounted, a conductor running through the shaft and adapted to bear against the printing-tube when in: .po-'

' sition, a plateat its upper end adapted to .rest upon andbe secured to the upper end of jrad'apted to support a'printing-tube while re cfell'ffor an: electrolytic bathhavii1g-a' bearing for thelower end of the shaft of the; printing-- tube holder, substantially as setgforth;

4. The comhination' with ,aqtllbeholder, H

Zceiv'ing. an electrically-deposited, coating in an electrolytic bath, havingv shoulders f'or supportingv the printing-tube, va shaftyu'pon which the shoulders are mounted,- a conductor .runn-ing through theshaft and {adapted to In this way ear against the printing-tube-Wheninposi-.

, tion, .and a inotched plate'at its upjperfend, of I a cellfor an electrolytic: bath having. a bear-- fing. for the lowerf end of the shaft of the printing-tube holder andswinging screws-and 'nutsxadapted to. fit, into the notchesg-ofthe notched plate and-whentightened to form: 1 116 7 upper bearing for the tube-holder shaft; su-bingjtheprinting-tu-bes'at all times when: any

stantiall-yas-set forth."

1 5'. The combinationzwith a-support orfcarriage, a tube-holder rod adj istablyzseeured thereto, means upon said carriage forlowe'ring and raising the rod,1and;for rotating it,

i of ,a tube-holder, adapted to carry aprintingtube, removably secured to the lowerend of sa'id tube-holder rod and adapted to. swingfat gright angles lthereto, a shaft for saidtube- ,L The combination with an electrolytic: bath of a tube-holder adapted to. support a printing-tubewhile receiving an electrically.

holderhaving its lower end adaptedito-fi t into a bearing therefor in the cell of an electrolytic bath and having a-plate atitsupper 2 end adapted to .rest upon and be securedto the upper end of the cellto furnish a bearing '1 for the upper end of the'shaft of thetube' holder rod, and a cell for an electrolyticba-th whereby printing-tubes may be-placed in or removed from electrolytic baths and; may be rotatedwhile in the bath and do ring their insertion and withdrawal,"substantially: as set fo'rth. 2. The combination with an electrolytic for; moving it, a tube-h01der rod adjustably secured to said carriage, means; upon said carriage for lowering and raising the rod, and

[for rotating it, of a tube-holder, adapted to carry a printing-tube, removably secured to .the'lower' end of said tube-holder rod and adapted to swing at right angles thereto, a shaft for said'tube-holder'having its lower 6. The combination with a carri'age,;means end adapted to fit into abearing therefori-n the cell of an electrolytic bath and havinga plate at its upper end adapted to rest upon 7 and be secured to the upper end oftheucell to furnish a bearing for the upper end of the shaft of the tube-holder rod and a cell for an electrolyticbath whereby printing tubesmay be placed in or removed from electrolytic .ba-thsand may be rotated while in the, bath andduring their insertion and withdrawal, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my I name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses; I a I EDWARD HETT;

Witnesses: I

.SIDNEY MANN, p, EDWIN SEGER.

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