Cladding for a printing machine

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cladding for a printing machine in a region of a side wall of the latter.

Cladding for a side wall of a printing machine serves primarily for protecting personnel from rotating and otherwise moving operating parts which project outwardly beyond the side wall and from parts which are located outside the side wall and are electrified. In addition thereto, however, there is also a requirement that an attendant should have access to the side wall. Such a situation occurs, for example, when, according to the published German Patent Document DE 195 43 518 A1, a supply reel and a take-up reel for a wash cloth of a device for washing printing unit cylinders have to be led, axially parallel thereto, through an orifice formed in the side wall.

In addition to this requirement, however, some demands are also made upon the construction of the cladding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a cladding for a printing machine in the region of a side wall of the latter, which is of such construction that, on the one hand, the protective function, and on the other hand, access to the side wall, can be assured.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a cladding for a printing machine in a region of a side wall of a printing unit of the printing machine, comprising a housing fastened to the side wall, the housing having an upper housing wall, two lateral housing walls and a housing cover connected to the lateral housing walls so as to be displaceable between a lower position covering the side wall and a position raised to a defined height.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the cladding includes an interlock which is prestressed into a locked position and by which, when the interlock is in the locked position, the housing cover is lockable in the lower position thereof.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the interlock is arranged at the housing cover, and the cladding includes an abutment provided on at least one of the lateral housing walls, the abutment, when in engagement with the interlock located in the locked position thereof, locks the housing cover in the lower position thereof.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the cladding includes a force accumulator arranged at the housing cover and prestressed in the lower position of the housing cover, the housing cover being displaceable by the force accumulator from the lower position of the housing cover into the raised position thereof.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the force accumulator is carried by the housing cover, and the cladding includes stops formed on the lateral housing walls, the force accumulator being braceable against the stops.

Thus, the object of the invention is achieved by a housing fastened to the side wall, with an upper housing wall, with two lateral housing walls and with a housing cover which is connected to the lateral housing walls so as to be displaceable between a lower position covering the side wall and a position raised to a defined height.

A cladding constructed in this manner, with the housing cover raised, opens up access to precisely that part of the side wall which, as stated, must be accessible for manipulations on the device for washing printing unit cylinders and which is located in a lower portion of the side wall, while at the same time the entire side-wall region located above the lower portion is covered.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a cladding for a printing machine, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a front side and top perspective view of a cladding including a housing and a housing cover, in a first operating position of the housing cover reproduced by solid lines, and in a second operating position of the housing cover reproduced by broken lines;

FIG. 2

is a vertical sectional view of

FIG. 1

taken along the line II—II in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3

is an enlarged fragmentary view of

FIG. 2

showing the encircled detail identified as III therein;

FIG. 3

a

is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of

FIG. 3

taken along the line IIIa—IIIa in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4

is a perspective view of a detail of the housing cover;

FIG. 5

is an enlarged fragmentary view of

FIG. 2

showing the encircled detail identified as V therein;

FIG. 5

a

is a cross-sectional view of

FIG. 5

taken along the line Va—Va in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5

b

is a view of

FIG. 5

as seen in the direction of the arrow

5

b;

FIG. 6

is an enlarged fragmentary view of

FIG. 2

showing the encircled detail identified by VI therein;

FIG. 7

is an enlarged fragmentary view of

FIG. 2

showing the encircled detail identified by VII therein;

FIG. 8

is an enlarged fragmentary view of

FIG. 2

showing the encircled detail identified by VIII therein;

FIG. 8

a

is a cross-sectional view of

FIG. 8

taken along the line VIIIa—VIIIa in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 9

is an enlarged fragmentary view of

FIG. 2

showing the encircled detail identified by IX therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Identical parts have like reference characters in all of the figures.

Referring now more specifically to the figures of the drawings, there is shown in

FIG. 1

the outer contours of a cladding

1

which is assigned to a printing unit

2

, only part of which is reproduced in outline. The printing unit

2

is carried by side walls

2

.

1

, only one of which is illustrated, and is accessible by an attendant from a walk-on platform

2

.

2

. The printing unit

2

is designed for an inline form of construction. For this purpose, the side walls

2

.

1

, respectively, have assembly surfaces

2

.

3

for connection to a further printing unit.

The cladding

1

includes a housing

3

with an upper housing wall

3

.

1

, two lateral housing walls

3

.

2

and a housing cover

4

. For reasons of design, the end faces of the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

which face away from the printing unit

2

extend vertically in a lower region and at an inclination in an adjoining upper region, with the distance of the end faces from the side wall

2

.

1

decreasing constantly. To match this, the housing cover

4

includes a cover member

4

.

1

, which extends along the inclined region of the end faces of the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

in the lower operating position illustrated by solid lines, wherein the side wall

2

.

1

is covered by the housing cover

4

, and also a flap

4

.

2

, which is articulatedly connected to the lower end of the cover member

4

.

1

pivotably about the non-illustrated horizontal axis, and which, in the operating position, abuts that region of the end faces of the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

which, respectively, extends vertically. Moreover, the cover

4

.

1

is constructed in the form of a trough

5

and so as to project or jut out relative to the flap

4

.

2

. The trough

5

includes a lower trough end wall

5

.

1

adjoining the flap

4

.

2

, an upper trough end wall

5

.

2

aligned with the upper housing wall

3

.

1

, trough side walls

5

.

3

aligned with the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

and a trough bottom

5

.

4

which is directed away from the side wall

2

.

3

and both for reasons of construction and for reasons of stability extends, convexly curved, from one of the trough side walls

5

.

3

to the other.

The platform

2

.

2

can be reached via non-illustrated steps, in the vicinity of which the lateral housing walls

2

.

3

are notched out.

The vertical section reproduced in

FIG. 2

, taken along the line II—II shown in

FIG. 1

serves for explaining the details reproduced in

FIGS. 3

,

3

a

and

5

to

9

.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the housing

3

, the flap

4

.

2

and the trough

5

are formed as sheet-metal structures.

FIG. 3

, illustrating the detail III shown in

FIG. 2

, and

FIG. 3

a

, in the form of a section taken along the line IIIa—IIIa in

FIG. 3

, reveal a mechanism which is provided in an advantageous embodiment and which connects the housing cover

4

to the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

so that the housing cover

4

is displaceable between a lower operating position thereof and an upper operating position thereof. For the corresponding connection, the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

are provided, at the ends thereof facing away from the side wall

2

.

1

, with folded portions

3

.

2

′ which face one another. Fastened to the outside so that these folded portions

3

.

2

′ at selected locations, respectively, (here, at the locations of the details III and VII in

FIG. 2

) is a guide profile

6

which here, is, for example, multipartite and which here, in conjunction with the folded portion

3

.

2

′, forms a guide groove

7

which, respectively, opens outward and is oriented in the direction of displacement of the housing cover

4

. One of the trough side walls

5

.

3

is likewise provided, respectively, with folded portions

8

which face one another and which here, moreover, are turned around to form a rabbet

9

. The respective rabbet

9

engages in the guide grooves

7

assigned thereto. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the guide groove

7

has a greater width than the thickness of the rabbet

9

. This dimensional difference is bridged by guide bosses

10

, preferably formed of a highly slidable plastic material, which are pressed into the folded portions

3

.

2

′ of the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

. In order to introduce the rabbets

9

of one of the trough side walls

5

.

3

, respectively, into the guide groove

7

assigned thereto, the rabbets

9

are notched locally, as can be seen in

FIG. 4

, specifically in such a way that, in a mounting position above a raised position which can be assumed during operation, the trough

5

is capable of abutting the guide bosses

10

, without being impeded by the guide profiles

6

. The trough

5

is thus slipped into the guide grooves

7

in the manner of a bayonet lock or fastening.

FIG. 5

illustrating the detail V of

FIG. 2

, the sectional view of

FIG. 5

a

taken along the line Va—Va in

FIG. 5

, and the

FIG. 5

b

as viewed in the direction of the arrow Vb in

FIG. 5

, reveal a mechanism which is provided in an advantageous embodiment and by which the housing cover

4

is lockable in the lower position thereof, specifically counter to the action of a force accumulator, as explained hereinafter, which exerts an upwardly directed actuating force on the housing cover

4

. This mechanism preferably includes an interlock or latch

11

prestressed into a closed or locked position. The interlock

11

extends between the trough side walls

5

.

3

. At an upper end of the interlock

11

, the latter is connected to pins

11

.

1

which project beyond the lateral extent thereof and are aligned with one of the trough side walls

5

.

3

, respectively, and are received concentrically in two bearing blocks

12

, one of which is fastened, respectively, to one of the trough side walls

5

.

3

. The axes of the pins

11

.

1

form a horizontal pivot axis of the interlock

11

. In

FIG. 5

, the interlock

11

is pivoted into a closing position with respect to this pivot axis. A spring

13

formed as a coiled flexural spring surrounding the pivot axis of the interlock

11

, is supported with one of the spring legs thereof on the bearing block

12

and with the other spring leg thereof on a side of the interlock

11

directed into the interior of the trough

5

, and simultaneously exerts an actuating force on the interlock

11

, under which the latter remains in the closed or locked position thereof in bearing contact on the folded portion

8

of the trough side wall

5

.

3

. In this closed position, a stop face

11

.

2

of the interlock

11

engages under an abutment

15

in the form of a detent or locking bolt, which projects out of a mounting

16

which is inserted in a notched part of a folded portion

3

.

2

′ of the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

, respectively, and is screwed to a bent sheet-metal part

17

fastened to the folded portion, with a crosspiece being interposed, the latter extending between the two lateral housing walls

3

.

2

and bracing them.

FIG. 6

which reproduces, in an enlarged view, the detail VI of

FIG. 2

, reveals the aforementioned horizontal axis, about which the flap

4

.

2

is pivotable. This axis is formed by an articulating joint or hinge

19

. The latter is fastened, on the one hand, to the flap

4

.

2

and, on the other hand, to a folded portion

5

.

1

′ projecting into the interior of the trough

5

. This connection of the flap

4

.

2

to the trough

5

makes it possible for the flap

4

.

2

to follow the inclined folded portion

3

.

2

′ of the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

when the housing cover

4

is raised.

Furthermore,

FIG. 6

reveals a notch

5

.

1

″ formed in the lower trough end wall

5

.

1

, the interlock

11

being accessible through the notch. Actuation of the interlock

11

in the direction of the arrow indicated counter to the action of the spring

13

(note

FIGS. 5 and 5

b

) moves the interlock

11

out of the closed position thereof illustrated in

FIGS. 5 and 5

a

. Actuation in the indicated direction takes place either manually by engagement into the notch

5

.

1

″, specifically in order to raise the housing

4

, or automatically when the latter is lowered from the raised position thereof into the lower position thereof. For this automatic actuation, the interlock

11

has a portion

11

.

3

provided thereon which is angled-away in such a manner that the latter, sliding along on the abutment

15

constructed here as a detent bolt, is initially moved out of the closed position thereof and assumes this position again the instant the stop face

11

.

2

of the interlock

11

engages under the abutment

15

(note FIG.

5

).

FIG. 7

, which reproduces, in an enlarged view, the detail VII of

FIG. 2

, reveals, in addition to a further guide profile

6

for the displaceable connection of the vertically adjustable housing cover

4

to the housing

3

, the guide profile

6

having already being described with regard to

FIGS. 3 and 3

a

, an aforementioned force accumulator

20

by which the housing cover

4

can be displaced from the lower position thereof into the raised position thereof. A gas-pressure spring serves as force accumulator in this exemplary embodiment. The gas-pressure spring is arranged inside the trough

5

, in such a way that a first end

20

.

1

of the force accumulator

20

, illustrated by the gas-pressure spring, is fastened to the inside of the upper trough end wall

5

.

2

via an articulated connection

21

.

FIG. 8

, which reproduces, in an enlarged view, the detail VIII of

FIG. 2

, reveals the other end

20

.

2

of the force accumulator

20

provided here in the form of a gas-pressure spring. The force accumulator

20

is connected at this second end

20

.

2

to a crosspiece

23

via a further articulated connection

22

, as indicated in

FIG. 8

a

(corresponding to the section taken along the line VIIIa—VIIIa in FIG.

8

). This crosspiece

23

extends between the trough side walls

5

.

3

. Formed at a respective crosspiece end is a guide groove

24

, into which one of the rabbets

9

, respectively, engages. Fastened to the crosspiece

23

in an end portion of the latter, respectively, is a stop block

25

which projects into the interior of the trough

5

. One of the stop blocks

25

, respectively, is supported on a further folded portion

3

.

2

″, respectively, of the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

, the folded portion

3

.

2

″ likewise projecting into the interior of the trough

5

and, respectively, forming a stop. These further folded portions

3

.

2

″ and the stop blocks

25

are dimensioned so that supporting forces, transmitted to the housing

3

by the crosspiece

23

via these further folded portions

3

.

2

″ and resulting from the prestress of the force accumulator

20

, and the prestressing force taking effect in the force accumulator

20

generate as low a tilting moment as possible. Preferably, the dimensioning provided is such that the prestressing force takes effect in that plane which is spanned by the supporting forces.

After the interlock

11

has been moved out of the closed position thereof, which can be seen in

FIG. 5

, the force accumulator

20

, provided as mentioned, displaces the housing cover

4

out of the lower position thereof into the raised position thereof.

FIG. 9

, which illustrates, in an enlarged view, the detail IX of

FIG. 2

, reveals a stop

26

which determines the height at which the housing cover

4

is located when it is in the raised position thereof. With the housing cover

4

in the raised position thereof, this stop

26

comes to bear on a folded portion

3

.

1

′, seen in

FIG. 7

, of the upper housing wall

3

.

1

and is connected (releasably, using a tool) to a strut

27

stiffening the trough

5

. After the stop

26

has been released, the housing cover

4

can be raised to a height at which the aforedescribed connection thereof to the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

, that connection being in the manner of a bayonet lock or fastening, can be released via the notches formed in the rabbets

9

, as seen in FIG.

4

.

The connection of the housing cover

4

in the manner of a bayonet lock or fastening to the folded portions

3

.

2

′ of the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

, the accommodation of the abutment

15

, serving for detaining the housing cover

4

in the lower position thereof, in the region of these folded portions, and the arrangement of the interlock

11

and of the force accumulator

20

inside the trough

5

afford the further advantage that, after the housing cover

4

has been disassembled from the housing

3

, the latter is accessible, unimpeded, over the entire region between the folded portions

3

.

2

′ of the lateral housing walls

3

.

2

thereof. Moreover, the operating parts of the detaining or detent mechanism, which are arranged on the housing cover

4

, and the opening mechanism including the force accumulator

20

are concealed inside the trough

5

and therefore have no influence on the external construction of the cladding. Furthermore, the raising of the housing cover

4

takes place automatically. There is advantageously no need for a tool in order to trigger the raising operation.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
4909645	Sudo et al.	Mar 1990	A
4961659	Igarashi	Oct 1990	A
5894800	Bär et al.	Apr 1999	A
6308627	Konig et al.	Oct 2001	B1
6412414	Loos	Jul 2002	B1

Cladding for a printing machine

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Term Extension

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (5)

Foreign Referenced Citations (1)