Printing press roll having auxiliary rotation capability

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6786150
  • Patent Number
    6,786,150
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, April 16, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 7, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
A roll for a web printing press includes a cylindrical member configured for supporting a web, the cylindrical member being rotatable about an axis of rotation. A motor device is disposed at the axis of rotation for rotating the cylindrical member so as to advance the web over the cylindrical member during a webbing-up operation.
Description




BACKGROUND




The present invention relates generally to web printing presses and more particularly to a printing press roll having a non-contacting and disengageable motor device for rotating the roll during webbing-up.




To prepare for printing operations in a web offset lithographic printing press, the web end must first be fed over the various rolls and through the various nips in the press to the end of the press. This process is known as “webbing-up.” Webbing-up may be performed in a variety of ways including manually, or by using automatic or semi-automatic web-up systems. As part of the webbing-up process an operator may manually rotate a roll to feed the web past the roll. Such manual feeding and roll rotation operations can be difficult and time-consuming, as well as present a safety hazard to the operator.




For example, former rolls below a former may be rotated by hand to assist in feeding the web through the nip area between the former rolls of a folder and into the lower portion of the folder. Because the web drives the rolls and due to the fact that the rolls are in close proximity to each other, there is a nip hazard present, i.e., there is a danger that the operator's hand may become caught between the rolls and injured. Several guard designs have been employed in previous machines to protect the operator from the nip area. Many of these prior guard designs inhibit the operator from rotating the rolls to assist in webbing up.




Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,267 describes a device for automatically advancing the end of a web over a former and into a folder unit in a printing press. A motor is used to rotate an endless belt which contacts the web and advances the web over the former and down through the former rolls. The motor also rotates the former rolls via belts to push the web through the former rolls and into the folder. A machined groove is required in one or both of the former rolls, which may result in marking on the printed product.




Prior devices may be complex and expensive.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a roll for a web printing press. The roll includes a cylindrical member configured for supporting a web, the cylindrical member being rotatable about an axis of rotation. Also included is a non-contacting and disengageable motor device disposed at the axis of rotation and configured for rotating the cylindrical member so as to advance the web over the cylindrical member during a webbing-up operation.




The cylindrical member may be movable axially and laterally and the motor device may be movable therewith. The motor device may be operable in conjunction with an automatic webbing-up system. Moreover, the motor device may be further configured for permitting the cylindrical member to rotate freely during a printing operation, or “normal operation,” of the printing press.




The motor device may include an electric motor. The electric motor may be disposed at an end portion of the cylindrical member. Moreover, the electric motor may be housed within the cylindrical member.




The motor device may include a fluid motor. The fluid motor may be an air motor including a plurality of vanes attached to the cylindrical member and an air source configured for blowing air against the vanes so as to cause the cylindrical member to rotate. The vanes may be housed within the cylindrical member or within a housing disposed at an end of the cylindrical member. The air source may include an air outlet integrated in the shaft and disposed so as to blow air against the vanes. Moreover, the air source may include an air outlet disposed outside the cylindrical member so as to blow air against the vanes.




The roll may further include a control device for controlling a flow of air to the air motor, the control device being configured for stopping the flow of air to the air motor a predetermined time after a release of an operator air flow activation device.




The roll according to the present invention maybe a former roll.




The present invention also provides a web printing press including a cylindrical member configured for supporting a web, the cylindrical member being rotatable about an axis of rotation. A motor device is disposed at the axis of rotation and configured for rotating the cylindrical member so as to assist the advance of the web over the cylindrical member during a webbing-up operation.




The present invention also provides a method for rotating a roll in a web printing press during a webbing-up operation. The method includes: providing a motor device disposed at an axis of rotation of the roll and configured for rotating the roll so as to advance the web over the roll; and operating the motor device so as to rotate the roll.




The present invention provides a relatively inexpensive way of remotely rotating rolls, such as former rolls, during webbing-up, allowing a more complete roll/nip guard design.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention is elaborated upon below based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.





FIG. 1A

shows a schematic front elevational view of a former according to an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 1B

shows a schematic side elevational view of the former of FIG.


1


A.





FIG. 2

shows a detail schematic plan view of area A of

FIG. 1A

according to an embodiment of the present invention using an electric motor.





FIG. 3

shows a detail schematic plan view of area A of

FIG. 1A

according to another embodiment of the present invention using an air motor.





FIG. 4

shows a perspective partial view of a former roll according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.


3


.





FIG. 5

shows a schematic plan view of a pair of former rolls according to an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 6A

shows a schematic plan view of a former roll portion of a former according to an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 6B

shows a schematic cross-sectional view along section B—B of the former roll portion of FIG.


6


A.





FIG. 6C

shows a perspective view of the vane housing of the former roll portion of FIGS.


6


A and


6


B.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION





FIGS. 1A and 1B

show schematic views of a former


100


according to an embodiment of the present invention. Former


100


includes cylinder


2


, former board


4


and former rolls


10


. Web


1


travels over cylinder


2


and down former board


4


through nip


6


between former rolls


10


. Due to the triangular shape of former board


4


and the interaction with former rolls


10


, web


1


is folded as it travels through former


100


.





FIG. 2

shows a detail schematic plan view of area A of

FIG. 1A

according to an embodiment of the present invention using an electric motor


17


. Former rolls


10


each include respective outer cylindrical member


11


which rotates about respective shaft


12


. Adjustment devices


22


permit former rolls


10


to be moved horizontally and vertically in the direction of axes L and X (see FIG.


1


B), respectively, for adjustment purposes. Former rolls


10


are each provided with respective electric motor


17


. Each electric motor


17


includes stator member


16


and rotor member


18


. Stator member


16


is affixed to shaft


12


, while rotor member


18


is affixed to cylindrical member


11


radially outside the stator member. By the electromagnetic interaction between rotor member


18


and stator member


16


, rotor member


18


—and with it cylindrical member—is caused to rotate about shaft


12


on bearings


14


disposed at either end of the shaft.




Stator member


16


and rotor member


18


of electric motor


17


may be disposed inside cylindrical member


11


, as shown in FIG.


2


. As such, a compact design is provided in which electric motor


17


moves with cylindrical member


11


when the position of former roll


10


is adjusted using adjustment device


22


. In other embodiments of the present invention, electric motor


17


may be disposed on an end portion of shaft


12


outside of cylindrical member


11


. In such embodiments, electric motor


17


also moves with former roll


11


when the position of former roll


10


is adjusted using adjustment device


22


. Of course other configurations of electric motor


17


are possible. In some embodiments of the present invention, for example, stator member


16


may be disposed radially outside rotor member


18


so that rotor member


18


rotates inside of, rather than, outside of stator member


16


.




Control device


32


is provided for controlling the speed of electric motor


17


. Power is supplied to control device


32


via electric line


34


. Power is supplied from control device


32


to electric motor


17


via electric line


36


. Control device


32


includes control button


38


, which permits an operator to activate and/or stop the rotation of cylindrical member


11


. Control device may include a timer mechanism which acts to keep electric motor


17


energized, and thereby rotor member


18


rotating, for a predetermined time, which maybe variable, after an operator pushes control button


38


. When no power is provided to electric motor


17


, former roll


10


may rotate freely under the action of moving web


1


during printing operations, for example.





FIG. 3

shows a detail schematic plan view of area A of

FIG. 1A

according to another embodiment of the present invention using an air motor


47


. Former rolls


10


each include respective outer cylindrical member


11


which rotates about respective shaft


12


. Adjustment devices


22


permit former rolls


10


to be moved horizontally and vertically in the direction of axes L and X (see FIG.


1


B), respectively, for adjustment purposes. Former rolls


10


and are each provided with respective air motor


47


. Each air motor


47


includes air nozzle


45


and vanes


41


. Air nozzle


45


, fed by air line


46


, is fixed relative to shaft


12


, while vanes


41


are affixed to the inside of cylindrical member


11


(see FIG.


4


). As such, a compact design is provided in which vanes


41


move with cylindrical member


11


when the position of former roll


10


is adjusted using adjustment device


22


. Air from air nozzle


45


is blown against vanes


41


, causing the vanes to move and thereby causing cylindrical member


11


to rotate about shaft


12


on bearings


14


disposed at either end of the shaft. In other embodiments of the present invention, air from air nozzle


45


may be blown into a chamber (not shown) and then allowed to escape through vanes


41


, causing the vanes to move. Spent air may exit cylindrical member


11


via open ends of the cylindrical member or any other suitable openings provided for this purpose (not shown).




Control device


42


is provided for controlling air motor


47


. Air is supplied to control device


42


via air line


44


. Air is supplied from control device


42


to air motor


47


via air line


46


. Air line


46


may be flexible along at least a portion of its length, to permit nozzle


45


to move during position adjustment of former roll


10


using adjustment device


22


. Control device


42


includes control button


48


, which permits an operator to activate and/or stop the rotation of cylindrical member


11


. Control device


42


may include a solenoid and regulator mechanism. Moreover, control device


42


may include a timer mechanism which acts to keep air flowing to air motor


47


, and thereby keep vanes


41


rotating, for a predetermined time, which may be variable, after an operator pushes control button


48


. When no air is provided to air motor


47


, former roll


10


may rotate freely under the action of moving web


1


during printing operations, for example.





FIG. 4

shows a perspective partial view of former roll


10


. Vanes


41


project inward from cylindrical member


11


. Vanes


41


may be formed integrally with cylindrical member


11


or may be attached to the cylindrical member. In other embodiments of the present invention, vanes


41


may be separate from, but connected to, cylindrical member


11


so that the cylindrical member rotates when the vanes move under the action of air against the vanes.





FIG. 5

shows a schematic plan view of a pair of former rolls according to an embodiment of the present invention in which air nozzle


45


is integrated into shaft


12


. In this embodiment, shaft


12


is provided with drilled passage


43


. Passage


43


is closed with plug


49


. Air line


46


is connected to passage


43


via fitting


51


. Nozzle


45


is integrated into shaft


12


at any desired position, or combination of positions, along passage


43


, as shown in FIG.


5


. Air flows from control device


42


, through air lines


46


, into passage


43


and out nozzle


45


to impinge against vanes


41


. This embodiment enables vanes


41


to be disposed in any longitudinal position along cylindrical member


11


.





FIGS. 6A-C

show another embodiment of the present invention using an air motor


60


with vanes


41


disposed on an end portion of shaft


12


outside of cylindrical member


11


. Housing


64


serves as enclosure for vanes


41


and to prevent damage to the vanes, as well as providing enhanced control of air flow to the vanes, and thereby more power to rotate former roll


10


. Air is supplied to housing


64


from air line


46


via air inlet


66


. Housing


64


may be slidably and rotatably supported relative to, and even on, shaft


12


, and at least a portion of air line


46


may be flexible so that air motor


60


may move with former roll


10


when the position of former roll


10


is adjusted using adjustment device


22


. A control device


42


(not shown in FIGS.


6


A-C), as described above with reference to

FIG. 3

, may be provided for controlling air motor


60


. Air flows from control device


42


, through air line


46


, and into housing


64


via air inlet


66


to impinge against vanes


41


and exits at opening


69


.




In other embodiments of the present invention, other types of motors may be used to rotate cylindrical member


11


. For example, other types of fluid motors, such as hydraulic motors may be used. Additionally, each former roll


10


may be provided with a motor at each end of shaft


12


, to provide additional torque for rotating larger rolls, for example.




By properly controlling the rotation of cylindrical members


11


, operator can feed web through former rolls


10


in a controlled and safe manner without the need to rotate the former rolls by hand. By disengaging the motor, i.e., removing the electrical power, air flow, etc., to the motor, cylindrical member


11


may rotate freely during printing operations under action of the moving web. Since the motor is located at the axis of rotation and no contact devices, such as belts, etc., are required between the motor and cylindrical member


11


, the former roll according to the present invention has a compact and simple design. The former roll according to the present invention may also be decelerated or stopped using the provided motor. Moreover, the former roll according to the present invention may also be used in conjunction with an automatic webbing system.




It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above only by way of example and that modifications of details can be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the roll of the present invention is not limited to former roll applications, but may be used for other rolls in a web printing press.



Claims
  • 1. A roll for a web printing press, comprising:a cylindrical member configured for supporting a web, the cylindrical member being rotatable about an axis of rotation; a fluid motor device disposed at the axis of rotation and configured for rotating the cylindrical member so as to advance the web over the cylindrical member during a webbing-up operation, the motor device configured to permit the cylindrical member to rotate freely during a printing operation of the printing press; the fluid motor being an air motor including a plurality of vanes attached to the cylindrical member and an air source configured for blowing air against the vanes so as to cause the cylindrical member to rotate; and a control device for controlling a flow of air to the air motor, the control device being configured for stopping the flow of air to the air motor a predetermined time after actuation of an operator air flow activation device.
  • 2. The roll as recited in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical member is movable vertically and horizontally and wherein the motor device is movable therewith.
  • 3. The roll as recited in claim 1 wherein the vanes are housed within the cylindrical member.
  • 4. The roll as recited in claim 1 wherein the vanes are housed within a housing disposed at an end of the cylindrical member.
  • 5. The roll as recited in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical member has a shaft and the air source includes an air outlet integrated in the shaft and disposed so as to blow air against the vanes.
  • 6. The roll as recited in claim 1 wherein the air source includes an air outlet disposed outside the cylindrical member so as to blow air against the vanes.
  • 7. The roll as recited in claim 1 wherein the motor device is operable in conjunction with an automatic webbing-up system.
  • 8. The roll as recited in claim 1 wherein during the printing operation the web rotates the cylindrical member.
  • 9. The roll as recited in claim 1 wherein the roll is a former roll.
  • 10. A web printing press comprising:a cylindrical member configured for supporting a web, the cylindrical member being rotatable about an axis of rotation; and a fluid motor device disposed at the axis of rotation and configured for rotating the cylindrical member so as to advance the web over the cylindrical member during a webbing-up operation, the motor device configured to permit the cylindrical member to rotate freely during a printing operation of the printing press; and a control device for controlling a flow of fluid to the motor, the control device being configured for stopping the flow of electricity or fluid to the motor a predetermined time after actuation of an operator activation device.
  • 11. The web printing press as recited in claim 10 wherein the cylindrical member and motor device define a roll, the roll being a former roll.
  • 12. The web printing press as recited in claim 10 wherein during the printing operation the web rotates the cylindrical member.
  • 13. A method for rotating a roll in a web printing press, the method comprising:providing a motor device disposed at an axis of rotation of the roll and configured for rotating the roll so as to advance the web over the roll; operating the motor device so as to rotate the roll during a webbing-up operation; disengaging the motor device so as to permit the roll to rotate freely during a printing operation of the printing press; the motor device being an electric motor or a fluid motor; and stopping the flow of fluid to the fluid motor a predetermined time after actuation of an operator activation device.
  • 14. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising rotating the roll using the web during the printing operation.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
1464070 Glanschnig Aug 1923 A
3442504 Halley May 1969 A
3745838 Brems Jul 1973 A
3995553 Winterholler et al. Dec 1976 A
4480801 Stone Nov 1984 A
5605267 Whitten Feb 1997 A
5718661 Michalik Feb 1998 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
57084853 May 1982 JP