Printing press

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6467412
  • Patent Number
    6,467,412
  • Date Filed
    Friday, September 15, 2000
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 22, 2002
    21 years ago
Abstract
A printing press comprises a pair of left- and right-frames, a safety cover movably supported between a closing position for closing at least one part of a space formed between the frames and a releasing position for releasing the space and a printing plate holding device movably supported at an exterior side with respect to the safety cover between a shelter position for holding a new printing plate supplied to a lower plate cylinder and a discharged printing plate discharged from the lower plate cylinder and an operation position for storing the new printing plate supplied to the lower plate cylinder or the discharged printing plate discharged from the lower plate cylinder. While the safety cover at the closing portion, the printing plate holding device can be moved between the shelter position and the operation position in order to set a new printing plate and remove a discharged printing plate easily while a peripheral are of a lower side of a printing unit can be protected in the case of exchanging the printing plate.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a printing plate holding device for holding a new printing plate supplied to a plate cylinder of a printing press and a discharged printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder.




2. Prior Art




Regarding a conventional printing plate holding device for supplying a new printing plate to a plate cylinder of a printing press and a discharged printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder, it has been disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3032484 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication No. 8-108525.




In a printing plate holding device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3032484, an end portion of a printing plate discharged from a plate cylinder is engaged and supported by a lever elastically supported through a pre-load member. The discharged printing plate is stored and held in a frame for removing the discharged printing plate by moving the lever by an operation unit. On the other hand, a new printing plate can be supplied to a plate cylinder by pivotally releasing a hook member for holding a new printing plate in a frame for supplying a printing plate by an operation unit.




In a printing plate holding device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication No. 8-108525, a new printing plate is set in a cassette for a new printing plate. An end of the new printing plate is engaged and supported by a claw member for supporting the end of the new printing plate. The claw member is moved toward a direction of supplying a printing plate by an air cylinder device for feeding the new printing plate. The new printing plate can be supplied to a plate cylinder by pivoting the claws with a cam member during moving the claw member so as to release an engagement and support of the end portion of the new printing plate.




In a printing plate holding device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3032484, a discharged printing plate discharged from a plate cylinder is held by an energized lever in a frame for removing a discharged printing plate so that an operation for picking up the discharged printing plate from the frame for removing the discharged printing plate becomes complicated. An engagement of a new printing plate is released by pivoting a hook by an exclusive use operation unit so that number of parts is increased and a weight of the device becomes heavy. A manufacturing cost becomes high.




In the printing plate holding device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication No. 8-108525, while the claws for supporting an end of the printing plate is operated, a new printing plate should be set in a cassette for a new printing plate. Setting operation for the new printing plate becomes complicated.




A purpose of the present invention is to provide a printing plate holding device for easily picking up a discharged printing plate and setting a new printing plate with a simple structure.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a printing plate exchange device of a printing press according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

shows a schematic view of an upper printing plate exchange device as shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

shows a partially enlarged view of the device taken along a line III—III in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 4

shows a partially enlarged view of the device taken along a line IV—IV in FIG.


3


.





FIG. 5

shows a partially enlarged view of the device taken along a line V—V in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 6

shows a device taken along a line VI—VI in FIG.


5


.





FIG. 7

shows a schematic view of a lower printing plate exchange device as shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 8

shows a partially enlarged view of the device taken along a line VIII—VIII in FIG.


7


.





FIG. 9

shows a partially enlarged view of the device taken along a line IX—IX in FIG.


8


.





FIG. 10

shows a partially enlarged view of the device taken along a line X—X in FIG.


7


.





FIG. 11

shows a device taken along a line XI—XI in FIG.


10


.





FIG. 12

shows a step for exchanging a printing plate in the upper printing plate exchange device.





FIG. 13

shows a step following the step as shown in FIG.


12


.





FIG. 14

shows a step following the step as shown in FIG.


13


.





FIG. 15

shows a step following the step as shown in FIG.


14


.





FIG. 16

shows a step for exchanging a printing plate in the lower printing plate exchange device.





FIG. 17

shows a step following the step as shown in FIG.


16


.





FIG. 18

shows a step following the step as shown in FIG.


17


.





FIG. 19

shows a step following the step as shown in FIG.


18


.





FIG. 20

explains a maintenance operation to inspect a surrounding portion of a rubber cylinder and a plate cylinder.





FIG. 21

explains a maintenance operation to inspect to a surrounding portion of an ink supply device.





FIG. 22A

is enlarged view of an essential part of another embodiment of a printing plate holding device according to the present invention.





FIG. 22B

is enlarged view of an essential part of another embodiment of a printing plate holding device according to the present invention.




FIG.


23


A and

FIG. 23B

explain an operation as shown in FIG.


22


A.




FIG.


24


A and

FIG. 24B

explains an operation as shown in FIG.


22


B.











SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




To resolve the above described drawbacks, a device for holding a printing plate according to the present invention comprises printing plate storing means with a storing space, the storing space for storing a discharged printing plate discharged from a plate cylinder or a new printing plate supplied to the plate cylinder, and moving means for moving the printing plate storing means between an operation position for storing the printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder in the storing space or supplying to the printing plate from the storing space to the plate cylinder and a shelter position released from the plate cylinder, the device for holding the printing plate characterized of further comprising a printing plate holding member movable with respect to the printing plate storing means, wherein the printing plate holding member can engage with an end of the discharged printing plate by advancing to the storing space of the discharged printing plate storing means by moving to the operation position of the discharged printing plate storing means by the moving means and can be released from the storing space of the discharged printing plate storing means by moving to the shelter position of the discharged printing plate storing means by the moving means.




In the above device for holding a printing plate, the device characterized in that the printing plate storing means is discharged printing plate storing means with the storing space for storing a discharged printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder, the moving means moves the printing plate storing means between the operation position for storing the discharged printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder in the storing space and a shelter position released from the plate cylinder, the printing plate holding member is movable with respect to the discharged printing plate storing means, wherein the discharged printing plate holding member can engage with an end of the discharged printing plate by advancing to the storing space of the discharged printing plate storing means by moving to the operation position of the discharged printing plate storing means by the moving means and can be released from the storing space of the discharged printing plate storing means by moving to the shelter position of the discharged printing plate storing means by the moving means.




In the above device for holding a printing plate, the device characterized in that a downstream end of the storing space along a direction for storing the discharged printing plate is lower than an upstream end of the storing space in the case that the discharged printing plate storing means is in the shelter position, the discharged printing plate holding member is pivotally supported by the discharged printing plate storing means wherein the discharged printing plate holding member moves the discharged printing plate to a storing position for storing the discharged printing plate in the printing plate storing means and the discharged printing plate holding member is located at an upstream side along the direction for storing the discharged printing plate with respect to a downstream end portion of the storing space of the printing plate storing means in the case that the discharged printing plate holding member is in the storing position, and a length between a pivot point of the discharged printing plate holding member located at the storing position and the downstream end portion of the storing space of the discharged printing plate storing means is longer than a length between the pivot point of the discharged printing plate holding member and a front end portion of discharged printing plate holding member.




In the above described device for holding a printing plate, the device characterized of further comprising a pivot restricting member for restricting a pivot movement of the discharged printing plate holding member advanced in the storing space of the discharged printing plate storing means in the operation position toward the upstream side along the direction for storing the discharged printing plate.




In the above described device for holding a printing plate, the device is characterized in that the discharged printing plate can be pick up through a side portion of the storing space of the printing plate storing means.




In the above described device for holding a printing plate, wherein the printing plate storing means is a new printing plate storing means for storing the new printing plate supplied to a plate cylinder, the printing plate storing means having a storing space for storing the new printing plate, the moving means for moving the printing plate storing means between an operation position for supplying the new printing plate to the plate cylinder and a shelter position released from the plate cylinder, the printing plate holding member provided at the new printing plate storing means is a new printing plate holding member for holding the new printing plate in the storing space of the new printing plate storing means by engaging with an end portion of the new printing plate, and the device further comprises a releasing member provided at a downstream side along a direction for supplying the new printing plate with respect to an upstream side of a storing position of the storing space of the new printing plate storing means, the releasing member releasing the new printing plate holding member from the storing space of the new printing plate storing means by moving toward the downstream side along the direction for supplying the new printing plate of the new printing plate holding member, wherein the new printing plate holding member is movable with respect to the new printing plate storing means, the new printing plate holding member goes ahead into the storing space in order to engage with an end portion of the new printing plate in the case that the new printing plate storing means is moved to the operation position by the moving means and the new printing plate holding member is released from the storing space of the printing plate storing means in the case that the new printing plate storing means is moved to the shelter position by the moving means.




In the above described device for holding a new printing plate, the device characterized in that a downstream side of the storing space along the direction of storing the new printing plate is lower than an upstream side of the storing space in the case that the new printing plate storing means is in the shelter position, the new printing plate holding member is pivotally supported by the new printing plate storing means, in the case of the new printing plate located at the storing position, the new printing holding member is located at the downstream side of the storing space with respect to an upstream end side of the storing space of the new printing plate storing means along the direction for storing the new printing plate, and a length between a pivot point of the new printing plate holding member located at the storing position and an upstream end of the storing space of the printing plate storing means along the direction for storing the new printing plate is longer than a length between the pivot point and an front end of the holding member.




In the above described device for holding a printing plate, the device characterized of further comprising a contacting member for moving the new printing plate toward an downstream side along the direction for supplying the new printing plate by contacting with an end portion of the new printing plate by moving with the new printing plate holding member from the storing position of the storing space of the printing plate storing means toward the downstream side of the direction for supplying the new printing plate.




In the above described device for holding a printing plate, the device characterized of further comprising a pivot restricting member for restricting a pivot movement of the holding member toward the downstream side along the direction for storing the new printing plate under the condition that the holding member is advanced to the storing space in the case that the new printing plate storing means is in the operating position.




In the above device for holding a printing plate, the device is characterized in that the new printing plate can be inserted through a side portion of the storing space of the new printing plate storing means.




PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




An embodiment of a printing press according to the present invention is described with reference to

FIG. 1

to FIG.


11


.

FIG. 1

is a schematic view of a device for feeding a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a printing press, particularly to an offset sheet printing press.

FIG. 2

shows an upper portion of the device as shown in FIG.


1


.

FIG. 3

shows a partial enlarged view of the device taken along a line III—III in FIG.


2


.

FIG. 4

shows a partial enlarged view of the device taken along a line IV—IV in FIG.


3


.

FIG. 5

shows a partial enlarged view of the device taken along a line V—V in FIG.


2


.

FIG. 6

shows a partial enlarged view of the device taken along a line VI—VI in FIG.


5


.

FIG. 7

shows a lower portion of the device as shown in FIG.


1


.

FIG. 8

shows a partial enlarged view taken along a line VIII—VIII as shown in FIG.


7


.

FIG. 9

shows a partial enlarged view taken along a line IX—IX as shown in FIG.


8


.

FIG. 10

shows a partial enlarged view taken along a line X—X as shown in FIG.


9


.

FIG. 11

is a drawing taken along a line XI—XI as shown in FIG.


10


.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, an upper plate cylinder


12


is provided at a location between a pair of upper right- and upper left-portions of the frames


11


of a printing unit. The upper cylinder


12


confronts with an upper rubber cylinder


14


. On the other hand, a lower plate cylinder


13


is provided at a location between a pair of lower right- and lower left-frames


11


. The lower plate cylinder


12


confronts with a lower rubber cylinder


15


. The upper rubber cylinder


14


and the lower rubber cylinder


15


confront each other and a printed medium such as a web member is passed through the pair of the rubber cylinders


14


and


15


.




When ink and dampening water is supplied from an ink supply device and a water supply device (not shown) to the plate cylinders


12


,


13


, respectively, ink corresponding to a picture pattern on plates of the plate cylinders


12


and


13


is transferred to the rubber cylinders


14


and


15


, respectively, so that double sides of a printed medium are printed by passing between the rubber cylinders


14


and


15


.




In the present embodiment, an upper printing portion comprises the upper plate cylinder


12


, the upper rubber cylinder


14


, the ink supply device and the water supply device and a lower printing portion comprises the lower plate cylinder


13


, the lower rubber cylinder


15


, the ink supply device and the water supply device.




Upper Plate Exchange Device




As shown in

FIG. 1

, an upper plate exchange device


100


is provided near the upper plate cylinder


12


. The upper plate exchange device


100


comprises the following components.




At each upper end of the right- and left-frames


11


, one end of a L-shaped support arm


101


is supported so as to rotate along the same rotational direction of the upper plate cylinder


12


. As shown in FIG.


2


and

FIG. 3

, the opposite end of the support arm


101


is supported so as to rotate along the same rotational direction of the upper plate cylinder


12


.




Upper Plate Holding Device




An upper plate holding device


110


is means for holding a printing plate of a printing press according to the present invention and supported between the support frames


102


so as to rotate along the same rotational direction of the upper plate cylinder


12


. The upper plate holding device


110


comprises the following components.




As shown in FIG.


2


and

FIG. 3

, a supporting axis


111


is connected and supported at a location between the support frames


102


so as to rotate along the same rotational direction of the upper plate cylinder. Each end portion of a pair of plate-shaped guide frames


112


,


113


arranged along an axial direction is connected and supported to a respective end of the supporting axis.




As shown in

FIG. 2

to

FIG. 4

, each opposite end of the guide frames


112


(


113


) is connected and fixed at a base end portion


114




a


(


115




b


) of the first- (second-) guide portion


114


(


115


) extending toward one end of the guide frame


112


(


113


) substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guide frame


112


(


113


).




A space is provided between the guide frames


112


,


113


and the first guide member


114


so as to form a stored portion


116




a


for storing a discharged printing plate


2


. When the upper holding device


110


is positioned as shown in

FIG. 2

, one end of the discharged plate


2


stands on the base end portion


114




a


of the first guide member


114


and a surface of the discharged printing plate


2


is supported by the guide frames


112


and


113


and the opposite surface of the discharged plate


2


is supported by the first guide member


114


.




A space is provided between the first and second guide members


114


and


115


so as to form a stored portion


116




b


for storing a new printing plate


1


. When the upper plate holding device


110


is positioned as shown in

FIG. 2

, a new printing plate


1


stands on the base end portion


115




b


of the second guide portion


115


, one surface of the new printing plate


1


is supported by the first guide member


114


and the opposite surface of the new printing plate


1


is supported by the second guide member


115


.




In the above embodiment, means for storing a discharged printing plate is constituted by the guide frames


112


and


113


, the first guide member


114


and so on and means for storing a new printing plate is constituted by the first and second guide members


114


and


115


.




One end of a link plate


129


is connected and fixed at the supporting axis


111


. At the opposite end of the link plate


129


, a front end of an actuator


130


is pivotally connected. A base end of the actuator


130


is pivotally supported by the support frame


102


.




That is, in the case that the actuator


130


is extended, the supporting axis


111


is rotated though the link plate


129


so as to switch the upper printing plate holding device


110


including the guide frames


112


and


113


between a released position (as shown in

FIG. 2

) and an operation position (as shown in

FIG. 12

) as described below. In the embodiment, moving means comprises the link plate


129


and the actuator


130


.




At a front end of the second guide portion


115


, a hooking member


115




a


is affected as a release member and outwardly protruded from the guide frame


113


. At the guide member


114


between the guide frames


112


and


113


, a plurality of guide rollers


117


for rotating along the same rotational direction of the upper printing plate cylinder


12


are provided along the longitudinal direction of the guide frames


112


and


113


separated with a predetermined interval. At the guide frame


13


, a contacting plate


118


for restricting the new printing plate


1


sliding along a width direction is attached through a bracket (not shown).




At each outside surface of the confronting guide frames


112


(


113


), a rodless cylinder


119


(


120


) is attached as moving means wherein an axial direction of the cylinder


119


(


120


) is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the guide frame


112


(


113


). A base end portion


121




a


of a U-shaped supporting member


121


of which an opening end is confronting to a front edge of the guide frame


112


is attached to the rodless cylinder


119


. The supporting member


121


can be slid along the longitudinal direction of the guide frame


112


between a position as shown in

FIG. 12

described below in detail and a stored position as shown in

FIG. 13

by the rodless cylinder


119


. A length of a connecting portion


121




c


is designed so as to position a height of a front end


121




b


of the supporting member


121


at the same level of an extending portion of the guide member


114


.




At the front end


121




b


of the supporting member


121


, a base end of the guide member


123


is connected and fixed, wherein a longitudinal direction is arranged along a longitudinal direction of the guide frame


112


. At the front end


121




b


of the supporting member


121


, a base end of the hook


125


with a claw portion


125




a


provided at a tip portion is affected as the discharged printing plate holding member and supported so as to rotate along the same rotational direction of the supporting axis


111


. When the longitudinal direction of the front end portion


121




b


of the supporting member


121


is arranged toward a direction as shown in

FIG. 13

as described below, the hook


125


is moved by the dead weight itself so as to position the claw portion


125




a


at the base end portion


121




a


so that the claw portion


125




a


is advanced into the stored portion


116




a


. When the longitudinal direction of the front end portion


121




b


of the supporting member


121


is arranged toward a straight direction as shown in

FIG. 2

, the hook


125


is moved by the dead weight itself so as to overlap the claw portion


125




a


on the front end portion


121




b


so that the claw proton


125




a


is going out from the stored portion


116




a.






Thus, the hook


125


is located nearer than the connecting portion


121




c


of the supporting member


121


with respect to a front end of the guide frame


112


. In other words, when the hook


125


is located in the stored position, the hook


125


is positioned at an upper stream side with respect to the base end


114




a


located at a down stream end of the stored portion


116




a


in the discharged printing plate storing direction. A length between a pivotal point of the hook


125


and the base end portion


114




a


is longer than a length between the pivot point of the hook


125


and the claw portion


125




a


. In other words, a length between the above pivot point of the hook


125


in the stored position and an end portion of the storing portion


116




a


at a down stream side in the discharged printing plates storing direction is longer than a distance between the pivot point and the front end portion of the hook


125


.




A stopper pin


127


is protruded and mounted as a pivot restricting member at the front end portion


121




b


of the support member


121


near the base end of the hook


125


. The stopper pin


127


avoids for the claw portion


125




a


of the hook


125


advanced to the stored portion


116




a


toward the front end side of the guide member


123


.




On the other hand, the base end side


122




a


of the U-shaped support member


122


of which an opening portion confronts toward the front end side of the guide frame


113


is provided at the rodless cylinder


120


. The support member


122


can be slid between a stored position as shown in

FIG. 13 and a

position as shown in

FIG. 14

by the rodless cylinder


120


. A length of the connecting portion


122




c


is designed so as to locate the front end portion


122




b


of the supporting member


122


slightly higher than the extending portion of the guide portion


115


.




The hook


126


having a claw portion


126




a


at the front end is affected as means for holding a new printing plate and pivotally supported by the front end


122




b


of the support member


122


so as to rotate along the same rotational direction of the support axis


111


. When the longitudinal direction of the front end portion


122




b


of the supporting member


122


is arranged toward a direction as shown in

FIG. 13

, the claw portion


126




a


of the hook


126


is moved to the base end


122




a


by the dead weight so as to advance the claw portion


126




a


into the stored portion


116




b


. When the longitudinal direction of the front end portion


122




b


of the support member


122


is arranged toward a straight direction as shown in

FIG. 2

, the claw portion


126




a


is moved by the dead weight so as to overlap on the front end portion


122




b


so that the claw portion


126


can go out from the stored portion


116




b.






Thus, the hook


126


is located nearer than the connecting portion


122




c


of the supporting member


122


with respect to the front end of the guide frame


113


. In other words, when the hook


126


is in the stored position, the hook


126


is positioned at the down stream with respect to the base end


115




b


which is positioned at an upper stream with respect to the stored portion


116




b


in a new printing plate supply direction. A length between a pivot point of the hook


126


and the base end portion


115




b


is longer than a length between a pivot point and the claw portion


126




a


of the hook


126


. In other words, a length between the pivot point of the hook


126


in the stored position and an upper stream end of the stored portion


116




b


in the new printing plate supply direction is longer than a length of the pivot point and the front end of the hook


126


.




A stopper pin


128


is protruded and mounted as a pivot restricting member at the front end portion


122




b


of the support member


122


near the base end of the hook


126


. The stopper pin


128


avoids for the claw portion


126




a


of the hook


126


advanced to the stored portion


116




b


toward the front end side of the guide member


115


. A press plate


124


is affected as a contacting member and protruded at a portion between the guide portions


114


and


115


of the connecting portion


122




c


of the supporting member


122


.




Upper First Plate Guiding Device




As shown in

FIG. 2

, each base end of a pair of pivot frames


141


of an upper first plate guide device


140


is pivotally connected and supported at a respective side of the upper plate cylinder


12


with respect to the supporting axis


111


of the support frame


102


so as to rotate the frame


141


along the same direction of the supporting axis


111


. The upper first plate guiding device


140


comprises the following components.




At the pivotal frame


141


, a fixed guide plate


142


for guiding a movement of a discharged printing plate


2


is attached. A front end of an actuator


143


is pivotally connected to the pivotal frame


141


. The support frame


102


is pivotally supported at a base end of the actuator


143


. That is, the pivotal frame


141


can be rotated by extending/contracting the actuator


143


so that the pivotal frame


141


can be rotated between a guide position for guiding a new printing plate


1


and a discharged printing plate


2


adjacent the upper plate cylinder


12


(as shown in

FIG. 12

) and a shelter position (see

FIG. 2

) released from the upper plate cylinder


12


.




A middle portion of a link plate


144


is pivotally connected to the pivotal frame


141


. A guide plate


145


is attached at a front end of the link plate


144


and affected as a straddle guide. A front end of the actuator


146


is connected to a base end of the link plate


144


. A base end of the actuator


146


is pivotally supported by the pivotal frame


141


. That is, the guide plate


145


can be moved between a discharged printing plate guiding position (see

FIG. 12

) and a new printing plate guiding position (as shown in

FIG. 14

) by extending/contracting the actuator


146


though the link plate


144


(described in detail herein below).




At a front end of the pivot frame


141


, a rotational axis


147


is pivotally supported so as to rotate along the same rotational direction of the upper plate cylinder


12


. A base end of a support plate


148


is connected and fixed at the rotational axis


147


. Guide rollers


149


are rotatably provided at a front end of the support plate


148


. A U-shaped turning plate of which a longitudinal direction is arranged along the axial direction of the upper plate cylinder


12


is connected to the rotational axis


147


. One end of a connecting plate


151


is connected and fixed at the rotational axis


147


. A front end of an actuator


152


is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the connecting plate


151


. A base end of the actuator


152


is pivotally supported by the turning frame


141


. The rotational axis is rotated through the connecting plate


151


by extending/contracting the actuator


152


so that the guide rollers


149


and the turning plate


150


can be moved.




A positioning plate


153


for adjusting a position of a printing plate along a width direction is attached to the pair of turning frames


141


.




Upper Second Printing Plate Guide Device




As shown in

FIGS. 2

,


5


and


6


, an upper second printing plate guide device is provided near the upper plate cylinder


12


. The upper second printing plate guide plate


160


comprises a guide plate


161


as a guiding member and a plurality of guiding rollers


162


pivotally provided at an end confronting with the upper plate cylinder


12


of the guide plate


161


.




Upper Press Roller




As shown in

FIG. 2

, an upper press roller


171


is provided near the upper plate cylinder


12


in order to approach to and released from the upper plate cylinder


12


.




Safety Cover




As shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

, a safety cover


103


for covering the printing press according to the present invention is provided for dividing at least one portion in a space between an internal portion and an external portion of the upper printing portion. In a shelter position of the upper printing plate holding device


110


as shown in

FIG. 2

, the stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


are located at an exterior side with respect to the safety cover


103


and the guide frames


112


and


113


, the rodless cylinders


119


and


120


, base end portions


121




a


and


122




a


of the support members


121


and


122


and the upper first printing plate guide device


140


positioned at a left side with respect to the stored portion


116




a


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


as shown in

FIG. 2

at an interior side with respect to the safety cover


103


. Therefore, the safety covers


103


provides a plurality of spaces


103




a


so as to provide spaces


103




a


corresponding to the guide frames


112


and


113


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


, the rodless cylinders


119


and


120


and base end portions


121




a


and


122




a


of the supporting members


121


and


122


.




Thus, the safety cover


103


is pivotally supported by the frame


11


through support members such as the support arm


101


, the support frame


102


and so on so that at least one space formed between the pair of frames


11


can be shifted from/to a closed position for closing the space to/from a released position for releasing the space. The upper printing plate holding device


110


is supported by the safety cover


103


through the support frame


102


in order to rotate the upper printing plate holding device


110


to the operation position (as shown in

FIG. 12

) relatively to the safety cover


103


.




A safety cover


103


formed between the left side guide frame


112


and the right side guide frame


113


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


is shorter than a longitudinal length between the guide frames


112


and


113


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


so that the safety cover


103


can be turned with the maximum rotational radius smaller than the maximum rotational radius of the upper printing plate holding device


110


.




Lower Printing Plate Exchange Device




As shown in

FIG. 1

, a lower printing plate exchange device


200


is provided near the lower plate cylinder


13


. The lower printing plate exchange device


200


comprises the following components.




As shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, a supporting axis


201


is supported at the left- and right-frames


11


, wherein an axial direction of the supporting axis


201


is arranged toward the axial direction of the lower plate cylinder


13


.




Safety Cover




At the support axis


201


, a safety cover


203


for covering the printing press according to the present invention is pivotally connected and supported, wherein the safety cover


203


comprises opening portions


203




a


and


203




b


and a slit


203




c


. The safety cover


203


is pivotally supported by the frames


11


through the support axis


201


so that at least one space formed between the pair of the frames


11


can shift between a close position for closing the space and a release position for releasing the space. The longitudinal distance of the safety cover


203


is shorter than that of the guide frames


212


and


213


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


as described below so that the maximum turning radius of the safety cover


203


can be shorter than the maximum turning radius of the lower printing plate holding device


210


. As shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, a safety cover


202


with opening portions


202




a


˜


202




c


is fixed at lower portions of the left side and right side of the frames


11


.




Lower Printing Plate Holding Device




At a side of the lower plate cylinder


13


of the safety cover


203


, a rotational axis


211


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


is affected as means for holding a printing plate in the printing press according to the present invention and pivotally connected and supported so as to rotate along the same rotational direction of the lower plate cylinder. The lower printing plate holding device


210


comprises the following components.




As shown in

FIGS. 7

to


9


, each end of a pair of a plate-shaped guide frames


212


and


213


is arranged along the axial direction of the lower plate cylinder


113


and connected and fixed at the opening portions


203




a


and


203




b


of the safety cover


203


of the rotational axis


211


, respectively. In each slit


203




c


of the safety cover


203


of the rotational axis


211


, one end of a plate-shaped support frame


217


is connected and fixed.




At the opposite end of the guide frame


212


(


213


), a base end of the guide member


214


(


215


) arranged in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the guide frame


212


(


213


) and extending toward one end of the guide frame


212


(


213


) is connected and fixed. The guide members


214


and


215


are outwardly protruded from the opening portions


203




a


and


203




b


of the cover


203


so as to locate the lower printing plate holding device


210


at an exterior side with respect to the safety cover


203


as shown in FIG.


7


and form a space therebetween in order to provide a stored portion


216




b


for storing the discharged printing plate


2


. A space is provided between the guide frames


212


and


213


and the guide member


214


so as to provide a stored portion


216




a


for storing the new printing plate


1


.




In the embodiment, means for storing a new printing plate comprises the above described guide frames


212


and


213


and the guide member


214


and means for storing a discharged printing plate comprises the guide members


214


and


215


.




One end of the link plate


229


is connected and fixed to the rotational axis


211


. The opposite end of the link plate


229


is pivotally connected to the front end of the actuator


230


. A base end of the actuator


230


is pivotally supported by the safety cover


203


.




The rotational axis


211


is rotated by extending and contracting the actuator


230


through the link plate


229


so that the lower printing plate holding device


210


comprising the guide frames


212


and


213


and the support


217


can move between a shelter position (as shown in

FIG. 7

) and an operation position (as shown in

FIG. 16

) described in detail hereinafter. The link plate


229


, the actuator


230


and so on constitute moving means in the present embodiment.




A contacting plate


218


for restricting the new printing plate sliding in the width direction is attached to the guide frame


213


through a bracket. The actuators


219


and


220


is attached at an exterior side of the guide frames


212


and


213


with respect to a confronting surface of the guide frames


212


and


213


, respectively, wherein the axial direction of the actuators


219


and


220


is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the guide frames


212


and


213


, respectively. A support device


221


is pivotally attached at a front end of a rod of the actuator


219


by extending and contracting the rod of the actuator


219


between the positions as shown in

FIGS. 17 and 18

. An extrusion member for extruding a new printing plate is attached to the supporting member


221


. The extrusion member


223


is outwardly protruded from the opening portions


202




a


and


203




a


of the safety cover


202


and


203


so as to position between the safety covers


202


and


203


and the guide member


214


when the lower printing plate holding device


210


is positioned as shown in FIG.


7


.




A support member


222


is attached at a front end of a rod of an actuator


220


so as to move between positions as shown in

FIGS. 16 and 17

described below by extending and contracting the rod of the actuator


220


. A receiving member


224


for receiving a discharged printing plate


2


is provided at the support member


222


. The receiving member


224


is outwardly protruded from the opening portions


202




b


and


203




b


of the safety covers


202


and


203


so as to position between the guide members


214


and


215


when the lower printing plate holding device


210


is positioned as shown in FIG.


7


.




Lower First Printing Plate Guide Device




As shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, base ends of a pair of frames


240




a


of the lower first printing plate guiding device


240


are pivotally connected and supported at an upper side of the support axis


201


so as to rotate along the same direction of the upper plate cylinder


13


. The upper first printing plate guide device


240


comprises the following components.




A rotational axis


241




a


of which the axial direction is arranged along the axial direction of the support axis


201


is attached to the frame


240




a


. At the rotational axis


241




a


, the base end of the rotational frame (not shown) and a middle portion of a link plate


244


as a straddle guide are pivotally provided. A fixed guide plate


242


for feeding the discharged printing plate


2


is provided at the pivotal frame. A front end of the actuator


243


is pivotally connected to the pivot frame. A base end of the actuator


243


is pivotally supported by the body frame


240




a


. The pivot frame is rotated by extending and contracting the actuator so that the guide plate


242


can be moved between a guide position near the lower plate cylinder and guiding the new printing plate


1


and the discharged printing plate


2


(see

FIG. 16

) and a shelter position released from the lower plate cylinder


13


(see FIG.


7


).




A guide plate


245


is affected as a straddle guide and provided at a front end of the link plate


244


. A front end of the actuator


246


is connected at a base end of the link plate


244


. The base end of the actuator


246


is pivotally supported by the pivot frame. The guide plate


245


can be moved between a position for guiding a discharged printing plate (see

FIG. 16

) and a position for guiding a new printing plate (see

FIG. 18

) by extending and contracting the actuator


246


through the link plate


244


(described in detail hereinafter).




At the front end of the pivot frame, a rotational axis


247


for rotating along the same direction of the lower plate cylinder


13


is rotatably supported. A base end of the support plate


248


is connected and fixed at the rotational axis


247


. A guide roller


249


is rotatably provided at a front end of the support plate


248


. A substantially U-shaped turning plate


250


of which a longitudinal direction is arranged along an axial direction of the lower plate cylinder


13


is connected and supported by the rotational axis


247


. One end of a connecting plate


251


is connected and fixed at the rotational axis


247


. A front end of an actuator


252


is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the connecting plate


251


. The base end of the actuator


252


is pivotally connected to the pivot frame. Thus, the rotational axis


247


is rotated by extending and contracting the actuator


252


through the connecting plate


251


so that the guide roller


249


and the turning plate


250


can be moved.




Positioning plates


253


for positioning a plate along the width direction is provided at a pair of the pivot frames, respectively. A cover


254


is provided at the pivot frame.




Lower Second Printing Plate Guide Device




As shown in

FIGS. 7

,


10


and


11


, a lower second printing plate guide device


260


is provided near the lower plate cylinder


13


. The lower second printing plate guiding device


260


comprises a guide plate


261


as a guiding member of which a base end is pivotally connected and supported by the support axis


201


and a plurality of guiding rollers


262


at the end of the lower plate cylinder side (front end) of the guide plate


261


. The lower second printing plate guiding device


260


can be moved between a guiding position for guiding a new printing plate


1


supplied to the lower plate cylinder


13


and a discharged printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder


13


and a shelter position located far from the lower plate cylinder


13


.




Lower Press Roller




As shown in

FIG. 7

, a lower press roller


271


is provided near the lower plate cylinder


13


so as to approach to and be released from the lower plate cylinder


13


.




In a shelter position of the lower printing plate holding device


210


as shown in

FIG. 7

, the safety covers


202


and


203


locate the stored portions


216




a


and


216




b


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


at an exterior side with respect to the safety covers


202


and


203


and the guide frames


212


and


213


, the support frame


217


, the actuators


219


and


220


, base end of support members


221


and


222


located at a left side with respect to the stored portion


216




a


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


as shown in

FIG. 7

at an interior side with respect to the safety covers


202


and


203


. Therefore, the opening portions


202




a


,


202




b


,


203




a


and


203




b


and the slit


203




c


are formed at positions corresponding to the guide frames


212


and


213


, the support frame


217


, the actuators


219


and


220


, the base ends of the support members


221


and


222


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


, respectively.




An operation for exchanging printing plates in the upper printing plate exchange device


100


and the lower printing plate exchange device


200


is explained with reference to

FIG. 12

to FIG.


19


.

FIG. 12

is a drawing for explaining an exchange step in the upper printing plate exchange device.

FIG. 13

is a drawing for explaining the next exchange step of the step in FIG.


12


.

FIG. 14

is a drawing for explaining the next exchange step of the step in FIG.


13


.

FIG. 15

is a drawing for explaining the next exchange step of the step in FIG.


14


.

FIG. 16

a drawing for explaining an exchange step in the lower printing plate exchange device.

FIG. 17

is a drawing for explaining the next exchange step of the step in FIG.


16


.

FIG. 18

is a drawing for explaining the next exchange step of the step in FIG.


17


.

FIG. 19

is a drawing for explaining the next exchange step of the step in FIG.


18


.




Upper Printing Plate Exchange Device




Shift to an Operation Position




In a printing operation, as shown in

FIG. 2

, the upper printing plate holding device


110


is located in the shelter position by arranging the guide frames


112


and


113


and guide members


114


and


115


in a up-down direction. A downstream side of the stored portion


116




a


is lower than the upstream side of the stored portion


116




a


in the discharge printing plate storing direction. The upstream side of the stored portion is lower than the downstream side of the stored portion in the new printing plate supply direction.




Under the condition, a printing plate


1


of which a tail end is arranged at a lower side is inserted into the stored portion


116




b


between the guide members


114


and


115


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


with the contacting plate


118


so as to store the new printing plate


1


at the stored position.




At the time, a longitudinal direction of the front end portions


121




b


and


122




b


of the support members


121


and


122


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


are positioned toward a straight direction, the hooks


125


and


126


are going out from the stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


by the dead weight so as to overlap on the front end portions


121




b


and


122




b


of the support members


121


and


122


. The stored portion


116




b


is positioned at an exterior side with respect to the safety cover


103


. A shelter position is located beyond the upper printing portion and the downstream side of the stored portion


116




b


is lower than the downstream of the stored portion


116




b


at the operating position in the printing plate supply direction, so that an operation for the stored portion


116




b


at the shelter position can be operated at the exterior and lower side with respect to the safety cover


103


. A new printing plate


1


can be inserted from an opposite side of a contacting plate


118


of the stored portion


116




b


. Therefore, a new printing plate


1


can be set into the stored portion


116




b


simply and easily.




Since almost all members except the stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


are stored at an interior side with respect to the safety cover


103


, an outwardly protruded volume from the safety cover


103


is small. Therefore, an operation space can be utilized effectively so as to exchange the printing plates conveniently.




When the actuator


130


is contracted as shown in

FIG. 12

, the upper printing plate holding device


110


is moved to an operation position by turning the guide frames


112


and


113


around the rotational axis


111


so as to arrange the front end of the guide members


114


and


115


toward the upper plate cylinder


12


.




A downstream side of the stored portion


116




a


is located higher than an upstream side of the stored portion


116




a


in a discharged printing plate storing direction. That is, an opening portion of the support members


121


and


122


are downwardly inclined. The hooks


125


and


126


are moved so as to advance the claw portion


125




a


and


126




a


into the stored portions


116




a


,


116




b


. Under the condition, the stopper pins


127


and


128


restrict such a movement so that the claw portion


126




a


of the hook


126


can engage a tail end of the new printing plate so as to prevent the new printing plate from falling.




Simultaneously, the support member


121


is moved from a position as shown in

FIG. 2

to a front end of the guide frame


112


(upstream side in the discharged printing plate storing direction) as shown in

FIG. 12

by actuating the rodless cylinder


119


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


. The guiding device


140


is moved to a guiding position by rotating the pivot frame


141


by extending the actuator


143


of the upper first printing plate guiding device


140


, then the guide plate


145


for guiding the discharged printing plate


2


discharged from the upper plate cylinder


12


to the stored portion


116




a


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


by rotating the link plate


144


by contracting the actuator


146


.




Storing a Discharged Printing Plate




While the press roller


171


is moved to the operation position, the upper printing plate cylinder


12


is pressed and simultaneously rotated along an invert rotational direction so as to disengage the tail end of the printing plates engaged by means for holding the end of the printing plate of the upper plate cylinder


12


so that the tail end of the discharged printing sheet


2


is going out from the upper plate cylinder


12


. Then, the discharged printing plate


2


is guided between the guide plates


142


and


145


of the upper first printing plate guide device


140


and fed to the stored portion


116




a


between the guide frames


112


and


113


and the guide member


123


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


by forwarding the tail end. The hook


125


is pivotally supported so that the hook


125


is rotated by the tail end of the discharged printing plate


2


while the tail end is fed. After the tail end of the discharged printing plate


2


is passed through the hook


125


, the hook


125


returned to an initial position (as shown in

FIG. 12

) by the dead weight.




A disengagement of holding the tail end of the printing plate by the means for holding the edge of the printing plate is operated at an upstream point nearer than the edge confronting with the upper plate cylinder


12


of the guide plate


161


in an inverse rotational direction.




By inversely rotating the upper plate cylinder


12


, an engaged side of the discharged printing plate


2


is approached to the upper first printing plate guiding device


140


. Then, the means for holding the edge of the printing plate disengage the engaged tail end of the printing plate and the press roller


171


is moved to the shelter position so as to be released from the upper plate cylinder


12


and the actuator


152


of the upper first printing plate guide device


140


is shortened. Thereby, the guide roller


149


and the turning plate


150


rotate counter clockwisely around the rotational axis


147


. The turning plate


150


moves the engaged end of the discharged printing plate


2


toward an outward radius direction of the upper plate cylinder


12


so that the discharged printing plate


2


can be certainly released from the upper plate cylinder


12


.




After the discharged printing plate


2


is completely released from the upper plate cylinder


12


, the guide roller


149


and the turning plate


150


are returned to the shelter position by extending the actuator of the first printing press guide device


140


. As shown in

FIG. 13

, the rodless cylinder


119


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


are operated so as to return the support member


121


toward the base end of the guide frame


112


(downstream of the discharged printing plate storing direction), the claw


125




a


of the hook


125


engages the tail end of the discharged printing plate


2


and pulls the discharged printing plate


2


upwardly to the stored position of the stored portion


116




a


formed between the guide frames


112


and


113


and the guide member


123


so as to store the discharged printing plate


2


in the stored position of the stored portion


116




a.






At that time, the stopper pin


128


restricts the hook


125


rotating toward the upstream side in the discharged printing plate storing direction so that the discharged printing plate


2


can be pulled up certainly. In accordance with the movement of the means for discharging a printing plate with the rodless cylinder


119


, the support member


121


, the hook


125


and so on, even if the bent engaged end of the discharged printing plate


2


released from the upper plate cylinder


12


is caught by an end at the upper plate cylinder side of the guide plate


161


of the upper second printing plate guide device


160


, the engaged end of the discharged printing plate


2


can be easily disengaged form the upper end of the guide plate


161


by rotating the guide roller


162


.




Attaching a New Printing Plate




As shown in

FIG. 14

, the link plate


144


is rotated by extending the actuator


146


of the upper first printing plate guide device


140


so as to move the guide plate


145


to the new printing plate guide position for supplying the new printing plate


1


hold in the stored portion


116




b


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


to the upper plate cylinder


12


and to move the press roller


171


at an operation position so as to press the upper plate cylinder


12


. Thus, the support member


122


is moved from the stored position of the stored portion


116




a


to the front end of the guide frame


113


(downstream in the new printing plate supply direction), the press plate


124


contacts with the tail end of the new printing plate


1


and the new printing plate


1


is fed toward the upper plate cylinder


12


(downstream in the new printing plate supply direction).




As described above, the support member


122


is moved toward the front end of the guide frame


113


so as to feed the new printing plate


1


toward the upper printing cylinder


12


, the hook


126


is caught and contacted with a catching portion


115




a


of the guide member


115


on the way so as to going out from the stored portion


116




b


. The tail end of the new printing plate


1


is unlocked from the hook


126


so that the new printing plate


1


is fed with positioning the width direction of the new printing plate


1


by the left and right positioning plates


153


of the supper first printing plate guide device


140


and stopped by contacting the engaged end with the press roller


171


.




Continuously, the upper plate cylinder


12


is rotated clockwisely, the new printing plate


1


is wound and attached on the upper plate cylinder


12


from the engaged end.




Even if the safety cover


103


is not released, the upper printing plate holding device


110


is moved from the shelter position to the operation position so that the printing plate can be prevented from falling to an inside of the printing portion in an exchange operation.




Switch to the Shelter Position




After feeding the new printing plate


1


as described above, the pivot frame


141


is rotated by contracting the actuator


143


of the upper first printing plate guide device


140


as shown in

FIG. 15

so as to move the guide device to the shelter position. And the support member


122


is moved toward the base end of the guide frame


113


by actuating the rodless cylinder


120


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


and the guide frames


112


and


113


are rotated by extending the actuator


130


so as to move the printing plate holding device


110


to the shelter position then the guide frames


112


and


113


and the guide members


114


and


115


are rotated wherein the longitudinal direction thereof is arranged along an up and down direction. A downstream of the stored portion


116




a


is located lower than the upstream of the stored portion


116




a


in the discharged printing plate store direction. The upstream of the stored portion


116




b


is located lower than the downstream of the stored portion


116




b


in the new printing plate supply direction.




The longitudinal direction of the front ends


121




b


and


122




b


of the support members


121


and


122


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


is arranged along a straight direction, the hooks


125


and


126


is rotated by the dead weight so as to go out from the stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


and overlaps the front ends


121




b


and


122




b


of the support members


121


and


122


, respectively. Further, the stored portion


116




a


is located at an exterior side with respect to the safety cover


103


and the safety cover


103


is positioned at a back side of the stored discharged printing plate


2


so as to form a guide surface. The shelter position is located beyond the upper printing portion and a position at the downstream of the stored portion


116




b


in the discharged printing plate storing direction is lower than the operation position so that an operation for the stored portion


116




a


in the shelter position can be worked at the lower position at the exterior side of the safety cover


103


protruded form the safety cover


103


. The discharged printing plate


2


can be pick up from the stored portion


116




a


at the opposite side of the contacting plate


118


, the discharged printing plate


2


can be removed from the stored portion


116




a


without an operator entering into adjacent printing units.




Almost all members of the upper printing holding device


110


expect the stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


are stored at an interior side with respect to the safety cover


103


, so that an outwardly protruded volume of the safety cover


103


is small. Thus, a working space can be utilized effectively and a printing plate exchange operation can be improved more conveniently.




Lower Printing Plate Exchange Device




Shift to the Operation Position




In printing, as shown in

FIG. 7

, the guide frames


212


and


213


and the guide members


214


and


215


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


are arranged along the up and down direction so as to position the stored portions


216




a


and


216




b


at the shelter position which is at an exterior side with respect to the safety cover


203


.




Under the condition, the tail end of the new printing plate is positioned at the lower side and inserted into the stored position of the stored portion


216




a


of the lower printing plate holding device by contacting the new printing plate with the contacting plate


218


.




The stored portion


216




b


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


is located at the exterior side with respect to the safety cover


203


and the safety cover


203


is arranged along the stored portion


216




b


so that an operation for setting the new printing plate


1


with respect to the stored portion


216




a


at the shelter position can be worked at the exterior side of the safety cover


203


with the protection of the safety cover


203


. The new printing plate


1


can be inserted from the opposite side of the contacting plate


218


of the stored portion


216




a


so that the new printing plate


1


can be set in the stored portion


216




b


without an operator entering into adjacent printing units. Thus, the new printing plate


1


can be easily set in the stored portion


216




b.






Almost all members of the lower printing plate holding device


210


except the stored portions


216




a


and


216




b


are located at an interior side with respect to the safety cover


203


, an outwardly protruded volume is small. Thus, working space can be utilized effectively and a printing plate exchange operation can be improved more conveniently.




In the next, when the actuator


230


is contracted, as shown in

FIG. 16

, the guide frames


212


and


213


and the support frame


217


are rotated around the rotational axis


211


so as to arrange the front end of the guide members


214


and


215


toward the lower plate cylinder


13


. Then, the lower printing plate holding device


219


is shifted to the operation position.




Simultaneously, the pick-up member


224


is moved from the position as shown in

FIG. 7

to a front end of the guide frame


213


as shown in

FIG. 16

by contracting the actuator


220


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


. The pivot frame is rotated by extending the actuator


243


of the lower first printing plate guide device


240


so as to move the lower first printing plate guide device


240


at the guiding position. Thus, the link plate


244


is rotated by shortening the actuator


246


so as to move the guide plate


245


to a discharged printing plate guide position for guiding the discharged printing plate


2


discharged from the lower plate cylinder to the stored portion


216




b


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


.




Storing a Discharged Printing Plate




The press roller


271


is shifted to the operation position and pressed on the lower plate cylinder


13


, while the lower plate cylinder


13


inversely rotated and the engagement of the tail end of the printing plate


2


with the means for holding the edge of the printing plate of the lower plate cylinder


13


is released. Thus, the tail end of the discharged printing plate


2


is going out from the lower plate cylinder


13


, the discharged printing plate


2


is guided between the guide plates


242


and


245


of the lower first printing plate guide device


240


. The discharged printing plate


2


is fed on the pick-up member


224


of the stored portion


216




b


between the guide frames


214


and


215


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


from the tail end.




The disengagement of the tail end of the printing plate by the means for holding the tail end of the printing plate is operated at an upstream portion with respect to an end portion confronting with the lower plate cylinder


13


of the guide plate


261


in a inverse rotational direction of the lower plate cylinder


13


.




While the plate cylinder


13


is rotated inversely, the engaged side of the discharged printing plate


2


is approached to the lower first printing plate guide device


240


. Then, the engagement of the engaged end of the printing plate by the means for holding the edge of the printing plate is disengaged and the press roller


271


is shifted to the shelter position for removed from the lower plate cylinder


13


and the actuator


252


of the lower first printing plate guide device


240


is contracted. Thereby, the guide roller


249


and the turning plate


250


rotate counter clockwise around the rotational axis


247


as shown in

FIG. 16

, the turning plate


250


feeds the engaged end of the discharged printing plate


2


toward an outward radius direction of the lower plate cylinder


13


so that the bent engaged end of the discharged printing plate


2


can be certainly disengage.




After completely disengaging the discharged printing plate


2


from the lower plate cylinder


13


, the guide rollers


249


and the turning plate


250


are returned to the shelter position by extending the actuator


252


of the lower first printing plate guide device


240


. As shown in

FIG. 17

, the pick-up member


225


is returned to the base end of the guide frame


213


by actuating the actuator


220


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


. In accordance with such a movement, the discharged printing plate


2


is moved to the stored position of the stored portion


216




b


on the pick-up member


224


between the guide members


214


and


215


and stored in the stored position of the stored portion


216




b


while the pick-up member


224


engages with the tail end of the discharged printing plate


2


.




In accordance with such a movement of the discharge means with the actuator


220


and the pick-up member


224


, even if the bent engaged end of the discharged printing plate


2


disengaged from the lower plate cylinder


13


is caught by the end at the lower plate cylinder side of the guide plate


261


of the lower second printing plate guide device


260


, the engaged end of the discharged printing plate


2


can be easily disengaged from the end portion of the guide plate


261


by rotating the guide roller


262


.




Attachment of the New Printing Plate




As shown in

FIG. 18

, the link plate


244


is rotated by extending the actuator


246


of the lower first printing plate guide device


240


so as to move the guide plate


245


to the new printing plate guide device for supplying the new printing plate


1


hold in the stored portion


216




a


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


to the lower plate cylinder


12


. And the press roller


271


is shifted to the operation position so as to press the lower plate cylinder


13


. The extrusion member


223


is moved to the front end of the guide frame


212


by contracting the actuator


219


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


, the tail end of the new printing plate


1


is pushed by the pushing member


223


and fed toward the lower printing plate cylinder


13


while the width direction of the new printing plate


1


is accurately adjusted by the left- and right-positioning plates


252


.




When the engaged end of the new printing plate


1


contacts with the press roller


171


, the feeding operation is stopped once. By rotating the upper plate cylinder


12


counter clockwise, the new printing plate


1


is wound and attached to the upper plate cylinder


12


from the engaged end.




At that time, although the safety cover


203


is not released, the lower printing plate holding device


210


can be shifted from the shelter position to the operation position so that tools can be prevented from falling into an internal portion of the printing portion in exchanging a printing plate exchange operation.




Shift to a Shelter Position




After feeding the new printing plate


1


as described above, the pivot frame is rotated by contracting the actuator


243


of the lower first printing plate guide device


240


of the actuator


243


so as to move the guide device


240


to the shelter position. The extrusion member


223


is moved toward the base end of the guide frame


212


by extending the actuator


219


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


. The guide frames


212


and


213


are rotated by contracting the actuator


230


so as to move the printing plate holding device


210


to the shelter position. Thus, each component such as the guide frames


212


and


213


pass through the safety covers


202


and


203


and the opening portions


202




a


,


202




b


,


203




a


and


203




b


and the slit


203




c


and are stored at an interior side of the safety covers


202


and


203


.




At that time, the stored portion


216




b


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


is positioned at an exterior side with respect to the safety cover


203


, an operation for the stored portion


216




b


at the shelter position can be worked at the exterior side with respect to the safety cover


203


. The discharged printing plate


2


can be pick up from the stored portion


216




b


at an opposite side of the contacting plate


218


, so that the discharged printing plate


2


can be removed from the stored portion


216




b


without an operator entering into adjacent printing units. The discharged printing plate


2


can be picked up from the stored portion very easily.




Almost all members of the lower printing plate holding device


210


except the stored portions


216




a


and


216




b


are stored at an interior side with respect to the safety cover


203


, so that an outward protruded volume of the safety cover


203


is small. Thus, a working space can be utilized effectively and the printing plates can be exchanged more conveniently.




Maintenance of Rubber Cylinder and Surrounding Portion of the Plate Cylinder




In the case of inspecting a surrounding portion of the plate cylinders


12


and


13


and the rubber cylinders


14


and


15


, the safety cover


103


is opened as shown in FIG.


20


. Then, the support frame


102


integrally supported with the safety cover


103


is rotated around the support arm


101


. The upper printing plate holding device


110


and the upper first printing plate guide device


140


are pulled from the frame


11


. On the other hand, the support frame


240




a


of the lower first printing plate guide device


240


and the guide plate


261


of the lower second printing plate guide device


260


are rotated around the support axis


201


, the lower first printing plate guide device


240


and the lower second printing plate guide device


260


are pulled from the frame


11


of the printing unit. Thereby, the surrounding portions of the plate cylinders


12


and


13


and the rubber cylinders


14


and


15


of the printing portion in the printing unit can be released simultaneously with providing the working space at the surrounding portions of the plate cylinders


12


and


13


and the rubber cylinders


14


and


15


so as to be inspected easily.




Inspection of the Surrounding Portion of the Ink Supply Device and a Water Supply Device




In the case of inspecting the surrounding portion of the ink supply device and the water supply device (portion above the upper plate cylinder


12


, portion beyond the lower plate cylinder


13


), the support arm


101


of the upper printing plate exchange device


100


is rotated by the frame


11


of the printing unit from a position as described above as shown in

FIG. 21

, the upper printing plate holding device


110


and the upper first printing plate guide device


140


are located above the frame


11


of the printing unit, the lower printing plate holding device


210


with the safety cover


203


is pulled out from the printing unit by rotating the safety cover


203


of the lower printing plate exchange device


200


around the support axis


201


. Thereby, the surrounding portion of the ink supply device and the water supply device of the printing portion of the printing unit can be released simultaneously providing a working space at the surrounding portion of the ink supply device and the water supply device so as to be inspected easily.




Accordingly, the above described upper printing plate exchange device


100


and lower printing plate exchange device


200


can obtain the following effects.




(1) Only the upper printing plate holding device


110


of the upper printing plate exchange device


100


is shifted to an operation position, the claw portions


125




a


and


126




a


of the hooks


125


and


126


are advanced in the stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


. Only the upper printing plate holding device


110


is shifted to the shelter position, the claw portions


125




a


and


126




b


of the hooks


125


and


126


are going out from the stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


, an insertion of the new printing plate


1


into the stored portion


116




b


and the pick-up the discharged printing plate


2


from the stored portion


116




a


can be operated very easily without providing driving means for rotating the hooks


125


and


126


. Therefore, although the structure is simple, the pick-up of the discharged printing plate


2


and the set of the new printing plate


1


can be operated easily.




(2) At the shelter position, the downstream of the stored portion


116




a


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


of the upper printing plate exchange device


100


is located lower than the upstream of the stored portion


106




b


in the discharged printing plate storing direction, on the other hand, the upstream of the stored portion


116




b


is located lower than the downstream of the stored portion


116




b


in the new printing plate supplying direction. At the operation position, the downstream of the stored portion


116




a


of the upper printing holding device


110


of the upper printing plate exchange device


100


is located higher than the upstream of the stored portion


116




a


in the discharged printing plate storing direction and the upper stream of the stored portion


116




b


is located higher than the downstream of the stored portion


116




b


in the new printing plate supplying direction so that the stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


at the shelter position can be found a space at the lower level. Thereby, although the printing portion is located at a relatively high level, the printing plate


1


can be set easily and the discharged printing plate


2


can be picked up easily.




(3) Since the stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


of the upper printing holding device


110


of the upper printing exchanging device


100


at the shelter position are located beyond the upper printing portion, the new printing plate


1


can be set easily and the discharged printing plate


2


can be picked up easily even if the upper printing portion is located at the relatively high level.




(4) The stored portions


116




a


and


116




b


of the upper printing plate holding device


110


of the upper printing plate exchange device


100


at the shelter position are located at the exterior side with respect to the safety cover


103


, so that the new printing plate


1


and the discharged printing plate


2


can be set and discharged without releasing the safety cover


103


.




(5) Since the guide rollers


162


and


262


are provided at the end of the guide plates


161


and


261


of the second printing plate guiding devices


160


and


260


at the side of the plate cylinders


12


and


13


, the discharged printing plate


2


can be certainly disengaged from the end of the guide plates


161


and


261


although the bent end portion of the discharged printing portion


2


is caught. Although the discharged printing plate


2


is automatically discharged, the discharged printing plate


2


can be discharged certainly and the discharged printing plate


2


and the devices can prevent from being damaged.




(6) Rotational axes of the lower first and second printing plate guide devices


240


and


260


and the safety cover


203


are equal, so that a working space can be released by rotating these devices. Although the sufficient space can not be prepared above the frame


11


, the working space can be certainly prepared at a portion surrounding with the plate cylinder


13


without adding extra components.




(7) In order to move the stored portions


216




a


and


216




b


to the shelter position located at an exterior side with respect to the safety cover


203


and the operation position for connecting to the lower first printing plate guiding device


240


located in the guide position, the lower printing plate holding device


210


is pivotally provided at the cover


203


so that the new printing plate


1


and the discharged printing plate can be set and picked up easily at the exterior side with respect to the safety cover


203


.




(8) The guide plates


145


and


245


of the fist printing plate guide devices


140


and


240


guide the discharged printing pale


2


to the stored portion


116




a


and


216




b


of the printing plate holding device


110


and


210


. The new printing plate


1


from the stored portions


116




b


and


216




b


are guided to the plate cylinders


12


and


13


so that the new printing plate


1


and the discharged printing plate


2


can be straggled certainly.




(9) Without releasing the safety covers


103


and


203


, the new printing plate


1


can be supplied and the discharged printing plate


2


can be stored by shifting the printing plate holding devices


110


and


210


from the shelter position to the operation position. During the printing plates exchanged, the safety covers


103


and


203


are located at a closed position so that the tools can be prevented from falling into the frame


11


.




(10) The printing plate holding device


110


and


210


are held with respect to the safety covers


103


and


203


, the printing holding device


110


and


210


can be released from the plate cylinders


12


and


13


simultaneously with closing/opening the safety covers


103


and


203


. The inspection effect can be improved.




(11) Almost all members of the printing plate holding devices


110


and


210


at the shelter position except the stored portions


116




a


,


116




b


,


216




a


and


216




b


can be stored at an interior side with respect to the safety covers


103


and


203


, so that an outward protruded volume of the safety covers


103


and


203


is small. The working space can be utilized effectively and the printing plate exchange operation can become more conveniently.




(12) When the discharged printing plate


2


is picked up from the stored portion


116




a


of the printing plate holding plate


110


or the new printing plate


1


is set to the stored portion


216




b


of the lower printing plate holding device


210


, the safety covers


103


and


203


can be used as the guide surface so that setting the new printing plate


1


and picking up the discharged printing plate


2


can be operated easily with the simple members. The manufacturing cost can be reduced.




(13) Since the maximum rotational radius of the safety covers


103


and


203


is shorter than the maximum rotational radius of the printing plate holding device


110


and


210


, the safety covers


103


and


203


can be closed and opened easily without an operator crashing on the safety covers


103


and


203


during the inspection.




In the present embodiment, although the hooks


125


and


126


are pivotally provided at the front ends


121




b


and


122




b


of the support members


121


and


122


, as shown in

FIGS. 22A and 22B

, instead of the hooks


125


and


126


, it may be provided hooks


125


′ and


126


′ capable of sliding, via paired pins


125





b


and


126





b


in a pair of slide grooves


121




ba


and


122




b


a formed at the front end portion


121




b


and


122




b


of the support members


121


and


122


, respectively.




Regarding the hooks


125


′ and


126


′, when the upper printing plate holding device


110


is switched to the operation position, the hooks


125


′ and


126


′ are slid by the dead weight so as to advance the claw portions


125





a


and


126





a


in the stored portions


116


,


116




b


(see

FIG. 23A

, FIG.


24


B).




Regarding the hook


125


′ advanced in the stored portion


116




a


, the hook


125


′ is pushed by the tail end of the discharged printing plate


2


so as to go out from the stored portion


116




a


by feeding the discharged printing plate


2


. At that time when the tail end of the discharged printing plate


2


passes, the hook


125


′ can slide into the stored portion


116




a


again by dead weight (see FIG.


23


B). Regarding the hook


126


′ advanced in the stored portion


116




b


, the hook


126


′ is caught by the hooking member


115




a


of the guide member


115


on the way, the hook


126


′ can be slid so as to go out from the stored portion


116




b


(see FIG.


24


B).




In the embodiment according to the present invention, although the hook


126


can be gone out from the stored portion


116




b


by contacting with the hooking member


115




a


of the guide member


115


, instead of the hooking portion


115




a


, the hook


126


can be caught by a magnet member so that the hook


126


can be gone out from the stored portion


116




b


by moving the hook


126


.




In accordance with a printing press according to the present invention, a device for holding a printing plate is advanced to a storing space by moving storing means for storing the printing plate to an operation position of the storing means and the printing plate holding member is released from the storing space to a shelter position of the storing means, so that it is unnecessary to provide an exclusive use driving device for driving the printing plate holding member, a number of parts and a manufacturing cost can be decreased and the printing plate can be picked up easily.



Claims
  • 1. A printing press comprising:a pair of left and right frames, a cover movably supported between a closing position for closing at least one part of a space formed between said pair of left and right frames and a releasing position for releasing said space, means for holding a printing plate, the means for holding is swingably supported and movably supported between a shelter position, at the shelter position the means for holding extends downward from a swing center, for holding a new printing plate supplied to a plate cylinder or holding a discharged printing plate discharged from said plate cylinder and an operation position for supplying said new printing plate to said plate cylinder or storing said discharged printing plate discharged from said plate cylinder, said means for holding the printing plate located at an exterior side with respect to said cover, the cover extends downward from the swing center of the means for holding, wherein said means for holding a printing plate can be moved between said shelter position and said operation position while said cover is located at said closing position.
  • 2. A printing press as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for holding a printing plate is supported at a side of said cover.
  • 3. A printing press as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover is swingably supported at a side of said frames.
  • 4. A printing press as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover is swingably supported at a side of the support member swingably supported at a side of said frames.
  • 5. A printing press comprising:a pair of left and right frames, a cover movably supported between a closing position for closing at least one part of a space formed between said pair of left and right frames and a releasing position for releasing said space, means for holding a printing plate, the means for holding is swingably supported and movably supported between a shelter position for holding a new printing plate supplied to a plate cylinder or holding a discharged printing plate discharged from said plate cylinder, at the shelter position the holding means extends in substantially the same direction as that in which the cover extends from a swing center of the holding means and an operation position for supplying said new printing plate to said plate cylinder or storing said discharged printing plate discharged from said plate cylinder, said means for holding the printing plate are located at an exterior side with respect to said cover, said means for holding a printing plate can be moved between said shelter position and said operation position while said cover is located at said closing position, said means for holding a printing plate includes: a first guide member for supporting one side surface of said printing plate and a second guide member for supporting the opposite surface of said printing plate, said cover comprises an opening portion corresponding to one of said first and second guide members, wherein the cover has an opening portion at a position which corresponds to either the first guide member or the second guide member which is located on the cover side at the shelter position of the printing plate holding means.
  • 6. A printing press as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for holding a printing plate is supported at a side of said cover.
  • 7. A printing press as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cover is swingably supported at a side of said frames.
  • 8. A printing press as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cover is swingably supported at a side of the support member swingably supported at a side of said frames.
  • 9. The printing press as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cover surface of the cover is located substantially in the same plane as that of the guide surface of either the first guide member or the second guide member, which is located on the cover side at the shelter position of the printing plate holding means.
  • 10. A printing press comprising:a pair of left and right frames, a cover movably supported between a closing position for closing at least one part of a space formed between said pair of left and right frames and a releasing position for releasing said space, means for holding a printing plate, the means for holding is swingably supported and movably supported between a shelter position for holding a new printing plate supplied to a plate cylinder or holding a discharged printing plate discharged from said plate cylinder, at the shelter position the holding means extends in substantially the same direction as that in which the cover extends from a swing center of the holding means and an operation position for supplying said new printing plate to said plate cylinder or storing said discharged printing plate discharged from said plate cylinder, said means for holding the printing plate located at an exterior side with respect to said cover, said means for holding a printing plate can be moved between said shelter position and said operation position while said cover is located at said closing position, said means for holding a printing plate includes: a first guide member for supporting one side surface of said printing plate and a second guide member for supporting the opposite surface of said printing plate, and a plurality of separated covers are arranged along the axial direction of the plate cylinder in such a manner that each of the covers faces, with corresponding clearances, either the first guide member or the second guide member, which is located on the cover side at the shelter position of the printing plate holding means.
  • 11. A printing press as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for holding a printing plate is supported at a side of said cover.
  • 12. A printing press as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cover is swingably supported at a side of said frames.
  • 13. A printing press as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cover is swingably supported at a side of the support member swingably supported at a side of said frames.
  • 14. The printing press as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cover surface of the cover is located substantially in the same plane as that of the guide surface of either the first member or the second guide member, which is located on the cover side at the shelter position of the printing plate holding means.
  • 15. A printing press comprising:a pair of left and right frames, a cover movably supported between a closing position for closing at least one part of a space formed between said pair of left and right frames and a releasing position for releasing said space, means for holding a printing plate having a swing c enter and movably supported between a shelter position for holding a new printing plate supplied to a plate cylinder or holding a discharged printing plate discharged from said plate cylinder and an operation position for supplying said new printing plate to said plate cylinder or storing said discharged printing plate discharged from said plate cylinder, said means for holding the printing plate located at an exterior side with respect to said cover, at said shelter position the holding means and the cover extend in substantially the same direction from the swing center, wherein said means for holding a printing plate can be moved between said shelter position and said operation position while said cover is located at said closing position, wherein said cover is swingably supported at a side of the frames, said means for holding a printing plate swingably supported at the both sides of said cover in an axial direction of said p late cylinder and the maximum oscillating radius of said cover within said means for holding said printing plate is shorter than the maximum oscillating radius of said means for holding said printing plate.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
11-264013 Sep 1999 JP
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
5495805 Beisel et al. Mar 1996 A
5555812 Ruckmann et al. Sep 1996 A
5595119 Hada et al. Jan 1997 A
5701822 Metrope Dec 1997 A
6053105 Rudewitz Apr 2000 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
0734859 Oct 1996 EP
7-217651 Aug 1995 JP