The present invention relates generally to printing presses and more specifically to web offset printing presses having separable blankets.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,346 describes for example a printing press with two blanket cylinders separable from each other to permit a blanket throw off. In such presses, the blankets are offset from a vertical from each other, and in order to pass the web through the blankets when the blankets are offset, lead rolls or air bars are necessary to properly guide the web through the blankets. These guides can mark the printed product and also alter registration of the web between two printing print units, causing deteriorated print quality.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,216,592 and 6,019,039 describe printing units with throw-off mechanisms and are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention provides an offset web print unit comprising:
a plate cylinder;
a blanket cylinder;
a second blanket cylinder;
an autoplating mechanism, and
a throw-off mechanism including a single actuator both for moving the blanket cylinder from the second blanket cylinder and for moving the blanket cylinder to selectively contact the plate cylinder to permit autoplating while the blanket cylinder is thrown-off of the second blanket cylinder.
The present invention also provides a method for autoplating comprising throwing off a blanket cylinder from a second blanket cylinder using an actuator, separating a plate cylinder from the blanket cylinder using the actuator; and plating the plate cylinder with a printing plate, the plating step including removing a used printing plate from the blanket cylinder.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be elucidated with reference to the drawings, in which:
The blanket cylinders 44, 46 for each print unit may be thrown-off, as shown for units 22 and 24, so as to separate from each other and from the respective plate cylinder 42, 48. Plate cylinders 42, 48 may move back into contact with the blanket cylinders 44, 46, respectively, during an automatic plate change operation, for example via automatic plate changers 40 and 50, respectively. Automatic plate changers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,053,105, 6,460,457 and 6,397,751 and are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
A throw-off mechanism 60 is shown schematically for moving the blanket and plate cylinders 46, 48. Blanket cylinder 44 and plate cylinder 42 may have a similar throw-off mechanism. Preferably, each print unit is driven by two motors 70, 72, one driving one of the plate or blanket cylinders 46, 48, and one driving one of the plate cylinder 42 and blanket cylinder 44. The non-driven cylinder may be geared to the driven cylinder on each side of web 30. Each print unit 10, 12 . . . 24 may be the same.
The web path length between the nip rollers 32, 34 advantageously need not change, even when one of the print units has blanket cylinders which are thrown off. Registration may be unaffected by the throw-off. In addition, no web deflectors or stabilizers are needed, such as lead rolls or air rolls to make sure the web does not contact the blanket cylinders 44, 46, which could cause marking.
The throw-off distance D preferably is at least 0.5 inches and most preferably at least 1 inch, i.e. that the web has half an inch clearance on either side of the web. Moreover, the centers of the blanket cylinders 44, 46 preferably are in a nearly vertical plane V, which is preferably 10 degrees or less from perfect vertical. This has the advantage that the throw-off provides the maximum clearance for a horizontally traveling web.
The circumference of the plate cylinder preferably is less than 630 mm, and most preferably is 578 mm.
The creation of the large throw-off distance D is explained with an exemplary embodiment as follows:
When blanket cylinder 44 is in contact with blanket cylinder 46 in a printing position, a first bearer surface 111 of support 102 is in contact with a second bearer surface 112 of support 104, which another bearer surface 109 of the support 102 is not in contact with a bearer surface 110 of support 104. Distance F thus is zero, while a distance G between surfaces 109 and 110 may be 0.0045 inches. Distance H between the axial centers of the axles 144 and 142 may be 7.2463 inches.
In
As shown in
As shown in
The upper plate and blanket throw-off mechanism also have dual bearer surfaces, but since the gravity effects differ, a link can be provided between similar holes 130, 132 in the upper supports so that the raising of the plate cylinder 48 also causes the blanket cylinder 46 to rise.
A wedge 310 can move under support 202 in this position to support blanket support 202 and blanket cylinder 46 in the thrown off position.
As shown in
As shown in
The present invention thus provides for large movement of the blanket and plate cylinders in an effective manner while maintaining auto-plating capability.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/666,360 filed Mar. 30, 2005, and hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2172364 | De Manna | Sep 1939 | A |
3527165 | Harless | Sep 1970 | A |
4240346 | Landis et al. | Dec 1980 | A |
4458591 | Guaraldi | Jul 1984 | A |
4620480 | Hermach | Nov 1986 | A |
4643090 | McKrell et al. | Feb 1987 | A |
4677911 | Hermach | Jul 1987 | A |
4807527 | Knauer | Feb 1989 | A |
4823693 | Kobler | Apr 1989 | A |
4831926 | Bowman et al. | May 1989 | A |
4875936 | Hermach | Oct 1989 | A |
4913048 | Tittgemeyer | Apr 1990 | A |
4932321 | Hermach | Jun 1990 | A |
4934265 | Knauer | Jun 1990 | A |
5003889 | Glunz et al. | Apr 1991 | A |
5005475 | Knauer | Apr 1991 | A |
5042788 | Bowman et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
RE33944 | Knauer | Jun 1992 | E |
5161463 | Knauer et al. | Nov 1992 | A |
5237920 | Guaraldi | Aug 1993 | A |
5241905 | Guaraldi et al. | Sep 1993 | A |
5245923 | Vrotacoe | Sep 1993 | A |
5289770 | Hern | Mar 1994 | A |
5301609 | Guaraldi et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5304267 | Vrotacoe et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5316798 | Tittgemeyer | May 1994 | A |
5323702 | Vrotacoe et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
5337664 | Hannon | Aug 1994 | A |
5394797 | Dobler et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
5415092 | Hern | May 1995 | A |
RE34970 | Tittgemeyer | Jun 1995 | E |
5421260 | Dobler | Jun 1995 | A |
5429048 | Gaffney et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
5440981 | Vrotacoe et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
5445076 | Sugiyama et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
5481972 | Schmid | Jan 1996 | A |
5488903 | Koebler et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
5492062 | Harris et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
5505127 | Knauer | Apr 1996 | A |
5522316 | Singler | Jun 1996 | A |
5524539 | Doebler | Jun 1996 | A |
5535674 | Vrotacoe et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
5535675 | Gentle | Jul 1996 | A |
5546859 | Hern | Aug 1996 | A |
5553541 | Vrotacoe et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5560292 | Knauer | Oct 1996 | A |
5595115 | Rau et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5595119 | Hada et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5651314 | Gentle | Jul 1997 | A |
5653428 | Dufour et al. | Aug 1997 | A |
5671636 | Gagne et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5678485 | Guaraldi | Oct 1997 | A |
RE35646 | Guaraldi et al. | Nov 1997 | E |
5683202 | Hummel et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5699735 | Stein et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
5722323 | Whiting et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5746132 | Parks et al. | May 1998 | A |
5768990 | Vrotacoe et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5771804 | Knauer et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5782182 | Ruckmann et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
5794529 | Dawley et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
5802975 | Prem et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5813336 | Guaraldi et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5832821 | Petersen et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5894796 | Gelinas | Apr 1999 | A |
5901648 | Roland et al. | May 1999 | A |
5960714 | Goettling et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5970870 | Shiba et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5979371 | Lewis | Nov 1999 | A |
6019039 | Knauer et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6032579 | Richards | Mar 2000 | A |
6038975 | Hoffmann et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6041707 | Petersen et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6050185 | Richards | Apr 2000 | A |
6050190 | Knauer et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6053105 | Rudzewitz | Apr 2000 | A |
6082724 | Kahlig et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6085651 | Defrance et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6093139 | Belanger | Jul 2000 | A |
6109180 | Guaraldi et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6148684 | Gardiner | Nov 2000 | A |
6175775 | Grunder | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6186064 | Dufour | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6205926 | Dufour | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6216592 | Knauer et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6227110 | Zlatin | May 2001 | B1 |
6227111 | Dawley et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6289805 | Douillard et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6343547 | Callahan et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6345574 | Charette et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6360664 | Goettling et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6374731 | Walczak et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6374734 | Gaffney et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6386100 | Gaffney et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
6397743 | Dauer et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6397751 | Ramsay | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6460457 | Ramsay | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6494135 | Goettling et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6494138 | Goettling et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6520083 | Petersen et al. | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6526888 | Douillard et al. | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6543352 | Dilling et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6553908 | Richards et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6557467 | Dilling et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
6615726 | Douillard et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6647876 | Emery et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6668721 | Naka | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6739251 | Gaffney et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6814003 | Tobe et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6820547 | Fujiwara | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6937751 | Ritt et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6966258 | Charette et al. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
6986305 | Knauer | Jan 2006 | B2 |
6997108 | Tabuchi et al. | Feb 2006 | B2 |
7000539 | Hajek et al. | Feb 2006 | B2 |
7032510 | Christel et al. | Apr 2006 | B2 |
20020033105 | Charette et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020078840 | Gafney et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20040083911 | Fujuwara | May 2004 | A1 |
20040206257 | Gaffney et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20040237817 | Rauh | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20050160933 | Ruschowski | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20060150838 | Hollings et al. | Jul 2006 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2046131 | Mar 1972 | DE |
3543704 | Jun 1987 | DE |
3716188 | Dec 1987 | DE |
4138479 | Jun 1993 | DE |
4337554 | Jun 1994 | DE |
4412873 | Nov 1994 | DE |
9018111 | Jun 1995 | DE |
4408025 | Sep 1995 | DE |
4435429 | Apr 1996 | DE |
19501243 | Jul 1996 | DE |
4143597 | Jun 1998 | DE |
19903847 | Aug 2000 | DE |
19919272 | Nov 2000 | DE |
10013979 | Dec 2000 | DE |
10008936 | Aug 2001 | DE |
0225509 | Jun 1987 | EP |
0388740 | Sep 1990 | EP |
0421145 | Apr 1991 | EP |
0549936 | Jul 1993 | EP |
0581019 | Feb 1994 | EP |
0596244 | May 1994 | EP |
0644048 | Mar 1995 | EP |
0683043 | Nov 1995 | EP |
0685335 | Dec 1995 | EP |
0697284 | Feb 1996 | EP |
0741015 | Nov 1996 | EP |
0749927 | Dec 1996 | EP |
0782920 | Jul 1997 | EP |
0813958 | Dec 1997 | EP |
0813959 | Dec 1997 | EP |
0845352 | Jun 1998 | EP |
0862999 | Sep 1998 | EP |
0956951 | Nov 1999 | EP |
0958917 | Nov 1999 | EP |
0995595 | Apr 2000 | EP |
1075943 | Feb 2001 | EP |
1075944 | Feb 2001 | EP |
1075945 | Feb 2001 | EP |
1132202 | Sep 2001 | EP |
1155825 | Nov 2001 | EP |
1167028 | Jan 2002 | EP |
2787059 | Jun 2000 | FR |
2149149 | Jun 1985 | GB |
2 273 464 | Jun 1995 | GB |
2309668 | Aug 1997 | GB |
63-236651 | Oct 1988 | JP |
04371836 | Dec 1992 | JP |
WO 03000496 | Jan 2003 | WO |
WO 03084757 | Oct 2003 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20060219115 A1 | Oct 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60666360 | Mar 2005 | US |