Cylinder cart for exchanging cylinders on the fly

Claim 2

In a rotogravure printing press having a printing station frame defining a hollow space therein, a driving mechanism and an impression roller mounted on said station frame, a detachable carriage movable into and out of said hollow space of said frame, said printing station frame having support means adapted to receive and support said carriage, a coupling member operatively connected to said driving mechanism, said carriage comprising a carriage frame, means operatively connected to said carriage frame for engaging said support means on said printing station frame when said carriage is moved into and out of the hollow space of said printing station frame, a printing cylinder having means on a surface thereof adapted when engaged with web material to apply printed matter thereto, said printing cylinder being rotatably mounted on said carriage frame, means to operatively connect said driving mechanism in operative driving relationship with said printing cylinder during rotation of said driving mechanism, including a coupling member operatively connected to said printing cylinder and adapted to operatively engage said driving mechanism coupling member while said driving mechanism coupling member is rotating to thereby drivingly join said printing cylinder to said driving mechanism on said printing station frame when said carriage is inserted into said printing station frame during rotation of said driving mechanism, keying means operatively connected to said coupling members for joining said coupling members in a predetermined relative position with respect to one another, said keying means being selectively positioned relative to the printed matter applying means on the surface of said printing cylinder thereby to align said printing cylinder in a given position relative to said driving mechanism when said coupling members are operatively joined.

Claim 3

The rotogravure printing press of claim 1, in which said coupling members comprise a splined male member positioned at the rear of said carriage and a splined female member positioned at the rear section of said printing station frame, said members being adapted to be joined together upon the insertion of said carriage substantially completely into said printing station frame.

Claim 4

The rotogravure printing press of claim 2, in which said keying means comprises a projecting part operatively connected to one of said splined members and a receptacle adapted to receive said projecting part operatively connected to the other of said splined members.

Claim 5

The rotogravure printing press of claim 3, in which said splined members are provided with chamfered edges to effect a fine registration of said members when said members are joined.

Claim 6

In the detachable carriage of claim 1, an idling mechanism on said carriage operatively connected to said printing cylinder to drive the printing cylinder when the carriage is out of the printing station frame, whereby said doctor blade may be dynamically fitted to said printing cylinder outside of said printing station frame.

Claim 7

The rotogravure printing press of claim 5, in which said printing cylinder coupling member is disposed at one end of said printing cylinder and said idling mechanism comprises a motor, gearing means operatively connecting said motor and to said other side of said printing cylinder, and clutch means for detaching said motor from said printing cylinder when said printing station driving mechanism is coupled to and drives said printing cylinder.

Claim 8

In the detachable carriage of claim 1, a self-contained ink providing system on said carriage, said system comprising an ink reservoir containing a supply of ink, pump means for circulating the ink between said reservoir and said ink applicating means, and conduit means for carrying the ink while it is so circulated.

Claim 9

The rotogravure printing press of claim 1, in which said printing station frame support means comprises a pair of substantially horizontal tracks, one track of said pair being positioned on each side of said hollow space, a platform at the rear section of said printing station frame and extending between said tracks to receive and support the rear part of said carriage, and in which said carriage support engaging means comprises a pair of rollers on each side of the carriage frame, one roller of one pair being positioned at each front side section of said carriage frame and one roller of the other pair being positioned at each rear side section of said carriage frame, said rollers being effective to cause said carriage to slide along said tracks when said carriage is inserted into the printing station frame.

Claim 10

The rotogravure printing press of claim 8, in which a pair of blocks are positioned at the front section of said printing station frame and project outwardly therefrom, each block of said pair being positioned in substantial alignment with one of said tracks, each of said blocks having a downwardly inclined surface at the upper portion thereof to receive said rollers on said carriage frame and thereby to assist in the insertion of said carriage into the printing station frame.

Claim 11

In the rotogravure printing press of claim 1, a stud moUnted on said carriage and projecting therefrom, and a groove provided on said printing station frame in the crossbar at the front portion thereof, said groove being adapted to receive said stud on said carriage when said carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and locking means at the lower portion of said groove, said locking means securing said stud in said groove thereby locking said carriage to said printing station frame.

Claim 12

The rotogravure printing press of claim 10, in which said stud is eccentrically positioned relative to the axis of said groove and is rotatable within said groove, the rotational change of position of said stud causing said carriage to be laterally repositioned within said printing station frame, whereby the position of said printing cylinder in said printing station may be adjusted.

Claim 13

In the rotogravure printing press of claim 11, a vertical post mounted at the rear central portion of said printing station frame, and a yoke mounted at the rear central portion of said carriage and projecting outwardly therefrom, said yoke being adapted to tightly fit about said post thereby providing a pivot point about which said carriage is laterally moved by the rotation of said stud.

Claim 14

In the rotogravure printing press of claim 1, a stop assembly comprising a slidably mounted bar projecting from said carriage frame at the front portion thereof, and a block projecting from the front section of said printing station frame, said block being positioned so as to interfere with said bar on said carriage when said carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, thereby to prevent said carriage from being joined to the drive mechanism in the printing station frame with excessive inertia.

Claim 15

In the rotogravure press of claim 1, a doctor blade operatively connected to said carriage frame and adapted to cooperate with said cylinder.

Claim 16

In the rotogravure printing press of claim 14, an oscillating yoke positioned in the rear portion of said printing station frame, and an elongated rod having a projecting finger at one end thereof, said rod being operatively connected to said doctor blade, said projecting finger being positioned at the rear portion of said carriage, said yoke being adapted to receive and hold said projecting finger when said carriage is inserted into said printing station frame thereby to transmit the oscillatory motion thereof to said doctor blade.

Claim 17

A rotogravure printing press having a printing station frame defining a hollow space therein and a detachable carriage movable into and out of the hollow space of said frame said printing station frame comprising support means to receive and support said carriage, a driving mechanism, coupling means operatively connected to said driving mechanism, an impression roller, and means to raise and lower the impression roller, said carriage comprising a carriage frame, means operatively connected to said carriage frame for engaging said support means while said carriage is moved into and out of the hollow space of said frame, a printing cylinder rotatably mounted on said carriage frame, a doctor blade operatively connected to said carriage frame and adapted to cooperate with said cylinder, means on said carriage frame for adjusting the position of said doctor blade relative to said cylinder, means for joining said printing cylinder to said coupling means on the printing station frame where the carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and while said driving mechanism coupling means on said printing station frame is rotating, means on said carriage frame for providing application of ink to the printing cylinder, and an idling mechanism on said carriage frame operatively connected to said printing cylinder to drive the printing cylinder when the carriage is out of the printing station frame, whereby said printing cylinder may be inked and said doctor blade may be dynamically fitted to said printing cylinder outside of said printing station frame.

Claim 18

A rotogravure printing press having a printing station frame defining a hollow space therein and a detachable carriage movable into and out of the hollow space of said frame said printing station frame comprising support means to receive and support said carriage, a driving mechanism, coupling means operatively connected to said driving mechanism, an impression roller, and means to raise and lower the impression roller, said carriage comprising a carriage frame, means operatively connected to said carriage frame for engaging said support means while said carriage is moved into and out of the hollow space of said frame, a printing cylinder rotatably mounted on said carriage frame, a doctor blade operatively connected to said carriage frame and adapted to cooperate with said cylinder, means on said carriage frame for adjusting the position of said doctor blade relative to said cylinder, means for joining said printing cylinder to said coupling means on the printing station frame where the carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and while said driving mechanism coupling means on said printing station frame is rotating, means on said carriage frame for providing application of ink to the printing cylinder, and an idling mechanism on said carriage frame operatively connected to said printing cylinder to drive the printing cylinder when the carriage is out of the printing station frame, whereby said printing cylinder may be inked and said doctor blade may be dynamically fitted to said printing cylinder outside of said printing station frame.

Claim 19

The Rotogravure printing press of claim 16, in which said printing cylinder coupling member is disposed at one end of said printing cylinder and said idling mechanism comprises a motor, gearing means operatively connecting said motor and to said other side of said printing cylinder, and clutch means for detaching said motor from said printing cylinder when said printing station driving mechanism is coupled to and drives said printing cylinder.

Claim 20

A rotogravure printing press having a printing station frame defining a hollow space therein and a detachable carriage movable into and out of the hollow space of said frame, said printing station frame comprising support means to receive and support said carriage, a driving mechanism, a coupling member operatively connected to said drive mechanism, an impression roller, and means to raise and lower the impression roller, said carriage comprising a carriage frame having an integral upper support frame portion and a lower support frame portion, lower wheels positioned beneath said lower support frame portion of said carriage frame for movement of the carriage along the ground when it is outside of the printing station frame and for partial support of the carriage while said carriage is moved into and out of the hollow space of said frame, a printing cylinder rotatably mounted on said upper support frame portion, a doctor blade operatively connected to said carriage frame and adapted to cooperate with said printing cylinder, means on said carriage frame for adjusting the position of said doctor blade relative to said printing cylinder, coupling member operatively connected to said printing cylinder for joining said printing cylinder to said driving mechanism through said coupling member on said printing station frame when the carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and while said driving mechanism coupling member on said printing station frame is rotating, and means on said carriage frame for providing application of ink to the printing cylinder.

Claim 21

A rotogravure printing press having a printing station frame defining a hollow space therein and a detachable carriage movable into and out of the hollow space of said frame, said printing station frame comprising support means to receive and support said carriage, a driving mechanism, a coupling member operatively connected to said drive mechanism, an impression roller, and means to raise and lower the impression roller, said carriage comprising a carriage frame having an integral upper support frame portion and a lower support frame portion, lower wheels positioned beneath said lower support frame portion of said carriage frame for movement of the carriage along the ground when it is outside of the printing station frame and for partial support of the carriage while said carriage is moved into and out of the hollow space of said frame, a printing cylinder rotatably mounted on said upper support frame portion, a doctor blade operatively connected to said carriage frame and adapted to cooperate with said printing cylinder, means on said carriage frame for adjusting the position of said doctor blade relative to said printing cylinder, coupling member operatively connected to said printing cylinder for joining said printing cylinder to said driving mechanism through said coupling member on said printing station frame when the carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and while said driving mechanism coupling member on said printing station frame is rotating, and means on said carriage frame for providing application of ink to the printing cylinder.

Claim 22

A rotogravure printing press having a printing station frame defining a hollow space therein a detachable carriage movable into and out of the hollow space of said frame, said printing station frame having a crossbar extending across said hollow space at the front of said frame to aid in the support of said frame and comprising support means to receive and support said carriage, a driving mechanism, a coupling member operatively connected to said driving mechanism, an impression roller, and means to raise and lower the impression roller, said carriage comprising a carriage frame having an upper support frame portion, a lower support frame portion spaced from said upper support frame portion and a vertically extending frame position connecting the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion, said vertically extending frame portion being positioned proximate the front segment of said carriage, lower wheels positioned beneath said carriage frame for movement of the carriage along the ground when it is outside of the printing station frame and for partial support of the carriage while said carriage is moved into and out of the hollow space of said frame, a printing cylinder rotatably mounted on said carriage, a doctor blade operatively connected to said carriage frame and adapted to cooperate with said printing cylinder, means on said carriage frame for adjusting the position of said doctor blade relative to said printing cylinder, a coupling member operatively connected to said printing cylinder for joining said printing cylinder to said driving mechanism through said coupling member on said printing station frame when the carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and while said driving mechanism coupling member on said printing station frame is rotating, and means on said carriage frame for providing application of ink to the printing cylinder.

Claim 23

A rotogravure printing press having a printing station frame defining a hollow space therein a detachable carriage movable into and out of the hollow space of said frame, said printing station frame having a crossbar extending across said hollow space at the front of said frame to aid in the support of said frame and comprising support means to receive and support said carriage, a driving mechanism, a coupling member operatively connected to said driving mechanism, an impression roller, and means to raise and lower the impression roller, said carriage comprising a carriage frame having an upper support frame portion, a lower support frame portion spaced from said upper support frame portion and a vertically extending frame position connecting the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion, said vertically extending frame portion being positioned proximate the front segment of said carriage, lower wheels positioned beneath said carriage frame for movement of the carriage along the ground when it is outside of the printing station frame and for partial support of the carriage while said carriage is moved into and out of the hollow space of said frame, a printing cylinder rotatably mounted on said carriage, a doctor blade operatively connected to said carriage frame and adapted to cooperate with said printing cylinder, means on said carriage frame for adjusting the position of said doctor blade relative to said printing cylinder, a coupling member operatively connected to said printing cylinder for joining said printing cylinder to said driving mechanism through said coupling member on said printing station frame when the carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and while said driving mechanism coupling member on said printing station frame is rotating, and means on said carriage frame for providing application of ink to the printing cylinder.

Claim 24

The rotogravure printing press of claim 19, in which at least one upright strut is positioned at the rear of said carriage frame, and extends between said upper support frame portion and said lower support frame portion to provide additional support thereto, said upright strut being pivotally mounted on one of said frame portions, whereupon when said carriage is inserted into said printing station frame it is pivoted to assume a horizontal position by engagement with the crossbar of said printing station frame.

Claim 25

The rotogravure printing press of claim 19, in which said printing station frame support means comprises a pair of substantially horizontal tracks, one track of said pair being positioned on each side of said hollow space, a platform at the rear section of said printing station frame and extending between said tracks to receive and support the rear part of said carriage, and in which said carriage support engaging means comprises a pair of rollers on each side of the carriage frame, one roller of one pair being positioned at each front side section of said carriage frame and one roller of the other pair being positioned at each rear side section of said carriage frame, said rollers being effective to cause said carriage to slide along said tracks when said carriage is inserted into the printing station frame.

Claim 26

The rotogravure printing press of claim 21, in which a pair of blocks are positioned at the front section of said printing station frame and project outwardly therefrom, each block of said pair being positioned in substantial alignment with one of said tracks, each of said blocks having a downwardly inclined surface at the upper portion thereof to receive said rollers on said carriage frame and thereby to assist in the insertion of said carriage into the printing station frame.

Claim 27

In the rotogravure printing press of claim 19, a stud mounted on said carriage and projecting therefrom, and a groove provided on said printing station frame in the crossbar at the front portion thereof, said groove being adapted to receive said stud on said carriage when said carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and locking means at the lower portion of said groove, said locking means securing said stud in said groove thereby locking said carriage to said printing station frame.

Claim 28

The rotogravure printing press of claim 23, in which said stud is eccentrically positioned relative to the axis of said groove and is rotatable within said groove, the rotational change of position of said stud causing said carriage to be laterally repositioned within said printing station frame, whereby the position of said printing cylinder in said printing station may be adjusted.

Claim 29

In the rotogravure printing press of claim 24, a vertical post mounted at the rear central portion of said printing station frame, and a yoke mounted at the rear central portion of said carriage and projecting outwardly therefrom, said yoke being adapted to tightly fit about said post thereby providing a pivot point about which said carriage is laterally moved by the rotation of said stud.

Claim 30

In the rotogravure printing press of claim 19, a stop assembly comprising a slidably mounted bar projecting from said carriage frame at the front portion thereof, and a block projecting from the front section of said printing station frame, said block being positioned so as to interfere with said bar on said carriage when said carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, thereby to prevent said carriage from being joined to the drive mechanism in the printing station frame with excessive inertia.

Claim 31

In the rotogravure printing press of claim 19, an oscillating yoke positioned in the rear portion of said printing station frame, and an elongated rod having a projecting finger at one end thereof, said rod being operatively connected to said doctor blade, said projecting finger being positioned at the rear portion of said carriage, said yoke being adapted to receive and hold said projecting finger when said carriage is inserted into said printing station frame thereby to transmit the oscillaTory motion thereof to said doctor blade.

Claim 32

In the rotogravure printing press of claim 19, a self-contained ink providing system on said carriage, said system comprising an ink reservoir containing a supply of ink, pump means for circulating the ink between said reservoir and said ink applicating means, and conduit means for carrying the ink while it is so circulated.

Claim 33

For use in a gravure printing press having a printing station frame and a driving mechanism in said station frame, a detachable carriage comprising a substantially C-shaped carriage frame having a substantially horizontally extending upper frame portion, a substantially horizontally extending lower frame portion spaced from said upper frame portion and a substantially vertically extending frame portion connecting said upper frame portion and said lower frame portion and positioned at the front segment of said carriage, lower wheels positioned beneath said carriage frame for movement said carriage along the ground, means operatively connected to said carriage frame for supporting said carriage while said carriage is moved into and out of said printing station frame, a printing cylinder rotatably mounted on said carriage frame, a doctor blade operatively connected to said carriage frame and adapted to cooperate with said cylinder, means on said carriage frame for adjusting the position of said doctor blade relative to said printing cylinder, means for joining said printing cylinder to said driving mechanism in the printing station frame when the carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and when said driving mechanism on said printing station frame is rotating, and means on said carriage frame for providing application of ink to said printing cylinder.

Claim 34

For use in a gravure printing press having a printing station frame and a driving mechanism in said station frame, a detachable carriage comprising a substantially C-shaped carriage frame having a substantially horizontally extending upper frame portion, a substantially horizontally extending lower frame portion spaced from said upper frame portion and a substantially vertically extending frame portion connecting said upper frame portion and said lower frame portion and positioned at the front segment of said carriage, lower wheels positioned beneath said carriage frame for movement said carriage along the ground, means operatively connected to said carriage frame for supporting said carriage while said carriage is moved into and out of said printing station frame, a printing cylinder rotatably mounted on said carriage frame, a doctor blade operatively connected to said carriage frame and adapted to cooperate with said cylinder, means on said carriage frame for adjusting the position of said doctor blade relative to said printing cylinder, means for joining said printing cylinder to said driving mechanism in the printing station frame when the carriage is inserted into said printing station frame, and when said driving mechanism on said printing station frame is rotating, and means on said carriage frame for providing application of ink to said printing cylinder.

Claim 35

In the detachable carriage of claim 29, an idling mechanism on said carriage operatively connected to said printing cylinder to drive the printing cylinder when the carriage is out of the printing station frame, whereby said doctor blade may be dynamically fitted to said printing cylinder outside of said printing station frame.

Claim 36

The rotogravure printing press of claim 30, in which said printing cylinder coupling member is disposed at one end of said printing cylinder and said idling mechanism comprises a motor, gearing means operatively connecting said motor and to said other side of said printing cylinder, and clutch means for detaching said, motor from said printing cylinder when said printing station driving mechanism is coupled to and drives said printing cylinder.

Claim 37

The detachable carriage of claim 29, in which at least one upright strut is positioned at the rear of said C-shaped carriage frame, and extends between said upper support frame portion and said lower support frame portion to provide additional support thereto, said upright strut being pivotally mounted on one of said frame portions, whereupon when said carriage is inserted into said printing station frame said strut is pivoted to assume a horizontal position.

Claim 38

In the detachable carriage of claim 29, a self-contained ink providing system on said carriage, said system comprising an ink reservoir containing a supply of ink, pump means for circulating the ink between said reservoir and said ink applicating means, and conduit means for carrying the ink while it is so circulated.