US3759177A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing press with sheet inspection station
Assignee: BNY Mellon NA
•
Filing: 1971-10-12
•
Granted: 1973-09-18
•
Expires: 1991-10-12
Abstract
Abstract The printing press shown has a printing station which discharges printed sheets above the head of the press operator. An overhead conveyor having spaced grippers picks up sheets discharged at the printing station and carries them to a sheet delivery station, where the grippers engage a gripper release mechanism and the sheets are dropped. The return reach of the conveyor, also above the operator''s head, passes an inspection station between the sheet delivery station and the printing station. The gripper release mechanism at the delivery station is retractable to allow a selected sheet to pass the delivery station. At the inspection station, a fixed gripper release is provided which releases all the grippers on the passing conveyor. The inspection station includes a tray located under the conveyor to receive any sheet dropped there. The tray is pivoted along one edge and is movable between a sheet receiving position close to the conveyor, and an inspection position below the conveyor, where the operator may inspect the printed sheet. The tray may be movable by a motor controlled by a photoelectric cell on the tray so that the tray is lowered to the inspection position when a sheet is deposited there and the tray remains in its sheet receiving position when there is no sheet on the tray. An ink supply carriage cooperates with the printing station and is movable away from the printing station under the conveyor to a retracted position so that the ink supply roller trains become accessible. In the retracted position, the ink supply carriage is below the tray at the inspection station. Interlocking means is provided so that the tray cannot drop to its inspection position when the ink carriage is retracted.
Inventors
- 👤 I Gazzola
- 👤 Amato S D
- 👤 C Foote
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:32
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F21/00; B41F21/08; B41F33/00; B41F33/02; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; B65H29/585
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
389 words
A printing press including: a. A printing station including sheet delivery means; b. a conveyor for receiving sheets from said sheet delivery means, said conveyor including an upper reach moving away from the printing station and a lower return reach moving toward the printing station; c. a sheet delivery station located under a portion of the return reach; d. a sheet inspection station located under another portion of the return reach and between the delivery station and the printing station; e. grippers on said conveyor at uniformly spaced intervals and operable between sheet gripping positions in which they grip the leading edges of sheets delivered by the printing station, and sheet releasing positions; f. retractable gripper actuating means at the delivery station and movable between a gripper engaging position and a retracted position, said gripper actuating means being effective in its gripper engaging position to engage the passing grippers and operate them to their sheet releasing positions, said gripper actuating means being located adjacent the lower reach of the conveyor so that the released sheets drop by gravity from the conveyor; g. means selectively operable to retract the gripper actuating means so as to allow a sheet held by a gripper to pass along the return reach beyond said sheet delivery station; h. fixed gripper actuating means at said inspection station for engaging and releasing every gripper passing said inspection station so that sheets which have passed the retractable gripper release means at the delivery station are dropped from the grippers at the inspection station; i. a tray under the return reach of the conveyor at the inspection station to receive sheets dropped from the conveyor; j. means supporting said tray for movement between a sheet receiving position close to the conveyor and an inspection position in which the tray is spaced downwardly from the conveyor so that a sheet on the tray may be inspected by the press operator; k. motor means for moving the tray between its sheet receiving position and its inspection position; and l. means responsive to the presence or absence of a sheet on the tray for controlling said motor means to move the tray to its sheet receiving position when there is no sheet on the tray and to move it to its inspection position when there is a sheet on the tray.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
389 words
A printing press including: a. A printing station including sheet delivery means; b. a conveyor for receiving sheets from said sheet delivery means, said conveyor including an upper reach moving away from the printing station and a lower return reach moving toward the printing station; c. a sheet delivery station located under a portion of the return reach; d. a sheet inspection station located under another portion of the return reach and between the delivery station and the printing station; e. grippers on said conveyor at uniformly spaced intervals and operable between sheet gripping positions in which they grip the leading edges of sheets delivered by the printing station, and sheet releasing positions; f. retractable gripper actuating means at the delivery station and movable between a gripper engaging position and a retracted position, said gripper actuating means being effective in its gripper engaging position to engage the passing grippers and operate them to their sheet releasing positions, said gripper actuating means being located adjacent the lower reach of the conveyor so that the released sheets drop by gravity from the conveyor; g. means selectively operable to retract the gripper actuating means so as to allow a sheet held by a gripper to pass along the return reach beyond said sheet delivery station; h. fixed gripper actuating means at said inspection station for engaging and releasing every gripper passing said inspection station so that sheets which have passed the retractable gripper release means at the delivery station are dropped from the grippers at the inspection station; i. a tray under the return reach of the conveyor at the inspection station to receive sheets dropped from the conveyor; j. means supporting said tray for movement between a sheet receiving position close to the conveyor and an inspection position in which the tray is spaced downwardly from the conveyor so that a sheet on the tray may be inspected by the press operator; k. motor means for moving the tray between its sheet receiving position and its inspection position; and l. means responsive to the presence or absence of a sheet on the tray for controlling said motor means to move the tray to its sheet receiving position when there is no sheet on the tray and to move it to its inspection position when there is a sheet on the tray.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Sheet inspection means for a printing press, including: a. a conveyor for printed sheets including a reach where the printed sheets travel below the conveyor; and b. an inspection station adjacent a portion of said reach including:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Sheet inspection means for a printing press, including: a. a conveyor for printed sheets including a reach where the printed sheets travel below the conveyor; and b. an inspection station adjacent a portion of said reach including:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
a tray under the conveyor for receiving sheets released from the conveyor;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
a tray under the conveyor for receiving sheets released from the conveyor;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
means responsive to the position of the member and effective upon movement thereof to the active position to move the gripper actuating means to its retracted position, and to hold the gripper actuating means in its retracted position as long as the member remains in its active position; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
means responsive to the position of the member and effective upon movement thereof to the active position to move the gripper actuating means to its retracted position, and to hold the gripper actuating means in its retracted position as long as the member remains in its active position; and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
time controlled means effective after each restoration of the movable member to its normal position to maintain the gripper actuating means retracted for a period substantially equal to the time required for the passage of two grippers on the conveyor at normal operating speed;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
time controlled means effective after each restoration of the movable member to its normal position to maintain the gripper actuating means retracted for a period substantially equal to the time required for the passage of two grippers on the conveyor at normal operating speed;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
means supporting the tray for movement between a sheet receiving position close to the conveyor and an inspection position in which the tray is spaced downwardly from the conveyor so that a sheet on the tray may be inspected by the press operator;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
means supporting the tray for movement between a sheet receiving position close to the conveyor and an inspection position in which the tray is spaced downwardly from the conveyor so that a sheet on the tray may be inspected by the press operator;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
Sheet inspection means as defined in claim 2, in which said sheet responsive means comprises: a. a light source mounted to direct a beam of light along a path which impinges upon a single sheet on the tray; and b. light sensitive means in the path of the beam and effective to produce a first response when no sheet is on the tray and a second distinctively different response when at least one sheet is on the tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
298 words
A printing press, including: a. a printing station comprising a plate cylinder, a pressure cylinder located vertically above the plate cylinder and cooperating with the plate cylinder, and a sheet delivery cylinder cooperating with the pressure cylinder and located at one side thereof; b. a sheet conveyor extending from the printing station, said conveyor extending around the delivery cylinder and including an upper reach moving away from the printing station and a lower return reach moving toward the printing station; c. a sheet delivery station located under a portion of the return reach; d. a sheet inspection station located under another portion of the return reach and between the delivery station and the printing station; e. selectively operable sheet release means at the delivery station for releasing printed sheets from the conveyor; f. positively operable sheet release means at the inspection station for releasing from the conveyor all sheets which pass the delivery station; g. means for controlling said selective sheet release means; h. said inspection station including a tray under the conveyor for receiving sheets released from the conveyor; i. means for moving the tray between a sheet receiving position close to the conveyor and an inspection position spaced below the conveyor; j. means for supplying ink to said plate cylinder; k. a carriage supporting said ink supplying means and movable between an operating position wherein the ink supplying means engages the plate cylinder and a retracted position allowing access to the plate cylinder by an operator, said carriage in the retracted position extending below said tray when the latter is in its sheet receiving position; and l. means for retaining the tray in its sheet receiving position when the carriage is moved to its Retracted position, to prevent mechanical interference between the carriage and the tray.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
298 words
A printing press, including: a. a printing station comprising a plate cylinder, a pressure cylinder located vertically above the plate cylinder and cooperating with the plate cylinder, and a sheet delivery cylinder cooperating with the pressure cylinder and located at one side thereof; b. a sheet conveyor extending from the printing station, said conveyor extending around the delivery cylinder and including an upper reach moving away from the printing station and a lower return reach moving toward the printing station; c. a sheet delivery station located under a portion of the return reach; d. a sheet inspection station located under another portion of the return reach and between the delivery station and the printing station; e. selectively operable sheet release means at the delivery station for releasing printed sheets from the conveyor; f. positively operable sheet release means at the inspection station for releasing from the conveyor all sheets which pass the delivery station; g. means for controlling said selective sheet release means; h. said inspection station including a tray under the conveyor for receiving sheets released from the conveyor; i. means for moving the tray between a sheet receiving position close to the conveyor and an inspection position spaced below the conveyor; j. means for supplying ink to said plate cylinder; k. a carriage supporting said ink supplying means and movable between an operating position wherein the ink supplying means engages the plate cylinder and a retracted position allowing access to the plate cylinder by an operator, said carriage in the retracted position extending below said tray when the latter is in its sheet receiving position; and l. means for retaining the tray in its sheet receiving position when the carriage is moved to its Retracted position, to prevent mechanical interference between the carriage and the tray.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
motor means for moving the tray between its sheet receiving position and its inspection position; and
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
motor means for moving the tray between its sheet receiving position and its inspection position; and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
said member position responsive means being effective after the expiration of each such period to return the gripper actuating means to its gripper engaging position; and g. fixed gripper release means at the inspection station for releasing every gripper passing said inspection station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
said member position responsive means being effective after the expiration of each such period to return the gripper actuating means to its gripper engaging position; and g. fixed gripper release means at the inspection station for releasing every gripper passing said inspection station.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
149 words
A printing press, including: a. a printing station including sheet delivery means; b. a conveyor extending from said printing station to a delivery station and thence past an inspection station; c. grippers on the conveyor at uniformly spaced intervals and operable between sheet gripping positions in which they grip the leading edges of the sheets delivered by the printing station, and sheet releasing positions; d. retractable gripper actuating means at the delivery station and movable between a gripper engaging position and a retracted position, said gripper actuating means being effective in its gripper engaging position to engage the passing grippers and operate them to their sheet releasing positions; e. means selectively operable to retract the gripper actuating means so as to allow a sheet held by a gripper to pass beyond the sheet delivery station; f. manual control means for the selectively operable means, said manual control means including:
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
149 words
A printing press, including: a. a printing station including sheet delivery means; b. a conveyor extending from said printing station to a delivery station and thence past an inspection station; c. grippers on the conveyor at uniformly spaced intervals and operable between sheet gripping positions in which they grip the leading edges of the sheets delivered by the printing station, and sheet releasing positions; d. retractable gripper actuating means at the delivery station and movable between a gripper engaging position and a retracted position, said gripper actuating means being effective in its gripper engaging position to engage the passing grippers and operate them to their sheet releasing positions; e. means selectively operable to retract the gripper actuating means so as to allow a sheet held by a gripper to pass beyond the sheet delivery station; f. manual control means for the selectively operable means, said manual control means including:
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
means responsive to the presence or absence of a sheet on the tray for controlling the motor means to move the tray to its sheet receiving position when there is no sheet on the tray and to move it to its inspection position when there is a sheet on the tray.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
means responsive to the presence or absence of a sheet on the tray for controlling the motor means to move the tray to its sheet receiving position when there is no sheet on the tray and to move it to its inspection position when there is a sheet on the tray.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |