Disconnect arrangement for multi-unit printing press

Claim 2

In a multi-unit printing press having a plurality of units comprising a printing cylinder and a second cylinder cooperating with said printing cylinder to form a printing nip in each of said units, a drive train interconnecting said cylinders, said drive train including means for operating said drive train to drive said press during printing, means supporting each of said printing cylinders for movement between a printing position and a nonprinting position, said drive train including a respective cylinder gear operatively associated with each printing cylinder for movement with the cylinder and a cooperating drive gear, said cylinder gears and drive gears remaining in mesh when said printing cylinders are moved to said nonprinting position, said means for supporting at least one of said printing cylinders including, means which is operable to move the printing cylinder to a further position in which the corresponding cylinder gear and drive gear are out of mesh to disconnect the cylinder gear and the printing cylinder from said drive train, means for actuating said means for supporting at least one of said printing cylinders to move said one printing cylinder to a selected one of its positions, means for driving said one of said printing cylinders independently of said drive train when said drive and cylinder gears are out of mesh, each of said units having a printing cylinder gear which moves out of engagement with its drive gear to said further position including timing means for effecting re-engagement of the cylinder and drive gears in the proper angular relationship.

Claim 3

In a printing press as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for effecting re-engagement of the cylinder and drive gears includes means for automatically interconnecting the drive and cylinder gears of the unit when the latter have a particular angular relationship, and said means for driving said one of said printing cylinders is operable to drive said drive gears when a cooperating cylinder gear is out of engagement therewith to position said means for effecting re-engagement of the cylinder and drive gears preparatory to re-engaging said cylinder and drive gears.

Claim 4

A printing press as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting each printing cylinder comprises an eccentric which is rotatable to move the printing cylinder of the unit between printing and nonprinting conditions and for adjusting the printing position of the printing cylinder while the cylinder gear and the corresponding drive gear are in mesh and said actuating means rotates said eccentric to move said printing cylinder away from its printing position to effect a disengagement of the corresponding cylinder and drive gears.

Claim 5

A printing press as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said means for supporting each printing cylinder comprises a first eccentric operable to move the printing cylinder between printing and nonprinting positions, a second eccentric to adjust the printing position of the printing cylinder, and said actuating means comprises means connected to rotate said second eccentric.

Claim 6

A printing press as defined in claim 4 wherein said printing cylinders are blanket cylinders and said printing press includes a plate cylinder in each unit for cooperating with the blanket cylinder and said actuating means is operable to selectively move the blanket cylinder to a position clear of the cooperating plate cylinder or to a position in engagement with the plate cylinder with the cylinder gear and drive gear out of engagement.

Claim 7

In a multi-unit printing press as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said units includes a plate cylinder and said printing cylinder is a blanket cylinder and the means for supporting each printing cylinder which is movable to disengage its cylinder gear from the cooperating drive gear is operable to selectively move the blanket cylinder to a plurality of positions where the cylinder gear is out of mesh with its drive gear including a first position in which the blanket cylinder is clear of a plate on the plate cylinder and a second position in which it runs in engagement with a plate on the plate cylinder.

Claim 8

In a printing press as defined in claim 1 wherein each drive gear is operable to drive the second cylinder and said cylinder gear of the corresponding unit, and said means for supporting each unit which has a cylinder gear movable out of mesh with a drive gear comprising means for moving said printing cylinder between printing and non-printing positions where the drive and cylinder gears are in mesh and to a third non-printing position where the drive and cylinder gears are out of mesh.

Claim 9

A printing press as defined in claim 1 in which said printing units are units for printing sheets and each said second cylinder comprises an impression cylinder for carrying sheets into a nip formed by the printing cylinder and the second cylinder, said printing press comprising transfer cylinder means for transferring sheets between printing units and said drive train comprises a gear train interconnecting said transfer cylinder means and said drive gears, said drive gears being mounted on said impression cylinders.

Claim 10

A printing press as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for operating feed drive train is operable to drive said transfer cylinder means and said impression cylinders to carry sheets through the press with a cylinder gear for a printing cylinder out of mesh with its drive gear.

Claim 11

A printing press as defined in claim 9 wherein said press includes control means for preventing operation of said means for operating the drive train at normal printing speeds when a drive gear and its corresponding said cylinder gear are disengaged.

Claim 12

A printing press for printing on sheet material, said printing press comprising a plurality of printing units, each of said printing units including a printing cylinder and a second cylinder cooperating to define a printing nip, main drive means for driving said cylinders in said pluRality of printing units during operation of said printing press and for maintaining a predetermined rotational relationship between said cylinders in said plurality of printing units during operation of said printing press, said main drive means including a first gear which is connected with a printing cylinder in one of said printing units and a second gear which is connected with said second cylinder in said one printing unit, means in said one printing unit for supporting said printing cylinder in said one printing unit for movement between a printing position in which said first gear is in meshing engagement with said second gear to maintain said printing cylinder in said one printing unit in said predetermined rotational relationship with said printing cylinders in said other printing units and a nonprinting position in which said first gear is out of mesh with said second gear, said printing cylinder in said one printing unit being rotatable relative to the printing cylinders in said other printing units to thereby move said printing cylinder in said one printing unit out of the predetermined rotational relationship with the printing cylinders in the other printing units when said printing cylinder in said one printing unit is in said nonprinting position, means in said one printing unit for moving said printing cylinder in said one printing unit between said printing and nonprinting positions, means for driving said printing cylinder in said one printing unit when said printing cylinder in said one unit is in said nonprinting position, and means for preventing movement of said printing cylinder in said one printing unit from said nonprinting position to said printing position when said printing cylinder in said one printing unit is out of said predetermined rotational relationship with said printing cylinders in said other printing units.

Claim 13

A printing press for printing on sheet material, said printing press comprising a plurality of printing units, each of said printing units including a printing cylinder and a second cylinder cooperating to define a printing nip, main drive means for driving said cylinders in said pluRality of printing units during operation of said printing press and for maintaining a predetermined rotational relationship between said cylinders in said plurality of printing units during operation of said printing press, said main drive means including a first gear which is connected with a printing cylinder in one of said printing units and a second gear which is connected with said second cylinder in said one printing unit, means in said one printing unit for supporting said printing cylinder in said one printing unit for movement between a printing position in which said first gear is in meshing engagement with said second gear to maintain said printing cylinder in said one printing unit in said predetermined rotational relationship with said printing cylinders in said other printing units and a nonprinting position in which said first gear is out of mesh with said second gear, said printing cylinder in said one printing unit being rotatable relative to the printing cylinders in said other printing units to thereby move said printing cylinder in said one printing unit out of the predetermined rotational relationship with the printing cylinders in the other printing units when said printing cylinder in said one printing unit is in said nonprinting position, means in said one printing unit for moving said printing cylinder in said one printing unit between said printing and nonprinting positions, means for driving said printing cylinder in said one printing unit when said printing cylinder in said one unit is in said nonprinting position, and means for preventing movement of said printing cylinder in said one printing unit from said nonprinting position to said printing position when said printing cylinder in said one printing unit is out of said predetermined rotational relationship with said printing cylinders in said other printing units.

Claim 14

A multi-unit printing press as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for moving said printing cylinder between said printing and nonprinting positions includes stock thickness adjustment means for setting the spacing between said printing and second cylinders in said one unit to any one of a plurality of distances to accommodate any one of a plurality of thicknesses of sheet material, said stock thickness adjustment means being operated from an initial setting to a second setting upon movement of said printing cylinder in said one unit from said printing position to said nonprinting position, and means for returning said stock thickness adjustment means to said initial setting upon movement of said printing cylinder in said one printing unit from said nonprinting position to said printing position.

Claim 15

A multi-unit printing press as set forth in claim 12 wherein said stock thickness adjustment means includes driving and driven members, and drive means for moving said driving and driven members relative to each other to adjust the setting of said stock thickness adjustment means to the initial setting when said printing cylinder in said one unit is in said printing position and for moving said driving and driven members relative to each other to effect operation of said stock thickness adjustment means to the second setting upon movement of said printing cylinder in said one unit to said nonprinting position.

Claim 16

A multi-unit printing press as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for moving said printing cylinder between said printing and nonprinting positions further includes throw-off means for moving said printing cylinder in said one printing unit between said printing position and a thrown-off position intermediate said printing and non-printing positions, said first and second gears being disposed in meshing engagement when said printing cylinder in said one printing unit is in said thrown-off position, said stock thickness adjustment means being maintained at said initial setting during movement of said printing cylinder in said one unit between said printing and thrown-off positions.

Claim 17

A multi-unit prInting press as set forth in claim 14 wherein said throw-off means includes a first eccentric operatively connected with said printing cylinder in said one unit and means for rotating said first eccentric to effect movement of said printing cylinder in said one unit between said printing and thrown-off positions, said stock thickness adjustment means including a second eccentric operatively connected with said printing cylinder in said one unit and means for rotating said second eccentric to change the setting of said stock thickness adjustment means and effect movement of said printing cylinder in said one unit independently of said first eccentric to vary the spacing between said printing and second cylinders in said one unit.

Claim 18

A multi-unit printing press as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for moving said printing cylinder between said printing and nonprinting positions further includes coupling means for interconnecting said first and second eccentrics to effect movement of said printing cylinder in said one printing unit between the printing and nonprinting positions under the combined influence of said first and second eccentrics.

Claim 19

A multi-unit printing press as set forth in claim 16 wherein said coupling means is operable between an engaged condition interconnecting said first and second eccentrics and a disengaged condition in which said first and second eccentrics are rotatable independently of each other.

Claim 20

A multi-unit printing press as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for driving said printing cylinder in said one unit when said printing cylinder in said one unit is in said nonprinting position includes secondary drive means for driving said printing cylinder in said one printing unit independently of said main drive means.

Claim 21

A printing press for printing on sheet material, said printing press comprising a rotatable printing cylinder, a rotatable second cylinder operatively connected with said printing cylinder, said printing cylinder being movable relative to said second cylinder between a printing position, a thrown-off position and a nonprinting position, said printing and second cylinders having their axes of rotation spaced a first distance apart and cooperating to define a printing nip when said printing cylinder is in said printing position, said printing and second cylinders having their axes of rotation spaced apart by a second distance which is greater than said first distance when said printing cylinder is in said thrown-off position, said printing and second cylinders having their axes of rotation spaced apart by a third distance which is greater than said second distance when said printing cylinder is in said nonprinting position, main drive means for rotating said printing and second cylinders when they are in the printing position, throw-off means for moving said printing cylinder between said printing and thrown-off position, stock thickness adjustment means operable to any one of a plurality of settings to vary said first distance and the spacing between said printing and second cylinders to accommodate any one of a plurality of thicknesses of sheet material when said printing cylinder is in said printing position, said throw-off means being effective to move said printing cylinder between said printing and thrown-off positions without changing the setting of said stock thickness adjustment means from an initial setting corresponding to a particular thickness of sheet material, means for effecting operation of said stock thickness adjustment means from said initial setting to a second setting to effect movement of said printing cylinder to said nonprinting position, and means for returning said stock thickness adjustment means to said initial setting upon movement of said printing cylinder from said nonprinting position to said printing position.

Claim 22

A printing press for printing on sheet material, said printing press comprising a rotatable printing cylinder, a rotatable second cylinder operatively connected with said printing cylinder, said printing cylinder being movable relative to said second cylinder between a printing position, a thrown-off position and a nonprinting position, said printing and second cylinders having their axes of rotation spaced a first distance apart and cooperating to define a printing nip when said printing cylinder is in said printing position, said printing and second cylinders having their axes of rotation spaced apart by a second distance which is greater than said first distance when said printing cylinder is in said thrown-off position, said printing and second cylinders having their axes of rotation spaced apart by a third distance which is greater than said second distance when said printing cylinder is in said nonprinting position, main drive means for rotating said printing and second cylinders when they are in the printing position, throw-off means for moving said printing cylinder between said printing and thrown-off position, stock thickness adjustment means operable to any one of a plurality of settings to vary said first distance and the spacing between said printing and second cylinders to accommodate any one of a plurality of thicknesses of sheet material when said printing cylinder is in said printing position, said throw-off means being effective to move said printing cylinder between said printing and thrown-off positions without changing the setting of said stock thickness adjustment means from an initial setting corresponding to a particular thickness of sheet material, means for effecting operation of said stock thickness adjustment means from said initial setting to a second setting to effect movement of said printing cylinder to said nonprinting position, and means for returning said stock thickness adjustment means to said initial setting upon movement of said printing cylinder from said nonprinting position to said printing position.

Claim 23

A printing press as set forth in claim 19 wherein said throw-off means includes a first eccentric operatively connected with said printing cylinder and means for rotating said first eccentric to effect movement of said printing cylinder between said printing and thrown-off positions, said stock thickness adjustment means including a second eccentric operatively connected with said printing cylinder and means for rotating said second eccentric to effect movement of said printing cylinder to vary the setting of said stock thickness adjustment means.

Claim 24

A printing press as set forth in claim 20 further includes coupling means for interconnecting said first and second eccentrics.

Claim 25

A printing press as set forth in claim 19 further including main drive means for rotating said printing and second cylinders when said printing cylinder is in said printing position and when said printing cylinder is in said thrown-off position, said drive means including a first gear connected with said printing cylinder and a second gear connected with said second cylinder, said first and second gears being disposed in meshing engagement when said printing and second cylinders are in said printing and thrown-off positions, said first and second gears being out of meshing engagement when said printing and second cylinders are in said nonprinting positions.

Claim 26

A printing press as set forth in claim 19 wherein said stock thickness adjustment means includes an eccentric which is rotatable relative to said printing cylinder and drive means for rotating said eccentric to vary the setting of said stock thickness adjustment means when said printing cylinder is in the printing position, said means for effecting operation of said stock thickness adjustment means from said initial setting to said second setting including means for effecting operation of said drive means.