Printing press with sheet turnover mechanism

Claim 2

A multicolor sheet-fed printing press including first and second adjacent printing units providing first and second printing nips respectively, each unit comprising an impression cylinder with gripper fingers thereon, and sheet transfer means between the printing units for transferring sheets from the first unit to the second unit and selectively presenting the sheets to the second printing nips either with the same edge leading as was leading in the first printing nip whereby to print on the same sides of sheets at both units, or to turn sheets over and end for end whereby the tail edges of sheets leaving the first printing nip become the lead edges of sheets at the next unit in order to print on opposite sides of sheets at each unit,

Claim 3

A printing press according to claim 1 including means maintaining constant the distance between the axes of the diverting and turnover cylinders throughout their full range of adjustment.

Claim 4

A printing press according to claim 1 including a cam for opening the lead edge grippers on the diverting cylinder at the time sheets are taken by the tail edge grippers on the turnover cylinder, and means interconnecting said lead edge gripper cam for coordinated adjustment in response to arcuate adjustment of said turnover cylinder, whereby said cam is adapted to operate the lead edge grippers on the diverting cylinder to their opened condition when the tails of sheets held thereby are taken by the tail edge grippers, irrespective of the adjusted position of said diverting cylinder.

Claim 5

A printing press according to claim 3 wherein said diverting cylinder lead edge gripper cam is pivotally mounted with respect to the axis of the diverting cylinder, a first gear segment fixed relative to said cam, and a second Gear segment fixed relative to said press and coaxial with said sheet handling cylinder of said first means, whereby arcuate adjustment of said diverting cylinder rocks said cam to a new position in response to meshing teeth of said first and second gear segments.

Claim 6

A printing press according to claim 1 wherein the meshing relationship of the gearing of the first means with the gears on the impression cylinders of the first and second printing units and the phase relationship of the respective cylinders are maintained intact throughout the full range of arcuate adjustment of said diverting and turnover cylinders.

Claim 7

A printing press according to claim 5 wherein said distance maintaining means comprises at least one link connected at its ends to said turnover and diverting cylinders at their respective axes.

Claim 8

A printing press according to claim 5 including first link means supporting said diverting cylinder for the arcuate adjustment about the axis of said cylinder of said first means, and second link means for supporting said turnover cylinder for the arcuate adjustment about the axis of the impression cylinder of the second printing unit.

Claim 9

A printing press according to claim 7 including third link means maintaining constant the distance between the axes of the diverting and turnover cylinders, said first, second and third link means together with the fixed axes for said cylinder of said first means and the impression cylinder of the second printing unit comprising a four-bar linkage.

Claim 10

A printing press according to claim 8 wherein means is provided for locking the four-bar linkage in a fixed position during operation of said press, and means interconnecting a fixed press member and said linkage for adjusting said linkage.

Claim 11

A printing press according to claim 7 including camming means for performing camming operations mounted on at least one of said first and second link means, and means for operating the grippers on at least one of the cylinders which are interconnected by said link means operated by said camming means, whereby said camming means operates said grippers at the line between the axes of the interconnected cylinders irrespective of the position of said link means.

Claim 12

A printing press according to claim 10 wherein said camming means comprises a pair of cams, one on each of said first and second link means, and wherein the grippers on each of said first means, diverting cylinder, turnover cylinder and the impression cylinder of the second printing unit are cam operated, said cams being adjustable with said first and second link means whereby the grippers operated thereby transfer sheets at the lines between the respective cylinders delivering and receiving sheets at the transfer points.

Claim 13

A printing press according to claim 11, including third link means maintaining constant the distance between the axes of the tensioning and turnover cylinders and wherein said third link means supports for movement therewith a cam for operating the tail edge gripper on the turnover cylinder.

Claim 14

A multicolor sheet fed printing press including a pair of printing units and a sheet transfer unit therebetween for turning sheets end for end whereby to print on a different side of each sheet at each unit, comprising: a first impression cylinder at the first printing unit and having sheet grippers thereon, a second impression cylinder at the second printing unit and having sheet grippers thereon, a first transfer cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets printed on one side from the grippers of said first impression cylinder, a second transfer cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets from said first transfer cylinder, carrying them past a transfer point in the rotation of said second transfer cylinder and releasing them as the tail of the sheet held thereby arrives at said transfer point, a third transfer cylinder having first tail edge sheet grippers for receiving the tail edges of sheEts from the second transfer cylinder and second tail edge grippers for receiving sheets from the first tail edge grippers and carrying them tail edge leading to the grippers on the second impression cylinder for transfer thereto, gears intergearing said first impression and transfer cylinder having gear teeth between the first impression cylinder and the first transfer cylinder, said first and second transfer cylinders, and said transfer and second impression cylinders, means maintaining the phase relationship of said first and second impression cylinders, first means supporting the second transfer cylinder for arcuate adjustment about the axis of the first transfer cylinder, and second means supporting the third transfer cylinder for arcuate adjustment about the axis of the second impression cylinder, whereby said press is able to print sheets of varying lengths by retiming the receipt at said transfer point of the tail edges of sheets from the second transfer cylinder by the first tail edge grippers on the third transfer cylinder, said retiming being by means of said arcuate adjustment of said first and second supporting means, adjustment of said supporting means being ineffective to alter the phase relationship of the first and second impression cylinder.

Claim 15

A multicolor sheet fed printing press including a pair of printing units and a sheet transfer unit therebetween for turning sheets end for end whereby to print on a different side of each sheet at each unit, comprising: a first impression cylinder at the first printing unit and having sheet grippers thereon, a second impression cylinder at the second printing unit and having sheet grippers thereon, a first transfer cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets printed on one side from the grippers of said first impression cylinder, a second transfer cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets from said first transfer cylinder, carrying them past a transfer point in the rotation of said second transfer cylinder and releasing them as the tail of the sheet held thereby arrives at said transfer point, a third transfer cylinder having first tail edge sheet grippers for receiving the tail edges of sheEts from the second transfer cylinder and second tail edge grippers for receiving sheets from the first tail edge grippers and carrying them tail edge leading to the grippers on the second impression cylinder for transfer thereto, gears intergearing said first impression and transfer cylinder having gear teeth between the first impression cylinder and the first transfer cylinder, said first and second transfer cylinders, and said transfer and second impression cylinders, means maintaining the phase relationship of said first and second impression cylinders, first means supporting the second transfer cylinder for arcuate adjustment about the axis of the first transfer cylinder, and second means supporting the third transfer cylinder for arcuate adjustment about the axis of the second impression cylinder, whereby said press is able to print sheets of varying lengths by retiming the receipt at said transfer point of the tail edges of sheets from the second transfer cylinder by the first tail edge grippers on the third transfer cylinder, said retiming being by means of said arcuate adjustment of said first and second supporting means, adjustment of said supporting means being ineffective to alter the phase relationship of the first and second impression cylinder.

Claim 16

A printing press according to claim 13 including means to maintain constant the distance between the axes of said second and third transfer cylinders.

Claim 17

A printing press according to claim 14 wherein the axes of the first transfer and second impression cylinders are fixed and comprise one bar of a four-bar linkage, and wherein the other three bars thereof consist of said first supporting means, said second supporting means and said distance maintaining means.

Claim 18

A printing press according to claim 15 wherein said other three bars of said four-bar linkage have supported thereon cams for operating the grippers on said first, second and third transfer cylinders and said second impression cylinder between their open and closed positions, said cams being movable with said other three bars to perform gripper opening and closing at the lines between the axes of each pair of interrelated adjacent cylinders.

Claim 19

A printing press according to claim 16 including a cam for opening the grippers on the second transfer cylinder at the time the tail edge of a sheet is taken at said transfer point by said first tail edge grippers, and means interconnecting said cam for coordinated adjustment in response to arcuate adjustment of said second transfer cylinder to open its grippers simultaneously with the closing of the first tail edge grippers on the third transfer cylinder.

Claim 20

A printing press according to claim 17 wherein said cam for opening the grippers on the second transfer cylinder is coaxial with the second transfer cylinder, and wherein said interconnecting means comprises a first gear segment provided in fixed relation to said cam and a second gear segment provided in fixed relation to said press.

Claim 21

In a sheet handling apparatus, a first cylinder having first means for gripping a sheet by a first edge of the sheet with the first edge leading, a downstream cylinder having second grippers to which said sheet is to be conveyeed turned over and with said first edge trailing and a second edge opposite said first edge leading, sheet turnover means for turning a sheet over intermediate said first cylinder and said downstream cylinder comprising a second cylinder defining a first sheet transfer nip with said first cylinder and a third cylinder defining a second sheet transfer nip with said downstream cylinder and a sheet transfer nip with said second cylinder, said sheet turnover means having sheet gripping means for receiving a sheet at said first transfer nip and transferring it to said downstream cylinder at said second sheet transfer nip including turnover additional gripping means on one of said second and third cylinders for gripping the trailing edge of a sheet on an adjacent One of said cylinders to take the sheet from the adjacent cylinder and to convey the sheet to an adjacent cylinder downstream with said second edge leading, and adjusting means for adjusting said second and third cylinders about the axis of said first and downstream cylinders while maintaining the sheet transfer nip therebetween to adjust the location of said first and second transfer nips to adjust the timing of of said sheet turnover means with the sheet grippers on said downstream cylinder for different length sheets.

Claim 22

In a sheet handling apparatus, a first cylinder having first means for gripping a sheet by a first edge of the sheet with the first edge leading, a downstream cylinder having second grippers to which said sheet is to be conveyeed turned over and with said first edge trailing and a second edge opposite said first edge leading, sheet turnover means for turning a sheet over intermediate said first cylinder and said downstream cylinder comprising a second cylinder defining a first sheet transfer nip with said first cylinder and a third cylinder defining a second sheet transfer nip with said downstream cylinder and a sheet transfer nip with said second cylinder, said sheet turnover means having sheet gripping means for receiving a sheet at said first transfer nip and transferring it to said downstream cylinder at said second sheet transfer nip including turnover additional gripping means on one of said second and third cylinders for gripping the trailing edge of a sheet on an adjacent One of said cylinders to take the sheet from the adjacent cylinder and to convey the sheet to an adjacent cylinder downstream with said second edge leading, and adjusting means for adjusting said second and third cylinders about the axis of said first and downstream cylinders while maintaining the sheet transfer nip therebetween to adjust the location of said first and second transfer nips to adjust the timing of of said sheet turnover means with the sheet grippers on said downstream cylinder for different length sheets.

Claim 23

In a printing press or other sheet handling machine having first and second stations for respectively receiving a sheet with a first edge of the sheet leading the sheet and with a second edge leading the sheet, said second edge being the edge which was trailing at the first station, sheet handling means for transferring the sheet from the first station to the second station comprising a first cylinder for handling the sheet with said first edge leading, a second cylinder defining a first sheet transfer nip with said first cylinder for transferring a sheet from the first cylinder to the second cylinder, a third cylinder for receiving a sheet from said second cylinder and defining a second sheet transfer nip therewith, a fourth sheet handling cylinder for receiving a sheet from said third cylinder and defining a third sheet transfer nip therewith, said cylinders being rotated in one direction and the adjacent surfaces of the adjacent one of said cylinders at said sheet transfer nips moving in the same direction with the relative phase of said adjacent cylinders determining the portions of the adjacent cylinders which meet at the sheet transfer nip, one of said second and third cylinders being a turnover cylinder and having gripper means comprising grippers for gripping the tail edge of a sheet on the one of said adjacent cylinders from which it receives a sheet provided the tail edge is at a predetermined position on said one of said adjacent cylinders, first, second, third and fourth drive gears on said first, second, third and fourth cylinders respectively, said drive gears being connected to their respective cylinders for movement therewith, the drive gear of said one of said second and third cylinders being free of mesh with the drive gear for the said adjacent cylinder for which it receives a sheet, each of said drive gears meshing with a cooperating driving gear, and means for changing the phase of said one cylinder with respect to said one of said adjacent cylinders to adjust said predetermined position on said one of said adjacent cylinders at which a sheet tail is to be gripped comprising mounting means for supporting said second and third cylinders for angular movement about the axis of said first and fourth cylinders respectively while maintaining a meshed relationship of said drive gears with their driving gears to thereby effect relative rotation of said one of said second and third cylinders and said one of said adjacent cylinders to adjust said sheet handling means for different sheet lengths.

Claim 24

In a printing press or other sheet handling machine having first and second stations for respectively receiving a sheet with a first edge of the sheet leading the sheet and with a second edge leading the sheet, said second edge being the edge which was trailing at the first station, sheet handling means for transferring the sheet from the first station to the second station comprising a first cylinder for handling the sheet with said first edge leading, a second cylinder defining a first sheet transfer nip with said first cylinder for transferring a sheet from the first cylinder to the second cylinder, a third cylinder for receiving a sheet from said second cylinder and defining a second sheet transfer nip therewith, a fourth sheet handling cylinder for receiving a sheet from said third cylinder and defining a third sheet transfer nip therewith, said cylinders being rotated in one direction and the adjacent surfaces of the adjacent one of said cylinders at said sheet transfer nips moving in the same direction with the relative phase of said adjacent cylinders determining the portions of the adjacent cylinders which meet at the sheet transfer nip, one of said second and third cylinders being a turnover cylinder and having gripper means comprising grippers for gripping the tail edge of a sheet on the one of said adjacent cylinders from which it receives a sheet provided the tail edge is at a predetermined position on said one of said adjacent cylinders, first, second, third and fourth drive gears on said first, second, third and fourth cylinders respectively, said drive gears being connected to their respective cylinders for movement therewith, the drive gear of said one of said second and third cylinders being free of mesh with the drive gear for the said adjacent cylinder for which it receives a sheet, each of said drive gears meshing with a cooperating driving gear, and means for changing the phase of said one cylinder with respect to said one of said adjacent cylinders to adjust said predetermined position on said one of said adjacent cylinders at which a sheet tail is to be gripped comprising mounting means for supporting said second and third cylinders for angular movement about the axis of said first and fourth cylinders respectively while maintaining a meshed relationship of said drive gears with their driving gears to thereby effect relative rotation of said one of said second and third cylinders and said one of said adjacent cylinders to adjust said sheet handling means for different sheet lengths.

Claim 25

In a printing press or other sheet handling machine as defined in claim 20 wherein each of said second and third cylinders have cams associated therewith for operating gripper means thereon, and said press further comprising means mounting said cams for movement with said second and third cylinders to maintain the proper operating relationship between said cams and said nips.

Claim 26

In a printing press or other sheet handling machine in claim 21 wherein said first and fourth cylinders have additional gripper operating cams associated therewith for operating grippers thereon at the respective nips for sheet transfer between said second and third cylinders and means for adjusting said adjusting said additional operating cams on movement of said second and third cylinders to adjust for sheet length.

Claim 27

In a printing press or the like, a transfer unit comprising a plurality of cylinders each having a set of sheet gripper fingers thereoN for successively transferring sheets from cylinder to cylinder, each of said sets of fingers being operable between a closed condition in which they grasp sheets and an opened condition to release sheets, each of said cylinders having means comprising a cam for operating said sets of fingers, each of said cams being non-rotatably fixed with respect to its cylinder during press operation and being located in positions whereby the grippers on the corresponding cylinder are operated for transferring sheets from cylinder to cylinder on a line between the axes of two adjacent cylinders, adjustment means for reorienting at least one of said cylinders in an arcuate path about the axis of a next adjacent cylinder, and means mounting the said cam of said one and adjacent cylinders for arcuate movement on reorientation of said cylinder and connecting the cams to be operated by said adjusting means with said one cylinder on reorientation thereof to arcuately adjust the cams through the same angle whereby said last-named means maintains the cams in operative positions to effect sheet transfer on the line between the axes of the two cylinders for all adjusted positions of said one cylinder.

Claim 28

In a printing press or the like, a transfer unit comprising a plurality of cylinders each having a set of sheet gripper fingers thereoN for successively transferring sheets from cylinder to cylinder, each of said sets of fingers being operable between a closed condition in which they grasp sheets and an opened condition to release sheets, each of said cylinders having means comprising a cam for operating said sets of fingers, each of said cams being non-rotatably fixed with respect to its cylinder during press operation and being located in positions whereby the grippers on the corresponding cylinder are operated for transferring sheets from cylinder to cylinder on a line between the axes of two adjacent cylinders, adjustment means for reorienting at least one of said cylinders in an arcuate path about the axis of a next adjacent cylinder, and means mounting the said cam of said one and adjacent cylinders for arcuate movement on reorientation of said cylinder and connecting the cams to be operated by said adjusting means with said one cylinder on reorientation thereof to arcuately adjust the cams through the same angle whereby said last-named means maintains the cams in operative positions to effect sheet transfer on the line between the axes of the two cylinders for all adjusted positions of said one cylinder.

Claim 29

A transfer unit according to claim 23 wherein said one cylinder and the cylinder about the axis of which said one cylinder is adjusted comprise two of three cylinders of a sheet turnover unit which is located between two adjacent printing units of said press, and wherein said adjustment is made to accommodate sheets of different lengths which are turned end for end.

Claim 30

A multicolor sheet fed printing press including a pair of adjacent printing units and a sheet transfer unit between the printing units which is adapted to selectively present sheets from one unit to the next, either with the same edge leading whereby to print on the same sides of sheets at both units, or to turn sheets end for end whereby the tail edges of sheets leaving the first unit become the lead edges of sheets at the next unit in order to print on opposite sides of sheets at each unit, said sheet transfer unit comprising: a first cylinder having sheet grippers for gripping sheets printed at the first printing unit, a fourth cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets directly from the grippers of said first cylinder when printing sheets on one side, the path of sheet travel over said first and fourth cylinders during printing on one side consitituting a first path, a second cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets from the grippers of said first cylinder when printing sheets on opposite sides, a third cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets from said second cylinder and transferring them to said fourth cylinder when printing sheets on opposite sides, the path of sheet travel over said second and third cylinders during printing on opposite sides of sheets constituting a second path, means for turning sheets over and end for end while traveling in said second path comprising turnover means on at least one of said second and third cylinders, means for operating said grippers to transfer sheets either along said first or second path, one of said cylinders including means for causing sheets carried thereby to lie in intimate contact with its periphery and said grippers on the next successive cylinder for receiving sheets during printing on opposite sides to receive the tail ends of sheets from said one cylinder as the lead edge of the sheet, means intergearing all of said four cylinders with the adjacent cylinders except at the line between said one cylinder against which sheets lie in intimate contact and the next successive cylinder for receiving the tail ends of sheets, and means mounting said one cylinder for arcuate adjustment about its immediately preceeding cylinder and for mounting said successive cylinder for arcuate adjustment about its next following cylinder for accommodating said cylinders to handle sheets of diffeRent lengths while traveling along said second path.

Claim 31

A multicolor sheet fed printing press including a pair of adjacent printing units and a sheet transfer unit between the printing units which is adapted to selectively present sheets from one unit to the next, either with the same edge leading whereby to print on the same sides of sheets at both units, or to turn sheets end for end whereby the tail edges of sheets leaving the first unit become the lead edges of sheets at the next unit in order to print on opposite sides of sheets at each unit, said sheet transfer unit comprising: a first cylinder having sheet grippers for gripping sheets printed at the first printing unit, a fourth cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets directly from the grippers of said first cylinder when printing sheets on one side, the path of sheet travel over said first and fourth cylinders during printing on one side consitituting a first path, a second cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets from the grippers of said first cylinder when printing sheets on opposite sides, a third cylinder having sheet grippers for receiving sheets from said second cylinder and transferring them to said fourth cylinder when printing sheets on opposite sides, the path of sheet travel over said second and third cylinders during printing on opposite sides of sheets constituting a second path, means for turning sheets over and end for end while traveling in said second path comprising turnover means on at least one of said second and third cylinders, means for operating said grippers to transfer sheets either along said first or second path, one of said cylinders including means for causing sheets carried thereby to lie in intimate contact with its periphery and said grippers on the next successive cylinder for receiving sheets during printing on opposite sides to receive the tail ends of sheets from said one cylinder as the lead edge of the sheet, means intergearing all of said four cylinders with the adjacent cylinders except at the line between said one cylinder against which sheets lie in intimate contact and the next successive cylinder for receiving the tail ends of sheets, and means mounting said one cylinder for arcuate adjustment about its immediately preceeding cylinder and for mounting said successive cylinder for arcuate adjustment about its next following cylinder for accommodating said cylinders to handle sheets of diffeRent lengths while traveling along said second path.

Claim 32

A printing press according to claim 25 including means for maintaining constant the distance between the axes of said one cylinder and said next successive cylinder for various positions of adjustment thereof.

Claim 33

A printing press according to claim 25 wherein the mounting for arcuate adjustment of at least one of said one cylinder and said next successive cylinder includes a link, and wherein cams are mounted on said link for operating the grippers on those cylinders connected by said link, whereby the cams operate the grippers on the line between centers of those cylinders irrespective of the positions to which adjusted.

Claim 34

A printing press according to claim 25 wherein link means interconnects said first and second, said second and third and said third and fourth cylinders, and wherein said first and fourth cylinders are mounted on fixed axes, said link means and the fixed axes comprising a four-bar linkage which enables adjustment of said second cylinder relative to the first, said third cylinder relative to the second, and said fourth cylinder relative to said third cylinder.

Claim 35

A printing press according to claim 28 including means for adjusting said second and third cylinders and said link means, and means for locking said adjusting means relative to a fixed portion of said press.

Claim 36

In a printing press having first sheet handling means comprising at least one sheet handling cylinder for transferring a sheet along a first sheet transfer path from a first station to a second station with a first edge leading and a second edge trailing, the method of transferring a sheet to the second station with the second edge leading and the sheet turned over comprising the steps of diverting the sheet from said first path while gripping the first edge of the sheet with a first gripper moving continuously in one direction in a first circular path about an axis, continuously rotating a second gripper in one direction in a circular path adjacent the first circular path of the first gripper to grip at a first nip the said second edge of a sheet being carried by the first gripper while the second gripper is moving in the same direction and speed as the sheet tail, and continuing the movement of the second gripper in said one direction in its circular path to convey the sheet from the first circular path into the second circular path with the second edge leading, and transferring the sheet from said second gripper to a third gripper rotating about an axis for transferring sheets along said first path for transfer to said second station with the second edge leading the sheet, and moving the path of said second gripper means about one of said axes to adjust the phase of the machine at which the second gripper arrives at the first nip to grip the trailing edge of the sheet.

Claim 37

In a printing press having first sheet handling means comprising at least one sheet handling cylinder for transferring a sheet along a first sheet transfer path from a first station to a second station with a first edge leading and a second edge trailing, the method of transferring a sheet to the second station with the second edge leading and the sheet turned over comprising the steps of diverting the sheet from said first path while gripping the first edge of the sheet with a first gripper moving continuously in one direction in a first circular path about an axis, continuously rotating a second gripper in one direction in a circular path adjacent the first circular path of the first gripper to grip at a first nip the said second edge of a sheet being carried by the first gripper while the second gripper is moving in the same direction and speed as the sheet tail, and continuing the movement of the second gripper in said one direction in its circular path to convey the sheet from the first circular path into the second circular path with the second edge leading, and transferring the sheet from said second gripper to a third gripper rotating about an axis for transferring sheets along said first path for transfer to said second station with the second edge leading the sheet, and moving the path of said second gripper means about one of said axes to adjust the phase of the machine at which the second gripper arrives at the first nip to grip the trailing edge of the sheet.

Claim 38

A multicolor sheet-fed printing press including a pair of adjacent first and second printing units and a sheet transfer unit between the printing units which is adapted to selectively present sheets from one unit to the next, either with the same edge leading whereby to print on the same sides of sheets at both units, or to turn sheets end for end whereby the tail edges of sheets leaving the first unit becomes the lead edges of sheets at the next unit in order to print on different sides of the sheets at said units, said sheet transfer unit comprising: a first rotatable cylinder, a sheet handling cylinder defining a first transfer nip with said first cylinder with said cylinders running at the same surface speed and having their surfaces traveling in the same direction and in close proximity at said first transfer nip, a tail turnover cylinder running in close proximity to said sheet handling cylinder and at the same surface speed to define therewith a second transfer nip where the surfaces of the cylinders are moving in the same direction, a fourth cylinder running at the same surface speed in close proximity to Said turnover cylinder to define a third transfer nip on one hand and in close proximity to said first cylinder to define a fourth transfer nip on the other hand with the adjacent cylinder surfaces at said nips traveling in the same direction and at the same surface speed, first grippers on said cylinders for sequentially moving sheets in register through said first nip, around a portion of the first cylinder and through said fourth nip while maintaining their leading edges forward for presentation to the second printing unit for printing sheets on the same sides at both units, second means for moving sheets entering said first nip through and beyond said second nip and continuing around a portion of said sheet handling cylinder, means on said turnover cylinder for gripping the tail ends of sheets carried by said sheet handling cylinder at said second nip to reverse the sheet and make their trailing ends lead, means on said fourth cylinder for receiving sheets from the gripping means on said turnover cylinder at said third nip and moving them through said fourth nip with their former trailing ends forward for presentation to the second unit for printing sheets on the reverse sides at the second unit, and means for accurately adjusting said sheet handling cylinder about the axis of the first cylinder and the turnover cylinder about the axis of the fourth cylinder for accommodating sheet handling sheets of different lengths when printing on opposite sides.

Claim 39

A multicolor sheet-fed printing press including a pair of adjacent first and second printing units and a sheet transfer unit between the printing units which is adapted to selectively present sheets from one unit to the next, either with the same edge leading whereby to print on the same sides of sheets at both units, or to turn sheets end for end whereby the tail edges of sheets leaving the first unit becomes the lead edges of sheets at the next unit in order to print on different sides of the sheets at said units, said sheet transfer unit comprising: a first rotatable cylinder, a sheet handling cylinder defining a first transfer nip with said first cylinder with said cylinders running at the same surface speed and having their surfaces traveling in the same direction and in close proximity at said first transfer nip, a tail turnover cylinder running in close proximity to said sheet handling cylinder and at the same surface speed to define therewith a second transfer nip where the surfaces of the cylinders are moving in the same direction, a fourth cylinder running at the same surface speed in close proximity to Said turnover cylinder to define a third transfer nip on one hand and in close proximity to said first cylinder to define a fourth transfer nip on the other hand with the adjacent cylinder surfaces at said nips traveling in the same direction and at the same surface speed, first grippers on said cylinders for sequentially moving sheets in register through said first nip, around a portion of the first cylinder and through said fourth nip while maintaining their leading edges forward for presentation to the second printing unit for printing sheets on the same sides at both units, second means for moving sheets entering said first nip through and beyond said second nip and continuing around a portion of said sheet handling cylinder, means on said turnover cylinder for gripping the tail ends of sheets carried by said sheet handling cylinder at said second nip to reverse the sheet and make their trailing ends lead, means on said fourth cylinder for receiving sheets from the gripping means on said turnover cylinder at said third nip and moving them through said fourth nip with their former trailing ends forward for presentation to the second unit for printing sheets on the reverse sides at the second unit, and means for accurately adjusting said sheet handling cylinder about the axis of the first cylinder and the turnover cylinder about the axis of the fourth cylinder for accommodating sheet handling sheets of different lengths when printing on opposite sides.

Claim 40

A printing press according to claim 31 further including means maintaining the axes of said sheet handling diverting and turnover cylinders constant for all positions of adjustment.

Claim 41

In a printing press for selectively printing sheets on one side only or perfecting by printing on opposite sides, said press comprising a pair of adjacent first and second printing units with respective printing nips, means for moving sheets from the printing nip of the first limit with a first edge leading through a first transfer nip and along a portion of a cylindrical path and to and through a fourth transfer nip for presentation to said second printing unit, means for receiving at said first transfer nip the said first edges of sheets in said cylindrical path and for moving the sheets around a portion of a second cylindrical path diverging from said first cylindrical path and separate from the path to and through said fourth transfer nip and moving the sheets beyond a second transfer nip, means for grasping sheets in said second cylindrical path by their tail ends at said second transfer nip and moving their tail ends initially in the same general direction as the second cylindrical path but along a third cylindrical path diverging from said second cylindrical path and for presenting the tail ends of the sheets as the leading edge thereof at a third transfer nip, the last said means defining a said third transfer nip at a fourth cylindrical path different from said first cylindrical path with said fourth cylindrical path defining said fourth transfer nip in part and means operating in said fourth cylindrical path to receive the leading edge of sheets at said third and fourth transfer nips respectively and forward them for presentation to the printing nip of said second printing unit, and means for varying the positions of said first, second and third transfer nips to adjust the printing press to perfect sheets of different lengths.

Claim 42

In a printing press for selectively printing sheets on one side only or perfecting by printing on opposite sides, said press comprising a pair of adjacent first and second printing units with respective printing nips, means for moving sheets from the printing nip of the first limit with a first edge leading through a first transfer nip and along a portion of a cylindrical path and to and through a fourth transfer nip for presentation to said second printing unit, means for receiving at said first transfer nip the said first edges of sheets in said cylindrical path and for moving the sheets around a portion of a second cylindrical path diverging from said first cylindrical path and separate from the path to and through said fourth transfer nip and moving the sheets beyond a second transfer nip, means for grasping sheets in said second cylindrical path by their tail ends at said second transfer nip and moving their tail ends initially in the same general direction as the second cylindrical path but along a third cylindrical path diverging from said second cylindrical path and for presenting the tail ends of the sheets as the leading edge thereof at a third transfer nip, the last said means defining a said third transfer nip at a fourth cylindrical path different from said first cylindrical path with said fourth cylindrical path defining said fourth transfer nip in part and means operating in said fourth cylindrical path to receive the leading edge of sheets at said third and fourth transfer nips respectively and forward them for presentation to the printing nip of said second printing unit, and means for varying the positions of said first, second and third transfer nips to adjust the printing press to perfect sheets of different lengths.

Claim 43

A printing press according to claim 33 including mean for varying the distance between the first and second transfer nips to adjust for perfecting sheets of different lengths.

Claim 44

In a sheet handling apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein said one of said second and third cylinders having said turnover gripping means thereon and the cylinder from which said turnover gripping means takes a sheet are relatively rotatable during movement of said second and third cylinders about said first and downstream cylinders to adjust the phase thereof relatIve to each other and said sheet handling machine comprises means for effecting said relative rotation of said one of said second and third cylinders in response to said relative movement of said second and third cylinders about the axis of said first and downstream cylinders respectively.