US3889596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing unit for selective indirect intaglio and flexographic printing
Assignee: Hueck and Cie
•
Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A printing unit operative alternatively for either indirect intaglio printing or for flexographic printing which includes a printing unit frame with a relatively fixed position impression cylinder thereon. A first cylinder support is mounted on said frame for supporting alternatively a transfer cylinder or a flexographic plate cylinder so as to be vertically adjustable on the frame, while a second cylinder support is mounted on said frame for supporting alternatively an intaglio plate cylinder or a fountain cylinder to be horizontally adjustable on the frame. With this arrangement, the apparatus can be converted between indirect intaglio and flexographic printing operation by a simple exchange of cylinders in each of the horizontally and vertically adjustable supports with subsequent simple vertical and horizontal adjustment of the supports to accommodate the changed diameter cylinders for the respective printing operation to be performed. Fixed and adjustable stops are arranged for the horizontally adjustable support so as to accommodate rapid adjustment for standard printing operations as well as for providing controlled small adjustments for printing of material of varying thickness.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Robert Thomas
- 👤 Wolfgang Eril
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:47
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F5/00; B41F5/24; B41F11/00; B41F9/00; B41F9/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
423 words
Printing unit apparatus operable alternatively for direct intaglio printing and for flexographic printing; said apparatus comprising: a printing unit frame, an impression cylinder, first cylinder supporting means for supporting said impression cylinder for rotation about a first axis of rotation, first mounting means for mounting said first supporting means on said frame, a transfer cylinder, a flexographic plate cylinder, second cylinder supporting means for selectively and exchangeably supporting one of said transfer cylinder and flexographic plate cylinder for rotation about a second axis of rotation, second mounting means for mounting said second supporting means on said frame, said second mounting means including vertical adjusting means for adjusting the vertical position of said second axis of rotation at the beginning of each printing operation, an intaglio plate cylinder, a fountain cylinder, third cylinder supporting means for selectively and exchangeably supporting one of said intaglio plate cylinder and said fountain cylinder for rotation about a third axis of rotation disposed in a common horizontal plane passing through the first and third axis of rotation, third mounting means for mounting said third supporting means on said frame, said third mounting means including horizontal adjusting means for adjusting the horizontal position of said third axis of rotation, an ink fountain disposed adjacent said third supporting means for supplying ink to one of said intaglio plate and fountain cylinders being supported by said third supporting means, an oscillating doctor blade means engageable with the one of said intaglio plate and fountain cylinder being supported by said third supporting means, a patterned surface provided on the intaglio plate cylinder and the fountain cylinder, said first and third mounting means including means for maintaining said first and third axes of rotation in a common horizontal plane for all adjusted positions of said third axis of rotation, said impression cylinder and fountain cylinder having the same diameter and said transfer cylinder and intaglio plate cylinder having the same diameter, whereby flexographic printing operations can be facilitated by placing said flexographic plate cylinder in said second supporting means, by placing said fountain cylinder in said third supporting means, and by appropriately adjusting the position of said second and third axes of rotation with respect to said first axis of rotation, and whereby indirect intaglio printing operations can be facilitated by placing said transfer cylinder in said second supporting means, by placing said intaglio plate cylinder in said third supporting means, and by appropriately adjusting the position of said second and third axes of rotation with respect to said first axis of rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
423 words
Printing unit apparatus operable alternatively for direct intaglio printing and for flexographic printing; said apparatus comprising: a printing unit frame, an impression cylinder, first cylinder supporting means for supporting said impression cylinder for rotation about a first axis of rotation, first mounting means for mounting said first supporting means on said frame, a transfer cylinder, a flexographic plate cylinder, second cylinder supporting means for selectively and exchangeably supporting one of said transfer cylinder and flexographic plate cylinder for rotation about a second axis of rotation, second mounting means for mounting said second supporting means on said frame, said second mounting means including vertical adjusting means for adjusting the vertical position of said second axis of rotation at the beginning of each printing operation, an intaglio plate cylinder, a fountain cylinder, third cylinder supporting means for selectively and exchangeably supporting one of said intaglio plate cylinder and said fountain cylinder for rotation about a third axis of rotation disposed in a common horizontal plane passing through the first and third axis of rotation, third mounting means for mounting said third supporting means on said frame, said third mounting means including horizontal adjusting means for adjusting the horizontal position of said third axis of rotation, an ink fountain disposed adjacent said third supporting means for supplying ink to one of said intaglio plate and fountain cylinders being supported by said third supporting means, an oscillating doctor blade means engageable with the one of said intaglio plate and fountain cylinder being supported by said third supporting means, a patterned surface provided on the intaglio plate cylinder and the fountain cylinder, said first and third mounting means including means for maintaining said first and third axes of rotation in a common horizontal plane for all adjusted positions of said third axis of rotation, said impression cylinder and fountain cylinder having the same diameter and said transfer cylinder and intaglio plate cylinder having the same diameter, whereby flexographic printing operations can be facilitated by placing said flexographic plate cylinder in said second supporting means, by placing said fountain cylinder in said third supporting means, and by appropriately adjusting the position of said second and third axes of rotation with respect to said first axis of rotation, and whereby indirect intaglio printing operations can be facilitated by placing said transfer cylinder in said second supporting means, by placing said intaglio plate cylinder in said third supporting means, and by appropriately adjusting the position of said second and third axes of rotation with respect to said first axis of rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pattern surface is provided with nubs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the impression cylinder is mounted in a fixed position on said frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one of said flexographic plate cylinder and transfer cylinder supported by said second cylinder supporting means directly engages both the one of said fountain cylinder and intaglio plate cylinder supported by said third cylinder supporting means and a strip of material being printed which is passing over said impression cylinder during respective flexographic and indirect intaglio printing operations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for conversion of said apparatus between flexographic and intaglio printing operations with maintenance of said first axis of rotation in a fixed position, with adjustment of said second axis of rotation only in a vertical direction, and with adjustment of said third axis of rotation only in a horizontal direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said vertical adjusting means includes slide means for slidably moving said second supporting means in a vertical direction along fixed vertical sliding surfaces of said frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said horizontal adjusting means includes slide means for slidably moving said third supporting means in a horizontal direction along fixed horizontal sliding surfaces of said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising stop means mounted on said frame and abuttingly engageable with a part of said third mounting means when said apparatus is being operated as a flexographic printer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said horizontal adjusting means includes slide means movable with said third supporting means along a horizontal sliding surface of said frame, and wherein said stop means abuttingly engages said slide means when said apparatus is being operated as a flexographic printer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said stop means includes a horizontally fixed stop member positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the relative diameters of the flexographic pLate, fountain, and impression cylinders such that horizontal movement of said slide member to abuttingly engage said fixed stop member positions said respective cylinders properly for flexographic printing of relatively thin material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said stop means includes means for moving said fixed stop member such that said fixed stop member is inoperative to limit horizontal movement of said slide member and wherein said stop means includes a horizontally displaceable stop member and meter means including display means for indicating the position of said displaceable stop member, said displaceable stop member being engageable with said slide member, whereby said slide member can be horizontally moved against said stop member closer to said impression cylinder than if said fixed stop member was in operative position for accommodating flexographic printing of thicker materials to be printed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said stop means includes a horizontally displaceable stop member and meter means including display means for indicating the position of said displaceable stop member, said displaceable stop member being engageable with said slide member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein means provided for moving said displaceable stop member between a first effective position where it will abuttingly engage said slide member and a second ineffective position where it will not abuttingly engage said slide member when said slide member is moved toward said impression cylinder to accommodate flexographic printing operations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said displaceable stop member is pivotally mounted for movement between said effective and ineffective positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the impression cylinder and fountain cylinder are smaller than the transfer cylinder and intaglio plate cylinder.
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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) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |