Flexographic printing unit

Claim 2

In a printing means for printing repetitive patterns on a travelling web printing medium, including a driven printing plate cylinder and inking and impression cylinders driven thereby, all of said cylinders being substantially mutually parallel and positioned between upstanding spaced side plates on a machine frame, the improvement comprising: an integral axial shaft on said inking cylinder; a first pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said side plates and journalling opposite ends of said integral inking cylinder shaft for rotation therein; first fluid actuating means selectively positioning said first swinging arms and said inking cylinder with respect to said plate cylinder; an axial mounting shaft in said impression cylinder; a second pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said side plates and journalling said mounting shaft for limited rotation therein; second fluid actuating means selectively positioning said second swinging arms and said impression cylinder with respect to said plate cylinder; fine adjustment means for said impression cylinder comprising a cylindrical bushing eccentric with said axial mounting shaft within each end of said impression cylinder, bearing means mounting said impression cylinder for free rotation on said bushings and adjusting means on at least one of said arms for imparting a selected rotational adjustment to said mounting shaft and said bushings to cause selective translation of said impression cylinder toward and away from said place cylinder; an integral axial drive shaft on said plate cylinder; and bearing traction means on opposite ends of each of said shafts interengaged to drive said inking cylinder therethrough and to index said inking and impression cylinders with respect to said plate cylinder; said impression cylinder being freewheeling to be driven by said plate cylinder through web of printing medium nipped therebetween.

Claim 3

The printing means of claim 1, wherein said bearing traction means comprise precision-ground rollers having predetermined dimensions compatible with relative rotation of said cylinders and the desired spacing therebetween; the bearing traction rollers on said inking cylinder and plate cylinder shafts being keyed thereto for rotation therewith; and the bearing traction rollers on said impression cylinder mounting shaft being freewheeling thereon.

Claim 4

The printing means of claim 1, which further includes: an ink fountain means for supplying ink to said inking cylinder; and adjustable doctor blade means mounted on said first pair of swinging arms for controlling the thickness of printing ink film on said inking cylinder.

Claim 5

The printing means of claim 3, wherein said bearing traction means comprise precision-ground rollers having predetermined dimensions compatible with relative rotation of said cylinders and the desired spacing therebetween; the bearing traction rollers on said inking cylinder and plate cylinder shafts being keyed thereto for rotation therewith; and the bearing traction rollers on said impression cylinder mounting shaft being freewheeling thereon.

Claim 6

The printing means of claim 1, wherein said first fluid actuating means comprises first and second fluid actuating cylinders independently actuating respective ones of the arms of said first pair of swinging arms and actuated from a first common control means; wherein said second fluid actuating means comprises third and fourth fluid actuating cylinders independently actuating respective ones of the arms of said second pair of swinging arms and actuated from a second common control means; and said swinging arms thereby providing uniform adjustments between the surfaces of said plate, impression and inking cylinders.

Claim 7

The printing means of claim 5, wherein said bearing traction means comprise precision-ground rollers having predetermined dimensions compatible with relative rotation of said cylinders and the desired spacing therebetween; the bearing traction rollers on said inking cylinder and plate cylinder shafts being keyed thereto for rotation therewith; and the bearing traction rollers on said impression cylinder mounting shaft being freewheeling thereon.

Claim 8

The printing means of claim 5, which further includes: an ink fountain means for supplying ink to said inking cylinder; and adjustable doctor blade means mounted on said first pair of swinging arms for controlling the thickness of printing ink film on said inking cylinder.

Claim 9

The printing means of claim 7, wherein said bearing traction means comprise precision-ground rollers having predetermined dimensions compatible with relative rotation of said cylinders and the desired spacing therebetween: the bearing traction rollers on said inking cylinder and plate cylinder shafts being keyed thereto for rotation therewith; and the bearing traction rollers on said impression cylinder mounting shaft being freewheeling thereon.

Claim 10

Printing means for printing successive patterns on a travelling web of printing medium comprising: a machine base with upstanding side plates; plate cylinder means journalled for rotation between said side plates in a fixed axial position and including a plate cylinder surface and a shaft rotatable therewith having first bearing traction rollers keyed thereto for rotation in synchronism with said plate cylinder surface; drive means rotating said plate cylinder shaft; an ink fountain mounted between said side plates adjacent said plate cylinder; and ink transfer cylinder means mounted between said side plates intermediate said plate cylinder means and said ink fountain means for transferring ink from the latter to the former; said ink transfer cylinder means being substantially parallel to said plate cylinder and including: a coaxial integral shaft rotatable therewith, first and second swinging arm means pivoted to respective ones of said side plates and being driven about said pivots by first and second fluid actuating means, journal means mounting opposite ends of said coaxial integral shaft in respective ones of said swing arm means, and second bearing traction rollers keyed on opposite ends of said coaxial integral shaft in driving engagement with said first bearing traction rollers on said plate cylinder shaft; and an impression cylinder means mounted for free rotation between said side plates and having a cylindrical impression surface substantially parallel with and cooperating with said plate cylinder means to nip a web of printing medium therebetween; said impression cylinder means including: an interior mounting shaft substantially parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical impression surface, thrid and fourth swinging arm means including journal means mounting opposite ends of said mounting shaft for rotation therein pivoted to said respective ones of said side plate means and being driven about pivots by third and fourth fluid actuating means, third bearing traction rollers freely rotatable on opposite ends of said mounting shaft and engaged with said first bearing traction rollers to initially index said cylindrical impression surface with said plate cylinder surface, eccentric bearing means on said mounting shaft adjustably mounting said cylindrical impression surface for free rotation eccentrically of said mounting shaft, and mounting shaft engaging means precluding free rotation thereof and providing selective rotational positioning thereof and of said eccentric bearing means to provide a fine nip adjustment between said impression surface and said plate cylinder surface.

Claim 11

Printing means for printing successive patterns on a travelling web of printing medium comprising: a machine base with upstanding side plates; plate cylinder means journalled for rotation between said side plates in a fixed axial position and including a plate cylinder surface and a shaft rotatable therewith having first bearing traction rollers keyed thereto for rotation in synchronism with said plate cylinder surface; drive means rotating said plate cylinder shaft; an ink fountain mounted between said side plates adjacent said plate cylinder; and ink transfer cylinder means mounted between said side plates intermediate said plate cylinder means and said ink fountain means for transferring ink from the latter to the former; said ink transfer cylinder means being substantially parallel to said plate cylinder and including: a coaxial integral shaft rotatable therewith, first and second swinging arm means pivoted to respective ones of said side plates and being driven about said pivots by first and second fluid actuating means, journal means mounting opposite ends of said coaxial integral shaft in respective ones of said swing arm means, and second bearing traction rollers keyed on opposite ends of said coaxial integral shaft in driving engagement with said first bearing traction rollers on said plate cylinder shaft; and an impression cylinder means mounted for free rotation between said side plates and having a cylindrical impression surface substantially parallel with and cooperating with said plate cylinder means to nip a web of printing medium therebetween; said impression cylinder means including: an interior mounting shaft substantially parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical impression surface, thrid and fourth swinging arm means including journal means mounting opposite ends of said mounting shaft for rotation therein pivoted to said respective ones of said side plate means and being driven about pivots by third and fourth fluid actuating means, third bearing traction rollers freely rotatable on opposite ends of said mounting shaft and engaged with said first bearing traction rollers to initially index said cylindrical impression surface with said plate cylinder surface, eccentric bearing means on said mounting shaft adjustably mounting said cylindrical impression surface for free rotation eccentrically of said mounting shaft, and mounting shaft engaging means precluding free rotation thereof and providing selective rotational positioning thereof and of said eccentric bearing means to provide a fine nip adjustment between said impression surface and said plate cylinder surface.

Claim 12

In a printing means for printing repetitive patterns on a travelling web printing medium, including a driven printing plate cylinder and inking and impression cylinders driven thereby, all of said cylinders being substantially mutually parallel and positioned between upstanding spaced side plates on a machine frame, the improvement comprising: an integral axial shaft on said inking cylinder; a first pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said side plates and journalling opposite ends of said integral inking cylinder shaft for rotation therein; first fluid actuating means selectively positioning said first swinging arms and said inking cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an axial mounting shaft in said impression cylinder; a second pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said side plates and journalling said mounting shaft for limited rotation therein; second fluid actuating means selectively positioning said second swinging arms and said impression cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; fine adjustment means for said impression cylinder comprising a cylindrical bushing eccentric with said axial mounting shaft within each end of said impression cylinder, bearing means mounting said impression cylinder for free rotation on said bushings and adjusting means on at least one of said arms for imparting a selected rotational adjustment to said mounting shaft and said bushings to cause selective translation of said impression cylinder toward and away from said printing plate cylinder; an integral axial drive shaft on said printing plate cylinder; a registration adjusting means for adjusting the registration of said printing plate cylinder relative to said travelling web; and bearing traction means on opposite ends of each of said shafts interengaged to drive said inking cylinder therethrough and to index said inking and impression cylinders with respect to said printing plate cylinder; said impression cylinder being freewheeling to be driven by said printing plate cylinder through web of printing medium nipped therebetween.

Claim 13

In a printing means for printing repetitive patterns on a travelling web printing medium, including a driven printing plate cylinder and inking and impression cylinders driven thereby, all of said cylinders being substantially mutually parallel and positioned between upstanding spaced side plates on a machine frame, the improvement comprising: an integral axial shaft on said inking cylinder; a first pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said side plates and journalling opposite ends of said integral inking cylinder shaft for rotation therein; first fluid actuating means selectively positioning said first swinging arms and said inking cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an axial mounting shaft in said impression cylinder; a second pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said side plates and journalling said mounting shaft for limited rotation therein; second fluid actuating means selectively positioning said second swinging arms and said impression cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; fine adjustment means for said impression cylinder comprising a cylindrical bushing eccentric with said axial mounting shaft within each end of said impression cylinder, bearing means mounting said impression cylinder for free rotation on said bushings and adjusting means on at least one of said arms for imparting a selected rotational adjustment to said mounting shaft and said bushings to cause selective translation of said impression cylinder toward and away from said printing plate cylinder; an integral axial drive shaft on said printing plate cylinder; a registration adjusting means for adjusting the registration of said printing plate cylinder relative to said travelling web; and bearing traction means on opposite ends of each of said shafts interengaged to drive said inking cylinder therethrough and to index said inking and impression cylinders with respect to said printing plate cylinder; said impression cylinder being freewheeling to be driven by said printing plate cylinder through web of printing medium nipped therebetween.

Claim 14

The printing means of claim 10, wherein said bearing traction means comprise precision-ground rollers having predetermined dimensions compatible with relative rotation of said cylinders and the desired spacing therebetween; the bearing traction rollers on said inking cylinder and plate cylinder shafts being keyed thereto for rotation therewith; and the bearing traction rollers on said impression cylinder mounting shaft being freewheeling thereon.

Claim 15

The printing means of claim 10, which further includes: an ink fountain means for supplying ink to said inking cylinder; and adjustable doctor blade means mounted on said first pair of swinging arms for controlling the thickness of printing ink film on said inking cylinder.

Claim 16

The printing means of claim 12, wherein said bearing traction means comprise precision-ground rollers having predetermined dimensions compatible with relative rotation of said cylinders and the desired spacing therebetween; the bearing traction rollers on said inking cylinder and plate cylinder shafts being keyed thereto for rotation therewith; and the bearing traction rollers on said impression cylinder mounting shaft being freewheeling thereon.

Claim 17

The printing means of claim 10, wherein said first fluid actuating means comprises first and second fluid actuating cylinders independently actuating respective ones of the arms of said first pair of swinging arms and actuated from a first common control means; wherein said second fluid actuating means comprises third and fourth fluid actuating cylinders independently actuating respective ones of the arms of said second pair of swinging arms and actuated from a second common control means; and said swinging arms thereby providing uniform adjustments between the surfaces of said plate, impression and inking cylinders.

Claim 18

The printing means of claim 14, wherein said bearing traction means comprise precision-ground rollers having predetermined dimensions compatible with relative rotation of said cylinders and the desired spacing therebetween; the bearing traction rollers on said inking cylinder and plate cylinder shafts being keyed thereto for rotation therewith; and the bearing traction rollers on said impression cylinder mounting shaft being freewheeling thereon.

Claim 19

The printing means of claim 14, which further includes: an ink fountain means for supplying ink to said inking cylinder; and adjustable doctor blade means mounted on said first pair of swinging arms for controlling the thickness of printing ink film on said inking cylinder.

Claim 20

The printing means of said claim 16, wherein said bearing traction means comprise precision-ground rollers having predetermined dimensions compatible with relative rotation of said cylinders and the desired spacing therebetween; the bearing traction rollers on said inking cylinder and plate cylinder shafts being keyed thereto for rotation therewith; and the bearing traction rollers on said impression cylinder mounting shaft being freewheeling thereon.

Claim 21

The printing means of claim 10, wherein the registration adjusting means includes a planetary drive gear unit adapted to engage said axial drive shaft on said printing plate cylinder.

Claim 22

The printing means of claim 18, wherein said planetary drive gear unit includes at least one planet gear mounted on a registration adjusting gear whereby an incremental rotation of said registration adjusting gear imparts an incremental additional motion to said printing plate cylinder.

Claim 23

The printing means of claim 19, wherein said incremental additional motion changes the registration of said printing plate cylinder relative to said travelling web.

Claim 24

The printing means of claim 19, wherein said planetary drive unit includes two planet gears.

Claim 25

The printing means of claim 19, wherein said planetary drive gear unit includes an output gear and said registration adjusting gear is normally held stationary with respect to said output gear.

Claim 26

The printing means of claim 19, wherein said registration adjusting gear is rotated by means of a worm gear.

Claim 27

Printing means for printing successive patterns on a travelling web of printing medium comprising: a machine base with upstanding side plates; plate cylinder means journalled for rotation between said side plates in a fixed axial position and including a plate cylinder surface and a shaft rotatable therewith having first bearing traction rollers keyed thereto for rotation in synchronism with said plate cylinder surface; drive means rotating said plate cylinder shaft; a registration adjusting means for adjusting the registration of said plate cylinder surface relative to said travelling web; an ink fountain mounted between said side plates adjacent said plate cylinder; and ink transfer cylinder means mounted between said side plates intermediate said plate cylinder means and said ink fountain means for transferring ink from the latter to the former; said ink transfer cylinder means being substantially parallel to said plate cylinder and including: a coaxial integral shaft rotatable therewith, first and second swinging arm means pivoted to respective ones of said side plates and being driven about said pivots by first and second fluid actuating means, journal means mounting opposite ends of said coaxial integral shaft in respective ones of said swing arm means, and second bearing traction rollers keyed on opposite ends of said coaxial integral shaft in driving engagement with said first bearing traction rollers on said plate cylinder shaft; and an impression cylinder means mounted for free rotation between said side plates and having a cylindrical impression surface substantially parallel with and cooperating with said plate cylinder means to nip a web of printing medium therebetween; said impression cylinder means including: an interior mounting shaft substantially parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical impression surface, third and fourth swinging arm means including journal means mounting opposite ends of said mounting shaft for rotation therein pivoted to said respective ones of said side plate means and being driven about pivots by third and fourth fluid actuating means, third bearing traction rollers freely rotatable on opposite ends of said mounting shaft and engaged with said first bearing traction rollers to initially index said cylindrical impression surface with said plate cylinder surface, eccentric bearing means on said mounting shaft adjustably mounting said cylindrical impression surface for free rotation eccentrically of said mounting shaft, and mounting shaft engaging means precluding free rotation thereof and providing selective rotational positioning thereof and of said eccentric bearing means to provide a fine nip adjustment between said impression surface and said plate cylinder surface.

Claim 28

Printing means for printing successive patterns on a travelling web of printing medium comprising: a machine base with upstanding side plates; plate cylinder means journalled for rotation between said side plates in a fixed axial position and including a plate cylinder surface and a shaft rotatable therewith having first bearing traction rollers keyed thereto for rotation in synchronism with said plate cylinder surface; drive means rotating said plate cylinder shaft; a registration adjusting means for adjusting the registration of said plate cylinder surface relative to said travelling web; an ink fountain mounted between said side plates adjacent said plate cylinder; and ink transfer cylinder means mounted between said side plates intermediate said plate cylinder means and said ink fountain means for transferring ink from the latter to the former; said ink transfer cylinder means being substantially parallel to said plate cylinder and including: a coaxial integral shaft rotatable therewith, first and second swinging arm means pivoted to respective ones of said side plates and being driven about said pivots by first and second fluid actuating means, journal means mounting opposite ends of said coaxial integral shaft in respective ones of said swing arm means, and second bearing traction rollers keyed on opposite ends of said coaxial integral shaft in driving engagement with said first bearing traction rollers on said plate cylinder shaft; and an impression cylinder means mounted for free rotation between said side plates and having a cylindrical impression surface substantially parallel with and cooperating with said plate cylinder means to nip a web of printing medium therebetween; said impression cylinder means including: an interior mounting shaft substantially parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical impression surface, third and fourth swinging arm means including journal means mounting opposite ends of said mounting shaft for rotation therein pivoted to said respective ones of said side plate means and being driven about pivots by third and fourth fluid actuating means, third bearing traction rollers freely rotatable on opposite ends of said mounting shaft and engaged with said first bearing traction rollers to initially index said cylindrical impression surface with said plate cylinder surface, eccentric bearing means on said mounting shaft adjustably mounting said cylindrical impression surface for free rotation eccentrically of said mounting shaft, and mounting shaft engaging means precluding free rotation thereof and providing selective rotational positioning thereof and of said eccentric bearing means to provide a fine nip adjustment between said impression surface and said plate cylinder surface.

Claim 29

A printing apparatus for printing repetitive patterns on a travelling web printing medium, including a driven printing plate cylinder and inking and impression cylinders driven thereby, all of said cylinders being substantially mutually parallel and positioned between upstanding spaced side plates on a machine frame, the improvement comprising: an integral axial shaft on said inking cylinder; a first pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said plates and journalling opposite ends of said integral inking cylinder shaft for rotation therein; first fluid actuating means selectively positioning said first swinging arms and said inking cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an axial mounting shaft in said impression cylinder; a second pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said side plates and journalling said mounting shaft for limited rotation therein; second fluid actuating means selectively positioning said second swinging arms and said impression cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an integral axial drive shaft on said printing plate cylinder; a registration adjusting means for adjusting the registration of said printing plate cylinder relative to said travelling web; and traction means on opposite ends of each of said shafts for driving said inking cylinder therethrough and to index said inking and impression cylinders with respect to said printing plate cylinder; said impression cylinder being freewheeling to be driven by said printing plate cylinder with said travelling web of printing medium nipped therebetween.

Claim 30

A printing apparatus for printing repetitive patterns on a travelling web printing medium, including a driven printing plate cylinder and inking and impression cylinders driven thereby, all of said cylinders being substantially mutually parallel and positioned between upstanding spaced side plates on a machine frame, the improvement comprising: an integral axial shaft on said inking cylinder; a first pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said plates and journalling opposite ends of said integral inking cylinder shaft for rotation therein; first fluid actuating means selectively positioning said first swinging arms and said inking cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an axial mounting shaft in said impression cylinder; a second pair of swinging arms pivotally mounted between said side plates and journalling said mounting shaft for limited rotation therein; second fluid actuating means selectively positioning said second swinging arms and said impression cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an integral axial drive shaft on said printing plate cylinder; a registration adjusting means for adjusting the registration of said printing plate cylinder relative to said travelling web; and traction means on opposite ends of each of said shafts for driving said inking cylinder therethrough and to index said inking and impression cylinders with respect to said printing plate cylinder; said impression cylinder being freewheeling to be driven by said printing plate cylinder with said travelling web of printing medium nipped therebetween.

Claim 31

A printing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the registration adjusting means includes a planetary drive gear unit adapted to engage said axial drive shaft on said printing plate cylinder.

Claim 32

A printing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said planetary drive gear unit includes at least one planet gear mounted on a registration adjusting gear whereby an incremental rotation of said registration adjusting gear imparts an incremental additional motion to said printing plate cylinder.

Claim 33

A printing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said incremental additional motion changes the registration of said printing plate cylinder relative to said travelling web.

Claim 34

A printing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said planetary drive unit includes two planet gears.

Claim 35

A printing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said planetary drive gear unit includes an output gear and said registration adjusting gear is normally held stationary with respect to said output gear.

Claim 36

A printing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said registration adjusting gear is rotated by means of a worm gear.

Claim 37

A printing apparatus for printing repetitive patterns on a travelling web printing medium, including a driven printing plate cylinder and inking and impression cylinders driven thereby, all of said cylinders being substantially mutually parallel and positioned between upstanding spaced side plates on a machine frame, the improvement comprising: a first axial shaft rotatable with said inking cylinder; a first adjustable mounting means mounted between said side plates and journalling opposite ends of said first axial shaft for rotation therein; first actuating means selectively positioning said first adjustable mounting means and said inking cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an axial mounting shaft in said impression cylinder; second adjustable mounting means mounted between said side plates and journalling said mounting shaft for limited rotation therein; second actuating means selectively positioning said second adjustable mounting means and said impression cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an axial drive shaft rotatable with said printing plate cylinder; a registration adjusting means for adjusting the registration of said printing plate cylinder relative to said travelling web; and traction means on opposite ends of each of said shafts for driving said inking cylinder therethrough and to index said inking and impression cylinders with respect to said printing plate cylinder; said impression cylinder being free-wheeling to be driven by said printing plate cylinder with said travelling web of printing medium nipped therebetween.

Claim 38

A printing apparatus for printing repetitive patterns on a travelling web printing medium, including a driven printing plate cylinder and inking and impression cylinders driven thereby, all of said cylinders being substantially mutually parallel and positioned between upstanding spaced side plates on a machine frame, the improvement comprising: a first axial shaft rotatable with said inking cylinder; a first adjustable mounting means mounted between said side plates and journalling opposite ends of said first axial shaft for rotation therein; first actuating means selectively positioning said first adjustable mounting means and said inking cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an axial mounting shaft in said impression cylinder; second adjustable mounting means mounted between said side plates and journalling said mounting shaft for limited rotation therein; second actuating means selectively positioning said second adjustable mounting means and said impression cylinder with respect to said printing plate cylinder; an axial drive shaft rotatable with said printing plate cylinder; a registration adjusting means for adjusting the registration of said printing plate cylinder relative to said travelling web; and traction means on opposite ends of each of said shafts for driving said inking cylinder therethrough and to index said inking and impression cylinders with respect to said printing plate cylinder; said impression cylinder being free-wheeling to be driven by said printing plate cylinder with said travelling web of printing medium nipped therebetween.