Apparatus for producing business forms

Claim 2

In a paper web processing machine having a tower frame and a tower roll rotatably mounted in the tower frame, a module removably mounted in the tower frame, the module comprising: a module frame, a module roll rotatably supported by the module frame and having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of said tower roll, first and second rail means supporting the module and being supported by the tower frame for permitting the module to be slidably, axially moved out of the tower frame on the rail means to a service position, the module being pivotable on the first rail means between a first position in which the module roll is positioned adjacent the tower roll to provide a nip for a paper web between the rolls and a second position in which the module roll is spaced from the tower roll and in which the module can be slidably moved out of the tower frame on the first and second rail means, and module support means on the tower frame for moving the module between said first and second positions.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 including nip-adjusting means on the tower frame and the module for pivoting the module roll relative to the tower frame when the module is in its first position for adjusting said nip.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 1 in which the first rail means includes a cylindrical shaft rotatably supported by the tower frame, the module frame being secured to the shaft for rotation therewith whereby the module can move between its first and second positions, and bearing means supporting the shaft for axial sliding movement.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 1 in which the second rail means includes a rail secured to the module frame and rollers on the tower frame engageable with the rail when the module is in its second position.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 1 including an eccentric rotatably mounted on one of the tower frame and the module and a stop member on the other of the tower frame and the module, the stop member engaging the eccentric when the module is in its first position to provide said nip whereby the nip can be adjusted by rotating the eccentric.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 1 in which the first rail means includes a cylindrical shaft rotatably supported by the tower frame, the module frame being secured to the shaft for rotation therewith whereby the module can move between its first and second positions, and bearing means supporting the shaft for axial sliding movement, the second rail means including a rail secured to the module frame and rollers on the tower frame engagable with the rail when the module is in its second position.

Claim 8

In a paper web processing machine having a tower frame and tower roll rotatably mounted in the tower frame, a module removably mounted in the tower frame, the module comprising: a module frame, a module roll rotatably supported by the module frame, first and second rail means supporting the module and being supported by the tower frame for permitting the module to be slidably moved out of the tower frame on the rail means to a service position, the module being pivotably on the first rail means between a first position in which the module roll is positioned adjacent the tower roll to provide a nip for a paper web between the rolls and a second position in which the module roll is spaced from the tower roll and in which the module can be slidably moved out of the tower frame on the first and second rail means, and module support means on the tower frame for moving the module between said first and second positions, a pair of pivot arms pivotally mounted on the module frame, the module roll being rotatably supported by the pivot arms.

Claim 9

In a paper web processing machine having a tower frame and tower roll rotatably mounted in the tower frame, a module removably mounted in the tower frame, the module comprising: a module frame, a module roll rotatably supported by the module frame, first and second rail means supporting the module and being supported by the tower frame for permitting the module to be slidably moved out of the tower frame on the rail means to a service position, the module being pivotably on the first rail means between a first position in which the module roll is positioned adjacent the tower roll to provide a nip for a paper web between the rolls and a second position in which the module roll is spaced from the tower roll and in which the module can be slidably moved out of the tower frame on the first and second rail means, and module support means on the tower frame for moving the module between said first and second positions, a pair of pivot arms pivotally mounted on the module frame, the module roll being rotatably supported by the pivot arms.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 7 including an eccentric rotatably mounted on the tower frame and a stop member on the pivot arms engageable with the eccentric when the module is in its first position to provide said nip whereby said nip can be adjusted by rotating the eccentric.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 8 in which the stop member is a bolt threadedly engaged with one of the pivot arms whereby the position of the stop member is adjustable.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 7 including a second module roll rotatably mounted on the module and being positioned adjacent the first-mentioned module roll when the module is in its first position to provide a nip therebetween, the pivot arms being pivotable away from the second module roll when the module is in its second position to move the first module roll away from the second module roll to provide access to the second module roll.

Claim 13

The structure of claim 10 including nip-adjusting means on the pivot arms and on the module frame for pivoting the pivot arms relative to the module frame when the module is in its first position for adjusting the nip between the first and second module rolls.

Claim 14

The structure of claim 11 in which the nip-adjusting means includes an eccentric rotatably mounted on one of the module frame and the pivot arms and a stop member on the other of the module frame and pivot arms, the stop member engaging the eccentric when the module is in its first position.

Claim 15

The structure of claim 7 including a shaft rotatably supporting the pivot arms and fastening means removably securing the shaft to the module frame whereby the pivot arms and module roll can be removed from the module frame by removing the fastening means.

Claim 16

The structure of claim 7 in which the module is a printing unit and includes an ink fountain assembly removably mounted on the module frame.

Claim 17

In a business forms machine having a tower frame and an impression roll mounted on the tower frame, an offset printing module removably mounted in the tower frame, the printing module comprising: a module frame, a blanket roll assembly removably mounted on the module frame, said blanket roll assembly including a pair of pivot arms pivotally supported on the module frame and a blanket roll rotatably mounted on the pivot arms, a plate roll assembly removably mounted on the module frame, the plate roll assembly including a plate roll and a pair of end support members rotatably supporting the plate roll, the end support members being removably secured to the module frame, means on the module frame for supplying ink to the plate roll, first and second rail means supporting the module and being supported by the tower frame for permitting the module to be slidably moved out of the main frame on the rail means to a service position, the module being pivotable on the first rail means between a first position in which the blanket roll is positioned adjacent the impression roll to provide a nip for a paper web between the rolls and a second position in which the blanket roll is spaced from the impression roll and the module can be slidably moved out of the tower frame on the first and second rail means, module support means on the tower frame for moving the module between said first and second positions, whereby the plate roll can be exposed for changing a printing plate thereon by moving the module to its service position and pivoting the pivot arms and the blanket roll away from the plate roll and whereby the repeat printed by the plate roll can be changed by moving the module to its service position and removing the blanket roll assembly and the plate roll assembly from the module frame and substituting different blanket roll and plate roll assemblies.

Claim 18

In a business forms machine having a tower frame and an impression roll mounted on the tower frame, an offset printing module removably mounted in the tower frame, the printing module comprising: a module frame, a blanket roll assembly removably mounted on the module frame, said blanket roll assembly including a pair of pivot arms pivotally supported on the module frame and a blanket roll rotatably mounted on the pivot arms, a plate roll assembly removably mounted on the module frame, the plate roll assembly including a plate roll and a pair of end support members rotatably supporting the plate roll, the end support members being removably secured to the module frame, means on the module frame for supplying ink to the plate roll, first and second rail means supporting the module and being supported by the tower frame for permitting the module to be slidably moved out of the main frame on the rail means to a service position, the module being pivotable on the first rail means between a first position in which the blanket roll is positioned adjacent the impression roll to provide a nip for a paper web between the rolls and a second position in which the blanket roll is spaced from the impression roll and the module can be slidably moved out of the tower frame on the first and second rail means, module support means on the tower frame for moving the module between said first and second positions, whereby the plate roll can be exposed for changing a printing plate thereon by moving the module to its service position and pivoting the pivot arms and the blanket roll away from the plate roll and whereby the repeat printed by the plate roll can be changed by moving the module to its service position and removing the blanket roll assembly and the plate roll assembly from the module frame and substituting different blanket roll and plate roll assemblies.

Claim 19

The structure of claim 15 including nip-adjusting means on the tower frame and the module for pivoting the blanket roll relative to the impression roll when the module is in its first position for adjusting the nip between the blanket roll and the impression roll.

Claim 20

The structure of claim 15 including an eccentric rotatably mounted on one of the tower frame and the blanket roll assembly and a stop member on the other of the main frame and the blanket roll assembly, the stop member engaging the eccentric when the module is in its first position to provide said nip whereby the nip can be adjusted by rotating the eccentric.

Claim 21

The structure of claim 15 including an eccentric rotatably mounted on one of the blanket roll assembly and the plate roll assembly and a stop member on the other of the blanket roll assembly and the plate roll assembly, the stop member engaging the eccentric when the module is in its first position to provide a nip between the plate roll and the blanket roll whereby the nip between the plate roll and the blanket roll can be adjusted by rotating the eccentric.

Claim 22

The structure of claim 18 including a crank arm connected to the eccentric and power cylinder means connected to the crank arm for rotating the eccentric.

Claim 23

The structure of claim 15 in which the centers of the impression roll, the blanket roll, and the plate roll are substantially horizontally aligned.

Claim 24

The structure of claim 15 in which the ink supplying means include a pair of form rolls rotatably mounted on the module frame and contacting the plate roll, a first vibrating roll rotatably mounted on the module frame and contacting each of the form rolls, a pair of distributor rolls rotatably mounted on teh module frame and contacting the first vibrator roll, and a second vibrator roll rotatably mounted on the module frame and contacting each of the distributor rolls, the centers of the blanket roll and the first and second vibrator rolls being substantially aligned with a horizontal line extending through the center of the impression roll, the centers of the two form rolls lying on opposite sides of said horizontal line, and the centers of the two distributor rolls lying on opposite sides of said horizontal line whereby the rolls of the printing module are substantially horizontally arranged.

Claim 25

The structure of claim 21 in which the ink supplying means further includes an ink fountain assembly removably secured to the module frame whereby the ink fountain assembly can be removed and replaced with another ink fountain assembly.

Claim 26

The structure of claim 21 including a plurality of replacement blanket roll assemblies and a plurality of replacement plate roll assemblies for changing the repeat printed by the plate roll without changing the horizontal distance between the impression roll and the first vibrator roll, each of the replacement blanket roll assemblies including a pair of pivot arms rotatably supporting a replacement blanket roll of a different diameter, the pivot arms of each of the replacement blanket assemblies being adapted to be pivotally connected to the module frame when said first-mentioned blanket roll assembly is removed from the module frame with the center of the replacement blanket roll being aligned with said horizontal line, each of the plate roll assemblies including a replacement plate roll of a different diameter and a pair of end support members rotatably supporting the replacement plate roll, the end support members of the replacement blanket roll assemblies being adapted to be connected to the module frame when the first-mentioned plate roll assembly is removed from the module frame, the center of each replacement plate roll being positioned a different distance from said horizontal line.

Claim 27

The structure of claim 23 in which each of the plate roll assemblies has a plate roll having a circumference equal to the repeat length of the printing module multiplied by an integer and each of the blanket roll assemblies has a blanket roll having a circumference equal the repeat length of the printing module multiplied by an integer.