Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for varnishing a sheet being fed from a sheet-fed printing press unit into a delivery unit comprising, in combination, a frame, guide rails in the frame, a pair of conveyor chains laterally spaced from one another on the guide rails to form an endless loop conveyor extending from the press unit to a delivery pile, the chains having cross members at regular intervals, grippers at the cross members for gripping the leading edge of a sheet, the guide rails being arranged to form a delivery run and return run spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, an applicator cylinder journalled in the frame in a position in which it is overlapped by each of the runs but having an axial length which is shorter than the lateral spacing between the chains, means supported on the frame outside of the return run and in rolling engagement with the applicator cylinder for supplying a film of varnish thereto, a backing cylinder journalled in the frame outside of the delivery run and in rolling engagement with the applicator cylinder, the circumference of the cylinders being equal to the spacing between the successive cross members and grippers, the applicator cylinder having a longitudinal groove sufficiently large to provide free passage for the cross members and associated grippers in both the delivery run and the return run, means for driving the cylinders in synchronism with the conveyor chains so that a sheet passing on the grippers is engaged between the applicator and backing cylinders for application of varnish to the sheet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for varnishing a sheet being fed from a sheet-fed printing press unit into a delivery unit comprising, in combination, a frame, guide rails in the frame, a pair of conveyor chains laterally spaced from one another on the guide rails to form an endless loop conveyor extending from the press unit to a delivery pile, the chains having cross members at regular intervals, grippers at the cross members for gripping the leading edge of a sheet, the guide rails being arranged to form a delivery run and return run spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, an applicator cylinder journalled in the frame in a position in which it is overlapped by each of the runs but having an axial length which is shorter than the lateral spacing between the chains, means supported on the frame outside of the return run and in rolling engagement with the applicator cylinder for supplying a film of varnish thereto, a backing cylinder journalled in the frame outside of the delivery run and in rolling engagement with the applicator cylinder, the circumference of the cylinders being equal to the spacing between the successive cross members and grippers, the applicator cylinder having a longitudinal groove sufficiently large to provide free passage for the cross members and associated grippers in both the delivery run and the return run, means for driving the cylinders in synchronism with the conveyor chains so that a sheet passing on the grippers is engaged between the applicator and backing cylinders for application of varnish to the sheet.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for varnishing a sheet being fed from a sheet-fed printing press unit into a delivery unit comprising, in combination, a frame, guide rails in the frame, a pair of conveyor chains laterally spaced from one another on the guide rails to form an endless loop conveyor extending from the press unit to a delivery pile, the chains having cross members at regular intervals, grippers at the cross members for gripping the leading edge of a sheet, the guide rails being arranged to form a delivery run and return run spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, an applicator cylinder journalled in the frame between the runs having an axial length which is shorter than the lateral spacing between the chains, means supported on the frame outside of the return run and in rolling engagement with the applicator cylinder for supplying a film of varnish thereto, a backing cylinder journalled in the frame outside of the delivery run and in rolling engagement with the applicator cylinder, the circumference of the cylinders being equal to the spacing between the successive cross members and grippers, the applicator and backing cylinders having respective longitudinal grooves sufficiently large to provide free passage for the cross members and associated grippers, means for driving the cylinders in synchronism with the conveyor chains so that a sheet passing on the grippers is engaged between the applicator and backing cylinders for application of varnish to the sheet.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for varnishing a sheet being fed from a sheet-fed printing press unit into a delivery unit comprising, in combination, a frame, guide rails in the frame, a pair of conveyor chains laterally spaced from one another on the guide rails to form an endless loop conveyor extending from the press unit to a delivery pile, the chains having cross members at regular intervals, grippers at the cross members for gripping the leading edge of a sheet, the guide rails being arranged to form a delivery run and return run spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, an applicator cylinder journalled in the frame between the runs having an axial length which is shorter than the lateral spacing between the chains, means supported on the frame outside of the return run and in rolling engagement with the applicator cylinder for supplying a film of varnish thereto, a backing cylinder journalled in the frame outside of the delivery run and in rolling engagement with the applicator cylinder, the circumference of the cylinders being equal to the spacing between the successive cross members and grippers, the applicator and backing cylinders having respective longitudinal grooves sufficiently large to provide free passage for the cross members and associated grippers, means for driving the cylinders in synchronism with the conveyor chains so that a sheet passing on the grippers is engaged between the applicator and backing cylinders for application of varnish to the sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which the speed of the conveyor is less than press speed in a predetermined ratio, the cylinders being of the same diameter and surface speed, which diameter and surface speed is less than the diameter and surface speed of the cylinders in the associated press unit in the same ratio.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2, the spacing between the delivery run and the return run being somewhat less than the diameter of the applicator cylinder so that the applicator cylinder is symmetrically overlapped by each of the runs, the length of the conveyor delivery and return loop defined by the applicator cylinder being equal to NL+L/2 where N is a low integer and L is the gripper-to-gripper spacing so that cross members and grippers passing in the return run are idly accommodated in the groove of the applicator cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which the means for supplying a film of varnish includes a plate cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which the backing cylinder is mounted upon a swingable throw-off linkage including a toggle for swinging between a working position in which the backing cylinder is in engagement with the applicator cylinder with the toggle on center and a retracted position in which the backing cylinder is spaced at least 20 millimeters away from the applicator cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which the backing cylinder is mounted upon a swingable throw-off linkage including a toggle for swinging between a working position in which the backing cylinder is in engagement with the applicator cylinder with the toggle on center and a retracted position in which the backing cylinder is spaced at least 20 millimeters away from the applicator cylinder and in which the throw-off mechanism includes a sheet guide segment with means for interposing the segment between the backing cylinder and the applicator cylinder as the backing cylinder is retracted so that the sheet is held safely away from the applicator cylinder free of transfer of any varnish therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the applicator cylinder has a smooth polished surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the applicator cylinder has a matte surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the applicator cylinder has means for alternatively mounting thereon replaceable surface elements of conforming cylindrical shape having (a) a smooth polished surface and (b) a matte surface, respectively.