US2561115A - Machine for and method of registering printing plates - Google Patents

Description

July 17, 1951 E. L. HARLEY MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF REGISTERING PRINTING PLATES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1949 July 17, 1951 I Q T Inven m Patented July 17, 1951 UN [TED PATENT OFFICE MACHINEFORAND METHOD OF REGISTER- ING' -PRINTINGZ PLATES EarleLvHarley, Brooklyn N. Y.

Application January 4, 1919,, Serial N e 69,093

-Glaims; 1

My'invention is directed to a novel machine for and'a novel method of registering colo'r print- "ingplates which' are to be subsequently removed foruse' in multicolor printing presses;

My invention includes'a' machinein which the printing plates are secured to backing sheets which havebeen removably fastened on two'p'a'rallel cylinders arranged side by side in the" machine.

My invention also includes a mirror unit which is mounted on the machine for usein registering one set of color plates with their other set" of coacting printing plates.

My invention also includes means for rotating the cylinders step by step in unison in the same direction for permitting the registration of different' pairs of coacting plates-carried by the cylin'der-bacl'cing sheets.

My invention also includes a third-cylinder located beneath and parallel with the two plate carrying cylinders, which lower cylinder is adapted tohave a proof sheet removably'attached thereto.

My invention also includes means for opera-- t'ively connecting the proof sheet-carrying cylinder to the plate carrying cylinders whereby-the proof sheet carrying cylinder may be rotated in unison with the said plate carrying cylinders.

My invention also includes means for moving the proof sheet carrying cylinder bodily to bring its proof sheet into printing contact with the registered plates on the plate'carrying cylinders after said plates have been inked, whereby the printing effects and plate registry may be observed on the proof sheet before the printing plates with their backing sheets are removed from their cylinders.

A practical means for carrying out my inven- "tion is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a front end view of the machine with an intermediate portion broken away showing plates for printing one color secured to a backing sheet removably fastened to the first :cylinder and registered plates for printing another color secured to a backing sheet removably fastened to the secondcylinder, the third cylin- 'der with its proof sheet being lowered out of-contact with the plates carried by the first two cylinders; v

Fig. 2 represents a cross section taken in the .plane of the line IIII of Fig. 1, looking in the :direction of the arrows;

Fi-g. 3 represents a cross section taken in'the :planeofthe lineIII-III of Fig. 1, looking'dnthe directi'onof the arrows;-

= T "'wi "with the pinion 242 Fig.4 represents a detail section on an enlarged scale showing the proof sheet carrying cylinder raised to its printing position;

Fig; 5 represents a detail section showing'one of the eccentric mountings for the shaft of the proof sheet carrying, cylinder; and

Fig. 6 represents a detail view showing a plate and a brayer for inking the same.

Two parallel cylinders I and 2 arranged side by side have their shafts 3 and 4' rotatably mounted in the side frames 5 and 6 of the machine, which side frames are shown as being rigidly connected by upper tie rods 1 and I and lower tie rods 8 and 8'.

The plates 9 of flexible material, as rubber, for printing one color are secured, as by an adhesive, to" a flexible backing sheet II] which is removably fastened around the cylinder 1 as by staples.

bearings- [T which are in turn rotatably mounted in side-frames 5 and 6. These eccentric bearings 1 1 are provided with arms l8 connected across the machine by a handle bar I9 which serves as a means for rocking the eccentric bearings H for raising the shaft l5 and its cylinder [3 to bring the proof sheet [4 intoprinting contact with the plates 9 and H on the removable backing-sheets Wand ['2 on the cylinders i and 2'.

These three cylinders I, 2 and l3 which may be "of woodor other suitable material are rotated step by step for registering different pairs of plates around the cylinders land 2'. They also are rotated together after plates have been inked) to cause the proof sheet I to be printed twocol'ors'. The means for rotating thesecyl- '-ind'ers includes the following element:

The cylinders I and 2 are provided with spur gears 2|] and 2| which mesh with a pinion 2'2 -whose shaft 23 is rotatably mounted in the side frame 6". This pinion 22' meshes with the pinion fl 'on the shaft 25 of a handwheel 26. This shaft 25 is'also rotatably mounted in the side frame 5. proof sheet carrying cylinder l--3'- is provided aspur gear 21 which meshes at all times .29 t the eye of the observer.

v in two colors.

2,561,115 1. (ice-1'.

The mirror unit is shown as including a housing 28 open at its front to provide an observation window 29. This housing is also open at its bottom. This mirror unit is mounted on the machine frame above the upper plate carrying cylinders I and 2 to slide lengthwise thereof on the two upper tie rods I and I.

The mirrors for reflecting the superimposed images of the pairs of coacting plates 9 and II on the upper cylinders I and 2 through the window 29 to the eye of an observer, are arranged in the housing 28 as follows:

An inclined non-transparent mirror 30 is located over the upper cylinder I in position to horizontally reflect the image of a first color printing plate 9 on the first cylinder I to an inclined transparent mirror 3|.

non-transparent mirror 32. This mirror 32 horizontally reflects the image through the window An inclined nontransparent mirror 33 is located over the coacting printing plate I! on the second upper cylinder 2 in position to horizontally reflect the image of said plate II to the non-transparent mirror This mirror 34 vertically reflects the image of said plate II through the inclined transparent mirror 3| to the non-transparent mirror 32. This mirror 32 will horizontally reflect its image in superimposed relation with the image reflected from the coacting plate 9 on the uppercylinder I through said window 29 to the eye of the observer. The mirror unit will thus ensure the exact registration of the plate II on the second cylinder 2 with its coacting plate 9 on the first cylinder I. This mirror unit is movable along the two upper tie rods 7, I and the two cylinders I and 2 are rotatable step by step in unison in cylinders I and 2 to the eye of the observer, for accurate registration of all of the plates along and. around both cylinders.

In practice; the backing sheets I0 and I2 are temporarily fastened around theircylinders I and 2 and the proof sheet I4 is temporarily fastened register with their coacting plates 9 on thecylinder I by the use of the mirror unit.

After all of the pairs of coacting plates on the two upper cylinders have been exactly registered and mounted the plates may be inked with the desired colors by a suitable brayer 35 and the use of a color supply (not shown). The handlebar I9, with its arms I8 and eccentric bearings I1, is then rocked upwardly from its normal hanging position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 4 to raise the lower cylinder I3to bring its proof sheet I4 into printing contact with vthe plates on the first and second printing cylinders. A spring latch bar 39 is secured to the cross bar 8 in position to engage .the handle bar I9 and: removably hold it its raised position. The three cylinders are then rotated one revolution by the hand wheel 26 to cause the plates to print on the proof sheet ered and the printed proof sheet detached, there- This mirror 3I vertically reflects the said image to an inclined,

the same direction to reflect the superimposed dmages of different pairs of coacting plates 9 and I I along and around the two upper plate carrying The cylinder I3 may then be lowfrom for observation as to color effect, registry, etc. The plate mounted sheets I9 and I2 may then be detached from their respective cylinders I and 2 for use thereafter on the printing cylinders of a suitable rotary printing press.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention,

and. hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a frame, first, second and third cylinders permanently mounted therein, the first and second cylinders being located side by side and the third cylinder being located beneath th first and second cylinders, means for rotating the said cylinders in unison, flexible backing sheets removably fastened around ,the

first and second cylinders and a proof sheet re,- movably fastened around the third cylinder, 'flexible color printing plates, plates for prin i g one color being secured to the backing sheet on the first cylinder, and plates for printing another color being secured to the backing sheet on the second cylinder in register with their corresponding plates on the first cylinder back- ,ing sheet, a mirror unit mounted on the frame in position to reflect the superimposed images of corresponding plates on the two backing sheets to a predetermined observation point, means for inking the plates, and means for moving the third cylinder with its proof sheet upwardly into printing contact with the plates to be printed thereby before the backin sheets with their registered printing plates are removed from their first and second cylinders.

2. In combination, a frame, first, secondand third cylinders permanently mounted therein, the first and. second cylinders being located side by side and the third cylinder being located beneath the first and second cylinders, means for rotating the said cylinders in unison comprising non-meshing gears on the first, secondand third cylinders, a pinion meshing with the first and second cylinder gears and a manually operated second pinion meshing with the third cylinder gear and with the first named pinion, flexible backing sheets removably fastened around ,the

.fiISt and second cylinders and a proof sheet removably fastened around the third cylinder, flexible color printing plates, the plates for printing in one color being secured to the backing sheet on the first cylinder, and the plates for printing another color being secured to the backing sheet on the second cylinder with their corresponding plates on the first cylinder backing sheet, a mirror unit mounted on the frame ,in position to reflect the superimposed images of corresponding plates on the two sheets, to a predetermined observation point, means for inking the plates, and means for moving the third cylinder with its proof sheet upwardly into'p'rinting contact with the plates to be printed thereby .before the backing sheets with their registered printing plates are removed from their firstan second cylinders. 3. In combination, a frame, first, second and third cylinders permanently mounted therein, the first and second cylinders being locatedside by side and the third cylinder. being located beneath the first and second cylinders, means for rotating -the said cylinders in unison, flexible backing sheets removably fastened around the first, and

second cylinders and a proof sheet removably fastened around the third cylinder, flexible color printing plates, the plates for printing one color bein secured to the backing sheet on the first cylinder, and the plates for printing another color being secured to the backing sheet on the second cylinder in register with their corresponding plates on the first cylinder backing sheet, a mirror unit mounted on the frame to be moved lengthwise of the cylinders into different positions to reflect the superimposed images of different pairs of corresponding plates on the two backing sheets, to a predetermined point, means for inking the plates, and means for moving the third cylinder with its proof sheet upwardly into printing contact with the plates to be printed thereby before the backing sheets with their registered printing plates are removed from their first and second cylinders.

4. In combination, a frame, first, second and third cylinders permanently mounted therein, the first and second cylinders bein located side by side and the third cylinder being located beneath the first and second cylinders, means for rotating the said cylinders in unison comprising gears on the first, second and third cylinders, a pinion meshing with the first and second cylinder gears and a manually operated second pinion meshing with the third cylinder gear and with the first named pinion, flexible backing sheets removably fastened around the first and second cylinders and a proof sheet fastened around the third cylinder, flexible color printing plates, the plates for printing one color being secured to the backing sheet on the first cylinder, and the plates for printing another color being secured to the backing sheets on the second cylinder in register with their corresponding plates on the first cylinder backing sheet, a mirror unit mounted on the frame to be moved lengthwise of the cylinders into different positions to reflect the superimposed images of different pairs of corresponding plates on the two backing sheets to a predetermined point, means for inking the plates, and means for moving the third cylinder with its proof sheet upwardly into printing contact with the plates to be printed thereby before the backing sheets with their registered printing plates are removed from their first and second cylinders.

5. The herein described method which includes, temporarily fastening backing sheets around first and second cylinders and temporarily fastening a proof sheet around a third cylinder, securing first color flexible printing plates to the first cylinder backing sheet in the desired positions thereon, securing second color flexible printing plates to the second cylinder backing sheet in accurate register with their coacting printing plates on the first cylinder by the use of a mirror unit, inking the color plates on both backing sheets, raising the third cylinder to bring its proof sheet into printing contact with the inked plates on the first and second cylinders, rotating the three cylinders to cause the plates to print in two colors on the proof sheet, lowering the third cylinder, detaching the printed proof sheet therefrom, and finally detaching the two plated backing sheets for further use in a suitable rotary color printing press.

EARLE L. HARLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,357,945 Berold Nov. 9, 1920 1,885,965 Thiel Nov. 1, 1932 2,073,308 Klein Mar. 9, 1937 2,172,144 Oakes Sept. 5, 1939 2,236,000 Koessler Mar. 25, 1941 2,277,405 McKiernan Mar. 24, 1942 2,294,879 Affelder Sept. 8, 1942 2,493,628 Harley Jan. 3, 1950

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