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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to a print unit damage
prevention assembly. More particularly, the present invention is directed
to an assembly for preventing damage to print units of web-fed rotary
printing presses. Most specifically, the present invention is directed to
a print unit damage prevention assembly for a rotary printing press having
rubber blanket cylinders which are pivotably supported in press side
frames by controllable adjusting means. The positions of the rubber
blanket cylinders with respect to each other and with respect to a shared
or common counter-pressure cylinder are controlled by an electrically
operated programmable memory control device. In the event of a power
failure, the print unit damage prevention assembly operates to separate
the blanket cylinders from each other and from the counter pressure
cylinder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In modern printing plants there is significant utilization of various
sophisticated computer controls to set and adjust the positions of a
number of printing press components. Press elements, such as rubber
blanket cylinders, printing plate cylinders and numerous other cylinders
and rollers are pivotably supported between the side frames of the press.
Each of these pivotably supported cylinders has its own actuators that are
usually hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. These cylinders are supplied
with fluid under pressure by way of electrically actuated control valves
which receive their instructions from some type of programmable memory
controller. If the supply of electricity should fail, the computer
controlled adjustment system will no longer be operational. This may well
lead to irregularities in the mechanical tension imposed by the various
cylinders and rollers on the running paper web in the web-fed rotary
printing press. A paper web break can readily occur before the printing
press can be brought to a stop. Such a paper web break may result in a
portion of the paper web becoming wrapped around one of the various
blanket or plate cylinders. These paper web wrap-arounds can easily damage
the printing units as well as their associated inking units.
It is apparent that a need exists for an arrangement which will prevent
such press damage. The print unit damage prevention assembly in accordance
with the present invention provides such an arrangement and is a
significant improvement over the prior art devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a print unit damage
prevention assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly for
preventing damage to print units of web-fed rotary printing presses.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a print unit damage
prevention assembly for a rotary printing press having rubber blanket
cylinders which are pivotably supported in press side frames.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a print unit
damage prevention assembly that is operable in case of electrical
failures.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a print unit
damage prevention assembly which will prevent paper web wrap-arounds.
As will be discussed in greater detail in the description of the preferred
embodiment which is presented subsequently, the print unit damage
prevention assembly in accordance with the present invention comes into
operation when the electrical supply to the programmable memory controlled
web-fed rotary printing press fails. In this printing press there are
provided rubber blanket cylinders which are in contact with each other or
with a counter pressure cylinder. These rubber blanket cylinders are
pivotably supported in side frames of the press and can be moved by
suitable controllable adjustment devices. An electrical energy reservoir,
that can be charged during normal operation of the printing press, is
connected through a suitable control assembly with the controllable
adjustment devices for the blanket cylinders. In the event of a failure of
the electrical supply to the programmable memory controller for the rubber
blanket cylinder adjustment means, the print unit damage prevention
assembly will immediately and automatically take over and will actuate the
blanket cylinder adjustment means to move at least one cylinder in each
print unit into a pressure release position.
The provision of an energy reservoir in the print unit damage prevention
assembly insures that in the event of the failure of the usual electrical
supply, that the energy will be available to briefly operate a control
unit which, in turn, causes the pivotal movement of at least one of the
rubber blanket cylinders in each operating print unit. The movement of the
rubber blanket cylinder to a pressure off location insures that any paper
web wrap-around which might occur will be harmless and will not damage the
printing units, inking units or the like. The failure of the printing
units electrical supply will thus render the printing unit non-operational
but will not cause any damage to the printing unit.
The print unit damage prevention assembly in accordance with the present
invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art. It is a substantial
advance in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the novel features of the print unit damage prevention assembly in
accordance with the present invention are set forth with particularity in
the appended claims, a full and complete understanding of the invention
may be had by referring to the detailed description of the preferred
embodiment which is presented subsequently, and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic wiring and control diagram of a print unit damage
prevention assembly in accordance with the present invention and showing
an adjusting means and an eccentric support for a rubber blanket cylinder;
and
FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of a satellite printing unit
which is protectable from damage by the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring initially primarily to FIG. 2, there may be seen generally at 12
a so-called nine cylinder satellite printing unit of a web-fed rotary
printing press which is to be protected from damage by the print unit
damage prevention assembly in accordance with the present invention As may
be seen in FIG. 4 there are provided four printing units with each of
these units including a rubber covered or coated blanket cylinder 2, 3, 4
and 5; and a plate cylinder 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively. Thus the four
printing units are identified as 2,7; 3,8; 4,9 and 5,10. These four
printing units are arranged generally in the shape of a cross around a
central counter-pressure cylinder 1 and thus form the so-called
nine-cylinder satellite print unit 12 of a web-fed rotary printing press.
These four printing units can be controlled and positioned such that one
or a plurality of paper webs, such as webs 13 and 14, can be fed through
the satellite printing unit 12 for accomplishing printing of the paper
webs 13 and 14.
The several rubber blanket cylinders 2, 3, 4 and 5 can be located or
positioned so that the two blanket cylinders 2 and 3 can be in contact
with each other, the two blanket cylinders 4 and 5 can be in contact with
each other, or all of the rubber blanket cylinders 2, 3, 4 and 5 can be in
contact with the counter-pressure cylinder 1. The several plate cylinders
7, 8, 9 and 10 are each separately assigned to a separate rubber coated
blanket cylinder 2, 3, 4 or 5 respectively. Suitable inking units and, if
required, damping units or systems which may be associated with the
various plate cylinders 7-10 are not shown in the drawings for clarity
since they form no part of the subject invention.
As is disclosed more completely in German Patent Publication DE 41 29 840
A1, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, each of the
rubber blanket cylinders 2, 3, 4 and 5 is disposed between side frames,
such as frame 22 of the printing unit. Each rubber blanket cylinder 2-5 is
separately pivotably supported in the side frames by means of suitable
double acting work cylinders 16. Each of the rubber blanket cylinders can
take up or be situated in at least three separate positions, as may be
seen depicted schematically in FIG. 2. These three separate positions are
described as follows:
Position a: The rubber blanket cylinder 2 is engaged against the adjoining
rubber blanket cylinder 3. In this position, the mark 39 on an eccentric
bushing 18 is situated in "pressure setting position D",
Position b: The rubber blanket cylinder 4 is engaged against the adjoining
rubber blanket cylinder 5. In this position, the mark 39 on an eccentric
bushing 18 is situated in "pressure setting position D",
Position c: The rubber blanket cylinders 2 to 5 are together engaged
against the counter pressure cylinder 1. In this position, the mark 39 on
an eccentric bushing 18 for each cylinder is in a "pressure setting
position B",
Position d: The rubber blanket cylinders 2 to 5 are each in a pressure
release position, i.e. without contact with adjoining cylinders. In this
position, the mark 39 on an eccentric bushing 18 for each rubber blanket
cylinder is in "pressure release position C".
Pivoting of each of the rubber blanket cylinders 2 to 5 is caused to occur,
as seen in FIG. 2, wherein each rubber blanket cylinder 2 to 5 has an axle
arm 17 that is respectively seated in an eccentric bushing 18, which is
rotatably disposed on the side frame 22. Each eccentric bushing 18 is
connected by a flange 19 remote from the surface of the eccentric bushing
to an adjusting means 26 by a coupling 21 as well as an angled lever 23
that is pivotably attached on the side frame 22 of the press with the end,
remote from the piston 57, of a piston rod 24 of a ram cylinder 16. With
its end remote from the piston rod, the ram cylinder 16 is secured on the
side frame 22. The elements 16 to 24 are provided twice on each end of
each blanket cylinder 2-5 and are identified, except for the side frame
22, as adjusting means 26.
The double-acting ram cylinder 16 of each adjusting means 26 is provided at
its ends, with fluid connection lines 27 and 28, with each of these lines
27 and 28 being in operative connection with one throttle valve, with
working connections, not indicated in detail, of a 4/3-way directional
control valve 29 that has mechanical actuators 31 and 32. In its center
position, the directional control valve 29 is in the blocking position.
Supply and return lines 33 and 34 for the directional control valve 29 are
connected with a known compressed air reservoir 35, which is connected by
means of a connector 40 with a known compressed air generating device. The
first magnetic actuator 31 of the directional control valve 29 is
connected with opening elements 36 and 37 of a first limit switch 38,
which has been attached, fixed to the press side frame, in the vicinity of
the axle arm 17 of each rubber blanket cylinder 2 to 5 and whose contact
actuating lever is frictionally connected with a cam 58 fixed on the
surface of the eccentric bushing 18. Closing elements 41 and 42 in a
second limit switch 43 are also disposed, fixed on the press side frame,
in the vicinity of the axle arms 17, but at another location of the
circumference of the eccentric bushing 18. Depending on the position of
the rubber blanket cylinders 2-5, the contact actuating lever of the limit
switch 43 is frictionally connected with the surface of the eccentric
bushing 18 or with a cam 59, fixed on the eccentric bushing 18. The
opening element 36 of the first limit switch 38 as well as the closing
element 41 of the second limit switch 43 are connected with a first
connector of an opening element 44 of a relay 46. The elements 29, 31, 32,
38, 43 may be identified generally as control means 47.
An opening element 37 of the first limit switch 38 as well as a closing
element 42 of the second limit switch 43 are connected on the one side
with an operating voltage UB, for example 24 V d.c., and are connected on
the other side with inputs E1, E2 of a programmable memory control 45
(SPS). Outputs of the programmable memory control or SPS 45 have switched
in parallel via diodes 36, 41, which prevent a reverse flow of current,
with the contacts 36, 41 of the two limit switches 38, 43 in order to
signal a switch position indicator of the limit switches 38, 43 for the
case where the electrical current is switched on again after a failure.
The control means 47 are connected with an electric energy reservoir 51,
which consists of a capacitor 54 connected with the ground 53 UB, and
upstream of which capacitor 54 a diode 52 has been connected. A resistor
55 is connected upstream of the diode 52 for current limiting purpose. A
protective resistance 61, of 1 k.OMEGA. for example, can be connected in
parallel with the capacitor 54. The capacitance of the capacitor 54 can be
2.times.10 nF at 40 V. The resistor 55 connected upstream of the diode 52
can have a resistance of 1.OMEGA.. A distributing point 56 is located
between the diode 52 and the capacitor 54. A connection with the second
connector of the opening element 44 of the relay 46 exists from the
distributing point 56, by means of which the electric energy reservoir 51
can be connected with the control means 47.
The operation of the print unit damage prevention assembly will now be
discussed in detail. In addition to the motor drives, not shown, for the
printing press, the rubber blanket cylinders 2 to 5 of the satellite print
unit 12 are operating in a mode of operation such that the rubber blanket
cylinders 2 and 3 operate against, or contact each other, and the rubber
blanket cylinders 4 and 5 operate against the counter-pressure cylinder 1,
as is depicted in FIG. 2. The capacitor 54, which is connected to ground,
is charged during operation of the press by being connected with the
operational voltage UB. The relay 46, which is connected in parallel with
the energy reservoir 51, has been attracting during operation, so that the
opening element 44 is opened. The control means 47 have therefore not been
triggered.
When the voltage drops, so that +UB equals zero, the relay 46 drops off,
the opening element 44 closes, and the energy of the capacitor 54 is
discharged through the opening element 36 of the first limit switch 38, so
that the magnetic actuation 31 of the directional control valve 29 is
provided with a voltage from the capacitor 54 for at least a second. The
space in the cylinder 16 behind the piston 57 with the piston rod 24 of
the ram cylinder 16 is connected with the compressed air reservoir 35 via
the directional control valve 29 and the line 27. Accordingly, the piston
57 is moved from its left end position in the direction of the right end
position, because of which the rubber blanket cylinder 5 is pivoted away
from the counter-pressure cylinder 1 as well as the plate cylinder 10 by
an amount "d" due to the rotation of the eccentric bushing 18 of cylinder
5. Because of this, possible paper wrap-arounds are now rendered harmless
with respect to the print unit comprising the counter pressure cylinder 1,
the rubber blanket cylinder 5 and the plate cylinder 10 since the blanket
cylinder 5 has shifted as shown in the dashed representation of the rubber
blanket cylinder 2 to 5 in FIG. 2. In the process, the diode 52 prevents
discharge of the capacitor 54 in the direction of positive UB 53. In the
course of the movement of the piston 57 of the ram cylinder 16 from the
left end position B to the center position C, the eccentric bushing 18
simultaneously turns in a clockwise direction until the cam 58, that is
fixed on the eccentric bushing, has passed the contact actuating lever of
the limit switch 38 and turns it off. This causes the opening element 36
to open. This process takes less than a second, so that the mark 39 on the
eccentric cylinder bushing 18 is now in alignment with a mark C disposed
on the side frame 22. The rubber blanket cylinder 5 therefore takes up a
pressure release position as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2.
If the rubber blanket cylinders 4 and 5 were so positioned as to touch each
other during operation, as shown in connection with the rubber blanket
cylinders 2, 3 in FIG. 2, the piston 57 of the ram cylinder 16 would be
situated at the right end position D in the ram cylinder 16 and the mark
39 on the eccentric bushing 18 would be in alignment with the mark D
applied on the side frame 22. If, in this case, the operating voltage UB
fails, the opener 44 closes the relay 46, the opening elements 36 and 37
of the first limit switch 38 are opened and the closing elements 41 and 42
of the second limit switch 43 are closed. The contact actuating lever of
the limit switch 43 is connected with the cam 59 and is remote from the
eccentric bushing, when the piston 57 of the ram cylinder 16 is moved out
of the right working position D into the pressure release position C.
After the cam 59, which now rotates in a counterclockwise direction, has
passed the contact actuating lever of the second limit switch 43, this
second limit switch 43 is turned off, so that the closing elements 41 and
42 of second limit switch 43 open and the pressure release position C of
the rubber blanket cylinder 5 has been reached as shown in the dashed line
representation in FIG. 2, so that a paper wrap-around can be avoided.
It goes without saying that a separate arrangement for preventing print
unit damage is required for each rubber blanket cylinder 2 to 5. This does
not necessitate the provision of a great amount of additional equipment
since a ram cylinder 16 for operating each rubber blanket cylinder 2 to 5
for each satellite print unit 12 must be provided anyway, as well as limit
switches 38 and 43. Thus the rubber blanket cylinders 2 and 3, as shown in
FIG. 2 can be pivoted in such a way that they are neither in contact with
each other nor with the plate cylinders 7 or 8.
It is also possible to pivot cylinders other than the rubber blanket
cylinders 2 to 5, for example such as plate cylinders, depending on the
configuration of the print unit. It is furthermore possible to pivot the
rubber blanket cylinders 4 and 5 into a further, third position, in which
the cylinders 4 and 5 are located beyond the pressure release position 4,
1; 5, 1, as depicted in dashed lines in FIG. 2. In this further, third
position, the rubber blanket cylinders 4 and 5 would then touch each other
in a position analogous to the positioning of the cylinders 2 and 3 in
FIG. 2.
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