US2091322A - Printing unit - Google Patents

Description

A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT Aug. 31, 1937.

Original Filed Dec. 50, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet l I up! r e g gvvventow A601 [(711 "e and Ezmval jzz fe Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLIJGE ET AL 3 PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 50, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 gww/ntow Abel, K712 e and Eneflal [C age amt Aug. 31 1937. A. KLUGE n AL 2,091,322

PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 gm'ntow Abel King? and Eneflal Kluge Aug. 31, 1937. KLUGE 51- AL 2,091,322-

PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwumtow Abel K'lu "e and 322000! luge dam s- 7- A. KL l JGE ET AL I 2,091,322

'- PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec 50, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 Q B F g.5 35

gmemtow Abel K71: "e and EzzezJa/ lzz e Aug. 31, 1937.

A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 gwuentozq, Abel [(711 "e and Eneflal luge Aug. 31, 1937.

A. KLUGE ET AL 2,091,322

PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 I Z I f 4 gwuenlfow Abel Kluge and Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 EnezJaI K'la e and 'Kgugia Aug. '31, 51:837.

A. KLUGE AL 2,091,322

PRINTING UNIT Original Fiied Dqc. 30, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 gwuentom, Abel K'lzz "e and Ezieflal Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLUGE -r AL PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 50, 1932 15 Sheets-51106 010 3mm; Abel Kluge and Eneval K7 age Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1952 15,8heets-Sheet 11 I gwumtou,

-AbeI'Klu and Eneflal age Aug. 31, 1937.

A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT Y Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 gwuewtow Abel K721 e and Eneflal Kluge Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLUGE ET AL 2,091,322

PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-SheeLlS Abel K'Zu "e and $2202 0! 112 e Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 I amnion,

Abel E22 gm I/ Aug. 31, 1937.' A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet l5 /54 Mr I gwwntom Abel K'Zzz '2 and 1511292201 Kgz e J, 1;

Patented An. 31, 1937 UNiTE STATES PATENT OFFIQE PRINTING UNIT Application December 30, 1932, Serial No. 649,567 Renewed February 8, 1937 11 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in printing units in which sheet feeding and delivering mechanisms are incorporated.

Heretofore, in the field of hand fed platen presses and, particularly, presses of the so-called Gordon type, it has been customary to attach thereto, in various ways, feeding and delivering mechanisms of one form or another such, for example, as is shown in Patent Nos. 1,145,405 and 1,472,656. In converting such presses by attaching such mechanisms thereto in order that they may be fed automatically, as well as by hand, comparatively good results have been attained. But, with the modern trend, wherein the tendency is to eliminate hand feeding at every opportunity and to increase production through the use of automatic facilities, such composite structures are not wholly acceptable. That is to say, there is more to be desired in a structure which,

2 almost exclusively, is to be operated automatically. This gives rise to various needs and particularly to the need of a structure of a unitary design and construction by which printing of highest excellence may be turned out at high speed.

It is an object of our present invention to supply an improved printing unit of the present character in which relatively short throws of the bed permit of high operating speeds, and in which the associated elements are designed and coordinated to provide a compact unitary organization of high and lasting emciency, capable of smooth operation at sustained high speed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a construction, as above, wherein the different elements in the power train, which operate the various moving parts of the structure, are devised and associated in a manner making for simplicity and durability.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic printing unit of the bed and platen type in which control of the sheets, from the stock magazine to the delivery pile, is at all times maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a printing unit of the present nature, grippers which hold the printed sheet in place on the opening piaten and which, in their receding move- :nent from the platen, are coordinated with the movements the delivery grips and feed grips to free the printed sheet to the former and to keep clear of the latter and the fresh sheet carried thereby.

An additional object of the invention is to sup- 5 ply a printing unit of the present nature having registering means, adjustable while the platen is in motion, for shifting a fed sheet into selected position on the platen and having platen grippers for holding the printed sheet flatly against the opening platen to keep said sheet from curling 5 and to keep it from being otherwise displaced from such selected position on the platen as by the rapid movement of said platen in opening,

or by the retreating movement of the register means and, further, having delivery grips for 10 grasping the printed sheet, at predetermined localities thereon, in the said selected position of said sheet on the platen.

Another object of the invention resides in incorporating in a printing unit of the present kind, 15 a trip mechanism adapted to be actuated upon failure of the feed grips to take a sheet, such mechanism including linkage for turning the eccentric backshaft of the bed to throw-off the impression, said linkage having a pivot, between links, normally axially held in position coinciding with the axis about which the bed rocks and adapted, in such relation of said pivot, to secure said eccentric shaft against turning as the bed rocks back and forth.

An object of the invention is to supply a printing unit of the present nature, in which reciprocating linkage, operated through the power train, is employed to operate the sheet advancing mechanism of the swingable stock magazine and is provided, between links, with a swiveling coupling axially aligned with the axis on which the magazine swings.

A further object of the invention is to provide, through the power train of the unit, coordinated movements of the delivery grips and the pile gauge which controls the lowering of the delivery table, whereby the gauge is shifted into a position so as not to interfere with the proper piling of a sheet as it drops from the delivery grips.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel roller carriage construction which is reciprocated through balanced driving mechanism designed to minimize wear and strains on the parts. 45

Another object of the invention is to provide for the simplified and effective actuation of the platen rocker look.

A feature of the invention resides in interposing an ink fountain between the ink plate and 50 the position occupied by a form on the bed, and in oscillating the ink fountain to apply ink to the inking rollers only, as they pass from the form toward the ink plate.

Another feature of the invention resides in the novel and effective association of the oscillating fountain with the throw-off mechanism of the unit so that the fountain will be shifted into and held in inoperative position when the impression is thrown off.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in connection with the roller carriage, a frame for form roller rider rolls, which frame is swingable to give access to the form rollers at the front of the carriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the ready removal of the form rollers from the carriage, and for the ready adjustment of said rollers in the carriage, whereby, in a single guided movement, each form roller may be shifted toward or from the plane of the form and inking plate and, simultaneously, toward or from the periphery of its respective rider roll.

A feature of the invention resides in swinging the inking plate out of the inking plane to lend access thereto and to the form rollers at the rear of the roller carriage.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for the intermittent oscillation of the 1 inking plate, to: present the same in different angular relations with respect to the form, whereby uniformity in the distribution of ink is promoted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a printing unit embodying our invention; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the unit as seen from the left side thereof; Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view thereof; Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical, central sectional views of the unit taken from front to rear thereof in opposite directions; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 7-1 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating, particularly, the gearing and cam assembly at the right side of the unit; Fig. 9 is a detail view in vertical section of the cam assembly; Figs. 10 and ll are detail views illustrating the platen rocker lock, Fig. 11 being a fragmentary rear elevational view and Fig. 10 a vertical sectional view taken on the line i6-l0 of Fig. 11; Fig. 12 is a vertical, central sectional View taken through the bed of the unit, the same illustrating the construction and relative arrangements of the roller carriage rails, the oscillating ink fountain, the swingable ink plate, the carriage blocks and the form rollers and distributing rider rollers carried thereby; Fig. 13 is a detail view in section taken as on the line i3-l3 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating one of the carriage blocks and also showing the construction of the adjustable cup bearings for the form rollers; Fig. 15 is a sectional view in detail, the same being taken as on the line l5l5 of Fig. 12; Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of one of the cup bearings for the form rollers; Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 20 are diagrammatic views illustrating the action of the mechanisms employed to oscillate the ink fountain and to rotate the fountain roll; Figs. 21, 22 and 23 are elevational views illustrating details in the construction of the delivery table lowering mechanism, Figs. 21 and 22 being taken from position as at the left of the printing unit and Fig. 23 as from the front thereof; Figs. 24 and 25 are also detail views, said views showing the platen and the side register gauge therefor with its mechanism for adjusting the thrust of said gauge while the platen is moving, and Figs. 26, 27, and 28 are additional detail views showing the oscillating inking plate, its swingable mounting and the means employed for oscilating said plate, Fig. 26 being a front elevational view, Fig. 27 a sectional view taken on the line 21-21 of Fig. 26, and Fig. 28 a view similar to Fig. 27 showing the parts of the plate oscillating mechanism in positions differing from those shown in Fig, 27.

Reference being had to the drawings, wherein similar parts throughout the several views are designated by similar reference characters, it will be noted that in the printing unit illustrated as an embodiment of our invention, the framework of said unit includes right and left side frames 3i}, 3! connected by cross stays 32. A crankshaft 33 Journaled in the side frames 30, 3| carries a fly wheel 34 at one end thereof and to this is keyed a pinion 35 (Figs. 1 and 8), which meshes with a gear cam wheel 36 fixed to a shaft 37 Journaled in said side frames 30, 3f. Trunnioned in the side frames 30, 3| is a platen rocker 33 carrying a platen 39. Secured to a trunnion (Fig. 8) of said platen rocker 38 is a rocker arm 4! having a cam roller 42 thereon which travels in the cam 43 of the gear cam wheel 36, said rocker arm 4! serving to oscillate said platen rocker 38 and the platen 39 carried thereby. Back of the side frames 39, Si is a bed 44 having a form receiving recess 95 therein and having legs 46 pivoted on a bed shaft 47 mounted at its ends in the lower rear portions of the side frames 30, 3|. Journaled in ears 48 projecting rearwardly from the bed 44 is a back shaft 49 to the ends of which are connected side arms 50, 5|, the former being connected with a crank wheel 52 on the shaft 31 and the latter with the gear cam wheel 36 also on said shaft 37!, Power applied to the crank shaft 33, as through a pulley 53 (Fig. 4) thereon, causes the platen 39 to tip back and forth from open position (Fig. 6) to impression position (Fig. 3) and causes a relative movement of the bed 44, bringing a form therein against the platen 39 in its impression position and substantially retracting the bed 44 from the platen 39 in the open position of the latter.

Rails 54 secured to the sides of the bed 44 guide carriage blocks 55 up and down thereon. These blocks 55 support inking rollers 56 which in their reciprocating cycle, contact with a form in the bed M and with an inking plate 51 between the rails 54 and also with the fountain roll 58 of an oscillating ink fountain 59 disposed between said bed and inking plate. The carriage blocks 55 are reciprocated in unison by similar mechanisms at either side of the unit, which include bellcranks 9F] keyed to the opposite ends of a unit master shaft 6! Journaled in the side frames 30, 3!, and which further include rods 62 and links 63, the rods 62 connecting the bed with said bell cranks SE) and the links 63 connecting said bell cranks with said blocks 55. Due to the arrangement of the bell cranks 60, as shown, the connections between them and said links 63 are constantly disposed substantially in the reciprocal plane of the carriage blocks 55, the result being that forces acting on the carriage blocks 55, through links 63, are at all times exerted in directions substantially parallel with the rails 54 upon which said blocks ride. This feature, is shown in Figs. 3 and 5, where the blocks occupy extreme positions and the links 63, in both positions of said blocks, occupy positions substantially paral-- III leling the rails 54. With said links 93 thus disposed at all times with respect to the rails 54, it will be readily understood that lateral thrusts of the carriage blocks against their rails are practically eliminated and that said blocks will move freely up and down on said rails without binding.

Counterbalancing the weight of the roller carriage blocks 55 and the rollers 56 carried thereby, is a compression spring 64 (Fig, 6). This spring encircles a rod 65 pivotally connected at its forward end to a cam 66 on the unit master shaft 66 and slidably mounted at its rear portion in a bracket 97 secured to a cross stay 32 between the side frames 39 and iii. The forward end of the spring 64 abuts against a collar 68 on rod 65 while the rear end of said spring abuts against the bracket 61. The cam 66, not only performs the function of a earn, as later will be described, but also constitutes an arm for resisting, through spring 94, the rotation of shaft 6| in a direction to lower the carriage blocks 55, the strength of said spring being such as to substantially balance the carriage blocks 55 and the inking rollers carried thereby. In this construction, the carriage blocks 55 with their rollers 56 are easily moved up and down the rails 54 without strain or undue wear upon the parts.

The cam 66, last above mentioned, actuates a rocker lock 99 (Figs. 10 and 11) hinged on a shaft 78 mounted at its ends in the side frames 39, 3 i. This rocker lock includes a pair of arms H formed with bosses l2 journaled on said shaft Iii, said arms being connected through reinforcing tie members 13. Depending from one of the bosses i2 is an arm l4 having a roller '15 at the lower end thereof which rides the cam 6'9 on shaft 6!, said roller being held against the face of said cam by means of an expansion spring Hi. This spring encircles a rod H, which is attached at its forward end to a lug l9 fastened to an arm H of the rocker lock, said rod being slidable forth and back through an aperture in a lug l9 fastened to the side frame 3!. The forward end of said expansion spring i9 abuts against said lug '29, while the rear end thereof abuts against a collar 80 on the rod Tl. The joint action of the cam 66 and spring 1'6 causes the rocker lock 69 to swing forth and back and to dwell during certain periods at the extremities of its movement. Said rocker lock 69 cooperates with a locking extension ti on the platen rocker 38. In the impression position of the platen, shoulders 82 (Figs. 10 and 11) on said locking extension engage abutments 83 on cross stay 32, said extension having abutments 84 thereon which, in turn, are engaged by the tips of the arms ll of the rocker look. Thus, the locking extension BI is held locked against movement in one direction by the framework of the unit and against movement in the opposite direction by the rocker lock 69. With the looking extension 8! held in this manner, the platen 39 on rocker 38 is rigidly held in the proper position to receive the impression at the appropriate time in the cycle of relative movement of the platen and bed. Following the impression period and before the platen begins to open, the rocker lock 69 is caused to swing forward, against the action of spring l8, out of its extension engaging position into inoperative position (Figs. 5 and 6) and is caused to remain in such inoperative position until the platen returns to impression position, whereupon spring i6 is permitted to act and thus again engage the arms H thereof with the abutmerits 84 of the platen rocker extension 8!,

Provision is made for throwing off the unit or,

in other words, for shortening the normal forward throw of the bed 44 and thereby preventing the form in the bed from contacting with the platen 39 in its impression position. To this end, the back-shaft 49 is formed at its extremities with eccentric studs 85 (dotted lines, Figs. 17-20) to which the rear ends of the side arms 5e are pivotally connected. Secured to the back-shaft 49 for rocking the same, is an arm 86 (Figs. 3 and '7) having pivoted thereto a depending link 81'. At its lower end, this link BI is connected through a pivot pin 88 with the forward end of an arm 89 (Figs. 2 and 3), the rearward end of which is pivoted to an upright bracket 9E secured to a foot of the side frame 3!. Said arm 89 is normally held against pivoting on the bracket 99 and in position, wherein the axis of the pivot. pin 93 coincides with the axis of the bed shaft 41'. In this relation of said parts, the back shaft i9 is held against rotation as the bed 44 rocks back and forth and in such angular position in its bearings that the eccentric studs 85 are properly disposed to cause the form in the bed to contact with the platen 39 in the impression positions of bed and platen. The means for holding the arm 99 in its normal position (Fig. 2) consists of a suspension link 9|, jointed medially as at 92. This suspension link 9! is pivoted at its lower end to the arm 89 by means of the pivot pin 89 through which said arm is connected to the depending link 81, the upper end of said suspension link being pivoted to the tip of the upright bracket 99. Through said suspension link 9!, the forward end of the pivoted arm 89 is elevated to thrust the link 8'! upwardly and thus rock the arm 86 and turn the back shaft 49 sufficiently to prevent the bed from closing against the platen. Operating to break the jointed suspension link 9 i, and thus swing the arm 89, is a hand lever 93 pivoted between its extremities to a bracket 94 on" the side frame 3|, the lower end of said lever 93 being connected by means of a tie bar 99 with an arm 96 issuing from the upper member of the jointed link 9|. the hand lever 93 rearwardly, the link 95 is broken at the joint 92 therein and the train of parts, consisting of the pivoted arm 89, depending link 87 and rock arm 86, is actuated to rock the back shaft 49 and throw off the impression. The impression is thrown on again by swinging the hand lever 93 back and thus restoring the back shaft 49 to its normal position. As the jointed suspension link 9| reassumes its extended position, the axis at the joint 92 thereof passes slightly past center at which point the lower extremity of the upper member of said link engages a stop lug 9'! on the pivoted arm 89. In this relation of parts, the jointed link 9! is locked against being broken, except through a pull on the tie-bar 95, the pivoted arm 89 being thus rigidly held against pivotal movement and the back shaft 49, in turn, firmly held against rotation in the rocking bed. The hand lever 93 is not only operated by hand, but is also operated automatically, as will later appear, for the purpose of throwing off the impression when the automatic sheet feeding mechanism, hereinafter described, fails to grasp a sheet and for the purpose of throwing on the impression when said feeding mechanism again takes a sheet.

The guide rails 54 for the ink roller carriage blocks 55 consist of bars suitably secured flatwise to the sides of the bed 44, each of the bars being beveled at both edges to form opposed V-shaped Ways 98.

The carriage blocks 55, constituting a roller Upon swinging the upper end of carriage, ride up and down on said guide rails 54 and in their reciprocating cycle bring the composition form rollers 5 3 into contact with a form in the bed M and with the fountain roll 58 of the oscilating inking fountain carried by said rails 56 above the bed, and also bring said composition rollers 56 into contact with the inking plate 5? carried by said rails 54 above said inking fountain 59. On the upward stroke of the carriage blocks 55 the ink rollers 56 engage the then projected fountain roll 58. In the final stage of said upward stroke of said carriage blocks, and also during the initial stage of their downward stroke, the ink rollers 55 contact with the inking plate 5? effecting a distribution of ink thereon and on said rollers 56. As the carriage blocks 55 descend and pass the form in the bed M, the ink rollers 56 Contact with and ink the form.

The carriage blocks 55 are elongated structures, each including a web-like body and front and rear bearing 99 (Fig. 14), which correspond with and ride the opposed V-shaped ways $8 of its respective carriage rail 56. Each carriage block 55 further includes a forwardly projecting frame plate I80, the two frame plates of the two blocks serving to support the form rollers 56. Hinged frames IflI (Fig. 12), one for each plate I60, support link distributing rolls I532, which ride the form rollers 56. Each hinged frame is of a bar-like construction pivoted at one extremity to the lower end of its respective frame plate IE5 and provided at its other extremity with a locking head I8 2. Normally these hinged frames Ifii are closed upon the frame plates I063 of the carriage blocks 55, the head IE4 of each hinged frame being releasably engaged by a latch I65 pivoted at the upper end of its respective frame plate I85 The rider rolls I02 (Figs. 7 and 13) are of the vibrating type, the threaded ends of the shafts Hi5 thereof being threaded in one of the hinged frames IEiI in bosses I01, while the opposite ends of said shafts are journaled in the other hinged frame IEII in bosses I08. Said shafts I953, at said latter ends thereof, are provided with gears I88, meshing with idler gears IIS mounted on the frame plate Hit of the corresponding carriage block 55, said idler gears III) being also in mesh with a rack bar HI secured to the rail 5% upon which said block rides. The bosses Ili, I58 on the hinged frames iBI enter guiding recesses III-2 (Figs. 12 and 14) in the frame plates Iflii when said frames IBI are closed upon said frame plates with the result that the vibrating rider rolls I82 always have the same relative disposition in the roller carriage when the hinged frames iElI are latched in place. The four composition form rollers 56 are arranged in pairs, the two rollers of one pair being adapted to be engaged by one of the vibrating distributor rolls I532 and the two rollers of the other pair being adapted to be engaged by the other vibrating distributor roll. All of said form rollers 56 are adapted to engage the inking plate 51 and the form in the bed 44, said rollers 56 being adiustably and removably mounted on the frame plates I08 of the carriage blocks 55, the mode of mounting being the same in each instance. Referring to Figs. 12 and 14 and to the companion views on the same sheet, it will be seen that each inking roller 55 has roller bearings H3 secured to the opposite ends of its shaft II l. These roller bearings I53 are removably seated in cup bearings H5, each of which comprises a disk-like head H5 and a flange IITI, semi-circular in form, issuing from said head. On this head I I6, at the side thereof opposite the flange I I1, is a curved rib I I8, which fits in a curved groove H9 (Fig. 14) in one of the frame plates I00, said rib I IS and head I I6 being formed with a threaded bore I to receive the threaded end of a fastening bolt I2I (Fig. 15) passing through a curved slot I22 formed in the frame plate H153 and communicating with the curved groove H9 in which the rib H8 is disposed. With the cup bearing II5 secured in place by its fastening bolt I2I, the lower portion of the flange II'I slightly underreaches the roller bearing II3 placed therein, said flange in conjunction with a. keeper I23 serving firmly to hold the roller bearing II3 in place. Said keeper I23 consists of a pin with a right angular bend thr ein one reach of the pin constituting a stem 5 which is slidably and rotatably mounted in a bore I25 in the head H6, the other reach of said pin constituting a finger I26 adapted to overrcach the roller bearing H3 in cup bearing HE. A spring I21 acting on the stem I24 of the keeper causes the finger I26 to engage said roller bearing IE3 yieldingly, said spring being intercsed between the head N6 of the cup bearing and a pin-tie I28 passing through said stem I24 of the keeper I23. The head H6 is notched as at I29 (Fig. 16) to receive the finger I26 and thus allow it to engage and hold the roller bearing I I3 seated in the cup bearing II5. At one side of his recess I29, the head IIS is machined to form a cam surface I39 upon which the finger I28 rides, when it is turned (Figs. 12 and 14) to free the roller bearing I I3. In thus turning said finfier the cooperation thereof with said cam surface ISL results in readily sliding the stem $3 1 in the head IIIi against the action of the keeper spring I221.

The curved grooves I I9 for the companion cup bearings H5 of each pair of inking form rollers 5 3 are oppositely disposed, as shown in Fig. 14 and provide for adjustments of said cup bearings, whereby the form rollers 56 carried thereby may be shifted toward or from their respective ink distributing roller I02 and the plane common to the inking plate 51 and the form. These adjustments are readily made to compensate for expansion and contraction in the form rollers 56, the of adjustment being facilitated due to the form and arrangement of the grooves II9, whereby the movement of an inking roller 55 toward its respective distributor roll I02 is effected simultaneously with a corresponding appropriate movement of such inking roller 56 toward the plane of the inking plate 51.

In addition to the vibrating rider rolls I82, the hinged frames 565i carry idler distributing rollers iSI, I32 (Figs. 12 and 13), which ride certain of the form rollers 56. Roll I3I is journaled at its ends in pins i33 slidably mounted in bearings I34 secured to the hinged frame bars I 9!. These bearings are so located on said frame bars IIlI th t the roller I3I lies between the lower roller the upper pair of inking rollers 56 and the upper roller of the lower pair of inking rollers 56, when the hinged frame bars IIJI are closed upon the frame plates I80. Said distributing roll I3I, in such position, contacts yieldingly with said inking rollers, dueto the action of expansion I35 which encircle the pins I33 and react against the bearings I34. Distributing roll I32 is arranged to engage the uppermost inking roller and is journaled at its ends in clips I36 pivoted to the hinged frame arms IIlI on clamping screws I 37, which are released to permit of the adjustment of said roller I32 and thereafter tightened to secure it in adjusted position.

In providing the upper rider roll I02 for the two form rollers 56 of the upper pair thereof and the lower rider roll I02 for the two form rollers 58 of the lower pair, and in further providingthe rider roll I3I for the lower form roller of the upper pair and for the upper form roller of the lower pair, the ink on said form rollers is effec- 10 tively broken up, without interruption, through the entire train thereof.

In mounting the distributing rider rolls Hi2, I3I and I32 on the hinged frame arms IDI, said rollers are easily swung forwardly away from the form rollers 56 to facilitate the cleaning of all of said rollers. In further facilitating the cleansing of the inking rollers, the inking plate 51 is adapted to be swung rearwardly from its normal position (Fig. 6) into a retracted position such as that shown in Fig. 12 and thus give access to the form rollers 56 from the rear as well as from the front.

The oscillating ink fountain (Fig. 12), indicated in its entirety at 59, includes end frame members I38 and the fountain feed roll 58 journaled at its ends in said end frame members I38. This ink fountain 59 further includes a back wall I39, a plate I48 secured along its upper edge to said wall I39, and thumb screws I4l threaded in said wall for holding the lower marginal portion of said plate I48 more or less closely positioned with respect to the fountain feed roll 58. The end frame members I38 are secured to brackets I42 pivoted on studs I43 threaded in the guide rails 54.

A horizontally disposed U-shaped extension I44 (Fig. 4) is attached to the ink fountain 59, one branch of said extension being suitably secured to an end wall I38 of said fountain. A leg I45 secured to said extension and extending rearwardly therefrom and thence downwardly is supplied at its lower extremity with a roller I45 which bears upon a track I41 (Fig. 3). This track I41 is pivoted at its forward end to the side arm 50 at the left side of the unit, said track at the rear end thereof being beveled as at I48, the beveled portion resting upon a pin I49 mounted on a cap piece I50 secured to the end of the back shaft 49. Through said side arm 58 and track I41, the inking fountain 59 is oscillated and normally caused to swing forward and backward, whereby the fountain feed roll 58 occupies position for inking the form rollers 55 during the upward movement of said rollers, but is otherwise disposed in a retracted position to avoid contact with said inking rollers 55. This oscillation of the ink fountain, through leg I45, is effected by the angular movement of the side arm 5 combined with the angular movement of the track I41 relative to said side arm. Referring to Figs. 17 to 20 inclusive, which illustrate diagrammatically various relative positions assumed by the ink fountain 59, form rollers 56, side arm 58 and track I41, it will be observed that, as the form rollers 56 ascend toward the fountain feed roll 58, the side arm 50 elevates the forward end of the track I41 and at the same time causes the elevation of the rear end of said track by sliding the beveled portion I48 thereof upon the bearing pin I49. By reason of said compound movements of the track I41, said track is elevated sufficiently to cause the rocking of the ink fountain 59 into a forwardly projected position in which the fountain feed roll 58 engages the ascending form rollers 58. As said form rollers 56 descend, the

change in angularity of the side arm 50 lowers the forward end of track I41 and simultaneously slides the beveled rear portion I48 thereof forwardly upon the bearing pin I49, such movement of said parts resulting in the lowering of the track I41 sufliciently to allow the ink fountain to swing backward and thereby retract the fountain feed roll 58 in time to avoid engagement with the descending form rollers 58.

The normal oscillation of the ink fountain 59, above described, is interrupted when the throwoii mechanism of the unit is operated to shorten the forward throw of the bed and prevent the taking of an impression. In this connection and having reference to Figs. 3 and 18, it will be seen that the ink fountain 59 will be retracted upon a counter-clockwise movement of the back shaft as a consequence of the upward throw-off thrust of the link 81. Upon such rotation of the back shaft 49 the cap I50, which is secured thereto, turns with the said shaft and as a result moves the bearing pin I49 rearwardly beneath the beveled portion I48 of the track I41, thus lowering said track. The fountain 59, supported by the track, is thereby caused to be retracted, if not then so disposed, and to remain in retracted position, wherein the fountain feed roll 58 clears the form rollers 56.

The fountain feed roll 58 is rotated step by step to present freshly inked portions thereof to the form rollers 56 by mechanism, best seen in Figs. 2, 4 and '1, which includes a drive shaft I5I journaled in the branches of the U-shaped fountain extension I44. Secured to this drive shaft I5I is a gear I52 which meshes with a gear I53 on the fountain roller shaft I54. A ratchet wheel I55 also secured to said drive shaft I5I is turned by means of a pawl I55 carried on one arm of a bell crank I51 rockably mounted on said driving shaft I5I, the other end of said bell crank being connected through a link I58 with the side arm 56 at the left side of the machine, said link serving to impart a rocking movement to said bell crank I51. To provide for the turning of the fountain drive shaft I54 more or less each time the bell crank I51 is actuated, we employ a shroud I 59 consisting of a disk rockably mounted on the drive shaft I5I, said disk having an offset cam surface I69 with which the pawl I56 may be engaged to prevent its engagement with the teeth of the ratchet I55 during a part of the rocking movement of the bell crank I51. This shroud I59 is adiustably held in various selected positions by means of a brace I6l which is pivotally secured at its lower end to the fountain extension I44 and slotted at its upper portion to pivotally and slidably receive a clamping bolt I-IlZ carried by an arm I63 projecting from the disklike body of the shroud I59. With said shroud I58 positioned in selected angular relation on the shaft I5I and held in such position by the brace IIII, the extent of rotation of the fountain roller 58 to accord with any particular requirement is secured. A hand wheel I64 on shaft I5I is supplied for manually turning the fountain roller 58 at such time as may be desired.

The inking plate 51, which is rectangular in form, is mounted on a back-frame I55 of similar form, said back-frame presenting a supporting surface against which the back of said plate 51 bears (Fig. 12). This back-frame I65 is hingedly supported upon the rails 54, ears I65, provided at the lower corners of said back-frame, being pivoted on studs I61 threaded into said rails. A prop I68, depending from a shaft I59 journaled

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