Lubrication – Systems – With means to control machine operation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-02
2001-10-09
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Lubrication
Systems
With means to control machine operation
C101S216000, C210S096100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298948
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a central lubrication system for a rotary printing press and, more particularly, to a central lubrication system with a central supply of lubrication for individual lubrication points and with a pipeline system for feeding an oversupply of lubrication to the individual lubrication points, the excess lubrication being returned and tested for water content and, if water is present, the printing press being shut down.
For such presses, a multiplicity of bearing points, tooth meshings, cam transmissions and the like are in existence which are supplied with a required quantity of lubrication in accordance with an individual lubrication chart during the operation of the press. Through the targeted supply of the individual lubricant points, only a relatively small quantity of lubricating oil has to be fed to the moving parts. In this regard, the supply of lubricant is always slightly greater than the required amount, which may involve only a few drops of lubricating oil, depending upon the respective lubricating point. This relatively small amount of oversupply of oil then drips or flows from the individual lubricating points and is collected in oilways or oil grooves or in other oil flow collector vessels. When, however, rollers of the inking unit in specific units of rotary printing presses, for example, in printing units, can be provided, it is not possible to exclude the occurrence of leakage losses in coolant feed lines which are present. If water is used as the coolant, one cannot reliably exclude the possibility that a few drops of water will not leak out over a long operating period of the press. This water, in droplet form, gets into the outwardly flowing or dripping lubricating oil and is fed together therewith to the central oil container. The danger then arises that the oil in the supply container of the central lubrication system may become nonusable. In this case, the parts of the press to be lubricated by the supplied water-oil mixture during the operation of the press may become damaged. Heretofore, this could only be prevented reliably if, for example, in the oil collecting vessel, another smaller oil container is provided wherein a signal is released by a sensor if water is present in the supplied oil (note published German Patent Application DE 38 43 498 C1). This additional container was to be removed manually and emptied, however, when the presence of water was detected, the oil normally found above the water being thereby lost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a central lubrication system for a rotary printing press wherein, already upon the appearance of small quantities of water, a signal is released and/or the press is shut down.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a central lubrication system for a rotary printing press with a central supply of lubricant for individual lubrication points and with a line system for feeding an oversupply of lubricant to the individual lubrication points, the excess lubricant being returned and tested for water content and, if water is present, the printing press being shut down, comprising a test box connected, upstream of the central supply, in the line system for returning the lubricant, a sensor received in the test box, an inlet for the line system and an outlet formed in the test box so that the lubricant is able to circulate about the sensor in the test box between the inlet and the outlet thereof.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the central lubrication system includes a water drain located in a lower part of the test box.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the central lubrication system includes a plurality of inlets formed in the test box.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the central lubrication system includes an outlet formed in an upper region of the test box.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the test box is located at a lowermost location of the line system.
With the foregoing construction in accordance with the invention very small quantities of water are detected beforehand in the lubricant and result in a shutdown of the printing press, the water in a lower part of the test box being thus able to be removed.
In an advantageous construction according to the invention, a water drain is provided in a lower part of the test box. The instant a signal is given, the operating personnel need only open the water drain and remove the water, so that, after disposing of the disruption, the printing press can be set in operation again.
In another advantageous construction according to the invention, a plurality of inlets are formed in the test box, so that the test box can serve simultaneously as a pipe coupling or joint connection.
In a further advantageous construction according to the invention, an outlet is formed in an upper region of the test box, so that the sensor always dips into or is immersed in the lubricant. It is also advantageous to locate the test box at a lowermost location of the line system, so that occurring water is easily collected thereat.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a central lubrication system for a rotary printing press, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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Junghans Rudi
Zuber Mathias
Bucci David A.
Greenberg Laurence A.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Kim Chong H.
Lerner Herbert L.
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