Printing – Rolling contact machines – Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
2003-07-08
2004-07-13
Eickholt, Eugene H. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Rolling contact machines
Rotary
C101S480000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06761112
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a fixing device or coupling. The fixing device or coupling is usable for connecting two components that can be displaced with respect to each other in an adjusting device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A plurality of rollers are typically provided in conventional printing presses, such as web-fed rotary printing presses. Inking rollers in particular are provided, and are used for transferring ink from an ink reservoir to the plate cylinders of the printing press. It is possible to meter the amount of ink which is transferred to the plate cylinders by use of the inking rollers, so that the ink is transferred in the form of a uniform film of defined thickness. It is possible to compensate for interferences, such as speed fluctuations and rotary oscillations, by the utilization of the metering capabilities of the inking rollers.
Dampening rollers can also be provided in the printing press. These dampening rollers typically transfer a dampening agent, for example water, to the printing group.
Roller pairs are often formed by rollers, which are in engagement with each other, and in which at least one of the rollers has a cylinder surface made of an elastic material. This elastic or resilient cylinder surface can be deformed, at least slightly, by the contact pressure of the opposite roller. The result of the elastic deformation of the roller surface is a contact area which extends in a straight line between the rollers and which is called a contact strip. The width of the contact strip can be varied by setting the contact pressure between the rollers. The width of this contact strip has a considerable effect on the result of the printing. If, for example, the contact strip in an inking unit is too narrow, not enough ink is transferred. In those cases in which the contact strip is too wide, the elastic roller can be damaged by flexing occurring because of the excess contact pressure.
In order to be able to correctly set the strip width, in particular as a function of the respective operating conditions, for example as a function of the temperature of the printing press, or the amount of its wear, it is necessary to support at least one roller of the pair adjustably, so that the adjustably supported roller can be pushed with an adjustable force by an actuator in the direction of the opposite roller. Once the correct contact pressure between the two rollers has been established, a fixing device or coupling which is usable for securing the first roller in place, with respect to the second roller, is operated for permanently maintaining the contact pressure.
A device for setting the contact pressure between two rollers is known from DE 197 19 305 A1. In the seating arrangement described in that document, the adjustably supported roller is pushed against the opposite roller by a spring which is supported on the frame of the printing press. A defined contact pressure between the two rollers, as a function of the respectively selected characteristic spring curve, always occurs because of the use of such a spring. A clamping mechanism with a clamping lever and a clamping plate for fixing the roller in the position where it is pressed against the other is described, by use of which the roller shaft can be fixed in place on the frame by a frictional connection.
A device for the semi-automatic adjustment of rollers is known from DE 199 19 733 A1. In this device, the adjustably seated roller is maintained in a roller support, which, in turn, is seated on a frame support that is arranged, fixed in place, on the frame. In this case, the roller support and the frame support can be adjusted in relation to each other and are connected with each other by resilient springs. The resilient springs are provided with a defined prestress, so that the roller, which is adjustably seated on the roller support, can be pressed against the opposite roller with a defined contact pressure. Arresting bolts, by use of whose feed movement the roller support can be frictionally clamped to the frame support, are provided for arresting the roller support on the frame support.
DE 42 31 673 A1 describes a device for roller adjustment. A roller is first displaced in a radial direction by use of a pressure chamber and thereafter is fixed in place.
DE 30 46 989 C3 discloses a device for bringing an impression cylinder into a printing or non-printing position. In the course of this movement, the rotary movement of a synchronous spindle is fixed by a multiple disk brake.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is directed to providing a fixing or coupling device.
In accordance with the invention, this object is attained by providing a fixing device or coupling usable with at least two components which can be displaced with respect to each other in an adjusting device. One element of the coupling is connected with one component and at least another element is connected with the second component. The two elements can be brought into a fixing or locking engagement with each other by friction. The coupling has a plurality of interengaging lamella elements which are alternatingly connected to the first and second elements of the fixing or coupling device. Each lamella has a friction face that is engageable with a friction face of an adjacent lamella element. The lamella elements can be clamped against each other. The lamella element can be moved in relation to each other in a translatory manner in a plane defined by the friction faces.
The advantages obtainable by the present invention consist, in particular, in that such a fixing or coupling device can be produced in an extremely compact and therefore space-saving manner. This is achieved in that, for fixing the displaceable components in place in relation to each other, several lamella elements are frictionally clamped. By arranging several, and in particular a multitude of such lamella elements one behind the other, the frictional force required for fixation is distributed over a multitude of frictional faces between the multitude of lamella elements. By clamping the lamella elements arranged one behind the other, the clamping face acts oppositely at all frictional faces.
Suitable lamella elements, which are usable in the subject fixing or coupling device, are known, for example, from lamella couplings which are employed for the frictional connection of rotatably seated shafts. In contrast to previously known lamella couplings, the lamellas of the present invention are displaceable in respect to each other in the fixing or coupling device in at least one direction and can be displaced within a defined adjusting range, depending on the play between the components of the fixing device, and can thereafter be fixed in place. The adjusting movement therefore does not take place in the manner of a pivoting or of a rotary movement, as in connection with the prior lamella coupling, but takes place in the manner of a translatory movement in the plane defined by the orientation of the frictional faces of the lamella elements.
Basically all elements or structures can be used as the clamping device, by use of which the lamellas can be clamped to each other by the exertion of a sufficient contact pressure. It is particularly advantageous for the clamping device to be designed in the manner of a prestressed spring element. In the position in which the fixing device or coupling is fixed in place, a spring force of such a size is exerted on the lamella elements by the prestressed spring element, that they are dependably fixed against each other by a frictional connection. An unintentional release of the fixing device, for example in the case of the loss of an energy supply, occurrence which raises a serious concern in connection with other clamping devices, is prevented because of this. For releasing the clamping device to accomplish an adjusting the components of the fixing device or coupling, it is necessary, in this embodiment of the present invention, to provide an actuator at the fixing device, by use of which
Faist Bernd Klaus
Reder Wolfgang Otto
Schneider Georg
Eickholt Eugene H.
Jones Tullar & Cooper PC
Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
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