Printing – Multicolor – Rotary machines
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-18
2001-11-20
Asher, Kimberly L. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Multicolor
Rotary machines
C101S183000, C101S233000, C101S395000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318256
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for feeding ink to plates mounted peripherally of a plate cylinder, and transferring the ink through a blanket cylinder to printing paper wrapped around an impression cylinder.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known printing apparatus of the type noted above includes a plate cylinder for supporting a plurality of plates mounted peripherally thereof, a plurality of ink feeders for feeding different color inks to image areas on the plurality of plates mounted on the plate cylinder, respectively, and a single impression cylinder. Such a printing apparatus is capable of color printing by using the single plate cylinder and the single impression cylinder. Thus, the entire apparatus requires a reduced area for its installation and operation.
Japanese Patent Publication (Unexamined) H3-143634 (1991), for example, describes a printing apparatus for printing images on printing paper with two color inks. This apparatus includes a plate cylinder for supporting two plates mounted peripherally thereof, two ink feeders for feeding the different inks to the respective plates on the plate cylinder, a single dampening water feeder for feeding dampening water to each plate on the plate cylinder, and an impression cylinder having half a diameter of the plate cylinder. A sheet of printing paper is fed for every two rotations of the impression cylinder.
However, the printing apparatus described in the above patent publication always prints with two color inks, and is incapable of monochromatic printing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a printing apparatus with a plate cylinder for supporting a plate mounted peripherally thereof, the plate having two image areas, for allowing images to be printed selectively with a single color ink and with two color inks.
The above object is fulfilled, according to the present invention, by a printing apparatus comprises a plate cylinder for supporting a plate as mounted peripherally thereof, the plate having two image areas, two ink feeders for contacting and feeding inks to the image areas on the plate mounted on the plate cylinder; a blanket cylinder equal in diameter to and contactable with the plate cylinder; an impression cylinder having a diameter n/2 (n being an odd number) of the diameter of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder, and contactable with the blanket cylinder; n printing paper holder(s) (each) having a gripper for holding an end of the printing paper to maintain n sheet(s) of the printing paper peripherally of the impression cylinder; a printing paper feeder for feeding the printing paper to the impression cylinder; a printing paper discharger for discharging the printing paper from the impression cylinder after a required printing process; and a printing paper holder control mechanism for controlling the printing paper holders to carry out selectively a first opening and closing operation once for every rotation of the impression cylinder, and a second opening and closing operation once for every two rotations of the impression cylinder.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the printing paper holder control mechanism comprises a fixed cam disposed laterally of the impression cylinder, the fixed cam being contactable with a cam follower attached to the gripper of the printing paper holder, to open the gripper, thereby opening and closing the printing paper holder once for every rotation of the impression cylinder; a movable cam disposed coaxially with the fixed cam, the movable cam being movable between an open/close prohibiting position for prohibiting the printing paper holder from opening and closing by action of the fixed cam, and an open/close permitting position for permitting the printing paper holder to open and close by action of the fixed cam; a movable cam drive mechanism for reciprocating the movable cam between the open/close prohibiting position and the open/close permitting position with rotation of the impression cylinder; and a movable cam stop mechanism for stopping the movable cam in the open/close permitting position regardless of the rotation of the impression cylinder.
Preferably, the movable cam drive mechanism comprises a cam rotatable synchronously with the blanket cylinder; and a link mechanism coupled to the movable cam, the link mechanism including a cam follower contactable with the cam rotating synchronously with the blanket cylinder, to be pivotable with the rotation of the blanket cylinder to reciprocate the movable cam between the open/close prohibiting position and the open/close permitting position.
The movable cam stop mechanism may comprise a stopper for prohibiting pivotal movement of the link mechanism.
In another aspect of the invention, a printing apparatus comprises a first and a second plate cylinders each for supporting a plate as mounted peripherally thereof, the plate having two image areas, two ink feeders for contacting and feeding inks to the image areas on the plate mounted on the first plate cylinder; two ink feeders for contacting and feeding inks to the image areas on the plate mounted on the second plate cylinder; a first blanket cylinder equal in diameter to and contactable with the first plate cylinder; a second blanket cylinder equal in diameter to and contactable with the second plate cylinder; an impression cylinder having a diameter n/2 (n being an odd number) of the diameter of the first and second plate cylinders and the first and second blanket cylinders, and contactable with the first and second blanket cylinders; n printing paper holder(s) (each) having a gripper for holding an end of the printing paper to maintain n sheet(s) of the printing paper peripherally of the impression cylinder; a printing paper feeder for feeding the printing paper to the impression cylinder; a printing paper discharger for discharging the printing paper from the impression cylinder after a required printing process; and a printing paper holder control mechanism for controlling the printing paper holders to carry out selectively a first opening and closing operation once for every rotation of the impression cylinder, and a second opening and closing operation once for every two rotations of the impression cylinder.
The printing apparatus according to the present invention provides a first and a second plate cylinders each for supporting a plate as mounted peripherally thereof, the plate having two image areas. This construction allows a selection between printing with one or two color inks and printing with four color inks.
In a further aspect of the invention, a printing apparatus comprises a plate cylinder for supporting a plate as mounted peripherally thereof, the plate having two image areas; two ink feeders for selectively contacting and feeding inks to the image areas on the plate mounted on the plate cylinder; a blanket cylinder equal in diameter to and contactable with the plate cylinder; an impression cylinder having n/2 (n being an odd number) of the diameter of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder, and contactable with the blanket cylinder; n gripper(s) each for holding an end of the printing paper on the impression cylinder; a printing paper feeder and discharger for feeding the printing paper to the impression cylinder and discharging the printing paper from the impression cylinder; and a control mechanism for controlling the gripper(s) and the printing paper feeder and discharger to carry out selectively a first operation once for every rotation of the impression cylinder when both images of the two image areas on the plate are the same image, and a second operation once for every two rotations of the impression cylinder when both images of the images areas on the plate are different images.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2911907 (1959-11-01), Davidson
patent: 4448125 (
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
Asher Kimberly L.
Dainippon Screen Mfg Co. Ltd.
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