Printing press having automatic printing cylinder loading and unloading apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US3789757A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Printing press having automatic printing cylinder loading and unloading apparatus",
  "abstract": "Apparatus for automatically loading and unloading printing cylinders from a rotogravure printing press. The printing press, which is of itself conventional, includes two upright frame members having horizontal openings for lateral insertion of the journals of a printing cylinder. According to the invention, a transport arm is pivoted at one end on each of the frame members and provided at the other with a device for supporting and lifting a journal of the printing cylinder. Means are also provided for separately moving the two transport arms and lifting devices so that the printing cylinder can be lifted by the lifting devices from a dolly or hoist adjacent the printing press, transported into the press by the transport arms with the cylinder journals passing into the horizontal openings in the frame members and lowered into position in the press.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A rotogravure printing press comprising, in combination: a. two upright frame members for supporting the press including a printing cylinder having journals at opposite ends thereof, each of said frame members having a horizontal opening for insertion of one of said journals; b. two transport arm means, each having one end thereof pivoted on one of said frame members, for transporting the journals of the printing cylinder into or out of said horizontal openings in said frame members to thereby respectively load or unload said printing cylinder; c. two printing cylinder lifting means, each arranged on the other end of one of said transport arm means and having a surface region for supporting the underside of one journal of said printing cylinder; d. means for moving said two transport arm means in synchronism about their respective pivots; and e. means for moving said two printing cylinder lifting means in synchronism to thereby raise or lower said surface regions thereof.",
    "2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each of said printing cylinder lifting means includes lifting arm means having one end thereof pivoted on the other end of one of said transport arm means and having said surface region located on the upper side thereof.",
    "3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said two transport arm means includes transport drive cylinder means, for applying a force to said two transport arm means in a substantially horizontal direction.",
    "4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said two printing cylinder lifting mEans includes lifting drive cylinder means, for applying a force to said two lifting means in a substantially vertical direction.",
    "5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said transport drive cylinder means includes two transport drive cylinders, each of which is located on one of said frame members and connected to drive one of said transport arm means.",
    "6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said lifting drive cylinder means includes two lifting drive cylinders, each of which is located on one of said transport arm means and connected to drive one of said lifting means.",
    "7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said two transport arm means and said two printing cylinder lifting means is hydraulically actuated.",
    "8. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said two transport arm means and said two printing cylinder lifting means is pneumatically actuated.",
    "9. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said surface region of each of said lifting means includes a portion having a shape which matches said underside of said one journal.",
    "10. The apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein said surface region of each of said lifting means includes a recessed portion having a width which is wider than the diameter of said one journal, to thereby permit engagement of said one journal by said lifting means when said one journal is located within a zone of said recessed portion."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B41F 9/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "MOTTER J PRINTING PRESS CO"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1971-03-26",
  "publication_date": "1974-02-05",
  "grant_date": "1974-02-05",
  "priority_date": "1971-03-26",
  "application_number": "US-3789757D-A",
  "family_id": "22435405",
  "citations": [
    "US2452481A",
    "US2624476A",
    "US3062389A",
    "US3150002A",
    "US3184082A",
    "US3474978A",
    "US3610144A",
    "US3679524A"
  ]
}