Abstract:
A clamping device for thin flexible printing plates has a tensioning rail at the trailing wall of a wide longitudinal groove in the plate cylinder. The tensioning unit is mounted for axial and peripheral adjustment on a support of "L" cross-section having a first leg seated with respect to the bottom of the groove and a second leg presenting an upstanding reference surface interposed between the tensioning rail and the trailing wall of the groove. A set of tensioning springs recessed in the tensioning rail bear against the reference surface and apply peripheral tension to the plate. A spring detent latches the tensioning rail temporarily against the reference surface, overcoming the tensioning springs while the trailing edge of the plate is being gripped. The spring detent is mounted upon and movable with the support. Screws having a plurality of selectable holes anchor the support in a series of peripheral positions for accommodation of plates of different length. A plurality of jack screws threaded into the tensioning rail have tips which bear against the reference surface on the support for removing slack from the plate and for tensioning of the plate about the surface of the cylinder.
Abstract:
A device for registering of sheets, received in an underlapped stream, upon a feed table. The feed table has a retractable front stop and a side guide defining a condition of accurate register for the sheet. Cooperating with the side guide is a wiping mechanism which includes a lower wiping member and a cooperating upper wiping member for engaging a sheet between them for wiping the same into laterally registered position. A pre-gripper grips the leading edge of a registered leading sheet for transporting it forwardly and upwardly to a receiving cylinder thereby forming a wedged-shaped gap above the following sheet. Upon formation of the gap the upper wiping member is momentarily inserted into the gap in active wiping position, with the result that the following sheet is fully registered while it is still partially covered by the leading sheet. The front stop is mounted for swinging movement and so arranged that upon moving to active position it engages the underside of the leading sheet at a point spaced above the table thereby insuring the presence of a well-defined gap for entry by the upper wiping member. In one embodiment of the invention the upper wiping member is mounted upon a rotatable arm for moving the member quickly into and out of the gap while providing a limited amount of dwell in wiping position. In a second embodiment the upper wiping member is mounted upon an arm which reciprocates inwardly and outwardly of the gap.