Advancing cylinder for use in a printing machine

Claim 2

In an offset printing machine, a combination comprising a support; means for guiding a leading edge of a respective sheet to be advanced through and printed upon in the printing machine to a predetermined location of said support; an advancing cylinder mounted on said support for rotation in a given direction about a rotary axis and having a periphery which moves past said location during the rotation of said advancing cylinder, and a hollow interior which opens onto said periphery; and means for transferring the respective sheet to a predetermined position on said periphery, including a rocking component having a first gripping surface rigidly connected thereto, means for mounting said rocking component in said hollow interior for pivoting in and opposite to said direction relative to said advancing cylinder about a pivot axis offset toward said periphery from and parallel to said rotary axis, in a range between a first terminal position in which said first gripping surface is substantially flush with said periphery, through an intermediate position in which said first gripping surface is above said periphery, and a second terminal position in which said first gripping surface is below said periphery, means for pivoting said rocking component in said range, including a cam track which is stationary with respect to said support and extends about said rotary axis, and a cam follower on said rocking component which follows said cam track and pivots said rocking component in said range in dependence on the configuration of said cam track, a gripping component having a second gripping surface and mounted on said rocking component for tilting relative thereto about a tilting axis to and from a gripping position in which said first and second gripping surfaces grip the respective sheet between themselves, and means for tilting said gripping component as a function of the pivoting movement of said rocking component in said range relative to said advancing cylinder.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said rocking component includes a plurality of separate and parallel rocking arms mounted for joint pivoting, and a gripping element which extends between and is connected to said rocking arms and has said first gripping surface.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping component includes a plurality of individual gripping members each having a section of said second gripping surface thereon.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said advancing cylinder includes a rear and a front limiting surface as considered in said direction, which together bound a passage that communicates said hollow interior with said periphery; and wherein said rocking component is located at said rear limiting surface in said first terminal position, and next to said front limiting surface in said second terminal position thereof.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 1; wherein said pivoting means includes a lever rigidly connected to said rocking component; wherein said cam track is configurated as curved annular recess; and wherein said cam follower is a roller rotatably mounted on said lever and received in said recess.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam track is so configurated that said rocking component reaches said intermediate position thereof during the pivotal movement opposite to said direction when said first gripping surface is substantially at said location of said support during the rotation of said advancing cylinder in said direction.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said cam track is so configurated that said first gripping surface of said rocking component comes to a brief substantial standstill at and relative to said location of said support during the pivotal movement of said rocking component opposite to, and during the rotation of said advancing cylinder in, said direction.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 7; further comprising at least one abutment on said support; and wherein said rocking component has at least one engaging portion which contacts said abutment during said substantial standstill of said first gripping surface of said rocking component.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 8; and further comprising a front stop component mounted on said support and having at least two front stops which stop the leading edge of the respective sheet at said location of said support; and wherein said abutment is rigidly connected to said front stop component.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said front stop component includes a shaft which mounts said front stops and said abutment on said support for joint pivoting in and out of the trajectories of movement of the respective sheet and of said engaging portion, respectively.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said tilting means tilts said gripping component in a tilting range which amounts to 90°.

Claim 13

In an offset printing machine, a combination comprising a support; means for guiding a leading edge of a respective sheet to be advanced through and printed upon in the printing machine to a predetermined location of said support; an advancing cylinder mounted on said support for rotation in a given direction about a rotary axis and having a periphery which moves past said location during the rotation of said advancing cylinder, and a hollow interior which opens onto said periphery; and means for transferring the respective sheet to a predetermined position on said periphery, including a rocking component having a first gripping surface thereon, means for mounting said rocking component in said hollow interior for pivoting in and opposite to said direction relative to said advancing cylinder about a pivot axis offset toward said periphery from and parallel to said rotary axis, in a range between a first terminal position and a second terminal position through an intermediate position in which said first gripping surface is substantially flush with, inwardly offset from, and outwardly offset from said periphery, respectively, means for pivoting said rocking component in said range, including a cam track which is stationary with respect to said support and extends about said rotary axis, and a cam follower on said rocking component which follows said cam track and pivots said rocking component in said range in dependence on the configuration of said cam track, a gripping component having a second gripping surface and mounted on said rocking component for tilting relative thereto about a tilting axis to and from a gripping position in which said first and second gripping surfaces grip the respective sheet between themselves, and means for tilting said gripping component as a function of the pivoting movement of said rocking component in said range relative to said advancing cylinder; said cam track being so configurated that said rocking component reaches said intermediate position thereof during the pivotal movement opposite to said direction when said first gripping surface is substantially at said location of said support during the rotation of said advancing cylinder in said direction, and said first gripping surface of said rocking component comes to a brief substantial standstill at and relative to said location of said support during the pivotal movement of said rocking component opposite to, and during the rotation of said advancing cylinder in, said direction; at least one abutment on said support; said rocking component having at least one engaging portion which contacts said abutment during said substantial standstill of said first gripping surface of said rocking component, a front stop component mounted on said support and having at least two front stops which stop the leading edge of the respective sheet at said location of said support; said abutment being rigidly connected to said front stop component; said front stop component including a shaft which mounts said front stops and said abutment on said support for joint pivoting in and out of the trajectories of movement of the respective sheet and of said engaging portion, respectively; and further comprising means for controlledly pivoting said front stop component about said shaft, including a control cam track on said advancing cylinder, a control lever rigid with said front stop component, and a control roller rotatably mounted on said control lever and following said control cam track.

Claim 14

In an offset printing machine, a combination comprising a support; means for guiding a leading edge of a respective sheet to be advanced through and printed upon in the printing machine to a predetermined location of said support; an advancing cylinder mounted on said support for rotation in a given direction about a rotary axis and having a periphery which moves past said location during the rotation of said advancing cylinder, and a hollow interior which opens onto said periphery; and means for transferring the respective sheet to a predetermined position on said periphery, including a rocking component having a first gripping surface thereon, means for mounting said rocking component in said hollow interior for pivoting in and opposite to said direction relative to said advancing cylinder about a pivot axis offset toward said periphery from and parallel to said rotary axis, in a range between a first terminal position and a second terminal position through an intermediate position in which said first gripping surface is substantially flush with, inwardly offset from, and outwardly offset from said periphery, respectively, means for pivoting said rocking component in said range, including a cam track which is stationary with respect to said support and extends about said rotary axis, and a cam follower on said rocking component which follows said cam track and pivots said rocking component in said range in dependence on the configuration of said cam track, a gripping component having a second gripping surface and mounted on said rocking component for tilting relative thereto about a tilting axis to and from a gripping position in which said first and second gripping surfaces grip the respective sheet between themselves, and means for tilting said gripping component as a function of the pivoting movement of said rocking component in said range relative to said advancing cylinder; said cam track being so configurated that said rocking component reaches said intermediate position thereof during the pivotal movement opposite to said direction when said first gripping surface is substantially at said location of said support during the rotation of said advancing cylinder in said direction, and said first gripping surface of said rocking component comes to a brief substantial standstill at and relative to said location of said support during the pivotal movement of said rocking component opposite to, and during the rotation of said advancing cylinder in, said direction; at least one abutment on said support; said rocking component having at least one engaging portion which contacts said abutment during said substantial standstill of said first gripping surface of said rocking component, a front stop component mounted on said support and having at least two front stops which stop the leading edge of the respective sheet at said location of said support; said abutment being rigidly connected to said front stop component; said front stop component including a shaft which mounts said front stops and said abutment on said support for joint pivoting in and out of the trajectories of movement of the respective sheet and of said engaging portion, respectively; and further comprising means for controlledly pivoting said front stop component about said shaft, including a control cam track on said advancing cylinder, a control lever rigid with said front stop component, and a control roller rotatably mounted on said control lever and following said control cam track.

Claim 15

A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said control cam track is so configurated that said abutment is pivoted out of contact with and out of the trajectory of said engaging portions immediately prior to the commencement of movement of said rocking component in said direction following said substantial standstill of said first gripping surface thereof.

Claim 16

A combination as defined in claim 13, wherein one of said rocking and front stop components is mounted on mounting means having limited resilient yieldability.

Claim 17

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said control cam track has a single, outwardly facing cam surface; and wherein said controlledly pivoting means includes a spring which urges said control roller into contact with said cam surface and thus provides said limited resilient yieldability.

Claim 18

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said control cam track is an annular control cam recess which receives and confines said control roller; wherein said mounting means of said rocking component includes a pivot shaft mounted on said advancing cylinder for pivoting about said pivot axis in dependence on said pivoting means for said rocking component; and wherein said mounting means having limited resilient yieldability is provided between said pivot shaft and said rocking component.

Claim 19

A combination as defined in claim 16; wherein said mounting means having limited resilient yieldability includes a bifurcated bracket rigid with said pivot shaft, and at least one spring arranged intermediate said bracket and said rocking component and urging the latter towards a given position thereof relative to said bracket.

Claim 20

In an offset printing machine, a combination comprising a support; means for guiding a leading edge of a respective sheet to be advanced through and printed upon in the printing machine to a predetermined location of said support; an advancing cylinder mounted on said support for rotation in a given direction about a rotary axis and having a periphery which moves past said location during the rotation of said advancing cylinder, and a hollow interior which opens onto said periphery; and means for transferring the respective sheet to a predetermined position on said periphery, including a rocking component having a first gripping surface thereon, means for mounting said rocking component in said hollow interior for pivoting in and opposite to said direction relative to said advancing cylinder about a pivot axis offset toward said periphery from and parallel to said rotary axis, in a range between a first terminal position and a second terminal position through an intermediate position in which said first gripping surface is substantially flush with, inwardly offset from, and outwardly offset from said periphery, respectively, means for pivoting said rocking component in said range, including a cam track which is stationary with respect to said support and extends about said rotary axis, and a cam follower on said rocking component which follows said cam track and pivots said rocking component in said range in dependence on the configuration of said cam track, a gripping component having a second gripping surface and mounted on said rocking component for tilting relative thereto about a tilting axis to and from a gripping position in which said first and second gripping surfaces grip the respective sheet between themselves, and means for tilting said gripping component as a function of the pivoting movement of said rocking component in said range relative to said advancing cylinder; and said tilting means of said gripping component including a cam track segment rigid with said advancing cylinder and extending about said pivot axis, and a push member articulated to said gripping component and extending therefrom substantially along said rocking component into contact with said cam track segment.

Claim 21

In an offset printing machine, a combination comprising a support; means for guiding a leading edge of a respective sheet to be advanced through and printed upon in the printing machine to a predetermined location of said support; an advancing cylinder mounted on said support for rotation in a given direction about a rotary axis and having a periphery which moves past said location during the rotation of said advancing cylinder, and a hollow interior which opens onto said periphery; and means for transferring the respective sheet to a predetermined position on said periphery, including a rocking component having a first gripping surface thereon, means for mounting said rocking component in said hollow interior for pivoting in and opposite to said direction relative to said advancing cylinder about a pivot axis offset toward said periphery from and parallel to said rotary axis, in a range between a first terminal position and a second terminal position through an intermediate position in which said first gripping surface is substantially flush with, inwardly offset from, and outwardly offset from said periphery, respectively, means for pivoting said rocking component in said range, including a cam track which is stationary with respect to said support and extends about said rotary axis, and a cam follower on said rocking component which follows said cam track and pivots said rocking component in said range in dependence on the configuration of said cam track, a gripping component having a second gripping surface and mounted on said rocking component for tilting relative thereto about a tilting axis to and from a gripping position in which said first and second gripping surfaces grip the respective sheet between themselves, and means for tilting said gripping component as a function of the pivoting movement of said rocking component in said range relative to said advancing cylinder; and said tilting means of said gripping component including a cam track segment rigid with said advancing cylinder and extending about said pivot axis, and a push member articulated to said gripping component and extending therefrom substantially along said rocking component into contact with said cam track segment.

Claim 22

In an offset printing machine, a combination comprising a support; means for guiding a leading edge of a respective sheet to be advanced through and printed upon in the printing machine to a predetermined location of said support; an advancing cylinder mounted on said support for rotation in a given direction about a rotary axis and having a periphery which moves past said location during the rotation of said advancing cylinder, and a hollow interior which opens onto said periphery; and means for transferring the respective sheet to a predetermined position on said periphery, including a rocking component having a first gripping surface thereon, means for mounting said rocking component in said hollow interior for pivoting in and opposite to said direction relative to said advancing cylinder about a pivot axis offset toward said periphery from and parallel to said rotary axis, in a range between a first terminal position and a second terminal position through an intermediate position in which said first gripping surface is substantially flush with, inwardly offset from, and outwardly offset from said periphery, respectively, means for pivoting said rocking component in said range, including a cam track which is stationary with respect to said support and extends about said rotary axis, and a cam follower on said rocking component which follows said cam track and pivots said rocking component in said range in dependence on the configuration of said cam track, a gripping component having a second gripping surface and mounted on said rocking component for tilting relative thereto about a tilting axis to and from a gripping position in which said first and second gripping surfaces grip the respective sheet between themselves, and means for tilting said gripping component as a function of the pivoting movement of said rocking component in said range relative to said advancing cylinder; and said tilting means of said gripping component including a toggle-lever arrangement articulated to said gripping component and to a reaction point provided on said advancing cylinder.

Claim 23

In an offset printing machine, a combination comprising a support; means for guiding a leading edge of a respective sheet to be advanced through and printed upon in the printing machine to a predetermined location of said support; an advancing cylinder mounted on said support for rotation in a given direction about a rotary axis and having a periphery which moves past said location during the rotation of said advancing cylinder, and a hollow interior which opens onto said periphery; and means for transferring the respective sheet to a predetermined position on said periphery, including a rocking component having a first gripping surface thereon, means for mounting said rocking component in said hollow interior for pivoting in and opposite to said direction relative to said advancing cylinder about a pivot axis offset toward said periphery from and parallel to said rotary axis, in a range between a first terminal position and a second terminal position through an intermediate position in which said first gripping surface is substantially flush with, inwardly offset from, and outwardly offset from said periphery, respectively, means for pivoting said rocking component in said range, including a cam track which is stationary with respect to said support and extends about said rotary axis, and a cam follower on said rocking component which follows said cam track and pivots said rocking component in said range in dependence on the configuration of said cam track, a gripping component having a second gripping surface and mounted on said rocking component for tilting relative thereto about a tilting axis to and from a gripping position in which said first and second gripping surfaces grip the respective sheet between themselves, and means for tilting said gripping component as a function of the pivoting movement of said rocking component in said range relative to said advancing cylinder; and said tilting means of said gripping component including a toggle-lever arrangement articulated to said gripping component and to a reaction point provided on said advancing cylinder.

Claim 24

A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said toggle-lever arrangement includes a first toggle lever rigid with said gripping component and a second toggle lever pivotally connected to said first toggle lever at one end and to said reaction point at the other end; and wherein said reaction point is substantially radially offset from said pivot axis.

Claim 25

A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said rocking component extends along a plane which includes said pivot axis and extends therefrom toward said periphery; and wherein said second toggle lever extends along a substantially radial line of said advancing cylinder which passes through said reaction point and which encloses a predetermined angle in said direction with said plane, when said gripping component is in said gripping position thereof relative to said rocking component.

Claim 26

A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said tilting means of said gripping component further includes means for changing the position of said reaction point relative to said advancing cylinder to control the tilting movement of said gripping component around said gripping position thereof in the absence of relative pivoting movement of said rocking component with respect to said advancing cylinder, including a changing cam track on said support, and a changing cam follower which follows said changing cam track and is operatively connected to said reaction point.

Claim 27

A combination as defined in claim 22, wherein said changing means further includes means for mounting said reaction point of said advancing cylinder for movement in a part-circular path about said pivot axis.

Claim 28

A combination as defined in claim 23, wherein said changing cam track is so configurated that said gripping component is accelerated away from and retarded toward said gripping position as compared to the tilting movement thereof attributable to the action of said tilting means as a function solely of the pivoting movement of said rocking component in said range.