Printing press roll having auxiliary rotation capability

#The present invention relates generally to web printing presses and more particularly to a printing press roll having a non-contacting and disengageable motor device for rotating the roll during webbing-up.

#To prepare for printing operations in a web offset lithographic printing press, the web end must first be fed over the various rolls and through the various nips in the press to the end of the press. This process is known as “webbing-up.” Webbing-up may be performed in a variety of ways including manually, or by using automatic or semi-automatic web-up systems. As part of the webbing-up process an operator may manually rotate a roll to feed the web past the roll. Such manual feeding and roll rotation operations can be difficult and time-consuming, as well as present a safety hazard to the operator.

#For example, former rolls below a former may be rotated by hand to assist in feeding the web through the nip area between the former rolls of a folder and into the lower portion of the folder. Because the web drives the rolls and due to the fact that the rolls are in close proximity to each other, there is a nip hazard present, i.e., there is a danger that the operator's hand may become caught between the rolls and injured. Several guard designs have been employed in previous machines to protect the operator from the nip area. Many of these prior guard designs inhibit the operator from rotating the rolls to assist in webbing up.

#The present invention is elaborated upon below based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1A shows a schematic front elevational view of a former according to an embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 1B shows a schematic side elevational view of the former of FIG. IA.

#FIGS. 1A and 1B show schematic views of a former 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Former 100 includes cylinder 2, former board 4 and former rolls 10. Web 1 travels over cylinder 2 and down former board 4 through nip 6 between former rolls 10. Due to the triangular shape of former board 4 and the interaction with former rolls 10, web 1 is folded as it travels through former 100.

#FIG. 2 shows a detail schematic plan view of area A of FIG. 1A according to an embodiment of the present invention using an electric motor 17. Former rolls 10 each include respective outer cylindrical member 11 which rotates about respective shaft 12. Adjustment devices 22 permit former rolls 10 to be moved horizontally and vertically in the direction of axes L and X (see FIG. 1B), respectively, for adjustment purposes. Former rolls 10 are each provided with respective electric motor 17. Each electric motor 17 includes stator member 16 and rotor member 18. Stator member 16 is affixed to shaft 12, while rotor member 18 is affixed to cylindrical member 11 radially outside the stator member. By the electromagnetic interaction between rotor member 18 and stator member 16, rotor member 18—and with it cylindrical member—is caused to rotate about shaft 12 on bearings 14 disposed at either end of the shaft.

#Stator member 16 and rotor member 18 of electric motor 17 may be disposed inside cylindrical member 11, as shown in FIG. 2. As such, a compact design is provided in which electric motor 17 moves with cylindrical member 11 when the position of former roll 10 is adjusted using adjustment device 22. In other embodiments of the present invention, electric motor 17 may be disposed on an end portion of shaft 12 outside of cylindrical member 11. In such embodiments, electric motor 17 also moves with former roll 11 when the position of former roll 10 is adjusted using adjustment device 22. Of course other configurations of electric motor 17 are possible. In some embodiments of the present invention, for example, stator member 16 may be disposed radially outside rotor member 18 so that rotor member 18 rotates inside of, rather than, outside of stator member 16.