Cam assembly for skip-print mandrel wheel assembly

A mandrel assembly for use in a continuous printing machine for cylindrical containers comprising:

• a. mandrel wheel means for supporting cylindrical container receiving apparatus thereon, said mandrel wheel means having a central axis of rotation positioned in parallel alignment with a central axis of rotation of an associated blanket wheel device carrying a printing medium on a circumferential portion thereof for printing on said cylindrical containers carried by said mandrel wheel means;
• b. at least one mandrel holder means for supporting a mandrel spindle means thereon, pivotally mounted on a circumferential portion of said mandrel wheel means for pivotal movement about a mandrel holder pivot axis positioned substantially parallel to said mandrel wheel central axis of rotation;
• c. elongate mandrel spindle means for supporting a cylindrical container on a peripheral surface thereof, rotatably mounted on said mandrel holder means for rotation about a central axis of rotation positioned in substantially parallel, non-coaxial relationship with said mandrel holder pivot axis whereby said mandrel spindle means is radially displaceable relative said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means by pivotal movement of said mandrel holder means about said mandrel holder pivot axis;
• d. cam follower means for following a cam track means, rotatably mounted on said mandrel holder means for rotation about a central axis of rotation positioned in substantially parallel, non-coaxial relationship with said mandrel holder pivot axis whereby said mandrel holder means is pivotally displaced about said mandrel holder means pivot axis by radial displacement of said cam follower means relative said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means;
• e. cam track means operably associated with said cam follower means for guiding said cam follower means and for causing preselected relative radial displacement thereof with respect to said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means for causing preselected radial displacement of said mandrel spindle means relative said blanket wheel device whereby when said mandrel wheel means is in a rotated position associated with cylindrical container printing, and when said mandrel spindle is in a normal operating state wherein said mandrel spindle has a cylindrical container properly seated thereon, said mandrel spindle is positioned to urge said cylinder container into printing contact with said blanket wheel device;
• and whereby when said mandrel wheel means is in said rotated position associated with cylindrical container printing and when said mandrel spindle is in a skip-print operating state wherein said mandrel spindle does not have a cylindrical container properly seated thereon, said mandrel spindle is positioned in radially spaced apart, non-engaging relationship with said blanket wheel device;
• and
• f. control means for sensing the position of a can on an associated mandrel wheel and actuating said cam track means in response to the can position;
• wherein said cam track means comprises a cam track printing portion thereon associated with movement of said mandrel spindle means into a proximate relationship with the blanket wheel device and wherein said cam track printing portion comprises:
• printing path means for engaging said cam follower means in said normal operating state and for guiding said cam follower means to cause a printing engagement between the blanket wheel device and a container carried by said mandrel spindle, and
• skip-printing path means for engaging said cam wheel means in said skip-print operating state and for guiding said cam follower means to cause said mandrel spindle to be deflected away from printing engagement with the blanket wheel device;
• wherein said printing path means and said skip-printing path means comprise operating surfaces which are radially displaceable with respect to one another;
• wherein said cam track means comprises a substantially continuous, closed loop, cam follower engaging fixed track and a relatively short length cam follower engaging moveable track positioned in axially offset relationship with said fixed track, said moveable track being positioned within said cam track printing portion;
• wherein said printing path means comprises said moveable track and wherein said skip-printing path means comprises said fixed track;
• wherein said moveable track comprises a first radially extending moveable plate having a radially remote, axially and circumferentially extending, cam follower engaging surface and having a first radially extending key guide cut-out portion centrally positioned therein and having two stop means accepting cut-out portions and two adjustable biasing means cut-out portions symmetrically positioned therein in symmetrical relationship about said key guide cut-out portion;
• and
• wherein said fixed cam track comprises a radially extending fixed plate having a radially outer, axially and circumferentially extending cam follower engaging surface, and having an axially projecting elongate key portion fixedly attached to a radially extending surface thereof and constructed and arranged to be guidingly received within said key guide cut-out portion;
• and further comprising L-shaped bracket means fixedly mounted on a radially extending surface of said fixed plate for restraining said moveable plate from axial movement relative said fixed plate.

A mandrel assembly for use in a continuous printing machine for cylindrical containers comprising:

• a. mandrel wheel means for supporting cylindrical container receiving apparatus thereon, said mandrel wheel means having a central axis of rotation positioned in parallel alignment with a central axis of rotation of an associated blanket wheel device carrying a printing medium on a circumferential portion thereof for printing on said cylindrical containers carried by said mandrel wheel means;
• b. at least one mandrel holder means for supporting a mandrel spindle means thereon, pivotally mounted on a circumferential portion of said mandrel wheel means for pivotal movement about a mandrel holder pivot axis positioned substantially parallel to said mandrel wheel central axis of rotation;
• c. elongate mandrel spindle means for supporting a cylindrical container on a peripheral surface thereof, rotatably mounted on said mandrel holder means for rotation about a central axis of rotation positioned in substantially parallel, non-coaxial relationship with said mandrel holder pivot axis whereby said mandrel spindle means is radially displaceable relative said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means by pivotal movement of said mandrel holder means about said mandrel holder pivot axis;
• d. cam follower means for following a cam track means, rotatably mounted on said mandrel holder means for rotation about a central axis of rotation positioned in substantially parallel, non-coaxial relationship with said mandrel holder pivot axis whereby said mandrel holder means is pivotally displaced about said mandrel holder means pivot axis by radial displacement of said cam follower means relative said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means;
• e. cam track means operably associated with said cam follower means for guiding said cam follower means and for causing preselected relative radial displacement thereof with respect to said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means for causing preselected radial displacement of said mandrel spindle means relative said blanket wheel device whereby when said mandrel wheel means is in a rotated position associated with cylindrical container printing, and when said mandrel spindle is in a normal operating state wherein said mandrel spindle has a cylindrical container properly seated thereon, said mandrel spindle is positioned to urge said cylinder container into printing contact with said blanket wheel device;
• and whereby when said mandrel wheel means is in said rotated position associated with cylindrical container printing and when said mandrel spindle is in a skip-print operating state wherein said mandrel spindle does not have a cylindrical container properly seated thereon, said mandrel spindle is positioned in radially spaced apart, non-engaging relationship with said blanket wheel device;
• and
• f. control means for sensing the position of a can on an associated mandrel wheel and actuating said cam track means in response to the can position;
• wherein said cam track means comprises:
• a fixed track of relatively large circumferential extent having at least one fixed track cut-out portion of relatively small circumferential extent;
• a moveable track positioned within said fixed track cut-out portion in operably mating relationship with said fixed track, said moveable track being radially displaceable relative said fixed track between a first position associated with said mandrel spindle normal operating state and a second position associated with said mandrel spindle skip-print operating state;
• wherein said fixed track conprises a first cam follower engaging surface facing radially outwardly, a second cam follower engaging surface facing radially inwardly, a third cam follower engaging surface facing radially inwardly and a fourth cam follower engaging surface facing radially outwardly;
• wherein said moveable track comprises a first cam follower engaging surface facing radially outwardly, a second cam follower engaging surface facing radially inwardly, a third cam follower engaging surface facing radially inwardly and a fourth cam follower engaging surface facing radially outwardly;
• said first cam follower engaging surfaces of said fixed track and said moveable track being axially aligned and associated with a first cam follower;
• said second cam follower engaging surfaces of said fixed track and said moveable track being axially aligned and associated with second cam follower;
• said third cam follower engaging surfaces of said fixed track and said moveable track being axially aligned and associated with third cam follower;
• said fourth cam follower engaging surfaces of said fixed track and said moveable track being axially aligned and associated with fourth cam follower;
• said first and second cam followers being operably mounted on a first mandrel holder means;
• said second and third cam followers being operably mounted on a second mandrel holder means;
• wherein said first and second cam follower engaging surfaces of said moveable track are portions of a first C-shaped plate and wherein said third and fourth cam follower engaging surfaces of said moveable track are portions of a second C-shaped plate;
• said second C-shaped plate being mounted within said first C-shaped plate and radially displaceable relative thereto.

A mandrel assembly for use in a continuous printing machine for cylindrical containers comprising:

• a. mandrel wheel means for supporting cylindrical container receiving apparatus thereon, said mandrel wheel means having a central axis of rotation positioned in parallel alignment with a central axis of rotation of an associated blanket wheel device carrying a printing medium on a circumferential portion thereof for printing on said cylindrical containers carried by said mandrel wheel means;
• b. at least one mandrel holder means for supporting a mandrel spindle means thereon, pivotally mounted on a circumferential portion of said mandrel wheel means for pivotal movement about a mandrel holder pivot axis positioned substantially parallel to said mandrel wheel central axis of rotation;
• c. elongate mandrel spindle means for supporting a cylindrical container on a peripheral surface thereof, rotatably mounted on said mandrel holder means for rotation about a central axis of rotation positioned in substantially parallel, non-coaxial relationship with said mandrel holder pivot axis whereby said mandrel spindle means is radially displaceable relative said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means by pivotal movement of said mandrel holder means about said mandrel holder pivot axis;
• d. cam follower means for following a cam track means, rotatably mounted on said mandrel holder means for rotation about a central axis of rotation positioned in substantially parallel, non-coaxial relationship with said mandrel holder pivot axis whereby said mandrel holder means is pivotally displaced about said mandrel holder means pivot axis by radial displacement of said cam follower means relative said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means;
• e. cam track means operably associated with said cam follower means for guiding said cam follower means and for causing preselected relative radial displacement thereof with respect to said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means for causing preselected radial displacement of said mandrel spindle means relative said blanket wheel device whereby when said mandrel wheel means is in a rotated position associated with cylindrical container printing, and when said mandrel spindle is in a normal operating state wherein said mandrel spindle has a cylindrical container properly seated thereon, said mandrel spindle is positioned to urge said cylinder container into printing contact with said blanket wheel device;
• and whereby when said mandrel wheel means is in said rotated position associated with cylindrical container printing and when said mandrel spindle is in a skip-print operating state wherein said mandrel spindle does not have a cylindrical container properly seated thereon, said mandrel spindle is positioned in radially spaced apart, non-engaging relationship with said blanket wheel device;
• and
• f. control means for sensing the position of a can on an associated mandrel wheel and actuating said cam track means in response to the can position;
• wherein said cam track means comprises a cam track printing portion thereon associated with movement of said mandrel spindle means into a proximate relationship with the blanket wheel device and wherein said cam track printing portion comprises:
• printing path means for engaging said cam follower means in said normal operating state and for guiding said cam follower means to cause a printing engagement between the blanket wheel device and a container carried by said mandrel spindle;
• and
• skip-printing path means for engaging said cam wheel means in said skip-print operating state and for guiding said cam follower means to cause said mandrel spindle to be deflected away from printing engagement with the blanket wheel device;
• wherein said printing path means and said skip-printing path means comprise operating surfaces which are radially displaceable with respect to one another;
• wherein said cam track means comprises a substantially continuous, closed loop, cam follower engaging fixed track and a relatively short length cam follower engaging moveable track positioned in axially offset relationship with said fixed track, said moveable track being positioned within said cam track printing portion;
• wherein said printing path means comprises one of said fixed track and said moveable track and wherein said skip-printing path means comprises the other of said fixed track and said moveable track;
• said moveable track being axially spaced relative said fixed track, said cam follower means comprising a pair of coaxially mounted rollers, one roller being engageable with said fixed track, the other roller being engageable with said moveable track.

A mandrel assembly for use in a continuous printing machine for cylindrical containers comprising:

• a. mandrel wheel means for supporting cylindrical container receiving apparatus thereon, said mandrel wheel means having a central axis of rotation positioned in parallel alignment with a central axis of rotation of an associated blanket wheel device carrying a printing medium on a circumferential portion thereof for printing on said cylindrical containers carried by said mandrel wheel means;
• b. at least one mandrel holder means for supporting a mandrel spindle means thereon, pivotally mounted on a circumferential portion of said mandrel wheel means for pivotal movement about a mandrel holder pivot axis positioned substantially parallel to said mandrel wheel central axis of rotation;
• c. elongate mandrel spindle means for supporting a cylindrical container on a peripheral surface thereof, rotatably mounted on said mandrel holder means for rotation about a central axis of rotation positioned in substantially parallel, non-coaxial relationship with said mandrel holder pivot axis whereby said mandrel spindle means is radially displaceable relative said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means by pivotal movement of said mandrel holder means about said mandrel holder pivot axis;
• d. cam follower means for following a cam track means, rotatably mounted on said mandrel holder means for rotation about a central axis of rotation positioned in substantially parallel, non-coaxial relationship with said mandrel holder pivot axis whereby said mandrel holder means is pivotally displaced about said mandrel holder means pivot axis by radial displacement of said cam follower means relative said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means;
• e. cam track means operably associated with said cam follower means for guiding said cam follower means and for causing preselected relative radial displacement thereof with respect to said central axis of rotation of said mandrel wheel means for causing preselected radial displacement of said mandrel spindle means relative said blanket wheel device whereby when said mandrel wheel means is in a rotated position associated with cylindrical container printing, and when said mandrel spindle is in a normal operating state wherein said mandrel spindle has a cylindrical container properly seated thereon, said mandrel spindle is positioned to urge said cylinder container into printing contact with said blanket wheel device;
• and whereby when said mandrel wheel means is in said rotated position associated with cylindrical container printing and when said mandrel spindle is in a skip-print operating state wherein said mandrel spindle does not have a cylindrical container properly seated thereon, said mandrel spindle is positioned in radially spaced apart, non-engaging relationship with said blanket wheel device;
• and
• f. control means for sensing the position of a can on an associated mandrel wheel and actuating said cam track means in response to the can position;
• wherein said cam track means comprises:
• a fixed track of relatively large circumferential extent having at least one fixed track cut-out portion of relatively small circumferential extent;
• a moveable track positioned within said fixed track cut-out portion in operably mating relationship with said fixed track, said moveable track being radially displaceable relative said fixed track between a first position associated with said said mandrel spindle normal operating state and a second position associated with said mandrel spindle skip-print operating state;
• wherein said cam follower means comprises an associated cam follower pair comprising a first cam follower and a second cam follower having parallel axes of rotation and being fixed in radially spaced apart relationship;
• wherein said cam track means comprises a first continuous loop having a radially outwardly positioned surface for receiving said first cam follower in rolling engagement thereon and a radially inwardly positioned surface for accepting said second cam follower in rolling engagement thereon.