Printing unit with skew and throw-off mechanisms

Apparatus comprising:

• a frame (22);
• a first printing cylinder (14) supporting a first printing member (30) having a cylindrical printing surface;
• a first bracket (50) supported on said frame (22), said first bracket (50) supporting said first printing cylinder (14);
• a second printing cylinder (16) supporting a second printing member (34) with a cylindrical printing surface;
• a second bracket (52) supported on said frame (22), said second bracket (52) supporting said second printing cylinder (16);
• throw-off means supporting said first and second brackets (50, 52) on said frame (22) for movement relative to each other, said throw-off means including means for moving said first bracket (50) relative to said second bracket (52) and thereby to move said first printing cylinder (14) relative to said second printing cylinder (16) between a printing position and a thrown-off position, said first and second printing members (30, 34) being pressed together at a nip (42) between said first and second printing cylinders (14, 16) when said first printing cylinder (14) is in said printing position, said first and second printing members (30, 34) being spaced from each other when said first printing cylinder (14) is in said thrown-off position;
• and
• pressure controlling means for controlling the pressure between said first and second printing members (30, 34) when said first and second printing members (30, 34) are pressed together at said nip (42), said pressure controlling means including wedge means movable between said first and second brackets (50, 52) to control the positions of said first and second brackets (50, 52) relative to each other when said first printing cylinder (14) is in said printing position.

Apparatus comprising:

• a frame (22);
• a first bracket (50) supported on said frame (22) for movement relative to said frame (22);
• a first printing cylinder (14) with an end supported by said first bracket (50) to move with said first bracket (50);
• a second bracket (54) supported on said frame (22) for movement relative to said frame (22);
• a second printing cylinder (18) with an end supported by said second bracket (54) to move with said second bracket (54);
• skewing means for changing the angular positions of said first and second printing cylinders (14, 18) relative to each other, said skewing means including means for moving said first bracket (50) relative to said frame (22), and means for moving said second bracket (54) relative to said frame (22) independently of movement of said first bracket (50);
• throw-off means for moving said first and second printing cylinders (14, 18) toward and away from each other, said throw-off means including motor means for moving said first and second brackets (50, 54) relative to said frame (22);
• and
• said motor means being connected between said first and second brackets (50, 54) and including a first output member (140), a second output member (142), and means for moving said first and second output members (140, 142) relative to each other, said first output member (140 being connected to said first bracket (50), said second output member (142) being connected to said second bracket (54).

Apparatus comprising:

• a frame (22);
• a first printing cylinder (16) supported on said frame (22);
• a second printing cylinder (20) supported on said frame (22);
• throw-off means for moving said second printing cylinder (20) toward and away from said first printing cylinder (16) between a printing position and a thrown-off position, said throw-off means including means for guiding said second printing cylinder 920) to be moved from one of said positions to the other of said positions by gravity;
• a bracket (56) supported on said frame (22) for movement relative to said frame (22), said bracket (56) supporting a portion of the weight of said second printing cylinder (20);
• a carrier member 954) supported on said frame (22) for movement relative to said frame (22), said carrier member (54) supporting a portion of the combined weight of said bracket (56)and said second printing cylinder (20);
• a motor means (140, 142) for moving said carrier member 954) vertically relative to said frame (22), said carrier member (54) carrying said bracket (56) and said second printing cylinder (20) vertically relative to said frame (22) when said carrier member (54) is moved vertically by said motor means (140, 142);
• and
• a third printing cylinder (18) and a limiting means (130), said carrier member (54) supporting said third printing cylinder (18) for movement with said carrier member (54), said limiting means (130) limiting downward movement of said bracket (56) with said carrier member (54), said motor means (140, 142) moving said carrier member (54) downward from said bracket (56) after said limiting means (130) limits downward movement of said bracket (56) with said carrier member (54), said motor means (140, 142) thus moving said third printing cylinder (18) into a position thrown-off from said second printing cylinder (20).

Apparatus comprising:

• a frame (22);
• a first printing cylinder (20);
• first bracket means for supporting said first printing cylinder 9200 on said frame (22), said first bracket means including a pair of first brackets (56) which are supported on said frame (22) for movement relative to said frame (22) pivotally about a first horizontal axis (110), said first brackets (56) being thus supported to drop pivotally downward under the force of gravity, each of said first brackets (56) supporting a respective end of said first printing cylinder 920) to move said first printing cylinder (20) with said first brackets (56) relative to said frame (22), said first brackets (56) thus bearing the entire weight of said first printing cylinder (20);
• a second printing cylinder (18);
• second bracket means for supporting said second printing cylinder (18) on said frame (22), said second bracket means including a pair of second brackets (54) supported on said frame (22) for movement relative to said frame (22);
• pivotally about a second horizontal axis (100), each of said second brackets (54) supporting a respective end of said second printing cylinder (18) to move said second printing cylinder (18) with said second brackets (54) relative to said frame (22);
• and
• motor means (140, 142) for moving said second brackets (54) relative to said frame (22) pivotally about said second horizontal axis (100);
• each of said first brackets (56) having a lower surface means (122) for resting directly on an upper surface (98) means on a respective one of said second brackets (54) so as to be lifted pivotally upward by said second brackets (54) when said second brackets (54) are moved pivotally upward by said motor means (140, 142), and to drop pivotally downward upon said second brackets (54) when said second brackets (54) are moved pivotally downward by said motor means (140, 142), said lower surface means (1200 on said first brackets (56) applying substantially the entire weight of said first printing cylinder (20) to said upper surface means (98) on said second brackets (54).