Rotary web printing machine, particularly for printing on thick or carton-type stock webs with replaceable plate cylinders

Rotary web printing machine, especially adapted for printing on thicker carton-type stock webs for packaging of merchandise, having

• spaced side wall elements (1, 2);
• a printing cylinder shaft or core (44) having a predetermined diameter;
• a selectively removable and replaceable printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) positioned on, and surrounding the shaft or core, said printing cylinder sleeve comprising a specific sleeve within a set of sleeves (3, 3a), each sleeve of said set of sleeves fitting on said shaft or core (44), and in which each sleeve of said set of sleeves has an individual outer circumference dimension within a predetermined range of circumference dimensions;
• rotation-symmetrical support means (103a, 103b) at axial ends of the printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) retaining said sleeve on the shaft or core, said sleeve (3, 3a) forming a replaceable axially removable element, for selective replacement with another printing cylinder sleeve of a different circumference dimension of said set on said shaft or core;
• machine drive means (23) located at a fixed position in the machine;
• a cylinder drive means (22) uniquely provided for said shaft or core (44) and secured to the shaft or core (44) and drivingly connectable with the machine drive means (23), said cylinder drive means being dimensioned for engagement with said machine drive means (23);
• an inker (6, 8, 9, 10) having at least one inker roller (8, 9) located in and positionable in the machine for circumferential engagement with the specific cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) of the selected circumference dimension then positioned on the shaft or core (44);
• and
• movable shaft support means (17-20) supporting said cylinder shaft or core (44) coupled to said shaft or core (44) on the machine,
• said shaft support means (17-20) selectively positioning or repositioning the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) and hence the cylinder drive means (22) secured thereto with respect to the machine drive means (23) at selected positions in the printing machine in dependence on the circumference dimension of the specific printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) within said range on said cylinder shaft or core (44), while maintaining driving connectability of the printing cylinder drive means (22) with the machine drive means (23);
• and
• wherein the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) and the movable shaft support means (17-20) are positioned within the spaced side wall elements (1, 2) of the machine for moving the printing cylinder drive means (22) about the machine drive means (23) while maintaining engagement with respect to at least one inker roller (8, 9) located on and axially fixed to the side wall elements.

Rotary web printing machine, especially adapted for printing on thicker carton-type stock webs for packaging of merchandise, having

• spaced side wall elements (1, 2);
• a printing cylinder shaft or core (44) having a predetermined diameter;
• a selectively removable and replaceable printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) positioned on, and surrounding the shaft or core, said printing cylinder sleeve comprising a specific sleeve within a set of sleeves (3, 3a), each sleeve of said set of sleeves fitting on said shaft or core (44), and in which each sleeve of said set of sleeves has an individual outer circumference dimension within a predetermined range of circumference dimensions;
• rotation-symmetrical support means (103a, 103b) at axial ends of the printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) retaining said sleeve on the shaft or core, said sleeve (3, 3a) forming a replaceable axially removable element, for selective replacement with another printing cylinder sleeve of a different circumference dimension of said set on said shaft or core;
• machine drive means (23) located at a fixed position in the machine;
• a cylinder drive means (22) uniquely provided for said shaft or core (44) and secured to the shaft or core (44) and drivingly connectable with the machine drive means (23), said cylinder drive means being dimensioned for engagement with said machine drive means (23);
• an inker (6, 8, 9, 10) having at least one inker roller (8, 9) located in and positionable in the machine for circumferential engagement with the specific cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) of the selected circumference dimension then positioned on the shaft or core (44);
• and
• movable shaft support means (17-20) supporting said cylinder shaft or core (44) coupled to said shaft or core (44) on the machine,
• said shaft support means (17-20) selectively positioning or repositioning the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) and hence the cylinder drive means (22) secured thereto with respect to the machine drive means (23) at selected positions in the printing machine in dependence on the circumference dimension of the specific printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) within said range on said cylinder shaft or core (44), while maintaining driving connectability of the printing cylinder drive means (22) with the machine drive means (23);
• and
• wherein the movable shaft support means (17-20) comprise two groups, one of said groups being movably secured to one of the side wall elements (1) for axial movement with respect to the printing cylinder shaft or core (44), the other one of said elements being axially fixed with respect to the other side wall element (2);
• an opening (51) formed in said one side wall (1) of sufficient size to permit access to the printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) upon axial shifting movement of said one support means group, the other support means group retaining the cylinder drive means and the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) in bearing means located adjacent the other side wall (2),
• said one group of movable support means including a bearing means (47) for the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) and movable with the movable shaft support means,
• whereby, by lateral axial movement of the shaft support means of the first group, access is provided through the opening (51) in said one side wall (1) to permit re-sleeving of the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) with a sleeve of different predetermined circumference dimension within said range, and subsequent re-positioning of the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) in the bearing (47) of said one group of shaft support means.

Rotary web printing machine, especially adapted for printing on thicker carton-type stock webs for packaging of merchandise, having

• spaced side wall elements (1, 2);
• a printing cylinder shaft or core (44) having a predetermined diameter;
• a selectively removable and replaceable printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) positioned on, and surrounding the shaft or core, said printing cylinder sleeve comprising a specific sleeve within a set of sleeves (3, 3a), each sleeve of said set of sleeves fitting on said shaft or core (44), and in which each sleeve of said set of sleeves has an individual outer circumference dimension within a predetermined range of circumference dimensions;
• rotation-symmetrical support means (103a, 103b) at axial ends of the printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) retaining said sleeve on the shaft or core, said sleeve (3, 3a) forming a replaceable axially removable element, for selective replacement with another printing cylinder sleeve of a different circumference dimension of said set on said shaft or core;
• machine drive means (23) located at a fixed position in the machine;
• a cylinder drive means (22) uniquely provided for said shaft or core (44) and secured to the shaft or core (44) and drivingly connectable with the machine drive means (23), said cylinder drive means being dimensioned for engagement with said machine drive means (23);
• an inker (6, 8, 9, 10) having at least one inker roller (8, 9) located in and positionable in the machine for circumferential engagement with the specific cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) of the selected circumference dimension then positioned on the shaft or core (44);
• and
• movable shaft support means (17-20) supporting said cylinder shaft or core (44) coupled to said shaft or core (44) on the machine,
• said shaft support means (17-20) selectively positioning or repositioning the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) and hence the cylinder drive means (22) secured thereto with respect to the machine drive means (23) at selected positions in the printing machine in dependence on the circumference dimension of the specific printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) within said range on said cylinder shaft or core (44), while maintaining driving connectability of the printing cylinder drive means (22) with the machine drive means (23);
• wherein said printing cylinder shaft or core (44) has a fixed end with an essentially part-conical outer surface at the side of the cylinder drive means (22) and said sleeve (3, 3a) has an inner, matching, essentially part-conical end portion.

Rotary web printing machine, especially adapted for printing on thicker carton-type stock webs for packaging of merchandise, having

• a printing unit (100) including
• side walls (1, 2);
• at least one printing cylinder, optionally a plate cylinder, and an impression cylinder (5) located between the side walls of the machine;
• an inker (6, 8, 9, 10) having at least one inker roller (8, 9) positioned between the side walls of the machine, and transferring ink by surface contact to the printing cylinder,
• wherein, in accordance with the invention, the at least one printing cylinder comprises
• a printing cylinder shaft or core (44);
• and
• a selectively removable and replaceable printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) positioned on and surrounding the shaft or core, said printing cylinder sleeve comprising a specific sleeve within a set of sleeves (3, 3a) in which each sleeve has an individual outer circumference dimension, within a predetermined range of circumference;
• a machine drive means (23) is provided, located at an axially fixed position between the side walls of the machine;
• wherein the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) is positionable between said side walls at respectively different axial locations in dependence on the outer circumference dimension of the specific sleeve (3 or 3a) on the shaft or core, while maintaining driving connection of the cylinder shaft or core (44) with the machine drive means (23) at its fixed position in the machine, and inker surface contact of the specific sleeve with at least one of the inker rollers of the inker;
• and
• cylinder support arms (17, 18) one, each, located adjacent a side wall of the machine, supporting and journaling the printing cylinder shaft or core (44), and pivotable about the axis of rotation of the machine drive means (23) for positioning the specific printing cylinder sleeve (3, 3a) in said contact engagement with at least one of the rollers of the inker and the cylinder drive means (22) in engagement with the machine drive means (23);
• and
• wherein, for exchange of a specific printing cylinder sleeve with a sleeve of a different circumference dimension, within said range, one end region of the printing cylinder shaft or core (44) is securely retained in a bearing in one (17) of the support arms adjacent one (2) of the side walls (1, 2) of the machine, and the other end region of the printing cylinder shaft or core is removable from the other support arm (18) adjacent the other (1) side wall;
• said other side wall being formed with an opening (51) to provide for access to the printing cylinder shaft or core for exchange of cylinder sleeves (3, 3a) and subsequent re-positioning of the other carrier arm adjacent said other side wall (1).