Printing press including improved gripper assembly

A printing press comprising:

• an impression cylinder;
• a printing station adjoining said impression cylinder;
• means for feeding sheets of paper to said impression cylinder;
• means for removing sheets of paper from said impression cylinder;
• a gripper assembly mounted to said impression cylinder, said gripper assembly including a shaft, a plurality of gripper clamp arms mounted to said shaft, a plurality of gripper blocks mounted to said shaft in adjoining relation, respectively, with said gripper clamp arms, means for resiliently urging each of said gripper blocks about said shaft with respect to each of said respective gripper clamp arms, and a gripper mounted to each of said gripper blocks, a portion of each gripper being adapted for engaging a sheet of paper upon said impression cylinder, each of said gripper clamp arms including a central body portion having a passage extending therethrough, a bifurcated first end portion adjoining said central body portion and defining a space adjoining said passage, a second opposite end portion adjoining said central body portion and engaging one of said respective means for resiliently urging said gripper blocks, and means for adjusting the height of said space, thereby changing the dimensions of said passage, said shaft extending through said passage, and
• means for moving said shaft about its longitudinal axis between first and second positions, said grippers being in a closed position for engaging a sheet of paper when said shaft is in the first position and in an open position for accepting or releasing a sheet of paper when said shaft is in the second position.

A gripper assembly for use on an impression cylinder of a printing press, comprising:

• a main shaft;
• a plurality of gripper clamp arms mounted to said main shaft;
• a plurality of gripper blocks rotatable mounted to said main shaft in adjoining relation, respectively, to said gripper clamp arms, a portion of each of said respective gripper blocks being in opposing relation to a portion of each of said respective gripper clamp arms;
• a plurality of springs positioned, respectively, between said opposing portions of said gripper blocks and gripper clamp arms, said springs urging said gripper blocks in a first rotational direction about said main shaft;
• a plurality of grippers mounted, respectively, to each of said gripper blocks, each of said grippers being positioned on the opposite side of said main shaft from said springs;
• a frame assembly for rotatably supporting said main shaft, and
• mounting means for mounting said frame assembly to an impression cylinder.

A gripper assembly for use on an impression cylinder of a printing press, comprising:

• a main shaft;
• a plurality of gripper clamp arms mounted to said main shaft;
• a plurality of gripper blocks rotatable mounted to said main shaft in adjoining relation, respectively, to said gripper clamp arms, a portion of each of said respective gripper blocks being in opposing relation to a portion of each of said respective gripper clamp arms;
• a plurality of springs positioned, respectively, between said opposing portions of said gripper blocks and gripper clamp arms, said springs urging said gripper blocks in a first rotational direction about said main shaft;
• a plurality of grippers mounted, respectively, to each of said gripper blocks, each of said grippers including first and second substantially parallel end portions extending in opposite directions and a connecting portion connecting said first and second end portions, said first end portion including a lower surface adapted for engaging a paper sheet upon an impression cylinder, said second end portion being removably secured to one of said gripper blocks;
• a frame assembly for rotatably supporting said main shaft, and
• mounting means for mounting said frame assembly to an impression cylinder.