Bearing support system for a printing press having cantilevered cylinders

A printing press, comprising:

• a frame;
• a support shaft, the support shaft having an inboard portion having a fixed end attached to the frame, an outboard portion having a free end disposed outwardly away from the frame, and an interconnecting central portion, the onboard portion having a first cross section and the outboard portion having a second cross section less than the first cross section;
• a cylinder sized for placement over the support shaft;
• and
• a bearing assembly for rotatably supporting the cylinder on the support shaft, the bearing assembly including an inboard bearing set secured to the support shaft outboard portion and defining a center point disposed along a centerline of the support shaft a predetermined distance from the fixed end, and further including an outboard bearing set secured to the support shaft adjacent the free end, the bearing assembly being adapted to permit pivotal movement of the cylinder about the center point.

For use on a printing press having a frame, a bearing assembly for mounting a cantilevered printing cylinder to the frame, comprising:

• a support shaft having an inboard portion having a fixed end attached to the frame and an outboard portion having a free end disposed outwardly away from the frame, the inboard portion having a first predetermined stiffness and the outboard portion having a second predetermined stiffness;
• a printing cylinder adapted to receive thereon an axially removable impression sleeve;
• and
• a bearing assembly for rotatably supporting the printing cylinder on the support shaft, the bearing assembly including an inboard bearing set secured to the support shaft outboard portion and defining a swivel point disposed along a centerline of the support shaft a predetermined distance from the fixed end, and further including an outboard bearing set secured to the support shaft adjacent the free end;
• whereby the bearing assembly permits swiveling adjustment of the printing cylinder about the swivel point.

A printing press, comprising:

• a frame;
• a cantilevered support shaft mounted to the frame and having a fixed end, a free end, and a central portion, the cantilevered support shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
• a cylinder;
• and
• a bearing assembly arranged to rotatably support the cylinder on the cantilevered support shaft, the bearing assembly including an adjustable race disposed adjacent the central portion of the cantilevered support shaft, the adjustable race permitting angular adjustment of the cylinder about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cantilevered support shaft.

For use on a printing press having a frame, a bearing assembly for mounting a cantilevered printing cylinder to the frame, comprising:

• a cantilevered support shaft having a fixed end attached to the frame, a free end disposed outwardly away from the frame, and a central portion disposed between the fixed end and the free end;
• a printing cylinder adapted to receive thereon an axially removable impression sleeve;
• and
• a bearing assembly for rotatably supporting the printing cylinder on the support shaft, the hearing assembly including a first bearing set mounted to the support shaft adjacent the central portion and a second bearing set mounted to the support shaft adjacent at least one of the free end or the fixed end, the first bearing set defining a swivel point disposed along a centerline of the support shaft, the first bearing set and the second bearing set cooperating to permit adjustment of the printing cylinder about the swivel point.