US2170896A - Transfer machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug-29,1939 C. L. HEVNDERSON 2,170,896

TRANSFER MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan Aug; 29, 1939.

C. L. HENDERSON TRANSFER MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3- fizverzz or C/Q/ZGS 15 62681921507; 3M), av 00 0. Q 0-h! Aug. 29; 1939.

-c. HENDERSON TRANSFER MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1939- c. HENDERSON 2,170,896

TRANSFER MACHINE I Filed Jan. 10, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRANSFER MACHINE Charles L. Henderson, Appleton, Wis "liner to Paper Patents Company, Neenah, Wis a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 10, 1938, Serial No. 184,180 17 Claims. (or. 95-73) The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 130,647 which was filed on March 13, 1937, and which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

There has long been a need in the photogravure printing art for apparatus operable to photographically transfer designs or pictures directly from suitable photographic transparencies, or the like,,to sensitized printing cylinders, especially cylinders of large diameters, thereby v eliminating the use of the carbon tissue or simi-.

lar means new employed in making rotogravure cylinders. This need has been met in part by the apparatus disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 130,647, but where headroom. is limited the vertical apparatus may become impracticable on account of the height needed to handle large diameter cylinders. Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the subject type which can be used in conjunction with large printing cylinders of varying diameters,

and which will operate at high light intensities,

in order to minimize the printing time.- Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved light source for use in conjunction with transfer apparatus of the previously described general type which may be located beneath-the printing cylinder and the photographic transparency bearing the picture or design which is to be transferred, thereto during the transfer operation. It might be mentioned at this point that the positioning of the light source beneath the cylinder and the transparency during the transfer operation has heretofore been considered impractical, chiefly because of the inability of prior art apparatus to provide for dissipation of the great amount of heat liberated by a high intensity light source.

' Further objects of the invention are to provide an improved means for obtaining high pressure line contact between a photographic transparency, especially one of the plate type, and the sensitized surface of a printing cylinder during transfer operations of the type contemplated herein, and generally to provide an improved, easily operable transfer machine according to the principal object of the invention. Other objects and further important advantages of the invention will be made apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following description of one particularly satis- 6 factory embodiment of the invention. Referring to these drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete transfer machine embodying the principles of the present invention; 10

Figure 2 is a plan view, partially in section, of the transfer machine illustrated more completely in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the general line 3-3 of Figure 2; 15

Figure 4 is a. sectional view on the general line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view illustratingthe automatic operation of the support means for the carrier plate for the photographic trans- 20 parencies or designs which are to be transferred to the sensitized printing cylinder;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view'illustrating certain of the features of the improved pressure securing mechanism utilized for accomplishing 25 linecontact between the transparency and the sensitized printing cylinder;

Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary views illustrating the features of the actuating mechanism, for the pressure securing means; 30

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the presser members forming a part of the pressure securing means;

.Figure 10 is a sectional view on the general ,line |0l0 of Figure 9;

, 35 Figure 11 is a perspective view of the reflector and light hood used in conjunction with the apparatus of my invention; and

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the heat transfer means constituting a part of my invention.

As illustrated particularly in Figures 1 and 2, the transfer mechanism of my invention is provided with a rigid base frame I 3, rectangular in outline and preferably formed of welded, struc- 5 tural steel channels. A pairof upstanding, cast metal, end yokes I! are bolted to the ends of the base frame l3 and serve to support a pair of spaced, cylindrical guides l1 in exactly parallel relation. 50 The transfer of the design or picture which it is desired to reproduce on the printing cylinderis most satisfactorily accomplished by the use of 111m transparencies preferably prepared in accordance with the methods disclosed in my 55 co-pending application, Serial No. 105,852. During the transfer operation these transparencies are carried upon a flat plate i 9, preferably of relatively thick, plate glass, which is supported at its'ends upon a pair of spaced cross heads 2!. The cross heads 2i are provided with journal portions adapted to slidably engage the cylindrical guides l1 and are rigidly held in spaced relationship by a pair of channel sec tions 23 bolted or'otherwise afiixed thereto. To aid in positioning and holding the carrier plate IS, the cross head members 2| are provided with positioning slots 25 adapted to receive the ends of the glass carrier plate l9, and to minimize the danger of breaking the glass carrier plate l9 during use, suitable cushion'supports 26 of rubber or the like are provided in the slots 25. Adjustable clamp members 21 having resilient bearing portions 28 (Figure 3) ,are provided for clamping the ends of the carrier plate I9 inplace within the slots 25.

The cross head members 2| are slidable upon the guides l1, and hence together with the side .channels 23 constitute a. rigid support for the carrier plate l9 by means of which it becomes possible to move that late longitudinally from one end of the machine to the other in tangen-- tial contact with the cylinder during the transfer operation. Movement of the carrier plate support upon the guides I1 is accomplished by a pair of driving screws 29 supported at one end upon the lefthand yoke l5 (Figure 2) and adapted to engage suitable threaded portions in the adjacent cross head 2|. The screws.29 are mechanically interconnected by means of two gears 3|, one of which is keyed to the outer end of each screw, and ashaft 33 having worm gears 34 for engaging the gears 3i. The shaft. 33 is adapted to be driven by a variable speed/ motor drive mechanism 35 through a pair of right angle hand gears 36, only the uppermost of which is visible in Figure 2. Y

The drive mechanism 35 is illustrated particularly in Figure 2- and includes a constant speed motor 31 having a drive shaft 38 connected at one end bya belt 39 to a high speed drive pulley 40 which is supported upon, and is freely rotatable relative to, a hollow shaft or sleeve M. The sleeve H is slidably keyed to the main shaft M which operates the driving element of the right angle gears 36. The other end of the motor drive shaft 38 engages agear reduction mechanism 42 which is connected by a chain belt 44 to a low speed drive pulley 43, also supported upon, and freely rotatable relative to, the sleeve 4!. A friction clutch 45 is positioned at either end of the sleeve Bi, and these clutches 45 are actuable, in response to movement of a handle 45, tolcon- 'nect either of the drive pulleys 40 or 43 to the shaft 4 l whereby that shaft and the drive screws 29 for the carrier plate support may be driven at either high or low speed.

During the transfer operation the'sensitized printing cylinder, as illustrated at 47, is supported transversely of the transfer machine at substantially the mid point thereof, and as an aid to securing the proper degree of contact pressure between transparencies carried upon the carrier plate 59 and the surface of the printing cylinder, it is desirable that the cylinder support shall be vertically adjustable. The structure illustrated in the drawings is provided withsuch a support means, this means including a pair of hollow, cast or fabricated, uprights 49 extending between the longitudinal sections of the base frame 5 3 and the guide members 11. Yokes 5| adapted to engage ball bearings 50 or the like located on the ends of the printing cylinder 41 are vertically adjustably supported upon these uprights 49 by means of two pairs of cylindrical members 52 which slidably engage suitable guide passageways formed-in the uprights 49. The lower ends of each pair of these members 52 are connected'together by a cross head 53. A threaded lift rod 53 engages each of the cross heads 53 at its upper end, and at its lower end engagesa cam 53 (Figure 4) formed in a shaft 54 extending transversely across themachine. It'will be evident that when this shaft is rotated, as by the crank 54, it will be possible to raise or lower the cylinder supporting yokes 5| a suflicient distance to permit the surface of the printing cylinder 41 to be brought into tangential contact with the upper surface of the transparencies positioned upon the carrier plate I9. By the use of lift rods 53 having threaded engagement with the supports for the printing cylinder, it is a simple matter to adjust the height of the cylinder supportin order that the machine may accommodate.

cylinders of various diameters. A look nut 54? is preferably provided on each of the lift rods 53 'for maintaining the adjustment of those rods during use of the machine.

During the transfer operation,a narrow beam 1 of light of very high intensity is directed through the plate l9 and the transparencies carried thereon along the lineof tangential contact with the printing cylinder 41. At the same time, the transparency carrier plate 49 is slowly traversed from one side of the machine tothe other, the rate of movement determining the duration of the exposure, and during this traversing movement the glass plate and the transparencies carried thereon are maintained ,in tangential contact with the cylinder. To accomplish satisfactory transfer of the design or picture formed in the transparencies it appears necessary that there be relatively high contact pressure along the line of tangency of the printing cylinder and the transparencies carried on the plate Hi. This pressure incidentally produces suflicient friction between the printing cylinder and the surface of the transparencies carried on the carrier plate l9 to cause rotation of the printing cylinder at a peripheral speed exactly equal to. the rate of movement of the transparency carrier plate' l9 when that plate is traversed from one side of the machine to the tangential contact between the printingcylinder and the transparencies carried on the plate it constitutes one of the most important features of the present invention, and is illustrated in some detail in Figures 3 and 6 through 10. Generally speaking, this means constitutes a pair of elongated presser members 55 (adapted to be pressed against the under surface of the transparency carrier plate I9 at either side of, and

very close to, the line of tangential contact be-,

tween the upper surface of the transparency carrier plate It and the printing cylinder. The pres'sermemhers 55, as'is illustrated particularly in Figures 3, 6, and 9, are provided with antifriction, bearing portions 56 of hard fiber or simi- I lar material for engaging the under Jected to only relatively slight bending stresses /'65 to the individual surface of the transparency carrier plate I I. I Y

Because of the considerable length of the presser members 55 and the heavy pressures which they must exert, those members are supported by a plurality of spaced support arms 91 adjustably attached thereto by bolts 59. or the like, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 9. These sup- ,port arms 51 are pivotally supported intermediate their ends by two suitably positioned shafts 59 which extend transversely of the machine, and

to prevent bending of the shafts 59, they are supported intermediate the arms 51 by bearing blocks 6| bolted or otherwise attached to rigid cross members 63, the ends of which are bolted to the central uprights 49. The outwardly projecting end of each of the support arms 51 is biased to bring the associated presser member 55 into contact with the under surface of the transparency support plate l9 by means of a compression spring 65, the reaction force of which is transmitted to the support arm throughv a pin 61 which extends through a suitable passageway inthe transverse supports 63 for the shafts 59. v I

It willbe apparent that through the use of the separate support arms 51 located at spaced intervals along the length of the presser members 55, it is possible to obtain very high contact pressure between the upperv surface 01 the transparency carrier plate I9 and the surface of the cylinder in tangential contact therewith, Further, since the line of application of the force exerted. by the presser members '55 is located only a short distance to either side of the line of tangential contact, the transparency carrier plate i9 is subduring the transfer operation.

The edges 01' the presser members 55 are utilized to determine the width of the slot 69 through which the light passes during the transfer operation, and since the openings 10 for receiving the shanks of the bolts 59 which serve to attach the support arms 51 to the presser members 55 are elongated (see Figures 9 and 10), it

-is possible to readily adjust the width of this slot 69.

It is desirable that the presser members 55 shall bear against the under side of the transparency carrier plate 19 only when the printing .cylinder is in tangential contact with that plate. Accordingly, the apparatus includes means for relieving the pressure exerted by the presser members 55 whenever the operator may so desire. This means, as is illustrated particularly in Figures ,3, 6, and 8, constitutes a pair of elongated, transversely extending members 1| arranged for vertical movement into and out of engagementv with the lower ends of the pins 61 which transmit the reaction forces of the compression springs arm supports 51 for the pressure members. Suitable guides 13 and 14 determine the path of movement of the spring release members 1|, and the simultaneous raising and lowering of these release members is efl'ected by means of two mechanically interconnected, transversely extending shafts 15 which are con.- nected to the release members 11 through suitable toggle linkages 16, the shafts 15 being actuated in response to the rotation of a crank 11 by other toggle linkages 18.

The means utilized to produce the high intensity beam of light which is directed through the transparency carrier plate i9 and the transparencies carried thereon during the exposing of prises a reflector unit 83.

. a unitary reflector and lamp structure. The light hood 19 is rigidly supported upon the central uprights 49 as is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The bottom of the hood 19 is open, and the top is provided with a narrow slot 81 which aligns with the light slot proper i9.

The unitary reflector and lamp structure comgenerally rectangular in outline, which serves as the frame of the structure and four automatic arc lamps supported upon said reflector unit. 'The carbons 81 of these lamps 95 extend into the reflector unit through suitable openings 88 formed in the sides thereof, and to aid in attaining maximum illumination, the inner surface of the reflector unit 83 is formed to deflne four separate reflector sections 99, one for each arc.

83, the reflector and lamp structure is preferably supported by. means so arranged that that struc-- ture may be readily moved fromits normal position beneath the hood 19 to a position such as is. indicated by the dotted lines 9 I" in Figure 3. In the machine illustrated in the drawings, this support means includes a pair of guide members 93 rigidly supported upon the central uprights 49. These guide members are adapted to be slidably engaged by two supporting brackets 95,-one of which is afllxed to either end of the reflector unit 89. Slidable movement of the structure on the guides 93 15 preferably accomplished by lneans of two toggle linkages 91, actuated in unison by a transverse shaft 98, the shaft being operated by a suitable crank 99.

The physical construction of the automatic arc lamps 85 is not an important part of the present invention and various commercially availfable types may be used. To minimize printing time, however, it is very desirable that the arc lamps shall be of suflicient capacity to produce a beam of very high light intensity. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings is provided with four, ampere arc lamps spaced apart about 12 inches from center and positioned so that the distance from the centerof the carbonsto the bottom surface of the transparency support plate 19 is about 10 inches. It should be noted that the arc lamps and reflector assemblage and the hood 19 are normally positioned directly beneath the line of contact of the printing cylinder and the transparency carrier plate 19. This arrangement, as suggested previously, is an important feature of the present invention and constitutes a radical departure from the constructions heretofore utillized in the art. A

There are numerous advantages resulting from the positioning of the arc lamps and reflector assemblage directly beneath the area of contact between the transparency carrier plate 19 and the cylinder. For example, debris from the car bons is thereby prevented from falling in the direction of the transparency supporting plate be utilized at higher and, generally, the cost of the apparatus is materially lessened. Yet despite these advantages, prior to the present invention it was considered highly impractical, if not in fact dangerous, to locate the arc lamps and reflector assemblage of a high intensity light source beneath the printing area, primarily due to the excessive heating which occurredat the printing area.

The'apparatus of the present invention eifectively accomplishes the dissipation of this heat by means of a cooling system of a very particular type. As illustrated, in Figures 3 and 4, the walls of the reflector housing 83 -are hollow and are provided with inlet andv outlet pipes lol and I02 whereby a cooling liquid may be continually circulated through the hollow interior thereof. Likewise, the walls of the hood I9 are also of hollow construction,'and inlet and outlet pipes I 03'and I04 are provided to permit cooling liquid'to be circulated therethrough. Of even more importance than the hollow wall construction of the reflector 83. and the hood 19,

the presser members 55 are of hollowconstruc- During operation of the machine the several inlet and outlet pipes are connected together by conduits I01, preferably as illustrated in Fig-.

ure 12, and a suitable cooling liquid is forced through the hollow interior of the presser memhas 55, the hood I9, and the reflector 83 in the order stated. In combination, this arrangement makes possible the location of the arc lamps and reflector assemblage beneath the transparency carrier while permitting-the use of very high intensity illumination. It is not necessary, of course, to use a recirculating system for the cooling liquid; ordinary city water, for example, may be used as the cooling liquid, the water which is heated by passing through the machine being discharged into the sewer.

Since the transparency carrier plate I9 must I of necessity be rather .long in order to accommodate sufficient copy for a large diameter printing .cylinder, it is desirable to provide means intermediate the cross heads 2i for supporting that plate as it is traversed from one end to the other of the machine during a transfer operation. One means for accomplishing this is illustrated in Figure 5 and comprises two'sets of three transverse support members I09 which are connected to each other so as to be maintained in fixed relationship by suitable tie rods III. Three of the support members I09 are located on each side of the presser members and both ends H2 of each of the support members I09 are accurate and adapted to slidably engage the guide rods I! with a bearing engagement. If desired; the upper surface of the support members- I 09 may be covered with a strap II3 (Figure 4) of fiber or like material to prevent scratching the under side of the transparency carrier plate I9. It will be evident that when the transparency carrier plate I9 is traversed from one side of the machine to the other the supportgnembers I09 will be moved between the two extreme positions illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, to continuously provide support forthe intermediate portions of the carrier plate I9.

\ bers 21.

more light is emitted from the upper side of the horizontal arc lamp than from any other side:

During normal operation of the transfer machine, photographic transparencies or the like bearing the defsign which it is desired to transfer to the printing cylinder will preferably be stripped onto the glass transparency carrier plate I9 by any one of the means known to the art. The plate I9 will then be placed in position upon the cross heads 2! constituting a part of the carrier plate support mechanism and will be fastened in position by tightening down the clamp mem- The printing cylinder 41 to whichv a suitable sensitized coating has been previously applied will then be placed in position upon the supportingyokes 5|, and with the transparency will be operated to release the biasing springs 61 for the presser members 55, whereupon those members will be moved into engagement with the under side of the transparency carrier plate I9 at either side of the line of tangential contact between the cylinder and the upper surface of the carrier plate IS. The pressure exerted bythe springs 61 assures even high pressure contact between the surface of-the cylinder and the upper surface of the transparency carrier plate I9 during the transfer operation.

Next, motor driven mechanism 31 which actuates the drive screws 29 for the transparency carrier plate support will be energized, and simultaneously arc lamps '85 constituting the light source will be turned on. The exposing or transfer operation then proceeds automatically, the

glass plate bearing the transparencies being trav-r ersed at a uniform rate of speed horizontally across the machine in tangential contact with the peripheralsurface of sensitized printing cylinder 41 which rotates with a peripheralspeed exactly equal to the speed of movement of the transparency supporting plate.

Suitable limit switches II5 serve to automatically stop the driving motor 37 for the drive screws 29 and to shut off the arc lamps 05 at the conclusion of the transfer operation. The lever-TI is then operated to relieve the force exerted on the under surface of the plate i9 by the biasing springs 95 for the presser members 55, following which the printing cylinder 51 may be removed from'the machine, developed and etched. It is,

of course, evident that cylinders which are exact duplicates'of each other may be producedin this manner.- Heretofore; it has been considered practically impossible to produce duplicate cylinders, especially by processes which require the use of carbon tissue, as in rotogravure.

It will be apparent that the apparatus which I have described in the foregoing is capable of accomplishing the objects of the invention in a most satisfactory manner. Through the use of cooling means of the particular described type, it is possible to employ a very high intensity light source located beneath the line of contact between the transparencies carried on the transparency carrier plate and the printing cylinder. Further, this location of the light source not only eliminates the manifold objections of light sources located above or at the side of the printing cylinder, but, in addition, renders the entire apparatus much easier and much more flexible to operate, especially by facilitating the placing of the printing cylinder in position thereon.

The apparatus of my invention includes means for securing high pressure along the printing parency carrier plate regardless of the width of such plate. Also, the device includes means for adequately supporting the transparencycarrier plate throughput the transfer operation.

It will be evident that the principles which have been disclosed in the foregoingare capable of embodiment into structures of various types. Accordingly, it is my desire that the accompanying claims shall be accorded the broadest possible construction consistent with the language appearing therein and the prior art.

I claim the following as my invention:

1. In apparatus of the class described, means for supporting a printing cylinder for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, means including a flat, relatively rigid plate member for supporting a photographic transparency forhorizontal, longitudinal movement beneath and in tangential contact with said cylinder, means for longitudinally moving said transparency in tangential contact with said cylinder, means including a pair of spring actuated, elongated presser members located respectively on opposite sides of and closely adjacent to the line of tangential contact between said cylinder and said transparency for creating sufilcient pressure along said ,line of tangential contact to cause said cylinder to be rotated when said transparency is moved longitudinally solely because of the frictional contact therebetween, and means located beneath said transparency and said cylinder for directing a relatively narrow, high intensity beam of light between said presser members and through said transparency along said line of tangential contact, the separation of said presser members determining'the width of said beam.

.2. In a transfer machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame, parallel guideways on said frame disposed in a horizontal plane, a frame for carrying a photographic transparency slidably mounted on said guidewayaa printing cylinder rotatably mounted above andcrosswise of said. last named frame, means for longitudinally moving said last named frame with said transparency in tangential contact with the periphery of said cylinder, spaced hollow presser onto said cylinder at the area of contact therebetween, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through said presser plates.

3. In a transfer machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame, parallel guide- .ways on said frame disposedv in a horizontal plane, a frame for carrying a photogra ic transparency slidably mounted on said guideways, a printing .cylinder rotatably mounted above and crosswise of said last named frame, means forelongitudinally moving said last named frame with said transparency in tangential contact with the periphery of said cylinder, spaced said presser plates and the jackets of said beam creating and directing means in series.

' 4. In a transfer machine of the class described,

the combination with a rotatable printing cylinder, and means for eifecting rectilinear movement of a horizontally disposed photographic transparency carrier plate in tangential contact with said cylinder, of means for pressing said carrier plate against said cylinder adjacent the line of contact comprisingan elongated presser plate underlying said carrier plate, a fixed support, a group of levers pivoted intermediate their ends on said support and carrying said presser plate on one arm thereof, headed pins mounted in the other arms of said levers, and thrust springs confined between said support and the heads of said pins and through said levers forcing said presser plate against the under side of said carrier plate.

5. In a transfer machine of the class described,

the combination with a rotatable printing cylinder, and means for eifecting rectilinear movement of a horizontally disposed photographic transparency carrier plate in tangential contact with said cylinder, of means for pressing said carrier plate against said cylinder adjacent the line of contact comprising an elongated presser plate underlying said carrier plate, a fixed support, a group of levers pivoted intermediate their ends on said support and carrying said presser plate on one arm thereof, headed pins mounted in and depending from the other arms of said levers, thrust springs confined between said support and-the heads" of said pins and through said levers forcing said'presser plate against the under side of said carrier plate, and means for simultaneously lifting said pins to relieve the pressure of said presser plate on said carrier plate.

6.,In a transfer machine of the class described, the combination with a rotatable printing cylinder, and means for effecting rectilinear move-' ment of a horizontally disposed photographic transparency carrier plate in tangential contactwith said cylinder, of means for pressing said carrier platei'against said cylinder'adjacent the line of contact comprising an elongated presser plate imderlying said carrier plate, a fixed support, a group of levers pivoted intermediate their ends on said support and carrying said presser plate on one arm thereof, headed pins mounted in and depending from the other arms of said levers, thrust springs confined between said support and the heads of said pins, a lifter bar underlying said pins, and means for bodily raising said lifter bar into lifting contact with said pins whereby to relieve the pressure of said presser plate on said carrier plate.

7. In apparatus of the class described, means for'supporting a printing cylinder for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, means including a flat, relatively rigid plate member for supporting a photographic transparency for horizontal, rectilinear movement beneath and in tangential contact with said cylinder, meansfor longitudinally moving said plate member and transparency while said transparency is in tangential contact with said cylinder, means for creating sufilcient pressure along the line of tangential contact between said cylinder and said transparency to cause said cylinder to be rotated in response to longitudinal movement of said transparency and said transparency support plate solely because of the frictional contact 'therebetween, said last mentioned means including at least one elongated presser member arranged to engage the under surface of said transparency support plate adjacent said line of tangential contact.

8. In apparatus of the class described, means for supporting a printing cylinder for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, means including a fiat, relatively rigid plate member for supporting a photographic transparency for horizontal, rectilinear movement beneath and in tangential contact with said cylinder, means for longitudinally moving said plate member and transparency while said transparency is in tan-'- gential contact with said cylinder, means for creating suflicient pressure along the line of tangential contact between said cylinder and said transparency to cause said cylinder to be rotated in response to longitudinal movement of said transparencyand said transparency sup: port plate solely because of the frictional contact therebetween, said last mentioned means' including at least one elongated presser member supported at spaced intervals along its length and biased to engage the under surface of said transparency support plate adjacent said line,

of tangential contact.

9. In apparatus of the class described, means for supporting a printing cylinder for rotatable horizontal, rectilinear movement beneath and in therebetween, said last mentioned means includ.

, transparency support plate adjacent'said line of movement aboutv a horizontal axis, means in eluding a flat, relatively rigid plate member for supporting a photographic transparency for tangential contact with said cylinder, means for longitudinally moving said plate member and transparency while said transparency is in tangential contact with-said cylinder, means for creating sufiicient pressure along the line of tangential contactbetween said cylinder and said transparency to cause said cylinder to be rotated in response to longitudinal movement of said transparency and said transparency support plate solely because of the frictional contact ing at least one elongated presser member arranged to engage the under surface of said tangential contact, said presser member being of hollow construction, and said apparatus including means for circulating a cooling liquid through said hollow presser member.

10. In a transfer machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame, parallel guideways on said frame disposed in a horizontal plane, 'a flat, relatively rigid plate for supporting a photographic transparency, a frame supporting said transparency support plate for slidable movement on said guideways, a freely rotatable printing cylinder mounted above said transparency support plate crosswise of the direction of movement thereof, the peripheral surface of said cylinder being in tangential contact with the transparency supported upon said transparency support plate, means for moving said supporting frame and said transparency iriction.

11. In-a transfer machine of the class de- 2,17o,see

operation of said machine, means for producing suflicient pressure between the transparency supported upon said transparency support plate and said cylinder along said line of tangential contact to cause said cylinder to be rotated at a peripheral speed equal to the speed of lcngitudinal movement of said transparency carrier plate solely because of the frictional engagement between said transparency carrier plate and said printing cylinder, .said last mentioned means comprising at least one elongated presser member supported'at spaced intervals along its length and biased to engage the under surface of said transparency support plate adjacent said line of tangential contact.

12. In apparatus of the' class described, a printing cylinder, means for supporting said cylinder for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, means including a fiat, relatively rigid plate member for supporting a photographic transparency, for horizontal, rectilinear. movement beneath and in tangential contact with said cylinder, means for longitudinally moving said plate member and transparency while said transparency is in tangential contact with said cylinder, means for producing suflicient pressure along the line of tangential contact between said cylinder and said transparency to cause said cylinder .to be rotated in response to longitudinal movement of said transparency and said transparency support plate, means located beneath said transparency support plate and said cylinder for directing a narrow, highintensity beamof light through. said transparency support plate and said transparency along said line of tangential contact, and means for pre- (Venting excessive heating of said transparency along ,said line of tangential contact including at least one hollow, elongated member which slidably engages the under surface of said transparency support'plate adjacent said line of tangential contact, and means for circulating cool- 'ing fluid through said hollow member. 13. In a transfer machine of' the class 'described, the combination of a main frame, parallel guideways on said frame disposed in a horizontal plane, a fiat, relatively rigid plate for supporting'a photographic transparency, a frame for supporting said transparency support plate for slidable movement on said guideways, 5a printing cylinder rotatably mounted above said transparency support plate crosswise of the direction of movement thereof, the peripheral surface of said cylindenbeing in tangential contact with the transparency supported upon said transparency supportpiate, means for longitudinally moving said supporting frame and said transparency support plate during the operation.

of said machine, means including at least one elongated, hollow presser member adapted to parency carrier plate to produce suflicient pressure between the transparency supported upon said transparency. support plate and said cylinder to cause said cylinder to be rotated in response to movement of said transparency and said transparency support plate, means located beneath said transparency support plate and said cylinder for directing a narrow, high intensity beam of light through said transparency support plate and said transparency along said line of tangential contact, and means for circulating cooling fluid through said presser member.

14. In a transfer machine of the class described, a main frame, 'means including a flat, relatively rigid plate member for supporting a photographic transparency for horizontal, rectiiinear movement on said main frame, a printing cylinder disposed above and crosswise of the direction of movement of said transparency support plate, bearingsfor the end pintles of said cylinder, a vertically adjustable support member for each of said bearings mounted on said main frame, and means for simultaneously raising and lowering said bearing support members and said bearings: predetermined equal amounts, said last mentioned means comprising a rock shaft journaled in, and crosswise of, said main frame and duplicate cams integrally attached to said rock shaft and arranged to cooperate with said vertically adjustable support members to effect the simultaneous raising or lowering of said bearing support membersin response to rotation of said rock shaft.

15. In a transfer machine of the class described, the combination of a main frame, parallel guideways on said frame disposed in a horizontal plane, a fiat, relatively rigid transparency support plate, a secondary frame supporting said transparency support plate for slidable move.- ment on said guideways, means for traversing said secondary frame and said transparency support plate from one end of said machine to the other, and automatic means for supporting said plate at spaced intervals therealong during said traversing operation, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of elongated support members which are arranged crosswise of the direction of movement of said transparency carrier plate and which are moved to supporting positions in response to movement of said secondary frame, each end of each of said support members slidably engaging one of said guide members, said support members being arranged in two sets,

one of which is located on either side of the longitudinal center of the path of travel of said transparency support plate, and corresponding members of each set being mechanically connected to each other-so as to be maintained in fixed, spacedrelationship whereby when said secondary frame and said transparency support plate is moved from one end of said machine .to

theother the molt members of client wi l tively narrow,

be moved in the direction of said center of movement in sequence, while the corresponding support members of the other set will be moved away from said center of movement so as to progressively support the carrier plate as it is traversedfrom one end of said machine to the other.

16. In apparatus of the class described, a printing cylinder, means for supporting said cylinder for rotatable movement about its longitudinal axis, a photographic transparency, means including a ilat, relatively rigid plate member for supporting said transparency for rectilinear movement while in tangential contact with the surface of said cylinder, means for longitudinally moving said plate member and said transparency while said transparency is in tangential contact with said cylinder, means for directing a relaconcentrated beam of light through said transparency and onto said cylinder along the line of tangential contact therebetween, means for securing an intimate pressure engagement between said cylinder and said transparency along said line of tangential contact, said last mentioned means including two elongated, hollow presser members each of which is resiliently biased into engagement with said transparency support plate adjacent said line of tangential contact, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through said hollow presser members.

through said transparency and onto said cylinder 1 along the line of tangential contact therebetween, means for securing an intimate pressure engagement between said cylinder and said transparency along said line of tangential contact, said last mentioned means including two elongated, hollow presser members each of which is arranged to bear against said transparency support plate at one side of and adjacent to said line of tangential contact, a stationary frame, and a plurality of spring-pressed support arms mechanically connected at one end to said frame and at theother end to said presser members at spaced intervals along the length thereof for supporting said presser members and for biasing said presser members into engagement with said transparency support plate, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through said hollow presser members.

I CHARLIE LIHINDERSON.

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