US3057292A - Print proofing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

R. D. LARSEN PRINT PROOFING APPARATUS Oct. 9,1962

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1960 R. D. LARSEN PRINT PROOFING APPARATUS Oct. 9, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1960 6y 4 INVENTOR {16' J/Zd BRrD.Zm?g;/v 1/6 12/ W ATTORNEYS 0a. 9, 1962 R. D. LARSEN 3,057,292

PRINT PROOFING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1962 L Rs N 3,057,292

PRINT PROOFING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 28 T 4 i E. 60 2 1 4 9 g lan! smumm m ammy! INVENTOR P0251272. Z4255 BYE! W D ATTORNEYS R. D. LARSEN 3,057,292

PRINT PROOFING APPARATUS Oct. 9, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 2, 1960 ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1962 Filed NOV. 2, 1960 R. D. LARSEN PRINT PROOF'ING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR P035? 7). ZAP-35w BY MW 1 ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,057,292 PRINT PROOFING APPARATUS Robert D. Larsen, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Flexographic Mounting Machine Corp, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 66,763 18 Claims. (Cl. 101-174) This invention relates to the printing arts and, more particularly, to apparatus for obtaiinng a proof of a multiple impression print before the printing cylinders carrying the several impressions are mounted into a printing press.

In many printing operations, a complete print is the result of two or more successive substantially registering impressions, by different printing or impression plates. This is particularly true in multiple color printing, wherein each one of several successice plates prints a different color onto the same surface to be printed. Unless the several plates are properly positioned on their respective surfaces so that each plate will engage exactly the same surface area to be printed, the several impressions will not register with each other and a poor print will be obtained. Accordingly, it is necessary to spend a good deal of time and effort to assure proper registry of the successive impressions.

Generally, the successive plates for printing the suc cessive impressions are mounted on different cylinders, one cylinder carrying the plate forming the first impression, the second cylinder carrying the plate forming the second impression, etc. Printing presses are provided With means whereby the several cylinders may be properly indexed therein. However, difficulty is encountered in properly indexing the impression plates themselves on the respective cylinders.

In one known type of such printing, the successive impressions are made by means of flexible printing plates which are adhesively secured to the printing cylinders. In properly indexing these plates on the printing cylinders, it is necessary to align them exactly both axially and circumferentially of the cylinders so that each plate of a set will occupy exactly the same position and orientation on its respective cylinder as does each other plate of such set.

As hitherto performed, such indexing and registering of the printing cylinders and the plates thereon with respect to the proofing cylinder has been time consuming and laborious operation. Specifically, the printing cylinders are taken one at a time, positioned adjacent the proofing cylinder, the plates positioned on the printing cylinder and an impression taken on the printing cylinder. Then the printing cylinder is removed, and a second printing cylinder is placed into position and the same procedure repeated. This is done with all of the several cylinders to be used in making a particular print. As each cylinder is indexed and has its plates positioned thereon, an impression of the plates is taken on the proofing surface, and after all the cylinders have been indexed and their plates properly registered, a completed proof has been formed on the proofing cylinder or other proofing surface. If the proof is unsatisfactory, due to lack of registry of the successive impressions, the whole procedure must be repeated. Due to the time and labor involved, thi has been a very expensive proposition.

The present invention is directed to novel apparatus for eflfecting such indexing, registry, and proofing in an efficient rapid manner and at a relatively low cost.

More particularly, a frame is provided in which there is mounted a proofing cylinder which may be rotated by a motor. The frame includes a forward extension in which there is adjustably mounted a cradle, the cradle being arranged to be moved toward and away from the proofing cylinder and also adjustable with respect to the axial extent of the proofing cylinder. This cradle has mounted therein a pair of spaced printing cylinder supports which may be adjusted as to their spacing from each other, and each one of these supports has the same number of printing cylinder receiving formations, and the respective formations are at equal distances from each other. The formations are preferably recesses in the periphery of rotatable support disks, arranged to receive the hubs or axles of printing cylinders.

These hubs and axles are provided with suitable scribe lines, keyways, or other means for properly registering the printing cylinders into the printing press. The printing cylinders are preferably of the type arranged to have their surfaces coated with an adhesive for securing flexible, preferably rubber, printing or impression plates thereto. An indexing arrangement is mounted on the frame adjacent the proofing cylinder, and includes means interlocking with the indexing means of the printing cylinders for holding the printing cylinders in fixed position during positioning of the printing plates thereon. The indexing means also includes an elongated straight edge arranged to engage the surface of the printing cylinder to form a reference point or line against which the axially extending edges of the several printing plates may be positioned to properly orient the plates circumferentially of the printing cylinder. There is adjustabl'y mounted on the straight edge a further indexing device, which may be clamped in adjusted position, and which is arranged to engage the circumferentially extending edges of the printing plates to assure proper registry of the latter on the printing cylinder. The straight edge may be provided with a suitable scale to facilitate setting of this further indexing means.

In the operation of the invention, plural printing cylinders, usually four (4) in number, are mounted in the arcuate recesses of the pair of support disks. The first cylinder is then brought to a position at the top of the disks by motor driven rotation of the disks in unison. The cradle is then adjusted to a fixed distance from the printing cylinder, which distance is measured by a feeler gauge on the frame, which is then locked in position. Next, the indexing device is engaged with the printing cylinder, with reference to its scribe line on its hub or axle, to properly index the cylinder. The straight edge, at this time, will be engaged with the surface of the cylinder and the plates, which may be one or more plates, are positioned approximately in proper relation axially of the printing cylinder and with one axially extending edge of each plate engaged with the straight edge. Next, the further indexing means adjustable along the straight edge is used to measure or locate the proper positions of the circumferentially extending edge or edges of the plates on the printing cylinder. The printing cylinder is then moved into cooperating relation with the proofing cylinder, which has a layer of plastic on its surface, and the proofing cylinder motor is then operated to rotate the proofing cylinder to obtain an impression of the first plate or first set of plates.

The cradle is then moved outwardly and the disks are rotated to bring another cylinder up to adjacent the printing cylinder, after which the cradle is moved inwardly until it engages the feeler gauge. The process of placing the second printing plate or second set of printing plates onto the second cylinder is then carried out using the indexing means to properly register the printing cylinder with respect to its scribe line, the straight edge to position the second plates properly circumferentially of the second cylinder and the index device movable along the straight edge to position the second plates in exactly the same axial positions on the second cylinder as were occupied by the first printing plate or plates on the first cylinder. The second cylinder is then moved into engagement with the proofing cylinder and the latter is again rotated to obtain an impression from the plates on the second cylinder. This procedure is repeated with the third and fourth cylinders.

At the end of the several printing operations, the print or prints on the proofing cylinder should be in exact registry as to the successive impressions. If not, the operation can be repeated until the successive impressions are in exact registry. The several cylinders may then be removed from the apparatus and mounted in the printing press, with assurance that the several impressions required for each print will be in exact registry during the printing.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated [in the ac companying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a right hand elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken on the correspondingly numbered line of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partial side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the operation of apparatus;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial vertical sectional views also illustrating the operation of the apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a partial side elevatioual view illustrating the making of an impression; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views taken on the correspondingly numbered lines of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a frame 15 having side rails 16 formed with guide channels 17 in their upper edges, the side rails extending forwardly from a cross member 19 and being interconnected by a front cross member 18. Cross member 19 is set into recesses in the forward faces of upright frame elements 14 interconnected by a rear wall 13.

Rollers 21 are rotatably mounted in the channels 17 of the side rail 16, and serve as bearings for a cradle, generally indicated at 20, which is movable longitudinally of the side rails toward and away from the upright frame elements 14 and particularly the rear frame member 19. Cradle includes relatively heavy left and right hand end members 22 and 23 which are made of relatively thick plate. End members 22 and 23 are interconnected by longitudinally extending members or rails 25 each seated into a recess or notch in each end member. The longitudinal members 25 are formed with outwardly facing grooves 24. The left end member 22 extends to a position flush with the upper edges of the 7 rails 25, whereas the right end member 23 extends substantially above these members 25 for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

The uprights 14 rotatably support a shaft 3 1 to which is secured a proofing cylinder which, in the usual case, has its circumferential surface covered with a plastic material upon which impressions may be printed. Shaft 31 is operated by an electric motor 32 supported on a bracket 33 secured to one of the uprights 14.

The uprights 14 also support the gauging, indexing, or registering means for properly positioning the impression plates on the respective printing cylinders. Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 through 10, a pair of arms 34 is pivoted at one end to forwardly extending portions at the upper ends of uprights 14, and these arms move over arcuated slotted guides 36. Thumbscrew arrangements 37 are provided on the arms 34 and extend through the slots of guide 36 to secure the arms in adjusted position. The free ends of arms 34 support a triangular graduated straight edge 35. Straight edge 35 is secured in the ends of arm 34 by suitable clamping means indicated at 38 so that it may be held in any angularly adjusted position in these arms. A short shaft 39 extends from one end of the straight edge and forms the means mounting the same in one arm 34. A hub 41 is secured to the shaft 39 and has projecting therefrom a radial pin 40 which is used in indexing the printing cylinders in a manner described more fully hereinafter. A .slide 45 is slidably mounted on the straight edge 35 and has a triangular opening therethrough receiving the straight edge. Slide 45 has a pointer 46 projecting therefrom, and is provided with a thumbscrew 47 for clamping slide 45 at any adjusted position along the length of straight edge 35. This slide 45 cooperates with the graduations 48 of the straight edge 45.

One of the printing cylinders arranged to have the impression plates mounted thereon is indicated at 50. Up to four of these printing cylinders may be successively mounted in the apparatus by being positioned in a pair of relatively heavy rotatable and circular disks 55 and 60. Each printing cylinder 50 is secured to a shaft 51 provided with a registration keyway 52 for properly indexing the cylinder 30 in a printing press. Keyways 52 may be provided at one a both ends of shaft 51 and, if at both ends, are in longitudinal alignment with each other.

Bearing sleeves 53 are disposed on shaft 51 and engage the opposite ends of the cylinder. Bearing sleeves 53 are fixedly clamped in position on shaft 51 by means of set screws 54, such clamping being effected when a scribe line 56 on the sleeve is aligned with a scribe line 57 on the shaft. Scribe line 57 is preferably aligned with keyway 52. At a pre-set distance from its end engaging the adjacent end of cylinder 50, sleeve 53 is formed with an enlarged integral hub 58 provided with a series of radial holes 59 arranged in a common diametric plane through the hub and having uniform circumferential spacing. The purpose of these will be described later.

Except for certain differences pointed out more specifically hereinafter, the two disks and 60 are essentially similar in construction. Disk 55 is rotatably supported in a slide forming, when aligned therewith, a vertical extension of left end member 22. Slide 65 has extensions 66, at the ends of its lower edge, which have tongues 67 extending into the grooves 24 of rails 25. Thereby, the slide 65 is movable toward and away from the right end member 23. Slide 65 is formed with an upwardly opening semi-circular recess 64 formed with a channel 68 in which is seated the disk 55, there being bearings 69, FIG. 6, extending across the recess to rotatably support the disk 55. Right end slide member 23 is formed with an upwardly opening semicircular recess 26 having a channel 27, FIG. 6, receiving the disk 6!). Roller bearings 28 extend across the channel 27 to rotatably support the right hand disk 60. It should be noted that the recesses 64, 26 in the slide 65 and in the end member 23 are of equal radius and are centered on the same horizontal axis.

While left hand disk 55 is essentially a solid cylinder,

the right hand disk 60 has a channeled periphery, as indicated at 61, and the base of the channel is formed with gear teeth 62 so that, in effect, disk 60 comprises a ring gear. Each of the disks 55 and 60 is formed, in the illustrated embodiment, with four equi-angularly spaced radial recesses 63 arranged to conformingly receive sleeves 53 of the printing cylinders 50. Thereby, each printing cylinder may be rotatably supported in a pair of longitudinally aligned recesses 63 in the respective disks 55 and 60.

Slide 65 is adjustable along cradle 29, relative to right end member 23, by means of an elongated threaded shaft 70 which is threaded through an elongated nut 71 (FIG. secured in slide 65. One end of shaft 79 is rotatably engaged in a bearing means 72 on the inner face of member 23. Adjacent its opposite end, shaft 70 extends through an antifriction bearing 73 disposed in an opening 74 in a plate 75 secured to side rail 16 of the frame and extending upwardly above the left end member 22 of cradle 20. Collars 76, secured to shaft 70 on either side of bearing 73, prevent the shaft 70 moving axially relative to plate 75, and a hand wheel 77 is secured to the outer end of shaft 70 to rotate the latter to adjust slide 65 relative to right end member 23.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 outer surface of right end member 23 is formed with a pair of circular recesses 78 which rotatably receive a pair of spur gears 80 on shafts 81 rotatably mounted in end member 23. Gears 80 mesh with the teeth 62 of disk 69, and also With a pinion 82 on a shaft 83 rotatably mounted in member 23, pinion 82 being rotatable in a circular form recess 84 merging with the recesses 78. Secured to the outer end of shaft 83 there is a bevel pinion 86 which meshes with a bevel pinion 87 forming the output gear of a speed reducer 88 driven by an electric motor 85 mounted on member 23. By energizing motor 85, disk 60 may be rotated to adjust any particular cylinder 50 relative to the proofing cylinder 39. Due to the close fit of the sleeves 53 of the cylinders 50 in the recesses 63, the easily rotatable disk 55 is moved conjointly with disk 60.

As stated, cradle 20 is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly on the frame side members 16. For this purpose, a pair of screws 90 are provided, one of which extends through an opening formed longitudinally through member 23 near its lower edge, and the other of which extends through an opening 92 formed longitudinally of member 22 near its bottom edge. Each screw 90 has its outer end fixed in an ear 43 on a frame side member 16, and its inner end non-rotatably secured in member 19.

Each member 22 and 23 is formed with a recess, FIG. 1, open at its-outer face in which is rotatably mounted a spur gear 91 having a threaded inner periphery, FIG. 4, rotatably engaging the screw 99. Each spur gear 91 is mounted in its recess by means of anti-friction bearings 92, so that the spur gears '91 are immovable longitudinally of the members 22 and 23. Each spur gear 91 meshes with a spur gear 93 secured to a shaft 94 mounted in anti-friction bearings 96 in the respective members 22 and 23. Each shaft 94 has secured thereto a bevel pinion 97 meshing with a bevel pinion 98 on a stub shaft 99, the two stub shafts 99 being mounted in bearings 101 secured to member .25. Stub shafts 99, 99, form the output shafts of a motor 95 mounted on front rail 25.

The shaft 94 mounted in member 23 extends forwardly therebeyond and has a sprocket 102 secured on its outer end. This sprocket 102 is connected by a chain 103 to a sprocket 194 on a shaft 196 rotatably mounted in member 23 and having a hand wheel 109 secured to its outer end.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described with reference to the parts already referred to in the description, and additional parts to be referred to as the description of the operation proceeds. First, the hand wheel 77 is rotated to adjust slide 65 relative to end member 23 in accordance with the particular length of printing cylinders 56 to be used. The arrangement is such that it may be used with printing cylinders which may be from 10 to in length. Next, a printing cylinder 50 is positioned with its sleeves 53 engaged in the recesses 63, preferably the pair of forwardly facing recesses as viewed in FIG. 1. Having reference to the particular diameter of printing cylinders being used, the cradle 20 is then adjusted relative to the rear uprights 14. This is initially accomplished by energizing the motor 95 which, through rotation of the nut gears '91 along the screws 99, moves the cradle 20 inwardly. Previously to this, an adjustable stop 110 on the rear uprights 14, which may be operated and clamped in position by a handle 111, is moved inwardly or outwardly in accordance with the particular diameter of printing cylinder being used. When cradle 20 has been moved inwardly the major part of the distance which it is to be moved, motor 95 is tie-energized and hand wheel 100 is then turned to bring the cradle 20 into contacting engagement with the stop 110. This stop is arranged to engage a bar 112 extending across the rear upright surfaces of members 23 and slide 65.

The motor 85 is then energized to rotate the disks 55 and 60 until the cylinder carried thereby is at the twelve oclock position. The disks may be locked in this position by the means shown more particularly in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Referring to FIG. 11, the disk 55 is formed with plural openings 107 corresponding in number to the recesses 63 therein. These openings 107 are so located that an opening 107 is opposite a pin 115 whenever a recess 63 is at the twelve oclock position. Pin 115 has an operating handle 116 and it is slidably mounted in a tubular extension 117 on the outer upright edge of slide 65.

Referring to HS. 12, disk 6% is formed with a series of'holes 108 corresponding in number and location to the holes 197 of disk 55. These holes are form-ed in one of the flanges of the channel recess in this disk. Holes 108 cooperate with pins 129 having operating knobs 121 and mounted in tubular extensions 122 on the outer upright surface of end member 23. By means of pins 115 and 120, the disks 55 and 64] are locked in a position where the cylinder 50 carried thereby is in the twelve oclock position.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 10, thumbscrews 37 are loosened and bars 34 are swung downwardly to bring one edge of the straight edge 35 into engagement with the surface of the printing cylinder 50. The latter will have been coated with a suitable adhesive as indicated at 195. At this time, the radial pin 40 is engaged in one of the apertures 59 of a hub 58. For example, this might be the aperture 59 which is aligned with the scribe lines 56 and 57 and the keyway 52. However, the particular hole 59 used depends entirely upon the number of plates to be mounted on the cylinder circumferentially thereof, and is different for each particular plate in a series aligned circumferentially of the cylinder.

The first plates, in order of their arrangement circumferentially of the printing cylinder, are then placed on the cylinder with their edges engaging the straight edge 35. These plates, which are preferably flexible plates made of rubber and the like, are indicated at 125.

Next, the arms 34 are lifted slightly, the set screws 38 are loosened, and the straight edge 35 is rotated on shaft 39 to bring pointer 46 of slide 45 into the position shown in FIG. 9. The pointer 46 is adjusted along the straight edge 35, with reference to the graduations 48, to set one edge of each of the plates 125 at a particular position longitudinally of the printing cylinder 50, with reference to the graduations 4d and the positions are noted.

The arms 34 are then swung up out of the way, to disengage the pin 40 from the hub 58 and the pointer '46 from the cylinder. Next, the cylinder is turned by a predetermined amount depending upon how many plates are to be arranged circumferentially of the cylinder, and the before described operation is repeated with respect to the second plate or second series of plates to be mounted upon a particular cylinder. The operation is repeated, with respect to the first cylinder, as many times as there are plates in a series circumferentially of the cylinder.

.The cylinder 50 is then brought into engagement with the cylinder 39, and the latter is driven by its motor 32 to impress the markings from the plates 125 onto the surface of cylinder 30. This gives a printing of a first color with respect to one or all of the plates, depending upon how many plates 125 are used.

The same operation is then followed with respect to the cylinder carrying the second color to be printed, and so on with the cylinders carrying the third color and the fourth color. In the case of the second cylinder, the plates are positioned in exactly the same locations as the corresponding first cylinder plates, by utilizing the straight edge 35 and the slide 45 cooperating with the graduations 48. Hence, all of the several impressions should be in exact registry with each other on the printing cylinder 30.

There is thus obtained, on the surface of cylinder 30, the complete print comprising two, three, or four colors, and all of the impressions should be in registry with each other. If they are not, the procedure is repeated with respect to one or more cylinders, making readjustments, until such time as the impressions made on the cylinder 30 by the respective printing plates 125 are in proper registry.

The printing cylinders 50 are then removed from the disks 55 and 6t) and may be properly positioned in the printing press by virtue of the keyways 52. There will be certainty that the material printed will have its several color impressions in exact registry with each other.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for proofing plural impression prints made by plural printing cylinders imparting successive registering impressions to the same printing surface: said app-aratus comprising, in combination, a frame; a proofing cylinder rotatably supported in said frame and having a cylindrical surface for receiving the impressions; plural printing cylinders having adhesive coated cylindricalsurfaces for adherence of impression plates thereto; a pair of printing cylinders support means mounted on said frame for movement thereof as a unit to and from the position of engagement of the printing cylinder with said proofing cylinder, said support means being formed with plural means for receiving printing cylinder bearing members; means operatively connected to said support means and to said bearing members for adjusting said support means and said bearing members to bring printing cylinders selectively to the same indexing position in engagement with said proofing cylinder; releasable latch means operable to releasably latch said support means to said frame whenever a printing cylinder supported thereon .is in such indexing position; releasable indexing means selectively engageable with each printing cylinder bearing member in the indexing position to index and to latch such printing cylinder in pre-selected angular orientation relative to said proofing cylinder; and gauge means associated with said indexing means and cooperable with the surface of a printing cylinder in the indexing position to position corresponding impression plates on successive printing cylinders in the indexing position accurately at the same location axially and circumferentially of the respective printing cylinders; whereby the accuracy of registration of impressions on said proofing cylinder made by corresponding impression plates on successive cylinders engaged with said proofing cylinder may be checked before the printing cylinders are mounted in a printing press.

2. Apparatus for proofing plural impression prints made by plural printing cylinders imparting successive registering impressions to the same printing surface: said apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame; a proofing cylinder rotatably supported in said frame and having a cylindrical surface for receiving the impressions; plural printing cylinders having adhesive coated cylindrical surfaces for adherence of impression plates thereto; a pair of printing cylinders support means mounted on said frame for movement thereof as a unit to and from the position of engagement of a printing cylinder with said proofing cylinder, said support means being formed with means for receiving plural printing cylinder bearing members; means supporting said two support means for movement of one toward and away from the other; means operatively connected to said two support means for adjusting the spacing of said support means from each other to accommodate printing cylinders of difierent lengths; means operatively connected to said support means and to said bearing members for adjusting said support means and said bearing members to bring printing cylinders selectively to the same indexing position in engagement with said proofing cylinder; releasable latch means operable to releasably latch said support means to said frame whenever a printing cylinder supported thereon is in such indexing position; releasable indexing means selectively engageable with each printing cylinder bearing member in the indexing position to index and to latch such printing cylinder in pre-selected angular orientation relative to said proofing cylinder; and gauge means associated with said indexing means and cooperable with the surface of a printing cylinder in the indexing position to position corresponding impression plates on successive printing cylinders in the indexing position accurately at the same location axially and circumferentially of the respective printing cylinders; whereby the accuracy of registration of impressions on said proofing cylinder made by corresponding impression plates on successive cylinders engaged with said proofing cylinder may be checked before the printing cylinders are mounted in a printing press.

3. Apparatus for proofing plural impression prints made by plural printing cylinders imparting successive registering impressions to the same printing surface: said apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame; a proofing cylinder rotatably supported in said frame and having a cylindrical surface for receiving the impressions; plural printing cylinders having adhesive coated cylindrical surfaces for adherence of impression plates thereto; means supported by said frame and providing a rectilinear guide extending transversely of the axis of the proofing cylinder in a plane parallel to said axis; a cradle mounted on said frame in engagement with said guide for movement of said cradle along said guide toward and away from said roofing cylinder; a pair of printing cylinder support means mounted on said cradle for movement with said cradle as a unit along said guide toward and away from said proofing cylinder, said support means being formed with plural means for receiving printing cylinder bearing members; said support means being mounted on said cradle for adjusting said support means relative to said cradle to bring printing cylinders selectively to the same indexing position relative to said proofing cylinder; latch means operable to releasably latch said support means to said cradle whenever a printing cylinder supported thereon is in such indexing position; releasable indexing means selectively engageable with each printing cylinder bearing member in the indexing position to index and to latch such printing cylinder in pre-selected angular orientation relative to said proofing cylinder; and gauge means associated with said indexing means and cooperable with the surface of a 9 printing cylinder in the indexing position to position corresponding impression plates on successive printing cylinders in the indexing position accurately at the same location axially and circumferentially of the respective printing cylinders; whereby the accuracy of registration of the impressions on said printing cylinder made by corresponding impression plates on successive cylinders engaged with said proofing cylinder may be checked before the printing cylinders are mounted in a printing press.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said support means comprises. a pair of coaxial, axially spaced, equal diameter disks rotatably supported on said cradle; said bearing member receiving means comprising correspondingly located, equi-iangularly spaced recesses extending inwardly from the periphery of each disk and arranged to receive the bearing members of the respective printing cylinders.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which a given one of said disks is rotatably supported on a part fixed to said cradle, and the other of said disks is rotatably supported on a slide movable toward and away from said given disk on rails forming part of said cradle.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said cradle includes a pair of spaced end members movable along rails providing said guide and relatively elongated in the direction of such movement, said end members extending upwardly from said guide rails; a pair of second rails extending in spaced parallel relation between said end members, a given one of said end members extending above said second rails and the other of said end members terminating substantially flush with the upper surfaces of said second rails; and a slide extending upwardly from and mounted on said second rails for movement therealong toward and away from said given end member, said slide and said given end member providing said printing cylinder support means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which said given end member and said slide are formed with upwardly opening substantially cylindrical recesses having channeled arcuate peripheries; and cylindrical disks respectively disposed in said recesses for rotation on a common axis and providing said means for receiving said printing cylinder bearing members.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the disk supported on said given member is formed as a ring gear; driving gears meshing with said ring gear; and a motor connected to rotate said driving gears to adjust said given disk angularly.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said gauge means comprises a straight edge movably mounted on said frame and extending parallel to the axis of a printing cylinder supported in said support means; and an indexing slide mounted on said straight edge and adjustable therealong; said straight edge, when engaged with the surface of a printing cylinder, forming an abutment for position of impression plates circumferentially of the printing cylinder, and said indexing slide being cooperable with graduations on said straight edge for positioning of the impression plates axially of a printing cylinder.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said releasable indexing means comprises arm means swingably supported on said frame; and a pin carried by the outer end of said arm means and selectively engageable in circumferentially spaced apertures of a hub secured to each printing cylinder.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim in which each printing cylinder has an axle formed with a keyway for indexing of the printing cylinder in a printing press; said hub being formed with a scribe line alignable with said keyway.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which said straight edge is mounted on a shaft supported in the outer ends of a pair of arms pivotally mounted on an upright portion of said frame adjacent said printing cylinder; said straight edge being triangular in section and 'said indexing slide having a triangular opening therethrough conformingly receiving said straight edge.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which each disk has a series of holes in its periphery corresponding in number and spacing to the number and spacing of said bearing member receiving recesses; said latch means comprising pins slidably mounted in said cradle and engageable with one of said peripheral holes whenever a printing cylinder supported on the disks is in theindexing position.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including a relatively elongated stop element slidably supported in said frame for longitudinal adjustment in the direction parallel to said guide; said elongated stop element projecting toward said cradle and being adjustable to engage said cradle, during movement thereof toward said proofing cylinder, to limit adjustably the position of said cradle relative to said proofing cylinder.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including a nonrotatable screw extending through each of said cradle end members and anchored against longitudinal movement relative to said frame; a geared nut rotatably mounted on each of said end members and threadedly engaged With said screw; means preventing axial movement of each nut relative to its end member; an electric motor mounted on said cradle; and driving connections interconnecting said electric motor and each of said rotatable geared nuts to effect movement of said end members along said rails providing said guide.

16. Apparatus for proofing plural impression prints made by plural printing cylinders imparting successive registering impressions to the same printing surface; said apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame; a proofing member providing a cylindrical exterior surface for receiving impressions and supported by said frame for rotation of said member on the axis of the cylindrical surface; said frame providing a rectilinear guide extending transversely of the axis of said proofing member in a plane parallel to said axis; a cradle supported on said frame in engagement with said guide for rectilinear movement of said cradle along said guide toward and away from said proofing member; a pair of supports supported by said cradle for movement therewith along said guide; means carried by said supports for engaging and sup porting a cylindrical printing member respectively adjacent the ends of said printing member for rotation on the axis of its cylindrical surface; means operatively connecting said cradle to said frame and operable for eifecting movement along said guide of said cradle and of said supports and a printing roll supported thereby to and from the position of impression engagement of said printing cylinder with said cylindrical surface of said impression member, and means carried by said frame and operatively connectible to said printing member engaging and supporting means for determining an indexed position of said printing member upon its axis and the angular orientation of said printing member relative to said proofing member.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which said means carried by said supports for engaging and supporting a cylindrical printing member comprise a pair of carrier members respectively supported by said supports for rotation of said carrier members on a common axis parallel to the axis of said proofing member in the different positions of said cradle along said guide, each of said carrier members being provided with a plurality of bear-ing receiving means disposed symmetrically about and at equal radial distances from said common axis of rotation of said pair of carrier members for receiving bearing means carried by respective printing members adjacent the respective ends thereof, so that said printing members may be successively brought into said position of impression engagement thereof with said cylindrical surface of said impression member concomitantly with 1 1 rotation of said carrier members and movement of said cradle toward said proofing member; and latch means supported by said cradle for engaging said carrier members upon rotation thereof for indexing said carrier members to determine the position of a selected printing member relative to said proofing member.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 in which said bearing means for the respective printing members are provided with index means equally spaced about the axis of the printing member; and means carried by said frame and movable into engagement with said index means in the position of impression engagement of the respective 1 2 printing members with the impression member to determine the angular orientation of said printing member relative to said proofing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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