US2958274A - Apparatus for lithographic duplication of printing forms - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1960 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 2,

APPARATUS FOR LITHOGRAPHIC DUPLICATION OF PRINTING FORMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 29, 1953 Nov. 1, 1960 w. RITZERFELD E A 5 7 APPARATUS FOR LITl-IOGRAPHIC DUPLICATIQN OF PRINTING FORMS Original Filed July 29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Unite 1 APPARATUS FQR LITHGGRAPHIC DUPLICATION F PRINTHNG FORMS Wilhelm Ritzerfeld, Schorlemer Allee 14, Berlin-Grune- Wald, and Gerhard Ritzert'eld, Framzensbader Strasse 21, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany Claims priority, application Germany Aug. 6, 1952 7 Claims. (Cl. 101-145) This invention refers to printing apparatus, more specifically to an apparatus for lithographic duplication of printing forms.

In a printing apparatus of this type a printing block foil is inked with fatty color or ink and those portions which are to be kept free from ink, are moistened with fat-repellant agents, for example, water.

This application is a division of US. application Serial No. 371,006, filed on July 29, 1953, entitled Duplieating Method, Printing Device and Copying Set, now abandoned.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for lithographic duplication of printing forms wherein the protective coat usually present on a lthographic printing form before its use is first removed by a cleaning device, whereafter the printing foil is moistened by a moistening device, and wherein the printing form is inked by an inking device mechanically during the course of operation of the apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the type set forth and including also a device for mechanically applying a protective coat to the printing form at the end of the printing operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lithographic printing device of the type set forth in which all the operations recited in the preceding paragraphs are controlled by one common control device.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the type set forth in which a counter roll is used for pressing the copy sheet against the printing form and in which the control means controlling the other devices mentioned in the preceding paragraphs also control the operation of the counter roller.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a lithographic printing apparatus of the type set forth in which feeding means for the copy sheet are provided and in which also the operation of the feeding means for the copy sheet is controlled by the control device which actuates or controls the other devices mentioned.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a lithographic printing apparatus in which means for clamping the printing form to the printing roller of the printing apparatus are controlled automatically by mechanical means incorporated in the machine.

With the above objectsin view, an embodiment of the present invention comprises an apparatus for lithographic duplication of printing forms including a printing roller, means for securing a printing form to the printing roller, a counter roller cooperating with. the printing roller and movable to and from a printing position in close proximity with the printing roller, moistening means for moistening a printing form attached to the printing roller, inking means for inking the inking form, cleaning means for removing a protective coating from the printing form and operating means for States Patent 0 ice successively operating the cleaning means, the moistening means and the inking means.

In another embodiment of this invention the apparatus as set forth includes an applicator for applying a pro tective coating to the printing form.

In a further embodiment of this invention the apparatus as set forth includes control means movable between a plurality of positions which are respectively associated with the moistening, inking and cleaning means, the control means being connected with the operating means for successively operating the moistening, inking and cleaning means when moved between said positions.

In another embodiment of the invention the control means mentioned in the preceding paragraph also control the applicator means and counter roll.

In still another embodiment of the invention the apparatus set forth includes also automatic feeding means for copy sheets which feeding means are operated by the printing roller while their operation is controlled by the same control means which controls the operation of the various means for applying different fluids to the printing form.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises attaching means for securing a printing form to the print ing roller with control means for controlling the clamping operation and for positioning the printing roller in a suitable position for carrying out the clamping operation.

Still another embodiment of the invention comprises means for applying fluid to the printing form, which means are tiltable towards and from the printing form and are controlled by the general control means of the apparatus.

A further embodiment of the invention comprises a pump for a fluid to be applied to the printing forms which pump is operated from the printing roller for application of the fluid during operation of the apparatus.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an apparatus according to the invention and shows diagrammatically the printing mechanism, the frame being omitted for the sake of clarity; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of a part of the device shown in Fig. 1, showing diagrammatically a oneturn drive for the printing device and an automatic clamping device for the printing form.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a printing roller 14 is mounted for rotation on a shaft 13 but not connected therewith. The means for driving the printing roller will be described later with reference to Fig. 2. A printing form or foil is secured to a portion of the outer surface of the printing. roller 14 with its reverse-reading printing side .on the outside. The printing form 1 is held on the printing roller 14 by radially movable springcontrolled clamping devices 15 and 16. A counter roller 17 carried byturnable brackets 18, 19 is mounted for cooperation with .a raised portion 14 of the printing roller 14. The bracket 18 turns on a pivot 20; the bracket 19 turns aroundan excenter 21 turning on a pivot 22,-

3 rigidly attached to the control lever 31. The main control lever 31 can be turned into a plurality of positions, each position being determined by the engagement between a button 33" and corresponding notches 33 provided in a stationary arcuate member 33.

Various operating members are connected tothe main lever 31. A connecting bar 35 'pivotally connected to the lever 31 at 34, serves to control the operation .of a tiltable cleaning device 24 described below. A second connecting bar 42 pivotally attached to the end of the main lever 31 at 43 serves to operate the moistening device 40, 41. Another connecting bar 74 also pivotally connected at 43 to the end of the main lever 31 serves to control the operating of an inking device 62-73. Still another connecting bar 94 also pivotally connected to the .main lever 31 at 34 serves to control the operation of an applicator device 87 which serves to apply a protective coating to the printing form 1 after the printing operation is completed.

Rigidly attached to the main lever 31 is furthermore an arcuate member 82 which serves to control the operation of a feeder device 80, '81 for feeding the copy sheets between the printing roller 1 and the counter roller 17.

The devices controlled by the main lever 31 will be described individually further below.

When the main control lever 31 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, that is when its button 33" is engaged with the first notch 33 of the arcuate member 33', all the devices controlled by the control lever 31 are in the positions shown in Fig. l which are there respective in operative positions.

The printing form 1 is of the lithographic type and therefore carries the printed matter to be reproduced in the form of lines or patterns applied to the printing form as fatty substance. Usually printing forms of this type are provided with a protective coating consisting of a water-soluble substance and which is intended to protect the fatty substance from being damaged or impaired. Before the printing operation can start this protective coating has to be removed by application of a watery fluid. In the apparatus according to-the invention this watery fluid is applied to the printing form 1 by a felt pad 26 held in a supporting member shaped like a box 24 which is turnably mounted on a pivot 23. The felt pad 26 is exchangeably and replaceably held by a cover plate 25 engaging the box 24. The felt pad 26 projects toward the printing roller but does not contact its surface in the position shown. An operating arm 27 is attached to the box 24 and carries at its outer end a pin or roller 28 which bears, through the pulling action of a spring 29, attached to a pin 30, against the edge of the aboveinentioned connecting rod 35. This rod 35 is guided for lengthwise movement by a slot 35' engaging 'a stationary guide pin 36. The rod 35 is provided with a notch or recess 35". When the main control lever 31 is moved from its first notch position into a position where its button 33" engages another specified notch 33, then the connecting rod 35 moves into a position in which the pin or roller 28 drops into the notch 35" so that hereby the cleaning device and in particular the felt pad 26 is turned towards the printing roller 14. Consequently, as soon as the printing roller 14 is rotated the printing form 1 will be wiped and cleaned by the projecting tip of the felt pad 26.

When the main lever 31 is moved further to the next notch position the roller 28 is forced out of the notch 35" so that the felt pad 26 is moved back into its inoperative position.

In the lithographic process used in this apparatus it is necessary to moisten the printing form (after it has been cleaned and freed of the protective layer) with water before the ink is applied to the printing form. The moistening device in this apparatus consists of the roller 40 rotatably mounted on a shaft 30 and provided with an outer roller cover '41 made of absorbent material.

The shaft 39 is mounted at one end of a supporting member 38 having the shape of an angle lever which turns on a pivot 37. A roller or pin 44 at the other end of the member 38 bears, due to the action of a spring 45 attached to a pin 46, against one edge of the connecting rod 42 which is guided by a slot 42 in engagement with the pivot or shaft 37. *When the main control lever 31 is moved from the previous notch position into another consecutive position, the connecting rod 42, is moved lengthwise until the roller or pin 4-4 drops into a wide notch or recess 42". When this occurs the support member 38 swings around its pivot 3'7 so that its moistening element 41 comes into contact with the printing form 1 as soon as the printing roller is rotated. The main lever 31 may be held in the just mentioned positioned so that the moistening of the printing form can be carried out during several consecutive revolutions of the printing roller 14 and that any desired degree of moistening can he arrived at.

After the printing form has been moistened it is ready for being inked for starting the reproducing process. The inking device in this apparatus comprises a series of rollers 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, carried for rotation on shafts 6771 mounted in a supporting member 61. This supporting member is formed as a pair of angle levers which are turnably mounted on a shaft 60. A spring 61' tends to move the inking roll 62 towards the printing roller 14. A distributor blade 72 adjustable by a screw 73 holds an ink supply for application to the set of inking rollers 62-66. A roll or pin 76 bears under the action of spring 61' against one edge of the connecting rod 74 which is guided by its slot 74 on a stationary guide pin 75. The rod 74- is also provided with a wide notch or recess 74". When the main control lever 31 is moved still further along the arcuate notch member 33', the rod 74 will be moved to such a degree that the roll or pin 76 drops into the notch '74". When this occurs the support member 61 swings around the shaft 68 and the inking roller 62 is pressed against the printing form 1 as soon as the printing roller 14 carries out a revolution. It should be noted that the notches 42" and 74" are made so wide that the two operations of moistening by the roller 41 and inking by the roller 62 can be carried out simultaneously and these two operations can be continued even if the lever is moved further along the notched member 33'.

As soon as the printing form 1 is properly inked in, the apparatus is ready for reproduction. For this purpose the main control lever 31 is moved still further along the arcuate notched member 33 until its button 33" engages still another notch 33. By this further movement the excenter 21 is turned around the pivot 22 sufiiciently to move the bracket 1% towards the printing roller 41 so that now the counter roller 17 is swung around pivot 20 into its operative position. When the counter roller 17 is in its operative position, a copy sheet fed into the area between counter roller 17 and printing roller 14 will be pressed against the printing form 1 as soon as the printing roller 14 is rotated.

The apparatus shown in Fig. l is provided with automatic feeding means for the copy sheets. A stack of copy sheets is placed in a stock tray 83 at the front end of the machine. A feed roller 81 arranged so that it can turn only in clockwise direction is carried by a twoarmed lever 80. The lever is pivotably supported at 80' by a two-armed rocking lever 78 which swings around a stationary shaft 77. The other end of the lever 78 is joined with a connecting bar 79 which is connected to the printing roller 14 so that the rotary movement of the printing roller 14 is transmitted as a reciprocating movement by the rod 79 to the lever 78. In this manner the lever 80 and with it the feeding roller 81 are moved reciprocatingly above the pile or stack of copy sheets. However, the roller 81 is held out of engagement with the top sheet of the stack because a pin or roller 80" at the other end of the lever 80Vbears against the edge of the arcuate member 82 attached to the main control lever 31. Therefore the feeding means are inoperative until the main lever 31 is swung downwardly so far that the pin or roller 80" slides off the member 82 at its opposite end 82'. Now the roller 81 can drop down by its own weight on the top sheet of the stack, and the reciprocating movement imparted to it by the leverage 79, 78 serves to feed the copy sheets successively with every stroke of the feeding device, between the feed rollers 84, 85 where they are taken over by these rollers and fed into the area between the printing roller 14 and the counter roller 17.

When a production run of this apparatus is completed it is necessary to apply a protective coat again to the printing form 1 before it is removed from the printing roller 14. The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is provided with an applicator device for this protective coating which is quite similar to the cleaning device described above. A felt pad 89 is held in a supporting member 87 which has a box shape and is held in this box member 87 by a cover 88. The box 87 is mounted for turning movement on a pivot 86 and is provided with an arm 90 having a roller or pin 91 attached to its outer end, The roller or pin 91 bears, under the action of a spring 92 attached to a stationary pin 93, against an edge of the connecting rod 94 which is guided for lengthwise movement by a slot 94 engaging a stationary guide pin 95.

When the printing operation is to be terminated the control lever 31 is swung back in upward direction into the starting position shown in the Fig. 1. However, shortly before the button 33" reaches the first notch 33 the connecting rod 94 moving in upward direction will reach a position in which the roller or pin 91 drops into a corresponding notch 94 of the rod 94. When this occurs the applicator device 87, 89 swings around its pivot 86 in such a manner that the projecting tip of the felt pad 89 touches the printing form 1 while the printing roller 14 is rotating. In this manner the protective fluid furnished to the pads 89 by a suitable supply duct 96 is applied and wiped on to the surface of the printing form 1. It is true that in the embodiment shown diagrammatically the notch 94 would meet the roller or pin 91 also when the operation of the machine is started and the main lever 31 is moved into positions mentioned above. However, this would be only a very brief transitory movement of the applicator device towards the printing form 1. 0n the other hand, even if in this moment a small amount of protective material is brought to settle on the printing form which is still coated with a protective layer this additional material will be cleaned 01f together With the existing protective coating when the printing form subsequently passes by the cleaning device 26.

While the protective solution for the protective coating is shown as being supplied through a duct or pipe 96 it should be understood that it may as well be applied to the pad 89 by spraying or any other suitable means.

The supply of watery fluid to the moistening means 41 and to the cleaning means 26 is done by means of a pump mounted in the apparatus and including a tank 47 and a cylinder 48 in which a piston 57 is movably mounted. The piston 57 is operated by a lever 55 rocking around a stationary pivot 54 and being under the action of a spring 58 attached to a stationary pin 59. The end of the lever 55 operates the pump by a fork and pin engagement with the outer end of the piston 57. Intermediate between pivot 54 and the fork end the lever 55 carries a roller or pin 56 which bears on a cam 53 attached to the printing roller 14 for rotation about its shaft 13. Consequently, during the rotation of the printing roller 14 the pump is operated so as to furnish the watery fluid through a pipe line 49 to a distributing valve 52 and from there through another pipe 51 to the mois- 6 tening roller 41 and through still another pipe 50 to the cleaning device 26. The valve 52 can be used for controlling the flow of the watery fluid and for distributing it as desired to the two attached devices.

It must be understood, of course, that the pump can also be mounted separately from the apparatus and driven by separate means or that a general supply of fluid may be connected to the distributing valve 52 for the purpose of feeding the moistening and cleaning device.

Fig. 2 illustrates more specifically the details of the drive means for the printing roller 14 and of the clamping means for securing the printing form 1 to the printing roller 14.

Attached to the shaft 13 which is driven from the outside, by means not shown in the drawing, is a ratchet wheel 97. On the flange 98 of the printing roller 14 is mounted a pawl turnable around a pivot 99 and subject to the action of a spring 101 attached to a pin 102. The pawl 100 and the ratchet 97 together constitute a one-turn coupling between the drive means and the printing roller 14. Inthe position shown in Fig. 2 the pawl 100 is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 97 because a hook 100 ofthe pawl 100 is engaged by the corner 103 of a control lever 103. This lever 103 is manually operated from the outside of the apparatus so as to swing around its stationary pivot 103 and is under the action of a spring 103A which tends to return the lever into the position shown in Fig. 2. Whenever the control lever 103 is moved against the action of spring 103A, its corner 103 disengages the hook 100" of pawl 100 so that the latter is pulled by its spring 101 into engagement with the continuously rotating ratchet wheel 97. Hereby the printing roller 14 is coupled with the drive means. 14 the pawl 100 engages again with (its hook 100" the corner 103' of the lever 103 which meanwhile has been returned into its ordinary position. Thereby the pawl 100 is disengaged from the ratchet 97 so that the printing roller 14 is stopped again after this one revolution in the same position from which it has started this revolution.

The clamping means for the printing form 1 comprise clamping jaws 15, 16 which are mounted for movement in substantially radial direction of the printing roller 14 and are under the action of associated pull springs 104 and 104', respectively. The printing roller 14 has a projecting portion 14 in order to support the printing form 1 at a radial distance from the center of the printing roller slightly larger than the radius of the rest of the circumference thereof. At the ends of the projecting portion 14' a bevelled portion is provided and in this bevelled portion at least one pin 105 is mounted and adapted to engage corresponding holes in the printing form 1 for more securely holding the latter in clamped position. The jaws 15 and 16 are provided with projecting slanting ends which in the positions shown in Fig. 2 overlap the bevelled portions mentioned above and therefore solidly and safely clamp the edges of the printing form 1 to the bevelled portions and prevent the pins 105 to slip out of the corresponding holes of the printing form.

The clamping jaw 15 is operated through an intermediate member 108 which is a two-arm lever turning around a pivot 107. At one end of this lever a roller 110 bears against the inner end of the jaw 15 while a roller 109 at the opposite end of the lever 108 bears against the end of an angle-shaped control lever 106. This lever 106 is manually operated and when it is swung in clockwise direction it causes the intermediate member 108 to turn in such a manner that the clamping jaw 15 is moved radially outward. In this position a new printing form can be slid down along a guide member 111 so that its forward edge engages the jaw 15. If then the control lever 106 is permitted to swing back the jaw 15 will recede into its position shown in Fig. 2 and will clamp the forward edge of the printing form 1 as described above.

' In order to clamp the rear edge of the printing form 1 After one revolution of the printing roller in a proper manner, the form 1 must be stretched over the raised portion 14 of the printing roller 14 and engaged with its rear edge by the other clamping means, more particularly the clamping jaw 16. In order to carry out this clamping operation in a position which is more easily accessible from the outside the printing roller 14 has to be turned into a predetermined position.

The control mechanism for carrying out this movement is provided as follows. The jaw 16 is associated with an intermediate member 122 which is a two-arm lever turnable around a pivot 121. A roll 123 at its one end bears against the inner end of the jaw 16 while a roller 120 is provided at the other end of the member 122. A lever 116 turnable around a stationary pivot 115 is shaped with an end 116' which, by moving the lever 116 from the position shown in full lines into the position shown in dotted lines, will be caused to project into the circular path of the hook 103' of the pawl 10% when the printing roller 14 is permitted to rotate. A manually operated angular control lever 113 turnable around a pivot 112 serves to move the lever 116 into its operative position just described. The lever 116 is under the action of a spring 124 so that a roller 114 attached to the end of the control lever 113 and bearing against the lever 116 will move the lever 116 against the action of spring 124 into its operative position as soon as the lever 113 is swung from the position shown in full lines into the position shown in dotted lines. If this is done and the rotation of the printing roller 114 is started by operating the control lever 103 as described above then the printing roller 114 will rotate only until the pawl 100 is engaged by the end 116 of the lever 116 in which moment the engagement between the pawl 1% and the ratchet wheel 97 is interrupted and the printing roller 14 is stopped in the preselected position.

A second control lever 118 is arranged for turning around a stationary pivot 117 and is connected by a link 119 to the lever 116. Consequently, when the lever 116 is moved into the position shown in dotted lines also the lever 118 is moved into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The lever 118 is provided with a curved end portion 118' which in its operative position is located in the rotary path of the roller 120 of the lever 122. Therefore, at the moment when the printing roller 14 comes to a standstill as mentioned above the roller 120 engages the portion 118' of lever 118 and is thereby forced inwardly towards the center of the printing roller 14. This results in a movement of the roller 123 in outward direction as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 so that the clamping jaw 16 is moved into its open position. Now the rear edge of the form 1 can be placed in a convenient position of the printing roller 14 into the clamping device. Thereafter the lever 113 is released and returned into its starting position whereafter the lever 118 releases the lever 122 so that the jaw 16 moves back under the action of its spring 104' and clamps the rear edge of the form to the roller 14-. It will be seen also, that when the lever 113 is moved back into its starting position the end portion 116' of the lever 116 release the hook 100 of the pawl 100 so that it will engage again the ratchet wheel 97 so that immediately after the clamping of the rear edge of the printing form 1 is completed the printing roller 14 will complete its interrupted revolution until it arrives again at its starting position determined by the re-engagement of the hook 100' with the corner 103' of the control lever 103:.

It should be understood that the apparatus according to the invention is particularly valuable in all those cases Where reproduction in comparatively small numbers has to be made from an existing printing form. The ordinary method of reproduction by ofilset printing is far too complicated for short run operations. It must be borne in mind that offset printing machines require a copying drum and a rubber sheet. After every printing run the rubber sheet must be completely cleaned which is a timeconsuming operation. The apparatus according to the invention is to be used for a lithographic printing method and therefore does not require the use of a copying drum and a rubber sheet. On the other hand in using a lithographic foil or form it is still necessary before a printing operation to remove the protective coating on the printing form and re-apply this protective coating after the printing operation is completed. In the apparatus according to the invention all these operations including also the moistening required in lithographic and the inking are done automatically in the apparatus, and all these operations are controlled by one main control lever. This greatly simplifies the operation of the machine and yields tremendous savings in operating time. Besides mistakes by unskilled personnel can be avoided. Another valuable feature of the apparatus according to the invention is the fact that also the clamping or attaching of the printing form to the printing roller is done semi-automatically since control means are provided which are of great assistance to the operator since theprinting roller is automatically brought into a position convenient for the attaching of the form and the operation of the clamping means is made fool-proof since they can be actuated by outside control means.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of printing apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in apparatus for lithographic duplication of printing forms, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspect of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; attaching means for attaching a lithographic printing form to the peripheral surface of said printing roller; a counter roller cooperating with said printing roller; first means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying during rotation of said printing roller a liquid to a printing form held by said attaching means; inking means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying ink to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller; second means movable to and from an operative position for applying a liquid to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller for removing a coating from the printing form; third means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying a coating liquid to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller, said first means, second means, inking means and third means being spaced along the peripheral surface of said printing roller; and control means operatively connected to said first means, second means, inking means and third mean and being success1vely movable to a plurality of positions for successively moving said second means, first means and inking means to said operative positions of the same, and then moving said first means, second means and inking means out of said operative positions of the same, and said third means to said operative position of the same.

2. Rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; attaching means for attaching a 9 lithographic printing form to the peripheral surface of said printing roller; a counter roller cooperating with said printing roller; first means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying during rotation of said printing roller a liquid to a printing form held by said attaching means; inking means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying ink to the printing form during rotation of said priniting roller; sec ond means movable to and from an operative position and including an applicator member adapted to slidably engage the printing form in said operative position of said second means for applying a liquid to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller for removing a coating from the printing form, said first means, second means and inking means being spaced along the peripheral surface of said printing roller; and control means operatively connected to said first means, second means and inking means and being successively movable to a plurality of positions for successively moving said second means, first means and inking means to said operative positions of the same, and for moving said second means out of said operative position of the same before moving said first means and said inking means to said operative positions of the same.

3. Rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; attaching means for attaching a printing form to the peripheral surface of said printing roller; a counter roller movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for cooperating with said printing roller; first means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying during rotation of said printing roller a liquid to a printing form held by said attaching means; second means movable to and from an operative position for applying a liquid to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller; third means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying a liquid to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller, said first means, second means, and third means being spaced along the peripheral surface of said printing roller; and control means operatively connected to said first means, second means, third means and to said counter roller and being successively movable to a plurality of positions for successively moving said second means, first means and said counter roller to said operative positions of the same, and for moving said first means and second means out of said operative positions of the same before moving said counter roller to said operative position, and for moving said counter roller out of said operative position before moving said third means to said operative position of the same.

4. A rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; attaching means for attaching a lithographic printing form to the peripheral surface of said printing roller; a counter roller movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for cooperating with the same along a printing line; first means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying during rotation of said printing roller a moistening liquid to a printing form held by said attaching means; inking means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying ink to the printing form during rotation of the printing roller; second means movable to and from an operative position for applying a liquid to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller for removing a coating from the printing form; third means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying a coating liquid to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller, said first means, said counter roller, said second means, inking means and said third means being spaced along the peripheral surface of said printing roller; and control means operatively connected to said first means, second means, third means, inking means and to said counter roller and being successively movable to a plurality of positions for successively moving said second means, first means, inking means, and said counter roller to said operative positions, andfor moving said second means, first means, and inking means out of said operative positions of the same before moving said counter roller to said operative position of the same, and for then moving said counter roller out of said operative position of the same and said third means to said operative position of the same.

- 5. A rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; attaching means for attaching a lithographic printing form to the peripheral surface of said printing roller; a counter roller movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for cooperating with the same along a printing line; first means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying during rotation of said printing roller a moistening liquid to a printing form held by said attaching means; inking means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying ink to the printing form during rotation of the printing roller; second means movable to and from an operative position for applying a liquid to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller for removing a coating from the printing form; third means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying a coating liquid to the printing form during rotation of said printing roller, said first means, said counter roller, said second means, inking means and said third means being spaced along the peripheral surface of said printing roller; control means operatively connected to said first means, second means, third means, inking means and to said counter roller and being successively movable to a plurality of positions for successively moving said second means, first means, inking means, and said counter roller to said operative positions, and for moving said second means, first means, and inking means out of said operative positions of the same before moving said counter roller to said operative position of the same, and for then moving said counter roller out of said operative position of the same and said third means to said operative position of the same, said control means including a manually operated control lever movable between a plurality of shifted positions, arresting means for detachably arresting said control lever in each of said shifted positions, a plurality of first inking means connecting said control lever with said first means, second means, inking means and third means, an eccentric member operatively connected to said counter roller and being turnable for mov ing said counter roller to and from said operative position, and second linking means connecting said control lever with said eccentric member so that the latter is turned when said control lever is shifted to one of said shifted positions.

6. A duplicator as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said first linking means includes a link formed with a recess, and an operating member connected to the respective controlled means and moving into the respective recess during operation of said control lever for moving the respective controlled means to said operative position of the same.

7. Rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; attaching means for attaching a lithographic printing form to the peripheral surface of said printing roller; a counter roller cooperating with said printing roller; first means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying during rotation of said printing roller a liquid to a printing form held by said attaching means; inking means movable to and from an operative position in close proximity to said printing roller for applying ink to the 11 printing form during rotation of said printing roller; second means movable to and from an operative position for applying a liquid to .the printing form during rotation of said printing roller, said first means, second means and inking means being spaced along the peripheral surface of said printing roller; and control means operatively connected to said first means, second means and inking means and being successively movable to a plurality of positions for successively moving said second means, first means and inking means to said operative positions of the same, and for moving said sec-0nd means out of said operative position of the same before moving said first means and said inking means to said operative positions of the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Goulding May 10, 1927 Marchev et al Nov. 5, 1940 Neal Sept. 22, 1942 Neal Dec. 7, 1943 Davidson Sept. 12, 1944 Allen et a1 June 10, 1947 Janke Aug. 12, 1947 Wescott Oct. 17, 1950 Bruns Mar. 15, 1955 Pratt Nov. 19, 1957

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