Web offset printing press with articulated tucker
View Patent ↗An offset web print unit includes a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder, the plate cylinder being movable during a throw-off operation, and a tucker bar for tucking plates into the plate cylinder, the tucker bar having an axis movable with respect to the plate cylinder axis for reducing a gap during the throw-off operation. A method is also provided.
1. A method for moving a tucker bar comprising the steps of:
throwing off a plate cylinder from a blanket cylinder; and
moving the tucker bar axis with respect to a plate cylinder axis during throw-off to maintain a constant minimum gap between the tucker bar and the plate cylinder throughout.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the minimum gap is 6 millimeters or less.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the tucker bar guards a nip between the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of moving the tucker bar axis includes using a pneumatic cylinder to move a plate support, the plate support moving an arm causing the tucker support plate to rotate.