US3614092A

US3614092A - Sheet transfer mechanism for sheet fed rotary printing presses

Info

Publication number: US3614092A
Application number: US756960A
Authority: US
Inventors: Franz Moos; Gerhard Loffler; Arthur Brechtel
Original assignee: Schnellpressenfabrik Frankenthal Albert and Cie AG
Current assignee: Schnellpressenfabrik Frankenthal Albert and Cie AG
Priority date: 1967-09-04
Filing date: 1968-09-03
Publication date: 1971-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-19
Also published as: GB1222256A; FR1578652A; CH485521A

Abstract

This invention provides a sheet transfer mechanism for sheet fed rotary printing presses. A conventional transfer drum is provided with an angular lever mechanism for controlling the axial direction of the transfer drum. The angular lever mechanism is operated in conjunction with a control gear mechanism to provide separate operations on specific revolutions of the transfer drum. Gripper support spindles are mounted on the transfer drum with a control gear mechanism to effect a shift in a substantially circumferential direction to place the sheet being transferred in the desired position with respect to the transfer drum.

Description

United States Patent mm mn m smflaol mmr. fle h ma e ed k d m mwu m m &HEH MKOB 99299699 234555 99999999 11111111 29 67 400 1 8 340893 Dua 5 90 ZQJJ 24034409 923475009 1111122222 n y Cl e o m m m m A m 1 mm m a m t 8 k n B m r um M mm mm A r m m m m ;m 8 mu m 9 dmo p A u -61 9", mhnflL m u m PahC FGF7&0&& m 0. de m N m m m mm mm m p ms I AFPA l 11]] 2 253 7 2247 [[[I Frankenlhal-Pfalz, Postfach, Germany Prim ry ExammerGerald M. Forlenza [32] Pnomy 33225 Assistant ExaminerRobert J. Spar [31] P 16 n 287.] Attorney-Markva, Smith & Kruger [54] SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR SHEET FED ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES in a substantially circumet being transferred in the transfer drum.

d position with respect to the ear mechanism to effect a shift rential direction to place the she esire References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,029,760 6/1912 Lorenz et al.

PATENTEIJnm 19 Ian sum 10F 3 3.614.092

Lap/=45; 1487 140? 519604 TEL PATENTEDum 19 l97l SHEET 20F 3 3,614,092

PATENTEDUDT 1 9 l97l SHEET 3 [IF 3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a sheet transfer mechanism to be used with rotary printing presses into which sheet material is fed. The rotary printing presses for which this invention is applicable have impression cylinders which include two or more operational portions. The sheets of material are taken from one operation for printing and placed on a second portion to obtain a second inking. Thereafter, the sheets are transferred to the next inking operation or to either a taking off or a handing over operation. The taking off and the handling over of the sheets are made in the same central line between the impression cylinder and the transfer mechanism.

The machines as described hereinabove in the prior art are normally used for high quality multicolor printing where a second color has to be printed in exact register with regard to the first color.

In a well-known embodiment of a commercial model as described above, the sheets of material are taken from a portion of the impression cylinder by grippers of the transfer mechanism. The sheets are transferred in the same position to the grippers used for the next printing operation. In many cases when the two printing forms are mounted onto the form cylinder, there arise differences in the register between the form of the first color used in the first inking and that used for the second color of ink. This difference in register obviously spoils the sheets of material being printed. It is then necessary to stop the press and alter the position of the second form with respect to the first form to eliminate the difierences in register. It is obvious that this procedure may have to be repeated several times until an exact register between the first and second inking is obtained. This, of course, means a considerable loss in time.

Another difficulty which may arise during the printing SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A transfer drum having conventional design is mounted in the frame of a rotary printing press and has an angular lever mechanism which includes a compression spring operation to effect an axial direction of the transfer drum. A control gear mechanism is used to actuate the angular lever upon successive revolutions of the transfer drum. The drum moves in an axial direction on one revolution and then" returns to its original position on the next revolution.

Grippers and gripper support spindles are provided on the transfer drum. These grippers and gripper supports are movable between sliding surfaces on each end of the said drum.

' Each of the grippers and gripper support spindles at each end operation exists in the change in shape and size of the sheets of material when they are subjected to special inks or the material is of a certain paper quality which undergoes alterations during processing. In each of these cases where changes in the structure of the paper exists, it is necessary to correct the register of the forms on the form cylinders. Here again, it is necessary to stop the machine and make the adjustments to obtain the exact register for printing different color inks in a sequential manner.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The primary object of this invention is to eliminate the disadvantages attendant to well known commercially available rotary printing presses by creating the possibility for correcting the registry for the form cylinder while the press is running.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sheet transfer mechanism which is adjustable in both an axial and circumferential direction during the operation of the rotary printing press.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sheet transfer mechanism having an angular lever and control gear mechanism controlling a conventional transfer in an axial direction on successive revolutions of the said drum.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a conventional transfer drum with grippers and gripper support spindles which are shiftable between the two smooth sides of a slot and assembled in such a manner as to provide adjustment in a substantially circumferential direction to the sheets of material as they are moved from operation to operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a rotating gear mechanism which controls the movements of levers on separate revolutions to provide a definite rhythm with regard to the movements of the control levers.

of the transfer drum moves separately in a substantially circumferential direction by way of levers which are indiv;;dually controlled with a control gear mechanism. The grippers and gripper support spindles move in a substantially circumferential direction on one revolution and return to their initial position after the next revolution to transfer the next sheet of material from one segment of the rotary printing press to the next.

The rotating gear mechanisms of the transfer mechanism include an eccentric bolt, a control disk, and a shiftable bracket. These separate members are constructed with respect to each other in such a way that the control stroke produced by the levers may be set up in an infinite number of ways to obtain the required maximum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. In the accompanying drawings, wherein illustrative embodiments of the invention are disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view along line I-I of FIG. 2 of a sheet transfer mechanism made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line 11-" of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of a controlled gearing mechanism for the same, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the controlled gearing mechanism of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT A sheet transfer mechanism made in accordance with this invention is shown in FIG. I and includes a sheet transfer drum having an axle 1. The drum as shown in FIG. 1 also includes bearing

bodies

2 and 3 which are fixed by means of pins 4. Each end of the axle l is mounted in a side frame 7 of a printing press. Bearing brackets 6 position bearings 5 around each end of the axle l which is within the said side frame 7. The structure is identical with regard to bearings 5, brackets 6 and side frame 7 at each end of the axle 1.

Adjustable spur gears

8 and 9 are secured to the body of the bearing 2 by means of screws 10. The transfer drum of FIG. 1 is driven by way of the

spur gears

8 and 9. The use of the

spur gears

8 and 9 for this purpose avoids backlash during the operation of the transfer drum of FIG. 1.

Sheet grippers (not shown) are mounted on the gripper spindle l1. Gripper supports (not shown) are mounted on the An angular lever 17 having two legs is secured to a bearing holder by means of a bolt 16 at each side of the transfer drum as shown in FIG. 1. On one end of the angular lever 17, there is a roller 18 which rolls along the surface of a control disc 19. A roller 20 is mounted on the other leg of the angular lever 17. The roller 20 is located adjacent to a flange 21 which is secured to the end of the transfer drum axle 1. A pressure spring 22 surrounds the end of the axle 1 inside the bearing holder 15. This pressure spring 22 insures the contacting of the roller 20 with the flange 21. Pressure spring 22 is mounted at the end of the axle 1 between the inside surface of the bearing holder 15 and a plate 23 supported by a thrust bearing 24. The pressure spring 22 has a tendency to shift the axle 1 against the pressure of the roller 20 when the axle 2 is shifted along a longitudinal axial direction. In operation, when the control disc 19 activates the angular lever 17, a control pulse is effected on the axle 1 by way of the contact roller 20 and the flange 21. The particular structure as discussed hereinabove located at each end of the axle within the side frames of the printing press will yield in accordance with the control impulse and carry out a lateral correction at the sheet being transferred.

The structure as shown in FIG. 2 is used to either correct the position of the sheet being transferred in a circumferential direction or for locating the sheet into an oblique position. The gripper spindle 11 and the gripper support spindle 12 are each moved about in a bearing 25 in which the ends of gripper spindle l1 and support spindle 12 are mounted. A bearing 25 is located at each end of the transfer drum as part of the circumferential correction mechanism. The gripper support spindle 12 has cambered ends 26 and is located within a notch structure (unnumbered) in the lever 27. The bearing 25 is movably mounted between two straight countersurfaces 28 and 28'. A straight countersurface 28 is located along each of the bearing

bodies

2 and 3 at either end of the transfer drum of this invention. A straight countersurface 28' is located on a bridge structure 29 which is firmly connected to the bearing body 2 by means of screws 30.

A lever 27 is located at each end of the transfer drum of this invention by way of bushings 32 and bolts 31 and 31' and is pivotal around the said

bolts

31 and 31 by way of the bushings 32. The lever 27 has a notched structure (unnumbered) at one end thereof and a roller 33 mounted to the other end by means of a bolt 34. Control rings 35 and 36 are located at each end of the transfer drum and are in contact with the rollers 33 located at the end of the lever 27. A pressure is exerted on the lever 27 by means of the compression spring 38 mounted on spring rod 39. The spring rod 39 is attached to bolt 37 which is secured to the lever 27. The other end of the spring rod 39 is connected to bolt 40 which is secured to the bearing body 2. The control rings 35 and 36 have a coaxial center M "which corresponds to the center of the transfer drum of the invention when the said rings 35 and 36 are in zero position. The control rings 35 and 36 pivot on a spindle 41 which is mounted in the framework of the printing press. A roller 42 is secured by a bolt 43 to the outer circumference of the control rings 35 and 36. A spring rod is secured to the outer circumference of the control rings 35 and 36 by bolt 45 and carries a pressure spring 46. The pressure spring 46 is supported at the side frame of the machine of this invention on a counterbearing (not shown). Pressure spring 46 causes the roller 42 to be pressed on a circular runway 47 located on the control disk 19. The

control disks

35 and 36 are not necessary for controlling the side register and axial movement of the transfer drum by way of the angular lever 17 because the roller 18 on the angular lever 17 may be supported directly on the runway 47 ofthe control disk 1 The gearing for the control disk is shown in FIG. 4. The disk 19 is connected to a drive gear 51 by means of a bolt 49 and a needle bearing 50. A drive gear 51 is mounted in a needle bearing 52 on a bearing body 53 which is secured to the side frame 7. The drive gear 51, which is driven by a gear train (not shown), turns on the axle 54. This axle 54 corresponds to that of the control disk 19 in its zero position. The control disk 19 is secured to the drive gear 51 with the bolts 55. This method of mounting control disk 19 allows a forward pivoting of the said control disk 19 by way of slots 56.

The control disk 19 is positioned on a square bearing 59 by bolt 49 and by ball bearings 57 which are secured to the control disk 19 by means of bolts 58. The square bearing 59 is pivoted to a control cam 61 by means of ball bearings 60. The control cam 61 is movable in an axial direction of bolt 62 which is secured in the bearing body 53. An eccentric bolt 63 is used to move the cam 61 in said axial direction by turning a handwheel which is not shown in the drawing. The eccentric head 64 of bolt 63 can be turned inside a recess 65 which is located adjacent the control cam 61. The said head 64 is arranged in a position free from play.

As soon as the control cam 61 is moved forward from its zero position, the control disk 19 comes into two "maxima" with the eccentric head 64 at each revolution of the drive gear 51. The amount of these maxima" may be adjusted in an infinite number of ways. These maxima" transmit a control pulse onto the control rings 35 and 36 as well as onto the roller 18. The speed of the control gearing is sufficient to cause the drive gear 51 to make a quarter revolution at each complete revolution of the transfer drum of the invention. In this way, the sheet of material is corrected as desired. A separate control gearing, as shown in FIG. 4, is necessary for each control impulse produced on the control rings 35 and 36 and the roller 18 While the sheet transfer mechanism for printing presses has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact fonn disclosed, and that changes in detailing and structure may be made therein within the scope of the ,invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A sheet transfer mechanism for sheet fed rotary printing presses having at least two printing operations comprising:

a. means mounting a drum means between said operations to transfer a sheet of material from one operation to another,

b. means located at least at one end of said drum means to provide a circumferential displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said drum means,

c. said circumferential displacement means includes means rotatably mounting a lever on a drum bearing body at a point laterally displaced from the axis of said drum,

d. means located at one end of said lever to operably contact a gripper support spindle which is mounted in a movable bearing structure located on said drum bearing body, 7

e. means located at the other end of said lever to contact a control mechanism which provides an operational impulse to said lever on a first revolution on said drum,

f. said control mechanism contact means includes a control ring rotatably mounted on said drum bearing body having an inner diameter surface in contact with a roller mounted on the other end of said lever,

g. means fixedly attached to said lever to return said lever to its original position on the next following revolution of said drum means,

h. said lever return means includes a compression spring mounted on a spring rod which is attached at one end thereof to said lever and at the other end thereof to said drum bearing body,

i. said control mechanism further includes means mounting a control mechanism drive gear on a second bearing body which is secured to said printing press,

j, means movably mounting a control disc on to operably contact said control ring,

k. means to drive said drive gear about an axis corresponding to said control disc when said disc is in a zero position,

1. means mounting said control disc on a square bearing which is pivoted to a control cam,

said drive gear m. means movably mounting said control cam to said second bearing body in a direction normal to the axial direction of said bearing body,

n. a rotatable eccentric bolt means attached to said control cam to effect said directional movement to said control cam,

0. means for rotating said eccentric bolt means, and

p. means located at one end of an axle of said drum means to provide a lateral displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said drum means wherein said lateral displacement means includes an angular lever carrying means on one end thereof to movably contact a flange portion located on said end of said axle.

2. A sheet transfer mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said drive gear mounting means includes needle bearings located between said drive gear and said second bearing body,

said control disc mounting means includes a single bolt means fixed to said drive gear and carrying a needle bearing around which said control disc is mounted, at least on one bolt means fixedly attached to either said drive gear or said control disc and projecting through slots corresponding in position on the adjacent control disc or drive gear, and

said drive gear mounting means have the same construction as used for the circumferential control mechanism.

3. In a sheet fed rotary printing press having at least a first and second printing means for effecting at least two printing operations, a sheet transfer mechanism comprising:

a. transfer drum means disposed on an axle between said first and second printing means for effecting transfer of a sheet of material from one printing operation to another,

b. means located at least at one end of said transfer drum means to provide a circumferential displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said transfer drum means,

said transfer drum means being movable along its longitudinal axis, and

d. means located at one end of said axle to effect movement of said transfer drum means for providing lateral displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said transfer drum means.

4. In a sheet fed rotary printing press as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said circumferential displacement means includes a control means secured to said printing press for providing an operational impulse to effect circumferential displacement of said sheet of material on said transfer drum means.

5. In a sheet fed rotary printing press as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said lateral displacement means includes a control means secured to said printing press for providing an operational impulse to effect lateral displacement of said sheet of material on said transfer drum means. I

6. In a sheet fed rotary printing press as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said circumferential displacement means includes means to shift the position of the sheet of material on the transfer drum in peripheral and diagonal directions with respect to said drum means. 7

7. A sheet transfer mechanism for sheet fed rotary printing presses having at least a first and a second printing means for effecting at least two printing operations, said transfer mechanism comprising:

a. a transfer drum means mounted on an axle for movement along its longitudinal axis between the first and second printing means for effecting transfer of a sheet of material from one printing operation to another,

b. means located at one end of said transfer drum means to effect axial movement thereof for providing lateral displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said transfer drum means, and

c. means located at least at one end of said transfer drum means to provide a circumferential displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said transfer drum means.

8. A sheet transfer mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said lateral displacement means includes:

a flange portion located at the end of said transfer drum means,

an angular lever carrying a means at one end thereof to movably contact said flange portion,

a control mechanism to provide an operational impulse to said angular lever on a first revolution of said transfer drum means thereby moving the transfer drum means and providing a lateral displacement of the sheet of material, and

means mounted adjacent said transfer drum means to return said drum means to its original position on the next following revolution of said drum means.

9. A sheet transfer mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said transfer drum means is fixedly mounted on the axle and the axle is mounted for movement along the longitudinal axis of the transfer drum means,

said flange portion being disposed on the end of said axle.

10. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said flange contact means is a roller, and

said return means includes a bearing holder located at the end of said axle and fixedly attached to said rotary printing press and a thrust bearing means disposed on said axle to support a pressure spring between the bearing holder and said thrust bearing.

11. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said control mechanism includes:

a control mechanism drive gear mounted on a bearing body which is secured to the printing press,

a control disk mounted on said drive gear to operably contact the other end of said angular lever,

means for driving said drive gear about an axis corresponding to said control disk when said disk is in a zero position,

said control disk being mounted on a square bearing which is pivoted to a control cam,

said control cam being mounted on said bearing body to move in a direction normal to the axial direction of said bearing body,

a rotatable eccentric bolt means attached to the control cam for effecting the directional movement of said control cam, and

means for rotating said eccentric bolt means.

12. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein:

needle bearings are located between said drive gear and said bearing body,

a single bolt means is fixed to said drive gear and carrying a needle bearing around which said control disk is mounted,

at least one bolt means is fixedly attached to either the drive gear or the control disk and projects through slots corresponding in position on the adjacent control disk or drive gear, respectively.

13. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said circumferential displacement means include:

a lever pivotally mounted on a drum bearing body at a point laterally displaced from the axis of the transfer drum means,

a gripper support spindle mounted in a movable bearing structure located on said drum bearing body,

means located at one end of said lever to move said bearing structure,

means located at the other end of said lever to contact a control mechanism which provides an operational impulse to said lever on a first revolution of said drum, and

means for returning said lever to its original position on the next following revolution of said transfer drum means.

14. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein:

said control mechanism contact means includes a control ring pivotally mounted on said drum bearing body and having an inner diameter surface in contact with a roller mounted on said other end of said lever.

15. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein:

said lever return means includes a compression spring mounted on a spring rod which is attached at one end thereof to said lever and at the other end thereof to said drum bearing body.

16. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein said control mechanism includes:

a control mechanism drive gear mounted on a second bearing body which is secured to said printing press,

a control disk movably mounted on said drive gear to operably contact said control ring,

means for driving said drive gear about an axis corresponding to said control disk when said disk is in a zero posi- 8 tion,

said control disk being mounted on a square hearing which is pivoted to a control cam,

said control cam being mounted on said second bearing body to move in a direction normal to the axial direction of said second bearing body,

a rotatable eccentric bolt means attached to the control cam for efiecting the directional movement of said control cam, and

means for rotating said eccentric bolt means.

17. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein:

a control means is secured to said printing press for providing an operational impulse to said lateral displacement means and said circumferential displacement means on a first revolution of said transfer drum means.

Claims

1. A sheet transfer mechanism for sheet fed rotary printing presses having at least two printing operations comprising: a. means mounting a drum means between said operations to transfer a sheet of material from one operation to another, b. means located at least at one end of said drum Means to provide a circumferential displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said drum means, c. said circumferential displacement means includes means rotatably mounting a lever on a drum bearing body at a point laterally displaced from the axis of said drum, d. means located at one end of said lever to operably contact a gripper support spindle which is mounted in a movable bearing structure located on said drum bearing body, e. means located at the other end of said lever to contact a control mechanism which provides an operational impulse to said lever on a first revolution on said drum, f. said control mechanism contact means includes a control ring rotatably mounted on said drum bearing body having an inner diameter surface in contact with a roller mounted on the other end of said lever, g. means fixedly attached to said lever to return said lever to its original position on the next following revolution of said drum means, h. said lever return means includes a compression spring mounted on a spring rod which is attached at one end thereof to said lever and at the other end thereof to said drum bearing body, i. said control mechanism further includes means mounting a control mechanism drive gear on a second bearing body which is secured to said printing press, j, means movably mounting a control disc on said drive gear to operably contact said control ring, k. means to drive said drive gear about an axis corresponding to said control disc when said disc is in a zero position, l. means mounting said control disc on a square bearing which is pivoted to a control cam, m. means movably mounting said control cam to said second bearing body in a direction normal to the axial direction of said bearing body, n. a rotatable eccentric bolt means attached to said control cam to effect said directional movement to said control cam, o. means for rotating said eccentric bolt means, and p. means located at one end of an axle of said drum means to provide a lateral displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said drum means wherein said lateral displacement means includes an angular lever carrying means on one end thereof to movably contact a flange portion located on said end of said axle.

2. A sheet transfer mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein: said drive gear mounting means includes needle bearings located between said drive gear and said second bearing body, said control disc mounting means includes a single bolt means fixed to said drive gear and carrying a needle bearing around which said control disc is mounted, at least on one bolt means fixedly attached to either said drive gear or said control disc and projecting through slots corresponding in position on the adjacent control disc or drive gear, and said drive gear mounting means have the same construction as used for the circumferential control mechanism.

3. In a sheet fed rotary printing press having at least a first and second printing means for effecting at least two printing operations, a sheet transfer mechanism comprising: a. transfer drum means disposed on an axle between said first and second printing means for effecting transfer of a sheet of material from one printing operation to another, b. means located at least at one end of said transfer drum means to provide a circumferential displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said transfer drum means, said transfer drum means being movable along its longitudinal axis, and d. means located at one end of said axle to effect movement of said transfer drum means for providing lateral displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said transfer drum means.

4. In a sheet fed rotary printing press as defined in claim 3 wherein: said circumferential displacement means includes a control means secured to said printing press for providinG an operational impulse to effect circumferential displacement of said sheet of material on said transfer drum means.

5. In a sheet fed rotary printing press as defined in claim 3 wherein: said lateral displacement means includes a control means secured to said printing press for providing an operational impulse to effect lateral displacement of said sheet of material on said transfer drum means.

6. In a sheet fed rotary printing press as defined in claim 3 wherein: said circumferential displacement means includes means to shift the position of the sheet of material on the transfer drum in peripheral and diagonal directions with respect to said drum means.

7. A sheet transfer mechanism for sheet fed rotary printing presses having at least a first and a second printing means for effecting at least two printing operations, said transfer mechanism comprising: a. a transfer drum means mounted on an axle for movement along its longitudinal axis between the first and second printing means for effecting transfer of a sheet of material from one printing operation to another, b. means located at one end of said transfer drum means to effect axial movement thereof for providing lateral displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said transfer drum means, and c. means located at least at one end of said transfer drum means to provide a circumferential displacement to said sheet of material in correlation with revolutions of said transfer drum means.

8. A sheet transfer mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said lateral displacement means includes: a flange portion located at the end of said transfer drum means, an angular lever carrying a means at one end thereof to movably contact said flange portion, a control mechanism to provide an operational impulse to said angular lever on a first revolution of said transfer drum means thereby moving the transfer drum means and providing a lateral displacement of the sheet of material, and means mounted adjacent said transfer drum means to return said drum means to its original position on the next following revolution of said drum means.

9. A sheet transfer mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein: said transfer drum means is fixedly mounted on the axle and the axle is mounted for movement along the longitudinal axis of the transfer drum means, said flange portion being disposed on the end of said axle.

10. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein: said flange contact means is a roller, and said return means includes a bearing holder located at the end of said axle and fixedly attached to said rotary printing press and a thrust bearing means disposed on said axle to support a pressure spring between the bearing holder and said thrust bearing.

11. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said control mechanism includes: a control mechanism drive gear mounted on a bearing body which is secured to the printing press, a control disk mounted on said drive gear to operably contact the other end of said angular lever, means for driving said drive gear about an axis corresponding to said control disk when said disk is in a zero position, said control disk being mounted on a square bearing which is pivoted to a control cam, said control cam being mounted on said bearing body to move in a direction normal to the axial direction of said bearing body, a rotatable eccentric bolt means attached to the control cam for effecting the directional movement of said control cam, and means for rotating said eccentric bolt means.

12. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein: needle bearings are located between said drive gear and said bearing body, a single bolt means is fixed to said drive gear and carrying a needle bearing around which said control disk is mounted, at least one bolt means is fixedly attached to either the drive gear or the control disk and proJects through slots corresponding in position on the adjacent control disk or drive gear, respectively.

13. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said circumferential displacement means include: a lever pivotally mounted on a drum bearing body at a point laterally displaced from the axis of the transfer drum means, a gripper support spindle mounted in a movable bearing structure located on said drum bearing body, means located at one end of said lever to move said bearing structure, means located at the other end of said lever to contact a control mechanism which provides an operational impulse to said lever on a first revolution of said drum, and means for returning said lever to its original position on the next following revolution of said transfer drum means.

14. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein: said control mechanism contact means includes a control ring pivotally mounted on said drum bearing body and having an inner diameter surface in contact with a roller mounted on said other end of said lever.

15. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein: said lever return means includes a compression spring mounted on a spring rod which is attached at one end thereof to said lever and at the other end thereof to said drum bearing body.

16. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein said control mechanism includes: a control mechanism drive gear mounted on a second bearing body which is secured to said printing press, a control disk movably mounted on said drive gear to operably contact said control ring, means for driving said drive gear about an axis corresponding to said control disk when said disk is in a zero position, said control disk being mounted on a square bearing which is pivoted to a control cam, said control cam being mounted on said second bearing body to move in a direction normal to the axial direction of said second bearing body, a rotatable eccentric bolt means attached to the control cam for effecting the directional movement of said control cam, and means for rotating said eccentric bolt means.

17. A transfer mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein: a control means is secured to said printing press for providing an operational impulse to said lateral displacement means and said circumferential displacement means on a first revolution of said transfer drum means.