Patent GB-189922703-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Printing Machines.
Inventor: NEWTON HENRY EDWARD
Filed: 1899-11-14
Granted: 1900-01-27
Abstract: 22,703. Newton, H. E., [Hoe, R.]. Nov. 14. Rotary machines.-Relates to rotary printing- machines, particularly for use in printing newspapers with double-wide cylinders, which will print and perfect two webs, or perfect and print in colours or in colours and in half-tone on a single web. Fig. 1 shows a quadruple press arranged so as to print in black on one side of a web, and in colours or in colours and a half-tone on the other. The frame 1, having supports 2 for carrying the web rolls 3, has printing-cylinders 5, 7, and corresponding impression cylinders 6, 8, together with suitable inking-mechanism 9, 10, at the lower part. These print in black on the two sides respectively of the web. The web may then be led out of the machine from the last couple 7, 8, another roll 3 being placed upon the upper support 2 for similarly printing thereon by means of the upper couples. Or the first web may be led to the second set of couples, as shown. These couples consist of a plate cylinder 13 with its impression cylinder 14, and a second plate cylinder 23 with two impression cylinders 25, 26, only one of which is in contact with and is geared with the cylinder 23 at one time. The shafts of the upper impression cylinders are mounted in adjustable boxes 15<1>, 29, 35 controlled by screws 15<11>, 15<11>, 30, 31, 36, 37. The two cylinders 13, 14 are geared together while the shafts of the cylinders 23, 25, 26 are provided with gears some of which are adjustable lengthwise on their shafts, so that either of the two latter may gear with the former, the cylinder 23 rotating in opposite directions according to which impression cylinder is in contact with it. Each of the upper couples is driven by the train of gears 20, 21, 22 from the impression cylinder 8. As arranged in Fig. 1, the cylinder 26 is lowered out of contact with the cylinder 23, and the gear is adjusted so that cylinders 23 and 25 are connected. These cylinders are arranged for printing in colours, and will rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows. As shown, the web will receive three impressions on the same side by the cylinders 7, 23, and 13, before passing out of the machine. The cylinder 23 may carry staggered plates, a slight adjustment being only necessary. To print both from stereotype and half-tone plates, the ordinary stereotype plates are removed from cylinders 7, 23, and 13. The cylinder 13 will carry half-tone plates only, while the cylinders 7 and 23 will carry stereotype plates which have been cut away so as to leave corresponding gaps. The web is thus printed on one side by the couple 5, 6, and on the other by the couples 7, 8, 23, 25, (one of these couples being arranged to print in colours), and 13, 14. The latter couple prints the half-tone impressions. By this arrangement, the gearing, inking, and pressure of the couples 13, 14 may be so accurately done that fine half-tone plates may be used. Any form of inking-mechanism may be used, but a special arrangement is preferred, which is applicable to all machines in which it is desired to change quickly from one coloured ink to another, or to blend two colours. This mechanism is shown applied to the two upper couples, wherein a single set of form and distributing rollers 50 or 80 is arranged to receive ink from two fountains 52 and 53, or 82 and 83, a single primary distributing-roller 51 or 81 being used for each set. The pawls operating the fountain rolls 54, 55 or 86, 87 are connected by links to a rocking lever, whereby the two may be actuated simultaneously but can be disconnected from one another. The director rolls 69, 76 or 84, 85 are also similarly connected to a rocking lever.