IMPROVEMENTS IN COLOUR PRINTING MACHINES FOR LETTER-PRESS OR BLOCK PRINTING
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Conisbee, of Herbert's Buildings, Waterloo
Road, Southwark, Engineer and Printing Machine Manufacturer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COLOUR PRINTING MACHINES FOR
LETTER-PRESS OR BLOCK PRINTING."
Sealed the 29th August 1862, and dated the 3rd March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Conisbee at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd March 1862.
I, WILLIAM CONISBEE, of Herbert's Buildings, Waterloo Road, Southwark,
Engineer and Printing Machine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COLOUR PRINTING MACHINES FOR LETTER-
PRESS OR BLOCK PRINTING," to be as, follows:-
My Invention cousists in a method of imparting a reciprocatory movement
to two or more surfaces, each bearing a forme; these surfaces are borne on
antifriction rollers running in longitudinal bearing bars mounted on suitable
framing in the ordinary manner. At each end of the above framing I mount
an ink duct and rollers for taking and distributing different colored inks.
The printing cylinder being placed exactly central between the said ink ducts,
and supported in eccentric bearings carried in suitable brackets turned to
receive them at one side and parallel with the body of the cylinder, I place an
inclined feed table, which table works in four V-shaped slides. At the front
edge of the table I place a bar mounted in bearings fixed at each end; on
the bar I'mount two or more marks or lays. On one or both ends of the bar
1 fix a fork lever, the open end of which fits over a stud fixed to the side
frame of machiné. The board has an intermittent movement produced by a
cam working on a suitable shaft; from this cam a rod passes to a shaft which

page_text: passes through the two bearing bars on which the printing surfaces or tables
run, and into two bearings on the side frames. On the ends of this shaft are
two levers and links which connect the feed table. In order to give motion
to the type surfaces or tables, I fix at one end of the framing a driving shaft
mounted horizontally in suitable bearings, on which shaft is a pinion gearing
into a spur wheel about six times larger than the pinion. This wheel has a
long crank pin fitted near the periphery, on which is fitted a connecting rod,
which rod has an open joint at the opposite end sufficiently wide to carry two
pinions and a wheel in the centre, the pinion gearing into two racks borne on
bearing bars extending the whole length of the framing, and the wheel
gearin. into a rack placed underneath one of the type surfaces, the two
surfaces being connected and moving as one. The object of these two pinions
and wheels being to effect the long traverse required, which in the operation
of printing in colour is much longer than usual. In order to insure perfect
ease and freedom from jar or vibration while the type surfaces are approaching
and receding from each end, I place on the end of the crank stud a steel
tumbler roller, which revolves freely in the stud on the two cross frames, and
exactly central with the wheel shaft; I fix a compound segment in such manner
that before the crank arrives at its two extreme horizontal positions, and con-
sequently before the type surfaces reach the extremity of their traverse, the
roller enters the segment, which exactly fits the roller, and thus takes off all
the strain from the crank pin and connecting rod, and enables the surfaces to
turn the ends easily, and thus obviating the necessity of springs commonly
used.
The printing cylinder above alluded to, which is geared directly with the
type surfaces, is furnished with grippers mounted on a bar working in the
ends of cylinder; on the end of bar I fix a short crank carrying a steel roller,
which turns freely on a stud to open the grippers when the cylinder is in a
position to take the sheet to be printed. I use a moveable shape or incline
working on a steel pin fixed on the inside of one of the cylinder bearings, the
said incline being provided with a crescent-shaped tail-piece; on the side of
the type surface I fix a steel shape, which noves with the surface, and serves
the purpose of working the incline, which owing to the peculiar action of the
printing cylinder, it is necessary to throw in and out of contact with the
gripper rollers.
In using this machine, the sheet to be printed is laid to the marks placed
at the front of the feed table, and as the table approaches the cylinder, the
marks which were above the face of the table are depressed, leaving the sheet
free to be taken by the grippers, which are opened by means of the crank

page_text: aud roller on the gripper shaft having come in contact with the incline,
which, as soon as the sheet has been taken, is thrown over by the shape on
the side of type table having come in contact with the tail piece or incline.
The cylinder having made one revolution, and given one impression, which
may be in 2 or more colours, continues revolving, the sheet being still held
by the grippers, and thus passes over the next form, which may be likewise
in 2 or more colours. The type table will now have arrived at the end of the
traverse, and the sheet printed.
The feed table now returns to its original position, and the marks are
elevated ready for laying the next sheet; these marks are made adjustable
so that it is possible to feed 2 different sheets, having different margins, and
printed in different colours at once, thus giving facilities for executing more
work in the same tine with greater certainty, and with a saving of expence.
The cylinder is now lifted out of contact with the forme by means of a cam
on the wheel shaft and suitable connecting rods, and the grippers are opened
for releasing the sheet; the incline continues up until the cylinder and table
return for the next sheet, when the reverse tail piece comes in contact
with the shape on the table, and is thus thrown back in time to open the
grippers by the above simple method of working the grippers. I am enabled
to dispense with all cains, connecting rods, levers, and other parts,avoiding all
complexity.
The peculiarities of this machine consist in employing the double vertical
seginentand roller for the purpose explained, and the method of working the
gripper shape from the table, as explained; also the method of working the
printing cylinder, making 2 or more continual revolutions backwards and
forwards,and working in eccentric bearings, and also the variable front marks
or lays, worked in the manner described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Conisbee in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CONISBEE, of Herbert's Buildings, Waterloo Road, Southwark, Engineer and
Printing Machine Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her-reign

page_text: did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Conisbee, Her special licence that I, the said William Conisbee, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Conisbec, my executors, adininistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COLOUR PRINTING
MACHINES FOR LETTER-PRESS OR BLOCK PRINTING," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Couisbee, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Conisbec, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elvation, and Figure 2, a plan, of so much of a printing
machine, with my improvements applied thereto, as will enable a machinist to
construct a machine according to my Invention. Figures 3 and 4 show parts
on a larger scale. The ordinary parts not shewn will readily be applied by a
machinist.
My Invention consists in a method of imparting a reciprocatory movement
to two or more surfaces a, eachb earing a forme a¹; these surfaces are borne
on antifriction rollers b, running in longitudinal bearing bars c, mounted on
suitable framing d in the ordinary manner; at each end of the above framing I
mount an ink duct e and rollers, for taking and distributing different colored
inks. The printing cylinder f being placed exactly central between the said
ink ducts, and supported in eccentric bearings g,carried in suitable brackets h
turned to receive them at one side; and parallel with the body of the cylinder
I place an inclined feed table i, which table works in four V-shaped slides j.
At the front edge of the table I place a bar k, mounted in bearings fixed at
each end. On the bar I mount two or more marks or lays; on one or both
ends of the bar I fix a fork lever, the open end of which fits over a stud fixed
to the side frame of machine. The board has an intermittent movement

page_text: produced by a cam / working on a suitable shaft; from this cam a rod passes
to a shaft m, which passes through the two bearing bars on which the printing
surfaces or tables run,and into two bearings on the side frames; on the ends
of this shaft are two levers and links n, which connect the feed table, in order
to give motion to the type surfaces or tables; I fix at one end of the framing a
driving shaft o,mounted horizontally in suitable bearings, on which shaft is a
pinion p gearing into a spur wheel q, about six times larger than the pinion;
this wheel has a long crank pin 7 fitted near the periphery, on which is fitted
a connecting rod, which rod has an open joint r" at the opposite end, suffi-
ciently wide to carry two pinions s,s,and a wheel s' in the centre,the pinions
gearing into two racks t borne on bearing bars, extending the whole length of
the framing, and the wheels' gearing into a rack u,placed underneath one of the
type surfaces, the two surfaces being connected and moving as one. The object
of these two pinions and wheel being to effect the long traverse re quired, which
in the operation of printing in colour is much longer than usual. In order to
insure perfect case and freedom from jar or vibration while the type surfaces
are approaching and receding from each end, I place on the end of the crank
stud a steel tumbler roller v, which revolves freely in the stud on the two cross
frames and exactly central with the wheel shaft; I fix a compound segment w
in such manner, that before the crank arrives at its two extreme horizontal
positions, and consequently before the type surfaces reach the extremity of
their traverse, the roller enters the segment, which exactly fits the roller and
thus takes off all the strain from the crank pin and connecting rod, and enables
the surfaces to turn the ends easily, and thus obviates the necessity of springs
commonly used.
The printing cylinder above alluded to, which is geared directly with the
type surfaces,is furnished with grippers mounted on a bar working in the ends
of the cylinder; on the end of the bar I fix a short crank carrying a steel
roller, which turns freely on a stud to open the grippers, when the cylinder is
in a position to take the sheet to be printed. I use a moveable shape or incline
working on a steel pin, fixed on the inside of one of the cylinder bearings,
the said incline being provided with a crescent-shaped tail piece; on the side
of the type surface I fix a steel shape, which moves with the surface and
serves the purpose of working the incline, which, owing to the peculiar action
of the printing cylinder, it is necessary to throw in and out of contact with the
gripper rollers.
In using this machine, the sheet to be printed is laid to the marks placed
at the front of the feed table, and as the table approaches the cylinder the
marks which were above the face of the table aredepressed, leaving the sheet

page_text: free to be taken by the grippers, which are opened by means of the crank and
roller on the gripper shaft having come in contact with the incline, which, as
soon as the sheet has been taken, is thrown over by the shape on the side of
the type table having come in contact with the tail piece or incline. The
cylinder having made one revolution, and given one impression, which may be
in two or more colours, continues revolving, the sheet being still held by the
grippers, and thus passes over the next forme, which may be likewise in two
or more colors. The type table will now have arrived at the end of the
traverse, and the sheet printed. The feed table now returns to its original
position, and the marks are elevated ready for laying the next sheet; these
marks are made adjustable, so that it is possible to feed two different sheets
having different margins and printed in different colors at once, thus giving
facilities for executing morework in the same time with greater certaintyand
with a saving of expense. The cylinder is now lifted out of contact with the
forme by means of a cam on the wheel shaft and suitable connecting rods, and
the grippers are opened for releasing the sheet; the incline continues up until
the cylinder and table return for the next sheet, when the reverse tail piece
comes in contact with the shape on the table, and is thus thrown back in time
to open the grippers. By the above simple method of working the grippers I
am enabled to dispense with all cams,connecting rods, levers, and other parts,
avoiding all complexity.
What I claim is the application of the double vertical segment and roller
for the purpose explained.
I also claim the method of working the gripper shape from the table, as
explained.
I also claim the method of working the printing cylinder.
I also claim the working in eccentric bearings, as described.
And, I also claim the application of variable front marks or lays, worked
in the manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Conisbee, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
W. CONISBEE.
(L.S.)