Improvements in Rotary Web Printing and Folding Machines, and in Stitching or Binding Attachments therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Web Printing and Folding Machines, and
in Stitching or Binding Attachments therefor.
I, ROBERT CUMMING ANNAND of Cornwallis Street, South Shields in the
County of Durham, Printers' Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to rotary web printing and folding machines and
stitching or binding attachments therefor and it relates chiefly to the manipulation
of the web or sheets of paper after they have been printed on both sides in the
machine.
The invention mainly consists, first; of a special arrangement of grippers in or
on a cylinder upon which the printed sheets are collected or associated; secondly;
of the combination with the collecting cylinder of another cylinder having a
longitudinal gripping blade acting in conjunction with a longitudinal folding blade
in the collecting cylinder as hereinafter described so as to fold the sheets that have
collected on this cylinder; thirdly; of the combination with the collecting cylinder
of stripping devices and tapes for stripping the sheets from the collecting cylinder
and carrying them to the binding or stitching attachments; fourthly; of special
stitching or binding attachments comprising means for temporarily holding the
sheets while being stitched or bound by means of wire staples; and fifthly; of an
arrangement of tapes in combination with suitable folding and delivery apparatus
whereby the stitched sheets are carried off and then folded and delivered from the
machine.
Having stated what are the leading features of my invention I will proceed to
describe a rotary web printing, folding and stitching or binding machine in which
they are embodied.
The machine has two large impression or blanket cylinders and two stereotype or
forme cylinders of the same diameter. The circumference of the blanket cylinders
may be divided into four or more divisions or segments with a set of grippers in
each arranged so that their points close upon the leading edge of each division or
segment. The stereotype cylinders are arranged so that plates can be put upon
them to correspond with the segments in the circumference of the blanket cylinders.
The cutting and feeding apparatus of the machine is so arranged that it will cut
sheets of the required length and feed them to the first blanket cylinder and be so
timed that each set of grippers will have a sheet fed under them as they pass the
cutting and feeding devices. The grippers carry the sheets around and each
section or sheet receives an impression on one side from the plates upon the first
stereotype cylinder.
The sheets are next carried round one after the other, until the second blanket
cylinder is reached. The grippers on the first blanket cylinder gradually open
while those on the second cylinder close upon each sheet in succession..
By this means the sheets are reversed and the unprinted side is turned outside &
the printed side next the blanket of the second cylinder. The sheets in turn are
printed upon the blank side by being brought into contact with the second
stereotype cylinder.
After the sheets have been printed on both sides the second blanket cylinder
carries them round to a collecting cylinder. This cylinder is made so that its
circumference is equal to only one section or division of the printing cylinders.
Supposing the printing cylinders to have four sections, the collecting cylinder
will revolve four times for one revolution of the printing cylinders, but the surface

page_text: speed will be the same. The collecting cylinder has two sets of grippers for
receiving and holding the sheets as they are brought round to it by the second
blanket cylinder. The first set of grippers is so arranged that each time they
approach the blanket cylinder they are opened and this can conveniently be effected
by a crank and roller on the end of the gripper rod coming in contact with a
stationary cam, and when open they receive the printed sheet.
The grippers of the second set are arranged so that they come in between those
of the first set. Their action is such that on each revolution of the collecting
cylinder they are drawn out below the newly added sheet. After the points of the
grippers have cleared the last added sheet they are caused to open, then to advance
and close upon the top of the newly added sheet. The object of this is to hold the
sheets on the collecting cylinder during the time the grippers of the first set open
to receive the next sheet from the blanket cylinder grippers. The grippers of the
second set can conveniently be worked by being carried on arms keyed to a rod
which is acted on by a crank and roller coming in contact with a cam.
Close to the collecting cylinder and geared with it is another cylinder which has
a gripping blade near its surface running parallel with the axis of the cylinder.
In the collecting cylinder about opposite the sets of grippers, is a longitudinal gap.
Projecting from this gap and level with the circumference of the cylinder is a
folding blade. This folding blade is carried on arms which are pivoted on the axle
inside the collecting cylinder. This arrangement allows of the folding blade being
moved round within certain limits so that the blade would come in the centre
of any of the several sizes of sheets the machine would print. In order to save
time in altering from one size to another these arms are fastened to a gear wheel on
the end of the cylinder.
This wheel is in gear with a similar wheel on the gripping cylinder and it follows
that if the arms carrying the folding blades are moved forwards or backwards the
gripper cylinder is moved at the same time to an equal extent.
This insures the folding blade always coming in its right place to meet the
gripping blade. When the whole of the sheets brought round by one revolution of
the printing cylinders are collected on the collecting cylinder, the gripping
cylinder, which has been kept a short distance apart from the collecting cylinder is
moved towards it so that the folding blade tucks the centre of the sheets under the
gripper blade and thus gives the sheets one fold. At the time the gripper blade
lays hold of the sheets both sets of grippers on the collecting cylinder are made to
release the leading edge of the sheet.
The sheets are carried round by the gripping cylinder and piled on a receiving
and counting apron.
When it is desirable to bind the sheets together at the centre margins to form a
book or pamphlet, instead of constructing the collecting cylinder with a folding
blade to fold the sheets, I arrange it so that when the requisite number of sheets
has been collected they are stripped off the collecting cylinder by switches and
carried by tapes towards the binding apparatus. This consists of several wire
stitching devices similar to those. used in stapling pamphlets. As the sheets pass
under the stitching devices they are momentarily held and this can conveniently be
effected by their being nipped between a series of fingers underneath and above the
sheets which close upon them at the right instant or by fingers or stops which
pass between the tapes so as to stop the onward movement of the sheets.
the sheets are held the mechanism which operates the wire stitchers comes into
operation by which means one or more wire staples are passed through the sheets
and clenched on the opposite side. When this operation has been completed
the fingers or stops release the sheets and allow the tapes to carry the sheet out of
the way
of the following sheet and towards a final folding and delivering
mechanism.
While
It will sometimes be necessary to have duplicate stitching devices in order
to keep pace with the printing part of the machine. When this is necessary
1 arrange that as the sheets leave the collecting cylinder they are divided into two

page_text: or more streams, the successive sheets passing to upper and lower stitching devices
alternately or to three or more stitching devices in turn.
The binding or stitching attachments above described are also applicable to
machines which associate a number of webs together after they have been printed
these webs being cut up into sheets by cutting cylinders in the manner well
known.
1
1
1000
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Rotary Web Printing and Folding Machines, and in
Stitching or Binding Attachments therefor.
I, ROBERT CUMMING ANNAND of Cornwallis Street, South Shields in the
County of Durham, Printers' Engincer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to rotary web printing and folding machines and
stitching or binding attachments therefor; and it relates chiefly to the manipula-
tion of the web or sheets of paper after they have been printed on both sides in the
machine.
The invention mainly consists first of a special arrangement of grippers in or on
a cylinder upon which the printed sheets are collected or associated, secondly of the
combination with the collecting cylinder of another cylinder having a longitudinal
gripping blade acting in conjunction with a longitudinal folding blade in the
collecting cylinder as hereinafter described so as to fold the sheets that have
collected on this cylinder; thirdly of the combination with a collecting cylinder of
stripping devicesa nd tapes for stripping the sheets from the collecting cylinder and
carrying them to binding or stitching attachments; fourthly of special stitching
binding attachments comprising means for temporarily holding the sheets while
being stitched or bound by means of wire staples; and fifthly of an arrangement of
tapes in combination with suitable folding and delivery apparatus whereby the
stitched sheets are carried off and then folded and delivered from the machine.
or
Having stated what are the leading features of my invention I will proceed to
describe by way of example a rotary web printing folding and stitching or binding
machine in which they are embodied.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates in side elevation two
impression or blanket cylinders, two stereotype or forme cylinders, the collecting
cylinder as constructed according to my invention when the collected or associated
sheets are to be delivered directly therefrom to a folding cylinder, and the folding
cylinder which in this case I combine with the said collecting cylinder.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan showing the collecting cylinder and folding cylinder
with the folding blade of the one and the gripping blade of the other in their
meeting position.
Figure 3 is a fractional view on a larger scale of the collecting cylinder with
both sets of its grippers in the closed position.
Figure 4 is a similar view. but with one set of grippers in the open position.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of part of the collecting cylinder.
Figure 6 is a side elevation illustrating the combination of a collecting cylinder
and stripping devices and tapes for stripping the sheets from the collecting cylinder
and carrying them to binding or stitching attachments; the figure also illustrates
the binding or stitching attachments and an arrangement of tapes and folding an!
delivery apparatus whereby the stitched sheets are carried off and then folded and
delivered from the machine.

page_text: Figure 7 is a plan of the binding attachment and
Figure 8 a diagrammatical end view of the apparatus for folding and delivering
the stitched sheets.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 5, a and b represent two large impression or
blanket cylinders, and c and d two stereotype or forme cylinders of the same
diameter. The circumference of each of the blanket cylinders a bis shown as
divided into for example four divisions or segments (but the number of divisions
may be varied) with a set of grippers e for each division or segment arranged so
that their points close upon the leading edge of the segment; the grippers e do not
close directly upon the sheet upon the edge of the segment but upon the tops of
rows of pins which are flat, and this allows of the sheet being transferred from
one blanket cylinder to another at the meeting point. The stereotype cylinders c d
are arranged so that plates can be put upon them to correspond with the segments
in the circumference of the blanket cylinders; the plates are fastened to the
cylinders c and d and set up against stops in the usual way. The blanket and
stereotype cylinders are of known construction and only one of each is shown
in detail. The cutting and feeding apparatus of the machine is so arranged as
will be well understood that it will cut sheets of the required length and feed them
to the first blanket cylinder a and be so timed that the grippers e of each set will
have a sheet fed under them as they pass the cutting and feeding devices.
In the
machine illustrated the feeding device consists of two sets of tapes g h which hold
the sheet between them and of a stationary switch or guide j over which the upper
tapes g carry the sheet. The grippers carry the sheets round and each section or
sheet receives an impression on one side from the plates upon the first stereotype
cylinder c. The sheets next come one after the other to the second blanket
cylinder b. The grippers e on the first blanket cylinder a gradually open while
those on the second cylinder 6 close upon each sheet in succession in the manner
well understood. By this means the sheets are reversed and the unprinted side is
turned outside and the printed side next the blanket of the second cylinder b. The
sheets are then in turn printed upon the blank side by being brought into contact
with the second stereotype cylinder d.
After the sheets have been printed on both sides the second blanket cylinder b.
carries them round to the collecting cylinder k. This cylinder is made so that the
operative part of its circumference is equal to only one section or division of the
printing cylinders c and d. Supposing the printing cylinders c and d each to have
four sections the collecting cylinder k will revolve four times for one revolution of
the printing cylinders. The collecting cylinder has two sets of grippers and m
for receiving and holding the sheets as they are brought round to it by the
second blanket cylinder b. The grippers of the first set are so arranged that
each time they approach the blanket cylinder 6 they are opened and this can
conveniently be effected by a crank and roller n on the end of the gripper rod
coming in contact with a stationary cam p, and when open they receive the
printed sheet. The grippers m of the second set are arranged so that they come in
between those of the first set 1. Their action is such that on each revolution of the
collecting cylinder k they are drawn out from below the newly added sheet and
after their points have cleared the last added sheet they are caused to open and
subsequently to advance and close upon the top of the newly added sheet. The
object of this is to hold the sheets on the collecting cylinder k during the time
the grippers of the first set open to receive the next sheet from the grippers of
the blanket cylinder b. The grippers m of the second set can conveniently be
worked by their rod being carried on arms q keyed to a rod which is acted on by
a crank s and roller t coming in contact with a stationary cam ; this causes the
grippers m first to be withdrawn from underneath the newly added sheet; then the
arm on the gripper rod comes against a fixed pin w and causes the grippers m to
open; the line followed by the points of these grippers during the opening move-
ment is indicated by the dotted line 1 in Figure 4. As the cylinder k continues its

page_text: rotation the cam u would allow the grippers m to close, but they advance in their
open position until the arm comes against a fixed pin & which causes them to close
and hold the newly added sheet so that the other set of grippers / will be at liberty
to open and receive the next new sheet when the collecting cylinder again comes
opposite the blanket cylinder b. The opening and closing of the grippers m is pre-
vented until they strike the pins w and respectively by means of friction discs y
Figure 5.
3
Close to the collecting cylinder and geared with it is another cylinder z which
has a gripping blade A near its surface running parallel with the axis of the
cylinder. In the collecting cylinder about opposite the sets of grippers is a
longitudinal gap B. Projecting from this gap and level with the circumference of
the cylinder is a folding blade C. This folding blade is carried on arms D which
are pivoted on the axle E inside the collecting cylinder. This arrangement allows
of the folding blade C being moved round within certain limits so that the blade
would come in the centre of any of the several sizes of sheets the machine would
print. In order to save time in altering from one size to another these arms are
fastened to a gear wheel F (Figure 2) on the end of the cylinder. This wheel is
in gear with a similar wheel G on the gripper cylinder and it follows that if the
arms carrying the folding blade Care moved forwards or backwards the gripper
cylinder is moved at the same time to an equal extent; this arrangement for
effecting a simultaneous and corresponding adjustment of the two cylinders is
clearly described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings forming part
of my prior Specification No. 204242. This ensures that the folding blade C will
always come in its right place to meet the gripping blade A. When the whole of
the sheets brought round by one revolution of the printing cylinders have been
collected on the collecting cylinder k-the cam which operates the gripper blade A
of the cylinder which has been held in a position so that the gripper did not close
until the cylinder was so far round that it was clear of the blade of the collecting
cylinder is moved round so as to cause the gripper to close upon the folding
blade C which therefore tucks the centre of the sheets under the gripper blade A
and tlius gives the sheets one fold. At the time the gripper blade A lays hold of
the sheets both sets of grippers and m on the collecting cylinder k are free of the
leading edge of the sheet the grippers being opened by means of a cam at the
same time as the grippers m.
z
The sheets are carried round by the gripping cylinder stripped off by the
switches K and piled on a receiving and counting travelling apron L in the manner
described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings forming part of my
prior Specification No. 8511 of 1892.
When it is required to bind the sheets together at the centre margins to form a
book or pamphlet, instead of constructing the collecting cylinder k with a folding
blade as shown in Figures 1 and 2 to fold the sheets, I arrange it so that when the
requisite number of sheets has been collected they are stripped off the collecting
cylinder by switches and carried by tapes towards a binding apparatus.
This arrangement is represented in Figure 6 in which is the second blanket
cylinder as before and k the collecting cylinder with its two sets of grippers 7 and m.
M is a set of switches which remain in the open or raised position indicated in
dotted lines while the sheets are being collected on the cylinder k, but which when
the prescribed number of sheets, (say 4) has been collected descend into the position
shown in full lines so as to enter circumferential grooves in the cylinder. The
switches M receive their movement by means of a rod N actuated by a cam P
which revolves once for every four revolutions of the cylinder k (assuming that
four is the number of sheets to be collected). When the switches M are lowered
they strip off the associated or superposed sheets, which are then carried by upper
and lower tapes Q and R to the binding apparatus S. I have not shown this
apparatus in detail as one or more wire stitching devices similar to those used in
stapling pamphlets and the construction and operation of which are well known,

page_text: may be employed; the stitching device or devices are worked by suitable gearing
from the printing machine.
As the sheets pass under the stitching devices they are momentarily held and
this can conveniently be effected by their being nipped between a series of fingers
underneath and above the sheets, which close upon them at the right instant or by
fingers or stops which pass between the tapes so as to stop the onward movement
of the sheets. T represents a series of stationary fingers above the sheets and U a
series of movable fingers below the sheets. The fingers U are moved up and
down so as to respectively nip and release the sheets by means of a rod V actuated
by a cam W on the same shaft as the cam P. While the sheets are held the
mechanism which operates the wire stitchers comes into operation by which means
one or more wire staples are passed through the sheets and clenched on the opposite
side in the manner well understood. When this operation has been completed the
fingers or stops release the sheets and allow the tapes Q and R which have been
continuously travelling to carry the stitched sheets out of the way of the next
following sheets and towards a final folding and delivering mechanism. This is
shown as consisting of the folding and delivering cylinders X and Y the cylinder Y
delivering the folded and stitched sheets to a receiving travelling apron L like the
apron L in Figure 1.
It will sometimes be necessary to have duplicate stitching devices in order to
keep pace with the printing part of the machine. When this is necessary I arrange
that as the associated sheets leave the collecting cylinder they are divided into two
or more streams, the successive sets of four or other number of associated sheets
passing to upper and lower stitching devices alternately, or to three or more
stitching devices in turn, as will be well understood.
l
The binding or stitching attachments above described are also applicable to
machines which associate a number of webs together after they have been printed,
these webs being cut up into sheets by cutting cylinders. in the manner well
known. And the collecting cylinder k with its two sets of grippers and m arranged
and working as described can be applied to associate or collect sheets delivered.
to it from a rotary web printing machine by tapes or otherwise instead of directly
from the impression cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a rotary web printing and folding machine, a cylinder for collecting or
associating the printed sheets in sets of four or other desired number, the said
cylinder having two sets of grippers to grip the same edge of the sheets, the one
set opening and closing.so as to receive the successive printed sheets and the other
set being first drawn out from below each newly added sheet, then opened and
subsequently advanced and closed upon the said newly added sheet, substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described.
2. In a rotary web printing and folding machine, a cylinder for collecting or
associating the printed sheets in sets of four or other desired number, the said
cylinder having two sets of grippers arranged and working as referred to in
Claim 1, in combination with a cylinder having a gripping blade acting in conjunc-
tion with a folding blade in the collecting cylinder whereby the sheets that have
been collected on this cylinder are folded, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination with a rotary web printing and folding machine having a
cylinder for collecting or associating the printed sheets in sets of four or other
desired number, of a binding or stitching device, devices for stripping the collected
sheets from the cylinder, and tapes for carrying the sheets from the cylinder to the
binding or stitching device and for carrying the sheets after stitching to folding
and delivering apparatus, substantially as set forth.
4. In a rotary web machine in which printed sheets are collected or associated

page_text: in sets of four or other desired number, then stitched and folded, means substantially
as bereinbefore described whereby the onward motion of the sheets is temporarily
arrested while they are being stitched or bound.
Dated this 19th day of October 1893.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.