Improvements in Multiple Colour Printing and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Multiple Colour Printing and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, FRANCIS CONST BARKER of Denmark Street, Dublin in the County of
Dublin, Envelope Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
Multiple printing is now performed by passing the same paper through several
machines, in each case the paper being handled between each printing and adjusted
to the machine, or else a machine with several heads brings each of those heads
successively down upon the paper.
Now this invention is designed to enable one to print with several different
machines grouped together without touching the paper between-whiles. I prefer to
group the machines in a circle, they can however if desired be in a straight row.
The pile of blanks are fixed in guides on a travelling table. This travelling table
runs in slides or on a gantree, and at each machine there is a sliding catch.
The mode of action is as follows :-
A table with a pile of blanks passes to the first machine, the sliding catch holds
it in exact position, the type and the pile of blanks are brought against each other
and the impression obtained. The sliding catch is withdrawn, and the table
containing the pile of blanks is slid on to the next machine where it is caught by
the sliding catch of that machine. This goes on until all the machines have been
employed. It then passes a point at which the top blank is removed, and from
there passes to the first machine. This is easily accomplished where the machines
are in a circle. Where however the machines are in a row the table is caused' to
descend or ascend at that row and pass along a returned gantree to the first
machine.
Where gilding is required the first machine prints the requisite material to hold
the gold, at the next machine a shower of gold-dust is caused to fall on this material,
an exhaust pipe takes up all the spare gold, and it then passes on to the next
machine. Or a tipping mechanism can be arranged by which at this particular
point all the spare gold not caught by the material printed on the paper falls into a
trough for the purpose.
A
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Multiple Colour Printing and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, FRANCIS CONST BARKER of Denmark Street, Dublin in the County of
Dublin, Envelope Manufacturer, 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 :-
Multiple printing is now performed by passing the same paper through several
machines, in each case the paper being handled between each printing and adjusted
to the machine, or else a machine with several heads brings each of these heads
successively down upon the paper.
Now this invention is designed to enable one to print with several different
machines grouped together without touching the paper between-whiles. Tho

page_text: machines may be grouped in a circle, or in a straight row.
fixed in guides on a travelling table. This travelling table
gantree, and carries a sliding catch on each side.
The pile of blanks is
runs in slides or on a
The invention will be understood from the following detailed description,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,―
Figure 1 is an outline side elevation of part of the machine, and
Figure 2 a plan of same, showing two machines grouped in a straight line.
The machines employed may be somewhat similar to those used for many years
by the firm of Messrs. Hely & Co. of Dublin and for which a Patent was granted
bearing No. 5802 dated May 12th 1885 means however being provided for sliding
the table from one machine to another.
In the drawings, which show two printing machines grouped together, A, is a
sliding table; B, the guide bars on which the table slides; C, the inking
rollers; D, the cylinder to which the dies are attached; E, pile of blanks on the
table A, and e guides for holding the pile of blanks. The table is controlled by
the stops or fences F and the sliding catch G, whereby the table can be stopped at
the exact point required for registration. The catch G is connected to the table
and is adapted to slide transversely on the end thereof. The under face of the
table is grooved or rabbeted in order to clear the stops F, whereby the table is
enabled after an impression is taken to pass over one or more of the stops when the
sliding catch G is moved to one side.
To place the table in the exact point for registration, the catch G is moved
opposite one of the stops F, whereby the table cannot be moved beyond a given
point until the catch is slid out of the way. The stops F have a slot by means of
which they can be made fast to the bed plate by set screws H.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The table with the pile of blanks passes to the first machine, the sliding catch G
holds it in the exact position, the die and pile of blanks are brought against each
other and the impression obtained. The sliding catch is withdrawn and the table A
containing the pile of blanks is slid onto the next machine where it is caught by
the stop of that machine. This goes on until all the machines have been
employed, there being as many machines as there are colours to be printed. The
table then passes the point at which the top blank is removed and from there passes
back to the first machine. This is easily accomplished when the machines are in a
circle by forming the guide bars B circular and by making the table in the segment
of a circle, whereby it can rotate in a circular path. Where however the machines
are in a row, as depicted in the drawings, the table may be caused to descend or
ascend at the end of the row and passed on a return gantree to the first machine.
Where gilding is required, the first machine prints the requisite material to hold
the gold, at the next machine a shower of gold dust is caused to fall on this material,
an exhaust pipe takes up all the spare gold, and it then passes on to the next
machine. Or a tipping mechanism can be arranged by which at this particular
point all the spare gold not caught by the material printed on the paper falls into
a trough for the purpose.
In the arrangement above described, only one die, such as I, is required for each
machine, and the table is moved to as many machines as there are colours to be
printed. I am able however to print if desired two, three, four or even more
colours on one machine, and to do this I provide separate dies K and inking rollers;
or, if one long roller be used, it is cut at intervals to separate the colours, as
depicted by dotted lines in Figure 2. If four colours are to be printed, the four
dies K are placed side by side on the stamping cylinder or on separate cylinders,
and catch G¹ and three stops or fences F are provided in addition to the stop F
and catch G. The four dies are made to exactly register.
The four dies are fixed on the cylinder or machine in a line parallel with the
direction of travel.
The under face of the table A is rabbeted for each stop F and F', and the table
with the pile of blanks thereon can be brought successively under each die, and

page_text: receive the required impressions. By using the sliding catches, the table can be
placed in exact register for each of the four impressions.
It will be obvious that, instead of the table reciprocating, the machine can slide
on the table, but the former arrangement is preferable. To assist in getting an
exact registration, the stops are adjustable on the screws H, and can be clamped in
any position. The table can be moved by hand or by gearing if desired. The
invention may be employed for printing envelopes, cards, tags, labels, letter paper
or other articles. By means of the sliding table, a surface of considerable size can
be printed.
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. The improvement in machines for printing in two or more colours, which
consists in grouping together two or more separate machines in a straight line, or
in a circle, and in arranging a travelling rabbeted table (carrying the pile of blanks)
on guide bars, passing from machine to machine, whereby the said table can be
moved to as many machines as there are colours to be printed, substantially as
described, or any mere mechanical equivalent thereof, such as a stationary table
and sliding machines.
2. The improvement in machines for printing in two or more colours on one machine,
which consists in using two or more dies on the same or adjacent cylinders, and a
rabbeted reciprocating or travelling table carrying the pile of blanks, said table
being brought successively under each die, whereby the blanks receive the required
impressions, substantially as described.
3. The use, in combination with machines for printing in two or more colours or
media, of means such as sliding catches and stops whereby the travelling table
carrying the pile of blanks is stopped or held successively in exact register for
receiving the impressions of the various dies, and is freed automatically or by hand to
travel on after the impression has been made, substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.