IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING IN VARIOUS COLORS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Aubrèy Day, of 5, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in
the County of Middlesex, Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING IN
VARIOUS COLORS." A communication from abroad by François Appel and
Félix Hippolyte Monmon, both of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Aubrèy Day at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th September 1876.
CHARLES AUBREY DAY, of 5, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, Draughtsinan. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING IN VARIOUS COLORS." A communication from abroad
by François Appel and Félix Hippolyte Monmon, both of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for printing in any number of
colours, and is based on a difference (in size or number) between that which gives
the impression and the sheet to be printed, or that which is to receive the im-
pression, or on a differential movement (quicker or slower) producing the same
result, that is, printing successively upon one and the same sheet cach colour at a
determined and regular place.
The form of the apparatus may be considerably varied; one for printing (say)
in seven different colours consists mainly of two cylinders geared together by
means of spur wheels, so that their surfaces travel at the same rate and in the same
direction. The lower one carries the sheet or material to be printed, and is divided
into six equal divisions. The upper one is so much larger in diameter than the
lower one that it can be divided into seven divisions equal to those of the lower
one, that is to say, its circumference is just one-seventh larger. This carries the
block type or other surface intended to give the impression. There are seven
inking and distributing rollers (one to oach colour), which are so arranged that each
one inks its own corresponding block or printing surface as it passes.
•
It follows that as the surface of the upper roller is just one-seventh more than
that of the under roller (which carries the sheets to be printed) there is such a
differential movement as will cause a change of just one division at cach revolution,

page_text: and hence each sheet becomes successively printed in all the colours and then
discharged, a clean sheet being at the same time supplied, and the operation is thus
continuous. Either the advancement or retardation of one division would produce
the same result, the machine would be the same, excepting that the two cylinders
would then be of the same diameter, and that one would be thrown out of gear
during the passage of one division at each revolution.
In a modification of the above the upper cylinder may have six divisions, and
the lower be replaced by seven plates attached to an endless chain, the upper
cylinder carrying the sheets to be printed. And in another arrangement the plates
may be fixed to a circular table revolving in a horizontal planc beneath the cylinder,
which will give the same result It will be seen therefore that the Invention
consists in printing in several colours by a differential movement obtained by a
difference in the size or number, increased or decreased speed between that which
gives the impression and that which receives it, independently of the precise form
or movements of the machine, preference being given however to such forms as
unite great simplicity of construction with the greatest correctness, and acting by
the aid of flat or curved plates.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Aubrèy Day in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th March
1877.
CHARLES AUBREY DAY, of 5, Serle' Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, Draughtsman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING IN. VARIOUS COLORS." A communication from abroad
by François Appel and Félix Hippolyte Monmon, both of Paris, France
This Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for printing in any number of
colors, and it is based on a difference (in size or number) between that which gives
the impression and the sheet to be printed, or that which is to receive the im-
pression, or on a differential movement (quicker or slower) producing the same
result, that is, printing successively upon one and the same sheet each color at a
determined and regular place.
The form of the apparatus may be considerably varied; one for printing (say)
in seven different colors consists mainly of two cylinders geared together by means
of spur wheels, so that their surfaces travel at the same rate and in the same
direction. The lower one carries the sheet or material to be printed, and is divided
into six equal divisions. The upper one is so much larger in diameter than the
lower one that it can be divided into seven divisions equal to those of the lower
one, that is to say, its circumference is just one-seventh larger. This carries the
block, typo, or other surface intended to give the impression. There are seven
inking and distributing rollers (one to each color), which are so arranged that each
one inks its own corresponding block or printing surface as it passes.
It follows that as the surface of the upper roller is just one-seventh more than
that of the under roller (which carries the sheets to be printed) there is such a
differential movement as will cause a change of just one division at each revolution,
and hence each sheet becomes successively printed in all the colors and then
discharged, a clean sheet being at the same time supplied, and the operation is thus
continuous. Either the advancement or retardation of one division would produce
the same result; the machine would be the same, excepting that the two cylinders
would then be of the same diameter, and that one would be thrown out of gear
during the passage of one division at each revolution.
In a inodification of the above the upper cylinder may have six divisions, and
the lower be replaced by seven plates attached to an endless chain, the upper
cylinder carrying the sheets to be printed. And in another arrangement the plates

page_text: may be fixed to a circular table revolving in a horizontal plane beneath the
cylinder, which will give the same result
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
5 or carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be distinctly under-
stood I have annexed hereunto four sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and
have marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those
in the following explanation thereof, that is to say:-
In the annexed Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 11, a front
O elevation; and Figure 1" a plan view of one arrangement of the apparatus.
A is the frame; B, the driving pulley, C, the cylinder carrying the surface
to be printed, it has six divisions; D, the cylinder which carries the printing
surface, it has seven divisions, E, spur wheel mounted on the axis of the
cylinder D and moving F; F, spur wheel mounted on the frame, with eccentric for
5 traversing gear, G, traversing gear moving H; H, circles concentric with the
cylinder C, with their arms revolving on its axis; they carry and give motion to
the inking surfaces, they also carry cams L in order to set the ink furnishing
rollers in motion; I, convex surfaces moved by H passing between the ink trough
and the ink furnishing and distributing rollers, they receive the ink from below;
J, inking 1ollers raised after the plates I have passed by means of the cams L;
K, ink trough fixed to frame, receiving their motion by friction or by a chain pulley
mounted on F; L, cams fixed on H; M, inking roller carriers, jointed so as to rise
and fall by the action of the corresponding cams or tappets carried by the
cylinder D, they are of unequal lengths, N, cams or tappets fixed on D acting on M,
they are of unequal dimensions or positions, so as to act on their corresponding
piece M; O, spur wheel fixed on the frame, moved by Q; it is proportioned to this
wheel Qas 7 is to 6 (the proportion of the cylinders), and carries an eccentric P;
P, excentric acting on the nippers of the cylinder C; Q, spur wheel fixed on the
cylinder C and moving O; R, ordinary nippers of printing machines; T, feeding
table.
Figure 2 is the side elevation of another arrangement of the apparatus; 2¹ is the
plan view; and 211, detached views of parts of the inking arrangement. A is the
driving pulley; B, toothed wheel imoving C and D; B₁, fly wheel giving the to-
and-fro motion to the inking carriage; C, spur wheel moved by B mounted on the
axis of one of the chain wheels E, and giving motion to the printing surfaces;
D, spur wheel moved by B mounted on the axis of one of the chain wheels F of
the surfaces to be printed, G, plates to hold the printing surfaces fixed at g to the
chain by a round rod, which turns in a plate of the chain, so as not to follow the
reverse motion of the chain, g, the fastening of the chain to the plates G; H, iron
plates, slit in order to serve as guides to the plates G at the time of descent and
ascent, they fit on to the inking plates whilst ascending; I, frames bearing the
whole machine from the plates to the cylinders, and to the gauging and receiving
tables; J, cylinder with six divisions carrying the sheets to be printed; K, spur
wheel fixed to the cylinder and moving L; L, spur wheel fixed to the frame acting
on the nippers by means of an eccentric, it is proportioned as 7 to 6, like the
cylinder to the plates; M, to-and-fro movement receiving its motion at B; it is the
same length as the inking frame; it moves on rollers and slides in a groove in the
frame; it consists of an oblong frame carrying two toothed slides hinged on to its
longest sides, one of which, N, is used for the inking plate, the other, O, for the
inking rollers by their supports; N is shorter than the traverse, and O on the con-
trary is prolonged vertically by two ends, so that the to-and-fro movement is ths
of the ascent of the plate, N, O, grooves for the reciprocating frame; P, frame for
the inking plate carrying the ink trough, the plate and the inking rollers, and its
fastenings to the chain; its situation and its movement are exactly the same as those
of the printing plates. The two lateral sides are furnished with two united slides,
one for the inking plate, the other for the supports of the inking rollers, the rods of
which q, q², enter at the desired time into the grooves of the reciprocating frame

page_text: ACTION
THE AVOLINE.
First Machine. As the cylinder C turns from right to left D will turn from left
to right, the colors 1 to 7 are placed in this direction. The attendant will first inķ
No. 1, and will make one revolution; then No 2, and another revolution; then 3,
and so on until the 7th color, which in consequence of the difference between the
two cylinders will be placed on the sheet which has 6. For the same reason the
motion on the nippers will take place, and it will pass out to be replaced, and
BO ON.
It is evident that at the end of this operation there is always on the surface of the
cylinder C one leaf with 1 color, one with 2, one with 3, one with 4, one with 5, and
one with 6, which last receives the 7th at the next revolution, while the one with
only 5 receives the 6th, the one which has 4 the 5th, the one which has 3 the 4th, the
one which has 2 the 3rd, the one which has 1 the 2nd; finally, the white sheet
put in place of the 6th lenf that has come out receives 1 color.
The advancing or stopping of one division produces the same result, the machine
is the same, excepting that the two cylinders are of equal dimensions. A disengaging
motion stops one of the cylinders during one division at each revolution
As to the inking, it is evident from the Drawing that when the inking plate is
in front of the ink trough the furnishing roller is in its place: when it has passed
behind the eccentric placed on the circle lifts the roller to inake it take the ink, and
lets it fall again when the plate comes back to take its ink by its to-and-fro motion,
and distribute it to the other rollers. The other rollers as their respective printing
surfaces pass are lowered and raised by the action of the corresponding cams fixed
on the cylinder.
Second Machine. In this case, instead of a cylinder divided into 7, there are 7
plates moved by an endless chain, with arrangements for rising and falling without
being reversed. Gill screws may also be employed instead of the chain, seven
connecting rods with points of attachment graduated or toothed moved by spur
wheels forming a successive reciprocating motion with a lowering motion by inclined
planes for the return movement. The cylinder which carries the sheet to be printed
has six equal divisions, one for each plate. The gearing is the same as for the two
cylinders superposed.
The inking arrangement is in this case mounted on a continuation of the same
frame; it is also divided into seven, corresponding exactly with the seven printing
surfaces, and has consequently the same speed and the same manner of working. Only
the movement is reversed in order that the ascent of the two corresponding plates
shall be made face to face, because it is during this ascent that the inking takes
place in the following manner :-We have seen by the description that the frame of
one inking plate has two smooth slides corresponding with grooves in the recip-
rocating frame M; the result of this is that as soon as a plate arrives at the lower

page_text: plane the two rods q and q², belonging one to the inking plate, and the other to the
rollers, each enter at a given moment into the two slides of the reciprocating frame,
and are drawn along with its movement, whilst their own frame follows the
same motion. For this purpose the grooves of the slides of the reciprocating frame
hold them in the direction passing on to the printing plates, and a spring fixed on
the rod holds them in the other direction This spring retires upon the arrival of
the inking plate, for example, at the bottom of its own slide by the pressure of a
tappet The reciprocating frame continues its movement, for during its revolution
the plate has advanced, and on its return it draws it back again by its grooves
until its opening prevents it from acting further upon it, which takes place a little
before the end of the traverse of R. The slide N continues its action on the rollers
even during the ascent, owing to the fact of its prolongation by the two vertical
ends. It is then that the reciprocating frame throws the rollers forward on to the
printing surface to be inked as far as 10ths of its ascent; the two plates, always
united by the split blades of the plate G, rise together until their inverse move-
ment separates them The rest is the same as in the first machine.
Third Machine. In this the plates to the number of six (whilst the cylinder has
only 5 divisions) are carried on a fixed circular table with a straight side; they
are moved by an endless chain or arms turning on a central axis. The inking
arrangement is fixed and exactly similar in action and construction to that of
Figure 1. The reciprocating movement of the inking plate is obtained by F and B¹;
each printing plate in passing under its respective rollers lowers them and raises
them again, and having been inked passes beneath the cylinder, which it puts in
motion guided by K. The action of the machine is completely identical with that
of No. 1.
Having now described the nature and objects of the said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention communicated
to me by the above-named François Appel and Félix Hippolyte Monmon, the
improved method and the general construction, arrangement, and combination of
parts constituting the improved machinery or apparatus for printing in various
colors, substantially as herein-before described and as illustrated on the accompanying
Sheets of Drawings.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Aubrey Day, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our Loid One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven
CHAS. AUBRÈY DAY. (L.S.)