Improvements in Rotary Sheet-printing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug.. 1897
Complete Specification Left. 19th May, 1898-Accepted, 16th July, 1898
Improvements in Rotary Sheet-printing Machines.
I, THOMAS RUDDIMAN JOHNSTON, of Waverley, Newlands Park, Sydenham, in the
County of Kent, Printer and Publisher, 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 relates to improvements in rotary sheet-printing machines, and is
applicable to one-side printing machines, to perfecting machines, and to multi-
color printing machines.
The improved machine comprises a pair of form and impression cylinders geared
together and constantly revolving at the same surface speed, and between which
sheets of paper are carried consecutively by grippers fixed to endless chains or bands,
which, where they pass round the cylinders, constantly travel at the same surface
speed as the cylinders, which grippers receive the sheets of paper during a
temporary halt given to a portion of these chains or bands.
The means for temporarily halting a portion of the gripper chains or bands
whilst the other parts continually travel forward, forms an important feature of the
invention, for as the heavy cylinders constantly rotate, they can be run at any speed,
thereby avoiding all the difficulties and risk connected with the rapid motion of
parts gearing intermittently. As the grippers come to a positive stop, the feeding
of the sheets of paper takes place in the recognised easiest manner, and this
arrangement permits of several feeding boards being used, four being a convenient
number.
The invention also comprises the inking of a constantly moving flat band and the
supply of ink therefrom to a constantly rotating cylinder, and the invention further
comprises means for securely bringing the stereotypes or plates to "register."
The grippers are carried on endless chaius or bands at a distance apart equal to
the circumference of the impression cylinder at its pitch line, so that geared wheels
fixed to the impression cylinder bring every gripper to exactly the same position on
its surface.
If desired, in order to produce "register," I make the teeth and links following
the grippers to fit very loosely and then pull the entire chains back by means of
guide pulleys pushed out by springs, the result being that the links at the grippers
are always pulled against the teeth of the wheel there, and whatever the wear may
be the grippers must always occupy the same position relatively to the cylinders
and "register" must therefore be perfect.
The gripper bars form one piece with, or are rigidly fixed to, the links at each of
their ends and extend across from one endless chain to the other, their bases being on
a level with the pitch line of the impression cylinder, so that the grippers themselves
can lie on the surface of the cylinder. At intervals along these bars the upper
gripper jaws are placed. These grippers may be described generally as a number of
American clips kept closed by springs and opened only when pressure is applied to the
rear ends of the upper gripper jaws, and the sheets of paper are fed against tongues of
the upper jaws and parts of the same radius on the lower jaws.

page_text: I prefer to employ feeding boxes which automatically bring the uppermost sheet
to a level with the front portions of the feeding boards, as described in Patent granted
to me No. 1222 of the year 1895.
For feeding purposes the grippers are brought against stops on hars which have
been lowered against the action of their springs, so that the stops prevent the passage
of the gripper bars, spring pulleys at the same time compelling the gripper bars to
fully meet these stops. The springs of each pulley are successively weaker than
those of the preceding pulley, so that each gripper is pulled against its stop and is
not acted upon by the spring pulleys which control the next gripper. Instead of
springs, weights may be used. As soon as the grippers have come to a halt, the stop
bars are further lowered until parts carried thereby press against the rear portions
of the upper gripper jaws and so open the grippers; the sheet of paper is then
fed in, after which the stop bars are raised thereby permitting the grippers to close
and giving them a clear passage for their sheets.
Means are provided to prevent the gripper bars being bent while the grippers are
being opened.
During printing the grippers remain firmly closed, but afterwards they open to
deliver the sheets into a receiving box. This latter action takes place when the
grippers are travelling and is accomplished by pieces on a shaft coming against and
depressing the upper gripping jaws. The shaft carrying these gripper-opening pieces
is geared with the gripper chains in such manner that said pieces must come into-
operative position as every gripper passes. Suitable means are provided to prevent
the gripper bars bending from the pressure on the grippers when discharging the
printed sheets therefrom.
To assist in the discharge of the printed sheets from the grippers, I cause the
sheets to be slightly pulled by means of a constantly revolving shaft provided with
adjustable wheels having rubber edges, and corresponding wheels carried by a rod;
the sheets are gripped between these wheels when the rotating shaft is depressed by
a cam and suitable connections at the proper times.
I will now describe how one portion of the gripper chains can gradually be brought
to a complete halt while the other portion is continuing its motion, and afterwards
gradually allowed to resume its motion with the rest while another portion is brought
to a halt, and so on, so that, say, every four grippers may receive their sheets of
paper and then make way for the next four. The path of the gripper chains is as
follows. Starting at the first feeding box, where they rest on guide pulleys, they
pass under the aforesaid spring pulleys, and on to the next feeding box, where they
rest on other guide pulleys and in like manner pass under another spring pulley, and
so on. They now go round the first looper pulleys, over spring pulleys, the second
looper pulleys and guide pulleys, and then round the impression cylinder, under
other guide pulleys which lead them over the delivery box, then between pairs of
pulleys round which they turn, then over supporting pulleys until they reach the
third looper pulleys, over fixed pulleys, the fourth looper pulleys, and finally over
guide pulleys to where they started from.
Now when the looper, with its four pulleys at each end, is at its outermost position
and gradually commences to move towards its innermost position, its outer pulleys
begin to accumulate chain between themselves and adjacent fixed pulleys, and the
portions of the chains above the loopers will thus gradually move more slowly and
when the looper moves more quickly, as it soon does, it will take up all of those
portions of the chains coming over the lowermost pulleys as quickly as they come
over, and the movement of the upper portions of the chains will therefore temporarily
cease and the chains will then remain stationary so long as movement is given to the
looper at this speed. But as the impression cylinder chain geared wheels are con-
tinually revolving and dragging the chains towards them, it is necessary to keep them
supplied, and this is done by a corresponding amount of chain, previously gathered
on the pulleys at the other side of the looper, being let off simultaneously. In fact,
whatsoever the movements of the looper may be, no damage to the chains can
possibly result, as the amount accumulated at one side is exactly balanced by the amount

page_text: let off by the other. As soon as the loopers reach their innermost position they start
to return, and the innermost pulleys then pick up a similar quantity of chain to that
previously given off, and the outermost pulleys at the same time give off all they
have already picked up, and the upper portions of the chains are moved round, the
four grippers previously there being replaced by the next four.
cam causes the
looper to take up the gripper chains at the same rate at which they are travelling.
To prevent jar I form the cam so that the loopers shall, in both directions of their
motion, move a short distance before attaining their full speed.
As the chains may, by constant use, "stretch," that is, lengthen, from each part
wearing a little, and as this would cause the grippers to slightly drag the sheet after
printing has commenced, to secure "register" and prevent "slur," I make the length
of the chains between two grippers less than the circumference of the impression
cylinder at its pitch line. With a cylinder measuring 34 inches I make the chains
between the grippers 33 inches, and so long as the chains do not lengthen beyond
34 inches, no "slur" can take place. As there are 24 links between every two
grippers, each link is 1 inch short, and so the link just about to leave the cylinder
is the only one really pulling the chain, such pull being taken by every link alter-
nately. But the teeth of the wheels which bear on the links secured to the gripper
bars, I make inch larger, so that the grippers, from the pull-back that the chains
have from the spring pulleys, always meet these teeth. The grippers are therefore
always brought to the same position on the cylinder surface. Of course the link
spaces are kept large enough to permit of this, that is, they are larger than the teeth
of the cylinder wheels gearing with them by inch.
When the links at the gripper, however, leave the wheels at the cylinder, the paper
is not even then pulled by the gripper, the latter travelling more slowly than the
surface speed of the cylinder from the chains being shorter as described, and as the
paper travels at the same speed as the cylinder, "slur" cannot possibly take
place.
To cause the paper to travel at this speed, wheels mounted on small shafts and
driven by friction with the impression cylinder, rest upon it before and after printing
has taken place and compel it, through frictional contact, to travel at the same speed
as the cylinder. These wheels are pressed against the cylinder by springs, which
allow the wheels to let the grippers pass, and the wheels can be pushed along their
shafts so as always to run in the margins and between the pages, and have stops
which prevent them dipping into the cylinder gap as it comes round.
The inking apparatus is arranged as follows. The electrotype or stereotype form is
inked by inking rollers, to which ink is brought as follows. I employ an ink duct of
the usual pattern, the film of ink being transferred from the ductor roller, by a feed
roller, to a flexible inking table, on which it is spread by distributing rollers, which
have a longitudinal movement given to them' through suitable wheels as described in
the Specification of Patent No. 1222 of the year 1895. This ink table constantly
travels at the same surface speed as the form cylinder, being geared with it through
wheels and an endless chain. The ink spread above is brought round by it to riding
rollers and by them transferred to inking rollers, which again ink the form. As all
the rollers and the band have the same surface speed as the form, the latter is
supplied with ink in the best manner and more fully than in any existing machine,
for the amount taken away can be exactly replaced and equally from end to end of
the form. The ink table I prefer to make of linoleum and endless. It passes round
a roller, on the shaft of which is a driving wheel, and which shaft works in the main
frames and carries the bracket frames and wheels for driving the ink band, though
these are probably unnecessary, the band being simply like a large driving belt.
Holes in the band gear with the driving wheels, and also with wheels fixed on the
shaft of a roller over which the band also passes, and which roller is adjustable, so
that the band can be kept at any tension desired. Within the band are supporting
rollers running in the bracket frames and adjustable in their bearings. The riding
rollers are of two sizes and by this novel means a band with two parallel faces can
convey ink to a cylindrical surface. The inking rollers have, as usual, runners

page_text: working on the path of the form cylinder. I also provide means whereby the inking
band can be brought with any desired pressure on the riding rollers." Individual
springs of the usual pattern are applied to the lower inking and riding rollers, to
keep them in position. Means are also provided whereby all the rollers may be
raised and the inkers lifted clear of the form by the usual means, and the band can
be tilted to one side during cleaning up, &c.
The ductor roller makes one revolution for every revolution of the form cylinder,
being geared with the latter through wheels and endless chain. The wheel on said
ductor roller is, however, not permanently fixed to its shaft, but only as required by a
spring bolt passing through a hand wheel which is fixed to its shaft. The ductor
roller can thus be turned by hand, the spring bolt being then held out by a catch, and
when it is desired to supply ink to the ink band, this catch is released and the bolt
then enters a hole drilled to receive it as the wheel on the ductor roller shaft comes
round, and ink then continues to be delivered to the ink band until the bolt is again
withdrawn. The feed roller is supported by brackets working on bolts and is held
against the ductor roller by springs, and is forced to travel from it to the ink band by
the action of a cam.
At the
To secure the electrotypes or stereotypes quickly and securely to the form cylinder,
the latter has dovetailed grooves running across its surface at frequent intervals and
at right angles to each other. Into these grooves steel catches are placed which come
over the edges of the electrotypes. Further dovetailed pieces are then introduced
from a suitable recess, and finally dovetailed pieces with female screws, into one end of
which male screws enter, their other ends going into recesses in the edge of the
cylinder. By revolving the screws, the one set of pieces are forced against the other
pieces, which again secure the catches and consequently firmly hold the plate.
A plate may, however, require adjusting and this I manage as follows.
centre line of the printing surface I fix pieces and, having marked as nearly as is
possible where the plates should go, I introduce into the grooves in which I intend
placing the catches to secure the plates, as many pieces as, with the catch, will bring
the plate within inch or so of its correct position. I then bring it to its correct
position by introducing small leads, each having a rise at its centre which enters
corresponding depressions made in all the pieces and catches. The catch is now
introduced at the opposite side and dovetailed pieces sufficient to fill up the space to
the next catch, always reserving about inch for the small leads already mentioned.
When all the plates are in position, the screws are turned and the whole tightened up.
Should "register now be not exact, it can be easily made so by removing some of
the leads or by adding others.
27
Perfecting machines and multi-color printing machines are provided with the
required number of inking arrangements, and the gripper chains or bands are so
guided and conducted as to act in concert with the various form cylinders in a like
manner to that above described.
Dated this 10th day of Act 1907
I, THOMAS RUDDIMAN JOHNSTON, of Waverley, Newlands Park, Sydenham, in the
County of Kent, Printer and Publisher, 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 relates to improvements in rotary sheet-printing machines, and is

page_text: Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are on sixteen times the first mentioned scale.
Some parts of the drawings are of a diagramatic nature when this gives greater
learness, and all the reference letters correspond.
The machine which is chiefly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be generally described
s consisting of four pairs of forme and impression cylinders geared with each other
nd constantly revolving at an uniform surface speed, and between every pair of
which sheets of paper are carried consecutively by grippers fixed to endless bands,
hich, where they pass round the cylinders, travel at the same surface speed as the
ylinders, and which grippers receive the sheets of paper during a temporary halt
given to a portion of these bands. The means for temporarily halting a portion of
he gripper bands whilst the other parts continually travel forward, is the chief feature
f invention connected with the machine, for as the heavy cylinders constantly rotate
hey can be run at any speed, all the difficulties and risk connected with the rapid
notion of parts gearing intermittently being removed. As the grippers again come
o a positive stop, the feeding of the sheets of paper takes place in the recognised

page_text: easiest manner.
Then this method permits of two feeding boards being used, at once
doubling the production. In fact as the cylinders may travel at any speed, when the
printer becomes accustomed to such a rapid printing machine, there is no reason why
the feeding boards should not be increased in future machines, and the output made
enormously greater.
The forme cylinders a¹, a², a³ and a, are supposed to be printing in yellow, red,
blue and black respectively, thus producing with the three-color system of printing,
a fully colored illustration with any desired letter-press in black accompanying it.
Each of the forme cylinders has its forme b¹ fixed to about one half of its surface, the
other half c¹ forming an ink-table, on which the ink is fully distributed by the
distributing rollers ct before it reaches the inking rollers c².
The ink contained in the ducts c, which are of the usual form, each ductor roller
making one revolution for every revolution of its forme cylinder, and so, by its cam,
permitting the feed roller to clear the forme and take a fresh supply of ink to the
inking table only. The ductor rollers can be also thrown out of action when required
or revolved by hand as is customary.
The ink on the ink tables is distributed by the distributing rollers c, longitudinal
movement being conveyed to them and to some of the riding rollers c³ by means of
the wheels c, Fig. 10, and other parts not shown but fully described in the Specification
of my Patent No. 1222 of the year 1895, and these distributing rollers, by means of
their runners following the paths co, Fig. 7, on the forme cylinders, run over the ink
tables only, and are caused by the higher portions c7 of these paths to pass clear over
the formes without touching them.
The inking rollers c² again, through their runners, follow the parallel paths when
in contact both with the forme and inking table, and when moved to one side, the
higher path c', which compels them to clear the forme and run on the ink-table only,
as is also fully described in the Specification of Patent already mentioned. The
inking rollers can also be lifted clear of both forme and inking table in the usual
way.
The impression cylinders are shown at d¹, 2, 3 and d+, and are of the full size of
the forme, thus permitting overlays to be used. After applying these latter the
blankets can be stretched over them by the rods 5, Figs. 7, 8, 9, as is castomary.
The impression cylinders gear with the forme cylinders, and make exactly two
revolutions for every one of the latter, but to prevent the ink-tables coming in contact
with the blankets as they pass, the bearer paths as of the forme cylinders are slightly
raised at the sides of the ink-tables and act against similar but circular paths do on
the impression cylinders, and so push the latter slightly back, the large springs d'
acting against the brasses of the impression cylinder shafts permitting this motion,
and also afterwards returning the cylinders to their printing position.
There are fourteen sets of grippers; they are numbered from 1 to 14 in Fig. 2,
and they are carried on the endless geared bands e¹, at a distance apart equal to the
circumference of the forme cylinders, or twice that of the impression cylinders, so
that the sprocket wheels which gear with the bands, and which are fixed to the
impression cylinders as will be hereinafter more fully described, bring every gripper
to exactly the same position every time on the surface of each of the impression
cylinders. In fact the same teeth of every sprocket wheel always enter the same
spaces in the gripper bands.
Each gripper bar e², see Figs. 13 and 14, is rivetted at each end to a piece e³ joined
to and binging with pieces e rivetted to the flexible bands e¹, which I prefer to make
of a substance called "dermatine," and in order to prevent wear I strengthen the
spaces e in these bands which take the teeth of the sprocket wheels, by rivetting to
the bands at every such space, little steel pieces e. Each gripper bar extends across
from one flexible endless band to the other similar band on the opposite side of the
machine, and their bases are on a level with the pitch circles of the impression
cylinders, so that the grippers themselves can lie on the surfaces of these cylinders,
as shown at e7 in Fig. 7. At intervals along the bars e², the grippers es, which may be
described generally as a number of American clips, are placed, they being kept closed

page_text: by the springs e and opened only when pressure is applied to their parts e10, when
the sheets of paper are being fed or being delivered after printing, and during feeding
the edges of the sheets of paper are brought against the parts e¹¹.
f1 and 2 are two of my patent feeding boxes, which automatically bring the
uppermost sheet of paper to a level with the front portions of the feeding boards f³,
so that the sheet has only to be moved a few inches to enter the grippers, instead
of from the back board as is customary. They are driven from any convenient
source, and are fully described in my Patent No. 1222 of 1895.
The guiding plate 4, Fig. 21, can also be used with advantage as it compels even
the most wavy sheets to at once enter the gripper.
For feeding purposes the grippers es are brought to the position shown in Figs. 21
and 22, the bars gl having been lowered against the action of their springs g² by
means of the large cam g³ (Fig. 1), so that the parts g (Figs. 21, 22) stop the
passage of the gripper bars, the spring pullies h¹ and h² (Fig. 1) at the same time
compelling the bars to fully meet these stops. The springs of the pullies h¹ are
stronger than the springs of the pullies h², so that the gripper marked 1 is pulled
against its stops and is not acted upon by the springs of h, which latter however
pull the gripper marked 2 firmly also against its stops. As soon as the grippers have
come to a halt, the bars g¹ are further lowered by the action of the cam g³ until the
parts g5, of which there is one to every gripper, press against the rear portions e¹º of
the grippers, and so open them. The sheets of paper are now fed while the cam is
inactive, it afterwards permitting the bars g¹ to rise clear, taking of course the
parts g4 and 95 with them, thus enabling the grippers to close and giving them a
clear passage for their sheets. To prevent the bars e2 bending while the grippers are
being opened, I fix pieces go to the shafts of the pullies h³ and 4, which come
immediately beneath each gripper. These pieces being fixed to the shafts, the latter
must rotate an equal number of times between every two grippers, so that the
pieces g will come always to their correct position.
During printing the grippers remain firmly closed, but afterwards they open to
deliver the sheets into the box j¹. This takes place when the grippers are travelling
and is accomplished, as shown at Figs. 23 and 24, by the piece 2 fixed to the
shaft 3 coming against the ends e¹ of the grippers and depressing them. The shaft
to which these pieces 2 are fastened, constantly rotates, as its wheels jt gear with
the gripper bands e¹, and as it also makes an equal number of revolutions between
every two grippers, the parts j² must come into the position shown as every gripper
passes. To prevent the gripper bars e² bending under the pressure, I place on the
shaft jo of the large guide wheels jo, a piece j7 kept in position by the pieces jε and
springs . This piece acts as a support to the grippers and may travel a short
distance with them while they are being opened, returning afterwards, by means of
its springs jo, to its normal position.
Now it will be understood how the sheets having been placed in the grippers and
these latter closed upon them, that the bands will carry the grippers round, bringing
each sheet alternately in contact with every inked forme, and so receiving its four
impressions, and finally depositing it in the delivery box, but the most novel portion
of the machine remains to be described, viz., how one portion of the gripper bands
can gradually be brought to a complete halt while the other portion is continuing to
revolve, and afterwards as gradually allowed to revolve with the rest while another
portion is brought to a halt, and so on, so that every two grippers may receive their
sheets of paper and then make way for the next two and thus cause the intermittent
movement of feeding to become as continuous as the constant
printing is.
The path of the gripper bands e¹ is as follows.
movement of
Starting at the feeding box f2, where they rest. on the flanged guide pullies h*,
they pass under the spring pullies h², then round the pullies h³ at the other feeding
box f. They now go round the first looper pullies ¹, over the spring pullies h¹, the
second looper pullies k², and the guide pullies h³, he and h, and then round the first
impression cylinder d¹. They follow in similar manner over the other guide

page_text: pullies h³, ho, ho, h11; h¹², h¹³, and 14, and impression cylinders d², d³ and d in the
direction of the arrows, until they reach the guide pullies h15, which lead them over
the delivery box ;¹. They then pass between the pullies j and jo and j and h¹, then
over the supporting pullies h1, h18 and h¹, between the pullies 20 and 21 and round
the pullies 22 to the third looper pullies ³, over the fixed pullies 23, the fourth
looper pullies 4, and finally over the guide pullies h24 and 25 to where they started
from.
Now when the looper with its four pullies at each end is at 5 (see Figs. 5 and 6
which represent the looper of the machine shown in Fig. 3, though all loopers act
alike) and commences gradually to move towards, its pullies 3 and 4 begin to
accumulate band between themselves, and the fixed pullies h22, h23 and 24 and the
portions of the bands above the loopers will thus gradually move more slowly, and
when the looper moves more quickly, as it soon does, it will take up all those portions
of the bands which are coming over the pullies 22, as quickly as they come over, and
the movements of the upper portions of the bands will therefore temporarily cease
and the bands will there remain stationary so long as movement is given to the
looper at this speed. But as the impression cylinder band-sprocket-wheels e¹² (see
also Fig. 10 which is a plan of the cylinders of the machine shown in Fig. 3) are
continually revolving and dragging the bands towards them, it is necessary to keep
them supplied, and this is done by a corresponding amount of band previously
gathered on the pullie's k¹ and 2 at the other side of the looper, being let off
simultaneously. In fact whatsoever the movements of the looper may be, no damage
to the bands can possibly result as the amount accumulated on one side is exactly
balanced by the amount let off at the other.
As soon as the loopers reach k they start to return to 5, and the pullies k¹ and k²
then pick up a similar quantity of band to that previously given off, and the pullies k³
and at the same time give off all they have already picked up, and the upper
portions of the bands are moved round, the two grippers previously there being
replaced by the next two.
The space between the grippers in the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is 68 inches,
being the same as that of the circumference of one of the larger cylinders at the
pitch line and double that of each of the impression cylinders, and as the looper
travels in both directions 17 inches, and makes with the fixed pullies, four
lengths of band, it takes on at one side and gives off at the other, at each
movement in either direction, also 68 inches. But as the bands are continuously
travelling, when the looper goes from 6 to 15, the 68 inches of band. on it, and other
68 inches coming to it and which it does not take up, pass over the pullies h24 and 25,
thus making 136 inches, which is the quantity corresponding to two sets of grippers,
and therefore necessary to replace that previously beneath the feeding boxes.
manner at the other side, while the pullies and k² are accumulating their 68 inches,
other 68 inches are also passing over them to keep the cylinders going. The loopers
run backwards and forwards by their parts k moving in slots in the side frames as
shown.
In like
As the bands cannot be damaged through any movement of the looper, all that is
necessary to get part of the chains to stop for a certain time to permit the sheets
being fed to the grippers, is to so design a cam that the looper will take up the bands
at the same rate at which they are travelling, therefore practically bringing the parts
beyond the loopers to a halt.
To prevent jar I design my cam with a gradually increasing movement, so
that the loopers move two inches before attaining their full speed, and the grippers
therefore gradually approach the stops g₁, where they come to a halt. In like
manner, after feeding, the grippers through the action of the cam start gradually
away with the clean sheets of paper.
The cam for driving the looper makes one revolution for every two of the
forme cylinders, the speed being reduced by the gear wheels on the shaft of the
cylinder a² and 10 on the cam shaft. In the cam runs the antifriction wheel k
fixed to the lever 12, which at one end carries the curved rack ¹³ gearing with the

page_text: wheel
on the shaft 15. Also on this shaft 15 are the large pullies 10 to which
the flat steel bands are fixed, which have their other ends rivetted to the loopers
at 18, after passing over the guide pullies and 20 at one side and 19, 21 and k²²
at the other, so that they may pull in opposite directions, 10 being of course a
double pulley.
The guide pullies differ with each class of machine, the machine shown in Fig. 3
requiring only two pullies 20 and 2 as shown in Fig. 5, and the machine shown
in Fig. 4 requiring the driving bands of the looper to travel from the driving
pullies at one side over the guide pullies 23, 24 and 20 and over the guide
pullies 25 and 22 at the other side, before the ends of the bands are rivetted to
the looper, and such bands when in action pull in opposite directions.
The up and down movement given by the cam to the lever 12 is therefore trans-
mitted into an increased to and fro horizontal movement of the looper. During one
revolution of the cam two sheets are printed, the looper travels out and in, taking
two sheets away from the feeding boxes, bringing two other grippers beneath these
and permitting sheets to be fed to them, the movement being thus continuous.
balance weight is placed at the other end of the lever 12 to steady it's movement
and the pin 27 on which the lever oscillates is eccentric, so that it can be adjusted to
give the exact length of movement required.
A
The can go for moving the bars gl which hold and also open the grippers, is also placed
on the shaft of the cams and operates the lever gº oscillating on the shaft g¹0, which
gives movement to the bar g₁ and through it to the crank lever g12. This crank
lever again directly operates the rod g¹³ to which the bar g¹ is fixed, and through the
rod g and crank lever g15 the rod g16, which is secured to the other bar g¹.
bars are kept up by the springs g² when not being acted on by the cam.
These
The machine is driven by the belt m¹ running the fast and loose pullies indicated
at m² through the wheels m³, m², m³, m³, m7 and m³, all being of one size and
secured to shafts not crossing to the opposite side of the machine with the exception
of the shaft of m², which crosses over to convey movement to the other side, and that
of m7 to carry at each side the steel band guide wheels and gripper band guide
wheels 10. The wheels m³, mt, m³, m³, m7 and ms gear with wheels on the shafts of
the forme and impression cylinders, shown at mº and m10 Fig. 10. The shafts of the
guide pullies h4, h2, h3, h¹, h³, ho, and h7, and those of the looper pullies k¹ and k², like
26 and 28 Fig. 6, carry light wooden rollers, over which the clean paper passes and
runs smoothly, but after the first printing, and to the delivery box, the shafts of the
guide pullies h³, &c., carry little wheels n, shown in Figs. 19 and 20, which can, by
means of their pinching screws n², be fixed at any position on the shaft, the
projections n³ of the parts n carrying the pinching screws entering grooves in the
bosses of the wheels n' and so keeping the latter in position but permitting them to
freely revolve. These wheels are placed in the margins between the pages, so that
the ink does not come in contact with them and, as with the wooden rollers, are of a
size to allow the grippers to pass.
To secure the electrotypes or stereotypes 61, see Figs. 16, 17 and 18, quickly to the
forme cylinders, the latter have dovetailed grooves w running across their printing
surfaces at frequent intervals and at right angles to each other.
Into these grooves
steel catches w² are placed which come over the edges of the plate as shown. Further
dovetailed pieces w are then introduced from the recess w³, and finally the dovetailed
pieces with their female screws, into which the male screws w enter, their other
ends w going into recesses in the edge of the cylinder. By revolving the screws 27,
the pieces w are forced against the pieces w', which again secure the catches w² and
consequently firmly hold the plate.
A plate may however require adjusting and this I arrange as follows. At the centre
of the printing surface I fix pieces wo, and having marked, as nearly as is possible,
where the plates should go, I introduce into the grooves in which I intend placing
the catches w² to secure the plates, as many pieces was, with the catch, will bring
the plate within th inch or so of its correct position. I then bring it to its exact'
position by introducing small leads w¹¹, each having a rise at its centre, which enters
B

page_text: corresponding depressions made in all the pieces w* and catches w². The catch is
now introduced at the opposite side and dovetailed pieces w sufficient to
fill up
the space to the next catch, always reserving about th inch for the small leads wi
already mentioned. When all the plates are in position, the screws ware turned
and the whole tightened up. An impression being now pulled, if any adjusting is
required, it can be quickly made by slackening the screws w₁ and removing by
pincers, or adding, some of the small leads w¹¹. If desired jam nuts can be placed
on the screws w.
The side frames explain themselves, and end frames and tie rods are introduced
where required. The shafts, of the forme cylinders and the shafts of the impression
cylinders run in brasses, the latter being shown at 12, and the springs d pressing
against these are kept in position by blocks retained by bolts, as shown in Fig. 1.
'
The shafts of the guide pullies h', &c., all cross to the opposite side to carry
corresponding wheels there, this being especially necessary at the lower portion of
the machine where the frames are further apart. The shaft 15 also crosses so that
the looper, which is the same at both sides, can be also driven there by another wheel
similar to 16
The machine can print any length and width of sheet up to 30 × 40 inches, and
though designed for four printings, can have a larger or smaller number of cylinders,
as they are practically repeats of each other. It will be noticed that clear headway
is given to all the cylinders, so that their surfaces can be easily got at by the
machine minder.
Should the gripper bands lengthen in time, register will not be affected if the
space in the piece e³ to which the gripper bar is attached, is made slightly smaller
than the other spaces, or if the latter are kept slightly larger, so that the part el
coming in contact with the tooth always bears against it, which it will do if the bands
are pulled back constantly as follows.
The strong springs on the band pullies h¹, and weaker ones on the pullies h²,
compel the grippers always to meet their stops, and pull-back springs, not shown in
the drawings, are also given to the pullies h", h¹ and h¹³, so that every gripper will
always take its correct position on its cylinder, and to compel these springs to only
act in the direction required, those on h¹ are stronger than those on h³, and h³ are
stronger than h¹¹, h¹¹ than h¹³, and h¹s than h². Weights may be used instead of
springs if desired.
This compels the bands to always bring the grippers to the same position on the
cylinder surface, so that the sheets, when printing commences, must register, and to
cause them to register all through, and prevent the gripper in any way dragging the
sheet and so causing "slur," I make the sheet, after printing, travel independently
of its gripper, by making the sprocket wheels slightly less in pitch than the
impression cylinder; the gripper therefore travels more slowly than its sheet, and to
cause the latter to travel at exactly the same surface speed as the forme and
impression cylinder blanket face, I hold it by means of the wheels d¹¹ tightly against
the latter, so that it takes its speed from it. These wheels d" are carried by levers
and are pressed by springs against the impression cylinders, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4,
but rise to let the grippers pass. One set only can be used before printing,
as shown in Fig. 3, or a set before and one after, as shown in Fig. 4, and
in this latter case the wheels are adjusted so as to travel in the spaces between the
pages, and in both cases the wheels have stops which prevent them dipping into the
cylinder gap as it comes round. At the front of the forme there is a recess a³,
see Fig. 7, on each cylinder, into which each gripper enters, and grooves a¹o, as shown
in Fig. 10, run round the forme cylinders at each side to permit the upper half of the
gripper bands and teeth of the sprocket wheels to pass.
Instead of having the ink-table part of the forme cylinder as described, I prefer to
have it separate as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and more in detail in Figs. 11 and 12,
for by this means double the number of impressions are got, as every revolution of the
impression cylinder gives one, instead of every second one as already described, the

page_text: speed at which the sheets are fed being in both cases the same, but four feeding
boxes f, f, f, fo, replacing the two formerly employed.
The forme cylinders a, a7 and as have their electrotype or stereotype formes b¹
fixed to them and inked by the inking rollers c², to which ink is brought as follows.
c is the ink duct of the usual pattern, the film of ink being transferred from its
ductor roller c by the feed roller c¹² to the flexible inking table cls, and is there
spread by the distributing rollers ct, which have a longitudinal movement given to
them through the wheels co, Fig. 10, but which is not otherwise shown in the drawings,
being fully described in the Specification of my Patent No. 1222 of the year 1895.
This ink table constantly travels at the same surface speed as the forme cylinder, being
geared with it through the wheels c¹ and c¹ and endless chain c¹, see Figs. 10, 11
and 12. The ink spread above is brought round by it to the riding rollers c¹ and by
them transferred to the inking rollers c², which again ink the forme. As all the
rollers and the band have the same surface speed as the forine, the latter is supplied
with ink in the best. manner and more fully than in any existing machine, for the
amount taken away can be exactly replaced and equally from end to end of the forme,
whereas at present the portion of the forme which first meets the inking rollers is apt
to be more fully inked than that which meets them after they have revolved several
times and parted with a considerable quantity of their ink. The ink table c¹³ I
prefer to make of "dermatine," and endless. It passes round the roller c18, on the
shaft of which is the driving wheel c¹, which shaft works in the main frames and
carries the brackets c¹ and wheels 20 for driving the ink band, though these are
probably unnecessary, the band being simply a large driving belt. Holes in the band
with which c20 gear, also gear with the wheels c¹ fixed on the shaft of the roller c22, over
which the band also passes, and which roller is adjustable by the screws c23 working
between the brackets c¹ and the brasses c24, in which its shaft revolves, so that the
band can be kept at any tension desired. Within the band are the three supporting
rollers 25 running in brasses in the brackets and adjustable in their bearings. The
riding rollers c¹7 are of two sizes and the band has two flat or plane faces. The inking
rollers c² have as usual runners 20 working on the path 27 of the forme cylinder. On
the bracket c are projections c28 which go over screws cfixed in the side frames l.
These screws pass through spiral springs which support a thick washer or piston c³,
through which the screws also pass. On this piston the projections c28 rest, and when
the nuts c32 are revolved, the inking band can be brought with any desired pressure
on the riding rollers. Individual springs, not shown in the drawings, and of the usual
pattern, are applied to the lower inking and riding rollers to keep them in position.
By slackening the nuts c32, all the rollers may be raised and the inkers lifted clear of
the forme by the usual means, which to prevent confusion I have not shown, and as
the brackets pivot on the shafts of the rollers c18, the bands can be tilted to one side
during cleaning up, &c. The machine shown in Fig. 3 differs from that shown in
Fig. 1, in that it prints one side of the paper only, and has the flexible ink table
described. Its impression and forme cylinders, and a gear through the wheels m10
and m Fig. 10 and are of exactly the same pitch, that is the faces of the forine ¹ and
blanket d¹³, have the same surface speed, and the cylinders have the bearer paths d¹
and all, which are both exactly of the same diameter as the cylinders. In this
machine there are 18 sets of grippers as numbered in Fig. 3, and they are only the
distance of the circumference of the impression cylinder apart. The arrows clearly
show the direction in which they travel. The pullies h27, 28, 29 and 3 are in this
machine spring pullies h30 being stronger than h, h² than h28 and has than h², so that
the grippers are brought in each instance firmly against their stops, and each gripper
occupies the same position on the cylinder surface during printing.
The cam for driving the looper makes one revolution for every four of the
printing cylinders, but is otherwise the same as that already described, and the
machine is driven by the belt m". The gap into which the grippers enter when
the cylinders pass each other is shown at a¹2 Fig. 10. The machine will print any
size of sheet smaller than its greatest size. The machine shown in Fig. 4 is in most
respects identical with that shown in Fig. 3, but both sides of the sheet of paper

page_text: are printed, there being two sets of forme and impression cylinders, and the sheet
after receiving its first impression when passing between the cylinders as and do,
travelling along and coming upwards between the cylinders a7 and do which rotate
in the opposite direction, and there receiving an impression on its other side, the
cylinders being so arranged that the second impression exactly coincides with the
first. All four cylinders have the same surface speed, and are driven by the belt m¹¹.
and through the wheels m12, m13 and m14, all of exactly the same diameter.
In this machine there are 22 sets of grippers numbered as shown, and they are
only the distance of the circumference of the cylinders apart. There are also five
spring pullies h³¹ being stronger than h32, h32 than 33, 33 than h³, and h³ than 35
so that the grippers are brought in each instance firmly against their stops, and
each gripper occupies the same position on the surface of the cylinders during
printing.
The gap into which the grippers enter during the first printing, is the space on
the impression cylinder where the blanket passes to its rods, as shown in Fig. 8, and
during the second printing it enters the gap a¹³, of the forme cylinder a Fig. 9.
This machine also prints any size of sheet smaller than its greatest size.
As it may be desired to introduce set off sheets to prevent the first printing
marking the blanket of the second impression cylinder, I have shown these of an
endless form in Fig. 4. This band p8 passes over the guide rollers p¹, p² and p³, and
round the cylinder de protecting its face, and any ink the band may receive is
deadened by the rollers 4 and p5, which press against it, as it passes between them
and the rollers p1 and p2, as they have their surfaces covered with magnesia received
from the boxes p" and p. As already mentioned the grippers during the second
printing enter the gap a¹³ of the forme cylinder a', and therefore lie on the surface
of the impression cylinder do as shown in Fig. 9, and so do not injure the set off
band.
Where found necessary wires for supporting the sheet of paper are introduced as
described in my Patent No. 12532 of 1895.
Though I prefer the grippers to come to a complete stop, it is evident that they
might be made to remove the sheets from the feeding boards, when travelling slowly
some printing machines so doing at present.
Although four feeding boards is the largest number shown any number desired
may be used and the looper and its parts designed accordingly.
Although thedrawings and description relate entirely to letterpress printing machines,
the looper principle can be applied to lithographic and copper-plate printing, and
wherever a machine can utilise sheets of paper more rapidly than one person can
feed them to it.
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 rotary sheet-printing machines the combination of one or more pairs of
forme and impression cylinders geared together and revolving at the same surface
speed, a series of grippers attached to endless perforated bands moved by and passing
over sprocket wheels and guide wheels to carry sheets of paper between the forme
and impression cylinders, a looper or means to give a temporary halt to a portion of
these gripper bands where they receive the sheets, means to cause the other parts of
these bauds to travel continually forward at the same surface speed as the cylinders,
two or more feeding boxes, means to bring the grippers always to a given position
in relation to the edge of the feeding boards, a receiving box to receive the
printed sheets and means for supporting and opening the grippers when receiving
and delivering sheets substantially as herein described and shown.
2. In rotary sheet printing machines the mechanical arrangement or "looper" by
which portions of moving endless bands carrying grippers can be temporarily inade to
travel more slowly or to become stationary to receive the sheets, while the other

page_text: portions of the bands are moving at the same surface speed as the forme and impression
cylinders substantially as herein set forth and for the purpose stated.
3. In rotary sheet printing machines the combination with the endless gripper
bands of means to bring each set of grippers to a given position to receive the sheets
of paper to secure accuracy of feed substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In rotary sheet printing machines having an endless flexible flat ink table, the
combination therewith of riding rollers of various diameters to convey the ink from
the said table to the inking rollers resting on the curved surface of the printing forme,
substantially as herein shown and described.
5. In rotary sheet printing machines the means for adjusting and securing the
electrotypes or stereotypes to the surface of the forme cylinder substantially as
herein shown and described.
6. In rotary sheet printing machines the use of small and easily removed leads for
adjusting the electrotypes or stereotypes on the cylinders, each of such small leads
having a projection at one side and a corresponding depression at the other side, so
that when several of such small leads are forced together and in contact at each
end with fixed parts, they become locked, substantially as herein shown and
described.
7. In rotary sheet printing machines the combination with a series of feeding boxes
and constantly rotating forme and impression cylinders of flexible geared gripper bands
constructed and operated substantially as herein shown and described.
8. In rotary sheet printing machines the combination with the impression cylinders
of sheet controlling wheels by which the sheets during printing take their movement
from the impression cylinders and not from the grippers, substantially as herein
shown and described.
9. In rotary sheet printing machines the use of grippers of the character described
mounted on cross bars rigidly fixed to endless bands and the combination of means for
supporting the cross bars immediately below the grippers and opening the latter
substantially as herein shown and described.
100
1
1000