A New or Improved Flat Bed Travelling Cylinder Web Printing Press.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1900-Accepted, 19th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Flat Bed Travelling Cylinder Web Printing
Press.
I, GEORGE CROYDON MARKS, of 18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
London, W.C., Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer (a communication from
abroad by Henry Alexander Wise Wood, of No. 1, Madison Avenue, New York
City, County and State of New York, United States of America, Engineer), do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my present invention is to improve the style of printing machine
which is known as the flat bed traveling cylinder web printing machine.
This machine consists of two stationary beds on which the forms are placed, and
two travelling impression cylinders, one for each bed.
Suitable guides and web manipulating devices are provided, so that the web
will be perfected in its passage through the machine, that is printed on both its
sides.
The operation is such, that the web stands stationary over the forms during
impression, the cylinders and guides carrying moving loops or waves of web and
presenting the web to the forms, and the web being shifted or fed forward when
the cylinders reverse off the forms in either direction.
Presses of this character have been commercially made so that four forms can
be placed abreast on each of the two beds, and by this arrangement either a four,
six, or eight paged paper can be produced.
It has been found impractical, however, to make the machine produce more
than an eight-paged paper, because if the machine is made wider, the cylinders
will spring and will not give good impressions, and if more than one form is
placed in line, the speed of the machine will be reduced owing to the increase of
stroke of the cylinders required.
There has been a call, however, for a machine which will make a larger sized
paper or product, the call for which machine has not been satisfactorily supplied.
To supply the demand for a machine of this character, it has heretofore been
proposed to arrange two machines side by side, and associate the two webs issuing
from such machines to make the larger-paged products.
It has also been proposed in another case, to arrange two machines end to end,
and to associate the two webs to get the larger-paged products.
These arrangements, however, have been very undesirable on account of the
great floor space required, the complication of the mechanism for bringing the
products together, and the inconvenience in getting around and handling such
arrangements.
My present invention aims to supply a machine which shall produce not only
the four, six, or eight-paged paper of the single machine, but also the ten, twelve,
fourteen or sixteen-paged papers now wanted, without decreasing the speed.
My present invention consists in arranging two flat bed traveling cylinder web

page_text: perfecting presses, one directly over the other, and in providing mechanism so
that two webs can be led through the machine, and perfected, and then associated
and folded to form the desired ten, twelve, fourteen or sixteen-paged papers.
The preferred form in which I practice this invention consists in providing two
separate driving mechanisms for the four cylinders, one mechanism being used
to operate the two lower cylinders, and the other driving mechanism being used
to operate the two upper cylinders.
These mechanisms are preferably set quartering; that is, are so set that the
two lower cylinders will be in impression or printing while the two upper
cylinders are reversing, and vice versa.
By this planning and arrangement the double machine will run very smoothly
and uniformly, and the power required will be reduced.
In this preferred form of machine, I run the webs through in a peculiar manner.
One web is run so as to be printed on one side by the lower cylinder, and on its
other side by the upper cylinder.
i
The second web is run through the machine so as to be printed on one side by
the second cylinder, and on its other side by the third cylinder.
As the cylinders which operate on each web are running oppositely, I provide
a looping mechanism at the front end of the machine which compensates the
movements, so that the feed of each web takes place only around one cylinder at a
time.
Suitable feeding-in and feeding-out drums and looping devices are provided at
the rear end of the press for each web.
Rollers, turners, and slitters are provided,, so that the two webs can be slit
and associated to make any desired double product, and a suitable folding device
is provided so that the associated webs may be cut into sheet form, and given
any desired number of folds.
It will be seen that by this construction, one web is entirely within the loop
of the other web in the machine.
This is a very advantageous construction, as the web rolls are thus kept low
down and under the folding apparatus.
When it is desired to run this machine, to only make the four, six, or eight-
paged product, the upper machine is disconnected and the lower machine only is
used.
When this operation takes place I may use the feeding-in device for the upper
web as the feeding-out device for the single web, simply by driving what was the
feeding-in device in the opposite direction, and actuating what was the feeding-in
looper oppositely.
This can be readily done by providing a double set of cams for what was the
feeding-in looper, or by making the cams adjustable on their shaft, so that they
may be turned around 180 degrees, and by providing a slip-gear, so that what
was the feeding-in drum may be rotated in the opposite direction.
Another way that I may lead the web out is to lead the same out through the
feeding-out device, which is provided for the inner web of the double machine.
Thus this machine can advantageously be used either as a single or double machine.
If I do not set the driving mechanism quartering, I can dispense with the
loopers at the front end of the machine, but for reasons before given, the
previously described construction is the preferred form.
Thus a paper of any desired number of pages up to sixteen may be run with
little trouble, and the machine may be changed from one product to another in
but a few moments, and my improved device occupies but the floor space of one
machine.
According to a modified plan of my arrangement, I lead the first web to the two
lower evlinders, and the second web to the two upper cylinders, and turn the webs
out at the side of the machine by suitable turners, and then associate them by
suitable rollers, and fold them by a folding device, which preferably is arranged
at right-angles to the machine proper.

page_text: With this arrangement, the driving mechanisms are preferably set quartering,
as before described.
A second modified form of my invention consists in arranging the machine as
last described, and in running the webs out beyond the web-rolls, and folding
them beyond the web-rolls.
While this is a good arrangement, it is not as desirable as the preferred form,
as it necessarily involves putting the upper web-roll into the machine between
two webs, and because of the double space required to do this, and of the extra
space required for the folding apparatus.
These last two modifications while not as good as the preferred form, are still
within the scope of my invention.
MARKS & CLERK,
18. Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Flat Bed Travelling Cylinder Web Printing
Press.
I, GEORGE CROYDON MARKS, of 18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
London, W.C., Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer (a communication from
abroad by Henry Alexander Wise Wood, of No. 1, Madison Avenue, New York
City, County and State of New York, United States of America, Engineer), 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-
The object of the present invention is to improve the style of printing machine
which is known as the flat bed travelling cylinder web printing machine.
This machine consists of two beds on which the forms are placed, and two
travelling impression cylinders, one for each bed.
Suitable guides and web manipulating devices are provided, so that the web
will be perfected in its passage through the machine, that is printed on both its
sides.
The operation is such, that the web stands stationary relatively to the forms
during impression, the cylinders and guides' carrying moving loops or waves of
web and presenting the web to the forms, and the web being shifted or fed
forward when the cylinders reverse off the forms in either direction.
Presses of this character have been commercially made so that four forms can
be placed abreast on each of the two beds, and by this arrangement either a four,
six or eight paged paper can be produced.
It has been found impractical, however, to make the machine produce more
than an eight-paged paper, because if the machine is made wider, the cylinders
will spring and will not give good impressions, and if more than one form is
placed in line, the speed of the machine will be reduced owing to the increase of
stroke of the cylinders required.
There has been a call however, for a machine which will make a larger sized
paper or product, the call for which machine has not been satisfactorily supplied.
To supply the demand for a machine of this character, it has heretofore been
proposed to arrange two machines side by side and associate the two webs issuing
from such machines to make the larger paged products.
It has also been proposed in another case, to arrange two machines end to end,
and to associate the two webs to get the larger paged products.

page_text: These arrangements, however, have been very undesirable on account of the
great floor space required, the complication of the mechanism for bringing the
product together, and the inconvenience in getting around and handling such
arrangements.
The present invention aims to supply a machine which shall produce not only
the four six, or eight paged paper of the single machine, but also the ten, twelve,
fourteen or sixteen paged papers now wanted, without decreasing the speed.
The present invention consists in arranging two flat bed travelling cylinder web
perfecting presses, one directly over the other, and in providing mechanism so
that two webs can be led through the machine, and perfected, and then associated
and folded to form the desired ten, twelve, fourteen or sixteen-paged papers.
The preferred form in which this invention is practiced consists in providing two
separate driving mechanisms for the four cylinders, one mechanism being used
to operate the two lower cylinders, and the other driving mechanism being used
to operate the two upper cylinders.
These two driving mechanisms may be set to work in unison with each other,
at 180° to each other, or quartering or at 90° to each other.
If the two driving mechanisms are set quartering, the two lower cylinders will
be in impression or printing while the two upper cylinders are reversing and vice
versa.
If this arrangement is used, the double machine will run very smoothly and
easily.
In the preferred form of mechanism the webs are run through in a peculiar
way. One web is run so as to be printed on one side by the lower cylinder, and on
its other side by the upper cylinder.
The second web is run through the machine so as to be printed on one side by
the second cylinder, and on its other side by the third cylinder.
By this arrangement the two web rolls will be kept low down, and the two
printed webs will issue from the machine above the same, so that they can be
easily associated.
It will be seen that by this construction, one web is practically within the loop
of the other web in the machine.
If this arrangement is used in a machine in which the two driving devices for
the cylinders are set quartering, it is necessary to provide a compensating looping
mechanism at the front end of the machine which will compensate for the
relatively different movements of the cylinders, so that the feed of each web
will take place around only one cylinder at a time.
Rollers, turners and slitters are provided, so that the two webs can be slit and
associated to make any desired double product, and a suitable folding device
is provided so that the associated webs may be cut into sheet form and given any
desired number of folds.
When it is desired to run this machine to handle only one web to make a
four, six, or eight-paged product, the upper driving mechanism is disconnected,
and the lower machine is only used.
When this operation takes place, what was the feeding-in device for the upper
web may be used as the feeding-out device for the single web, simply by driving
what was the feeding device in the opposite direction and actuating what was the
feeding-in looper oppositely, so that the same will form a feeding-out looper.
Another way the single web may be led out, is to lead the same out through
the feeding-out device which is provided for the inner web of the double machine.
Thus this machine can be advantageously used either as a single or double
machine.
If the driving mechanisms are not set quartering, but to act in unison or at
180° to each other, the compensating looping mechanism at the front end of the
machine can be dispensed with.
Thus a paper of any desired number of even pages up to sixteen may be
produced with but little trouble, and the machine may be changed to produce the

page_text: different paged products in a few moments, and the device occupies the floor
space of but one machine.
According to a first modified form of the invention the first web is led to the
two lower cylinders, and the second web to the two upper cylinders, and the webs
turned out at the side of the machine by suitable turners, and associated by
suitable rollers, and folded by a folding device which preferably is arranged at
right angles to the machine proper.
A second modified form of the invention consists in arranging the machine as
last described, and in running the webs out beyond the web rolls, and folding
them beyond the web rolls. While this is a good arrangement, it is not as
desirable as the preferred form, as it necessarily involves putting the upper web
roll into the machine between two webs, and because of the extra floor space
required to do this, and arranging of the folding device beyond the web rolls.
The preferred form of the invention is that previously described as the principal
form.
Referring to the accompanying seven sheets of drawings which illustrate the
various ways in which the invention can be practiced.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine.
Figures 2 and 3 are detailed views of the gearing,
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the complete machine,
Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the arrangement when but a single web
is run through the machine.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the driving mechanisms set at
180° to each other.
Figure is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 6 with the driving
mechanisms set to work in unison.
Figure 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the first modified form of the
invention,
Figure 9 is a plan view of the turners used in the device shown in Figure 8,
Figure 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the second modified form of the
invention, and
Figure 11 is a plan view of the turners used in the device shown in Figure 10.
Referring to the drawings and in detail, the preferred form of the invention
will first be described that is, the form wherein one web is within the loop of the
other web.
The various arrangements of this preferred form are shown in the first five
sheets of the drawings.
In detail A designates the framing of the press. B, C, D and E represent four
form beds, which preferably are arranged horizontally and in different horizontal
planes.
F, G, H and I designate the four travelling impression cylinders which co-act
with said beds.
J represents the lower carriage frames for cylinders F and G, and K the upper
carriage frames for cylinders Hand I.
The two web rolls W and W₁ are mounted at the end of the machine. The web W
from web roll W first passes around guide rollers 10 and 11 to a feeding-in
drum 12, which has a suitable set of tapes co-acting therewith to continuously
feed the web into the press.
The web then passes around a feeding-in looping roller 13 which is actuated
by cams 14 on the shaft of the feeding-in drum 12.
The web then passes to guide roll 15 mounted in the carriage frames J under
the lower impression cylinder F, and up over guide 16 also mounted in frames J.
The web then passes around web guides or rolls 17 and 18 attached to the
frame A, then around a compensating looper 19, and then around a web guide or
roll 20 secured to the frame of the machine.
The web then passes to guide 21 mounted in frames K under the upper impres-
sion cylinder I, and around the guide 22 also arranged in said frames K.

page_text: The web then passes around a feeding-out looper 23 actuated from cams 24,
to a continuously running feeding out drum 25, co-acting with which is a suitable
set of tapes.
From this point, the web may be slit into two sections and one carried directly
by guides 26 and 27 to a suitable folder L, and the other section of the web led
around turner-bars 28-28 before it passes to the guide or roller 27, so that the
two sections of the web will be associated together before they pass to the folder.
The web w is similarly led around the second and third impression cylinders G
and H, the parts, guides, rollers etc., being figured the same as in connection with
the web w, except that a cipher is added to each reference numeral as for example,
the guide or roll corresponding to the guide or roll 10 is referred to as 100, the
feeding-in drum corresponding to the feeding-in drum 12 is referred to as 120, etc.
The turners 280-280 for associating the two sections of the web wo are arranged
beyond the guide or roll 270, and preferably stand in a vertical position at the
end of the press, so that the two sections of the web w¹ may be associated together
before they pass to the guide or roll 27 to be associated with the sections of the
web formed by the web w.
The lower carriage frames J are connected together by a suitable tie or yoke M,
engaging which is a crank pin 29 on the large bevel-gear 30.
The carriage frames K are similarly connected by yoke N, engaging which is a
crank pin 290 arranged on bevel gear 300. These parts form the two driving
mechanisms.
In the first three sheets of drawings, the driving mechanisms are shown as set
quartering, or at 90° to each other, so that the two lower cylinders will be in
impression or printing while the two upper cylinders are reversing, and vice versa,
whereby the machine will run very easily and smoothly.
If this arrangement is used, it is necessary to use the compensating loopers 19
and 190.
These compensating loopers are arranged in suitable sliding frames 31, which
have rolls bearing on cams 32, which are held in contact with said cams by
springs 33.
The cams 32 are geared to turn in unison with the cams for the feeding-in and
feeding-out loopers, and by this arrangement each web will only be fed or shifted
over one form bed at a time.
Thus for example, in Figure 4, the web w is stationary relatively to the lower
bed B, and is being shifted over the upper bed E. The looper 19 is moving
upwards, and is giving the supply of web necessary for the movement over the
upper bed.
When the cylinder F is reversing, and the cylinder I printing, the looper 19
will be moving downwards. This will cause the web to be shifted over the lower
bed, and the web to stand stationary over the upper bed.
The same is true of the web w and the looper 190.
The feeding-in and feeding-out drums, and the feeding-in and feeding-out
loopers are arranged to operate in the ordinary way; that is, the feeding-in and
feeding-out drums are arranged to feed a length of web equal to two sheets for
each forward and backward movements or complete reciprocation of the cylinders,
and the feeding-in and feeding-out loopers are arranged to shift the web at the
proper times, which is twice for each reciprocation of the cylinders.
The compensating loopers 19 and 190 are arranged to control an amount of web
equal to the length of the sheet; that is to say, the time in which the web
stands stationary, and in which it is shifted being substantially the same, the
compensating loopers will have a movement of one-half of the sheet's length so
as to control an amount of web equal to the length of the sheet.
Suitable inking rollers are arranged in the carriage frames at each side of
each impression cylinder to ink the forms, and the same take ink from fountains P.
By manipulating two webs in this manner, a ten, twelve, fourteen or sixteen-
paged paper can be obtained.

page_text: When it is desired to make a smaller sized paper, one of the driving mechanisms,
preferably the upper driving mechanism, is disconnected, so that only the two
lower cylinders F and G will operate.
The shafts on which the bevel-pinions which engage the bevel gears 30 and 300
are arranged, may be geared together, as shown in Figure 2 by means of bevel-
gears 34 and 340 and shaft 35."
Power may be applied to the lower set of bevel gears, and the upper driving
mechanism may be disconnected by slipping the bevel-gear 340 on its shaft.
When a single web is run through the machine, it is preferred to use what was
the feeding-in device for the web was the feeding-out device.
If this is done, it is necessary to turn the shaft of the drum 120 in the opposite
direction.
,
This can be done by using a sweep 36 which carries a single intermediate 37,
which can mesh directly with the gear 38 on the shaft of the drum, and two other
meshing intermediates 39 and 40 which may be shifted to transmit motion to said
gear 38, so that the same will turn in the opposite direction as illustrated in
Figure 3.
When the single web is run through the machine in this manner, the same is
led to the folder, as shown in full lines in Figure 5.
Another way in which the single web can be delivered out of the machine, is
to keep what was the feeding-out device for the web w¹ in operation, and lead the
web thereto by means of web guides or rolls 41, 42, 43 and 430, as indicated in
dotted lines in Figure 5.
By either of these arrangements a single web can be perfected by the two lower
impression cylinders, and led out of the machine to form either a four, six, or
eight-paged paper.
When the two lower impression cylinders are used to perfect a single web, the
single web is passed directly from the guide 17 to the impression cylinder G by
means of guides or roll 44.
In Figure 6 substantially the same mechanism is shown with the two driving
mechanisms set at 180° to each other.
When this is done the web compensating device at the front end of the press, is
not necessary, as all the impression cylinders will be in and out of impression
at the same time.
The arrangement shown in Figure 6 is an excellent form of the invention, as
the two sets of carriage frames will be moved oppositely, and hence, the vibrations
in the mechanism will be to a large measure, counter-balanced.
In Figure 7 substantially the same machine is shown with the two driving
mechanisms set to work in unison..
In Figures 8 and 9 the first modified form of the invention referred to is shown,
that is, an arrangement by which the web w is handled by the impression
cylinders F and G and the web w¹ by the impression cylinders H and I.
In this arrangement, the two webs are slit, and the sections thereof are
associated and turned out sideways or laterally of the machine by turner-bars 45
and 46 and 450 and 460, and the folder mechanism is arranged at right angles to
the press.
In Figures 10 and 11 the second modified form of the invention is shown, that
is, the two lower impression cylinders are arranged to handle the web w, and the
two upper impression cylinders the web l, and the two sections of each web are
associated by turner-bars 47 and 48 and 470 and 480, and pass out to a folding
mechanism beyond the web rolls.
The beds are shown in the drawings as offset, that is, the bed C is not over the
bed B, and the bed E is not over the bed D.
This is the preferred form, as it renders the beds very accessible for putting on
and taking off the forms.
It is within the scope of the invention, of course to arrange the beds directly
over each other, if desired,

page_text: Other arrangements may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention, as expressed in the claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:--
1. The arrangements described in the foregoing specification and illustrated in
the drawings by which two flat bed web perfecting travelling impression cylinder
printing presses are combined.
2. The combination of two flat bed travelling impression cylinder web perfect-
ing printing presses arranged one over the other, web guides arranged so that
two webs can be led through the mechanism, and devices for associating the two
webs after they are perfected, substantially as described.
3. The combination in a web perfecting printing press of four form beds
arranged in different horizontal planes, a travelling impression cylinder co-operat-
ing with each form bed, web guides arranged so that a web may be led around the
lower and upper cylinders, and another web around the second and third cylinders,
and a suitable web manipulating device for each web, substantially as described.
4. The combination in a web perfecting printing press of four form beds
arranged in different horizontal planes, a travelling impression cylinder co-
operating with each form bed, web guides arranged so that a web may be led
around the lower and
around the
upper cylinders, and another web
second and third cylinders, whereby the last-named web is substantially
within the loop of the first-named web, a suitable web manipulating device for
each web, and devices for associating the two webs, substantially as described.
5. The combination of two flat bed travelling impression cylinder web perfect-
ing printing presses arranged one over the other, web guides arranged so that
one or two webs can be led through the mechanism and means whereby one or
both presses may be operated, substantially as described.
6. The combination in a web perfecting press of four form beds arranged in
different horizontal planes, a travelling impression cylinder co-operating with
each form bed, web guides arranged so that one or two webs may be led through
the mechanism, two driving mechanisms, one arranged to reciprocate the two
lower and the other the two upper cylinders, and connections whereby one driving
mechanism can be thrown out of operation, substantially as described.
7. The combination in a web perfecting printing press of four form beds
arranged in different horizontal planes, two sets of carriers, each set carrying two
impression cylinders, a driving mechanism for each set of carriers, web guides
arranged so that one or two webs may be led through the mechanism, web manipu-
lating mechanisms, and connections whereby only one set of carriers may be
operated, substantially as described.
8. The combination in a web perfecting printing press of four form beds
arranged in different horizontal planes, a travelling impression cylinder co-acting
with each form bed. web guides arranged so that a web may be led around the
lower and upper cylinders, and another web around the second and the third
cylinders, a feeding-in and feeding-out device for each of these webs, and means
whereby the feeding in device for the second web may be used as the feeding out
device when only one web is run through the machine, whereby the two lower
impression cylinders may be used for handling a single web, substantially as
described.
MARKS & CLERK,
18. Southampton Buildings, London, W.L.
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.