Improvements in Perfecting Printing Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1888
Specification Accepted, 21st Dec., 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Perfecting Printing Machines.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by the "Duplex Printing Press Company"
(Incorporated), of Battle Creek, Michigan, United States of America), and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in rotary cylinder printing-presses, of the
class known as "perfecting printing-presses," in which the paper or other material
being printed is impressed on both sides before leaving the press; and it has for its
objects to cheapen and simplify the construction of the press and to perfect its
operation; and to these ends the invention consists in the novel construction and
arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which ;-
Figure 1, represents a perspective view of my improved printing press. Figure 2,
represents a side elevation of the same. Figure 3, is a sectional view taken vertically
and longitudinally through the printing cylinders and paper feed devices of the press,
showing the position of the parts when paper is being printed between the cylinders C
and D. Figure 4, is a detail view of the inking device. Figure 5, is a plan view
showing the inking. reel. Figure 6, shows the means for driving the paper-feed rolls
from one of the cylinders. Figure 7, is a view similar to figure 3, showing the position
of the parts when the impression is being taken upon the severed sheet of paper
between the cylinders C and B. Figure 8, is a detail view showing one manner of
driving the tapes N2 and n². Figure 9, is a detail view showing the cam-grooved
wheel on the end of cylinder B for actuating the paper-web sheet-cutting mechanism.
Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the main frame of the press, upon
which are mounted in suitable bearings the three cylinders B, C, and D, respectively.
These cylinders lie transversely of the main frame, and are of about equal size and
have their axis in the same horizontal plane, so that their peripheries lie close to each
other, as shown.

page_text: The cylinders B, C, and D, are provided at one end with the similar-sized gears b, c.
and d, which interinesh, and thereby the rotation of one cylinder will impart a similar
amount of movement to the others. The cylinder C is the contral one of the three,
the cylinder D being on the right, and the cylinder B on the left thereof. Con-
sequently when cylinder C is rotated to the left the other cylinder will turn to the
right, as indicated by the arrows. To the outside of cylinder D and below its axial
plane are situated the feed rollers E, E, the upper one being journaled in rigid
bearings on frame A and the lower and outermost one being journaled in adjustable
bearings, as shown in Figure 2, by which the pressure of the rolls E, E, can be
regulated. These rolls are actuated by gearing from the cylinder D, which consists,
essentially, of the small gears F, F, mounted, respectively, on the inner and outer ends
of a short shaft, f, Figure 6, suitably journaled in the main frame between cylinder D
and roll E, the inner gear F, meshing with the gear d, and the outer gear F, meshing
with a small gear e, on the extended end of the shaft of upper roll E, as shown. The
relative sizes of these gears are such that the peripherial motion of rolls E, E, for one
rotation of the cylinder D is only equal to one half the peripherial motion of said
cylinder, for a purpose hereinafter shown.
G² designates a delivery cylinder properly journaled in the sides of the main frame A
considerably above the rolls E, E, and which has its shaft extended outside its bearings
at one side, and provided with a bevel gear f', which meshes with a corresponding
gear, on the upper end of a nearly vertical shaft G³, the lower end of which is
provided with a bevel gear 3, which meshes with a bevel gear e¹, on the extended end
of upper roll E. The shaft G³, is journaled in suitable supports G4, at both its upper
and lower ends, properly secured to frame A, as shown. It will thus be observed that
motion is imparted to roll G2, from upper roll E. The gears are so arranged that the
periphery of roll G2, moves at the same rate of speed as the peripheries of rolls E, E,
and in the same direction as the lowest of said rolls.
G designates a shaft journaled in the main frame of the machine above the journals
of roll G³, and a designates a similar shaft situated below the said roll, and g₁ is
another similar shaft situated outside of roll G* and lying in about the same horizontal
plane as the axis of this roll. The shafts y, g', are suitably journaled in extensions of
the main frame, as shown. Around these shafts G, g', 9, are passed the continuous
tapes G¹, which as they pass from shaft G to g come in contact with the outer
periphery of roll G2, as shown. These shafts and tapes are driven from the shaft g,
which has a pinion g°, on its extended end, which meshes with a pinion on the
extended end of the shaft of roll G2, Figure 2.
H designates a vertically reciprocating frame moving in guides formed in the sides
of frame A in rear or outside of cylinder D and above the same. This frame H
extends some distance above the top of the press, and is reciprocated by means of the
pitman-rod h, which connects at its upper end to the side of frame H, and has its
lower end journaled on or provided with a wrist-pin I, that plays in a cam-groove i,
formed in the face of a disk J, which is journaled on the main frame vertically below
frame H, and is provided on its circumference with gear-teeth j, which mesh with the
outer gear F, already described, and receives motion thereby from cylinder D.
K designates a friction roller or shaft journaled in the sides of frame H, and which,
when the frame is lowest, stand close to, but somewhat above the upper roll E.
k designates a similar roller journaled in frame H above roller K, and k¹ designates a
third roller journaled in the upper most end of the frame, and which, when the frame
is lowest, will stand above the roll G.
Ll, designate two friction rollers journaled in the main frame on opposite sides of
the frame H and below the roll G, so that they stand above roll k at all times.
L' designates a similar roller journaled on frame A above roll G2, and to the inside of
shaft G. designates a similar roller journaled in the main frame to the inside of
frame H and below the roll G³.
M designates a roller journaled in the main frame to the inside of frame H and
below the rolls E, E. M¹ designates a like roller journaled in the main frame below
the meeting-point of cylinders C, D, and in a horizontal line with roll M, and

page_text: m designates a similar roller arranged vertically above roll M' and above the cylinders.
The rollers on frame H and the rollers M, M', m, L, l, L', ' and roll G³ form the
paper guides for the first impression, as hereinafter stated.
N designates a tape shaft journaled in the main frame vertically above cylinder B,
and N designates a similar shaft journaled above cylinder D, near to roller P.
N³ designates the endless tape working on said shafts.
n designates a tape shaft journaled in the main frame just below shaft N, and n¹ a
similar shaft just below shaft N¹. n² designates the tapes working on said shafts.
After passing roller the paper is caught and carried forward by the tapes N³, n³, to
the opposite end of the machine. These tapes are driven by means of suitable gearing
between the shaft n and the gear on cylinder B, as shown in Figure 8, of the drawings,
or from other proper source.
0, 0, are upstanding slotted guide arms rising from frame A just outside of the
rolls N, n.
O designates a transverse reciprocating bar moving in guides formed in said
slotted arms 0, 0, and having secured to its lower edge the cutting blade o¹. This har O₁
is reciprocated at proper intervals, by means of the pitman-rod o, which is properly
connected to the bar at its upper end, and has its lower end journaled to a wrist-pin o³,
which is engaged in the can-groove p of a gear b, secured on the end of cylinder B, as
shown.
Q designates a sheet receiving table to the outside of bar O', which is adapted to
receive the sheets as they are delivered by tapes N³, n³, and cut by knife o¹, as is
evident.
Qis a shaft journaled in suitable brackets rising from opposite sides of table Q, and
having a crank at one end connected to a pitman Q2, which has its other end engaged
by a pin q', with the cam-groove p of gear 6, so that it transmits oscillating motions
to shaft when the disk is rotated.
designate fingers secured to shaft Q¹, and which are adapted to be operated by
said shaft at the proper time, and after the web has been severed by the knife o¹ force
the cut sheet down upon the feet-board or table Q, where the sheet is left in readiness
for being removed by grippers on cylinder B, as hereinafter stated.
R designates a tape shaft journaled in the main frame below table Q, and R'
designates a similar shaft journaled close to the cylinder B, near the lower outer portion
thereof.
R2 designates tapes which pass from shaft R up over and partly around cylinder B
until they reach shaft R¹, which they pass over and then back to shaft R. r designates
a similar shaft journaled just below roll R, and, is a like shaft journaled in the main
frame below and to the inner side of the cylinder B. designates tapes on said shafts,
which are adapted in connection with tapes R', to deliver the paper out of the press
upon a suitable receiving board or folding machine.
The cylinder is the type-bearing cylinder, and is adapted for receiving the ordinary
stereotype plates or circular forms of any description, and these plates are secured
to the outer circumference of cylinder C in the ordinary manner, the plates for the
opposite sides of the paper being secured on said cylinder at diametrically opposite
points of its periphery.
The cylinder D has secured to its periphery a blanket or tympan C, made up to the
same width and length as the plates or circular "forms" on one-half the peripherial
circumference of cylinder C, and this cylinder D is set to mesh with the gear of
cylinder C in such position, or its blanket is so adjusted as to bring the latter in contact
at the proper moment with one half the "forms" on cylinder C with which its blanket
corresponds. The cylinder B is also provided with a similar blanket or tympan B', in
substantially the same manner as described for cylinder D; but its blanket is so
arranged as to engage with the remaining half or portion of type-plates on cylinder C.
The cylinder B, however, is provided on its periphery with the horizontal shaft B², to
which are attached gripping fingers 61, and which shaft is arranged and operated in the
usual manner, the grippers being so arranged that they will, when the press is in
operation, grip the sheets of paper separated from the web, as described, and laying

page_text: them upon table Q, and carrying the same around with the cylinder B and obtaining
an impression thereon from the half-plates on the cylinder C, as is evident. I will now
proceed to describe the operation of this part of the press.
S designates a paper roll supported upon a proper shaft journaled in suitable arms or
brackets rising from the main frame in rear of the feed-rollers E, E, as shown. The
web of paper & passes from this roll to the rollers E, E, and by them is fed into the press.
The paper passes from rolls E, E, over the travelling roller K, which is reciprocated by the
frame H, as described, thence down under the roller M, thence to and under roller M³,
thence up between the cylinders C, D, to the roller m, thence over roller L down to
and under travelling roller k, thence up over stationary roller 1, partly around roll G³,
where it is kept from bulging or moving backward by the tapes on rollers G, g, g',
under roller L, over travelling roller k¹ and down under roller between the rollers Ni
and n', where it is received by tapes N2, n². These tapes feed the yet continuous
web of paper down to and under knife o¹, which at proper intervals, as described,
breaks or cuts off a piece or sheet of the desired length that has been spaced off by the
roller k¹, as hereinafter described. This cut sheet is, by means of fingers o̟ on shaft Q,
laid upon table Q in position for being gripped by the fingers on cylinder B and
carried around thereby. The paper is continuously fed into the press from roll S by the
action of the feed rollers E, E, and is then drawn through the press over the various
rollers described by the action of roll G2, and its co-acting tapes. While the paper is
passing between the cylinders C and D it receives an impression on one side from one
half the "forms" on said cylinder, as previously determined, through the co-action of
the blanket on cylinder D, as described. The paper is drawn in by the rolls E, E,
from roll S only one-half as fast as the peripheries of the cylinders move, and the
frame H and its rollers are employed to supply the requisite amount of paper to the
cylinders C and D when the latter are co-acting to produce an impression. At the
commencement of the printing between cylinders C and D, this frame and its rollers
are at their highest position, consequently forming a loop of paper between rolls E, E, K,
and the roller M. As soon as the type on cylinder C and blanket on cylinder D
begin to register the frame H is set in motion downward, its actuating-cam being
properly arranged to effect this movement, and this action is of such extent that, in
connection with the half sufficient supply of paper furnished by rolls E, E, it permits
the paper to feed between cylinders C and D, at the same uniform speed as said
cylinders are rotating. The roller & keeps the paper correspondingly taut above the
cylinders while it is being printed, as said roller has a corresponding degree of similar
movement to roller K. During the next half-revolution of the cylinders the loop-system
rollers on frame H are elevated by the action of the cam and a loop formed by
the roller K in readiness for the next impression from the same forms. During this
upward movement of frame H-that is, during the half-rotation of cylinders C and D,
no printing is being effected between said cylinders. The loop of paper formed
by the roller supplies the roll G2 with paper at a uniform speed, so that this roll will
not tear the web, and its rotation is continuous. While this action is taking place the
portion of web between cylinders C and D), is at a stand-still. This action of the parts
leaves the web of paper always at a uniform tension while passing through this part
of the press, and permits the delivery roll G' to be constantly turning out a supply of
paper to the roller k', which is in the top of frame H and moves therewith, so that a
loop of paper is formed above roll G³ by roll k¹, corresponding to the loop formed above
rolls E, E, by roller K. The action of roll G³, in connection with the descent of roller k,
permits sufficient paper to be paid out under the knife o¹, which during this period
is elevated, and as soon as the frame H starts upward, its speed is so calculated in regard to
the speed of rotation of rolls E, E, and G2, as to permit the loops of papers on rollers K
and to be formed, while the paper between the cylinders C, D, and that under
knife o¹ will remain stationary, and during this interval the knife o¹ is actuated, as
described, severing the sheet of paper from the web, and ascends before the web is
again moved forward.
The action of the press, as described, causes the
side, and delivered in sheets upon table Q, printed
paper to he fed in, printed on one
side down, as is evident. From

page_text: board or table Q the sheets of paper are removed at proper time by means of the
grippers on cvlinder B, and its blank side is brought in contact with the desired form
on cylinder C, said form being the opposite half to that impressed by cylinder D, and
an impression is produced thereon by means of the co-acting blanket on cylinder B,
as is evident. From said cylinder the completed or perfected paper is delivered by
the tapes R,, to the folding board as described.
The form on cylinder C that is impressed by the blanket on cylinder B is placed on
said cylinder in a reversed position to the form operated upon by cylinder D, thus
allowing the heads to be printed to a register on both sides of the sheet. Were the
forms not reversed the matter on the inside and outside pages of the paper or book
being printed, would be upside down with reference to each other.
Any suitable inking device may be employed in connection with said press; but I
prefer placing an ink fountain T, of ordinary construction below and to one side of
cylinder C, from which the ink is supplied by a reel or foodor to a series of distributing
rollers, which transmit the color to the revolving forms on cylinder C, so that
I ink both forms from one fountain, the operation of the distributing rollers
being obvious.
It will be observed that when in operation I first carry the web of paper in a
continuous sheet through the rollers C and D, where it receives the first impression
and afterwards I separate this web into sheets, and cause these sheets to be carried in
a reverse direction to the web, through the press between rollers C and B, thereby
imprinting its blank face.
The press is preferably driven by means of a driving shaft Z, suitably journaled in
the main frame, and provided with gears,, which mesh with the gears of cylinder B
preferably. This shaft Z is driven by means of a pulley Z, on its extended end, and
à belt 2, from any proper source of power.
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 combination with the central type-bearing cylinder, having the type-plates
arranged at diametrically opposite points thereon, and the opposite impression
cylinders, provided with blankets or tympans adapted to register with the opposite set
of type-plates, of the paper feed rolls and looping frame for supplying the paper for
one impression cylinder, and the devices for severing the web and supplying the
already imprinted sheets to the opposite impression cylinder, all substantially as and
for the purpose described.
2. The combination of the central type-bearing cylinder, bearing the diametrically
opposite type-forms, and the opposite impression cylinders on each side and parallel
with the type cylinder, arranged to produce impression from the opposite type-forms
thereon, with the paper feed rolls for supplying a continuous web of paper between
one impression cylinder and the type cylinder, and the rollers and tapes for delivering
the web from said impression cylinder upon a table at the opposite end of the machine,
the knife for severing said web upon the table, and the grippers on the other
impression cylinder for seizing the severed sheets from the table and carrying them
around with the cylinder to receive a second impression on their reverse sides, all
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination, in press, of a type-form bearing cylinder, and an impression
cylinder, adapted to produce an impression of one-half the forms of the type-cylinder
with the feed rollers E, E, and the loop-forming frame H and its rollers, and actuating
devices, whereby the paper is fed to the cylinders during the time of the impression,
and allowed to remain at rest when not being imprinted, all constructed and arranged
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The combination in a press, of the central type-bearing cylinder C, having the
forms arranged thereon as described, and the outer opposite impression cylinders B
and D, provided with blankets adapted to register with and produce impressions from
the opposite forms on the type-cylinder, with the feed rolls E, E, and loop-forming

page_text: frame Hadapted to supply the papers to cylinders C and D, during their printing
operation, and the roll G, its co-acting tapes and loop-forming roller k³, in the upper
end of frame H, and the delivery tapes adapted to supply the paper in proper lengths
to a supporting table, and the devices on cylinder B, adapted to grip the severed sheet
of paper and carry it around therewith to cause an impression on its blank side from
the opposite set of type to that before imprinted thereon by cylinder D, and the
delivery tapes from cylinder B, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for
the purpose described.
5. The combination with the type-bearing cylinder C and the impression cylinders B
and D, arranged and operating substantially as described, of the continuous paper
web feed devices for the cylinders C and D, and the looping devices for said web, the
devices for delivering the web from said cylinders to the opposite end of the machine,
the knife and rock-shaft for severing the web of paper above cylinder B, actuated by
cam-grooved wheel on said cylinder, and the gripping devices for carrying said
severed sheets around with the cylinder B, and the delivery tapes therefor, all
substantially as described.
6. The combination with the type-cylinder C, and impression cylinders B and D,
of the paper feed rolls and loop frame H, constructed substantially as described,
whereby the paper is fed continuously into the press, and between cylinders D and C,
during the printing operation of said cylinders, but is held at rest between said
cylinders when they are not printing, but yet revolving, and the rolls and tapes
acting with frame H, and knife, substantially as described, for taking the web up and
over the cylinders, and delivering it in proper severed sheets to the cylinder B, for
impression by the latter over the opposite type-form on cylinder C, all substantially as
and for the purpose described.
Dated this 12th day of November 1888.