Improvements in Multiple Impression Color Printing Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Multiple Impression Color Printing Machines.
I, WILLIAM HENRY REYNELL TOYE, of 616, Sansom Street, Philadelphia,
in the County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what.
manner the same to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:
The object of my invention is to enable those skilled in the mechanical arts
to properly construct a machine or machines for printing in many colors upon
unbendable material or material that will not easily bend or conform to, the
impression cylinders of an ordinary printing machine; such as tin, veneer,
wooden slabs, thick card board, such as used in the manufacture of paper or
card-board boxes; also glass, sheets of gelatine for decorative or advertising
purposes or any other material.
A further object of my invention is to so construct a machine of this character
that it can be readily and accurately made to register in printing one or many
colors.
The machine, as hereinafter described, is shown as a four impression printing
machine and while it is arranged for four impressions it may be used to print
any number of colors; but it principally relates to two, four or six colors; and
while it may be used for thick material it is also useful for printing thin sheets,
of paper or other material in many colors, by a modification,(see Figures 7, 8, 9
and 10,) which will be further described and which will allow the sheets of paper or.
other material to pass through the machine in two or more cycles of the carrier
bands to which gripping or holding mechanisms are attached; the said gripping
mechanisms being so constructed to hold the sheet of paper or other material
while being printed without releasing the same during the printing of a number
of colors.
This class of machine relates to rotary multicolor printing machines for pro-
ducing designs in many colors by once handling the material to be printed, and
without releasing it from the set of grippers to which it is placed until it is.
completely printed in many colors.
I do not desire to limit myself to this design in particular, but any arrange-
ment of the main features of this plan may be used, or any modification of its
novel features without departing from the main object of this improvement..
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters and numerals
refer to corresponding parts.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the feeding half of the machine, show-
ing a portion of the main horizontal driving shaft."
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the delivery half of the machine, show-
ing the other half of the main horizontal shaft, and its adjuncts.
Figure 3 represents an end view of Figure 1, showing the position of the driving
gear for operating the linked sheet-carrier and also the position of the horizontal
driving shaft and the bevel gear for driving the printing couples.

page_text: Figure 4 represents an end view of Figure 2 showing the delivery board and
position of sheave wheels for driving. and supporting the linked sheet-carrier to-
gether with the position of driving pulley and bevel gears located on the main
driving shaft.
Figure 5 represents several detail views of the linked sheet-carrier, showing
construction of gripper mechanisms with reference to the flexible sheet-carrier,
together with details of the construction of the links, hinges, and couplings, also
showing the adjustments of the carrier sheaves which propel the sheet-carrier
Bituated at each end of the machine.
Figure 6 represents a plan view of the arrangement of the spider wheels and
tension fingers as they are placed to give the material that is being printed the
proper tension to secure a register.
Figure 7 represents two detail views showing alterations for allowing the sheet
or material being printed upon to pass twice through the machine.
Figure 8 represents the arrangement of gear for operating the lifting-cam that
opens the grippers for delivery of, the material being printed, when the machine
is used to carry the material being printed upon twice through the machine.
Figure 9 represents the lifting cam for regulating the grippers during two
passages of the material through the machine at the feeding end.
Figure 10 represents the lifting cam at the delivery end of the machine, for
dropping the sheets of paper or other material after two or more revolutions or
cycles of the main carrier while alternately printing upon the material held by
the gripper attached to the flexible sheet-carrier.
Having described the different figures of the drawings and their purposes, I
will now describe by letters and numerals the various operative parts of the
machine:
The letter A and its numerals relate to the side fiames and supports of the:
machine.
A, shown in dotted lines, designates the side frame of one-half of the machine,
to hold and, support the driving shafts and printing cylinders, and all other
mechanisms necessary to operate the different movements on the feeding end of
the machine. This side frame is secured to the side frame A4 (Figure 3) in any
manner suitable to secure rigidity, as is well-known. A2 is the side frame of the
delivery end of the machine, and it is also attached to a corresponding frame on
the opposite side of the machine, corresponding to Figures A and A. A¹ desig-
nates a bracket bolted to the side frame A2, there being a corresponding one
bolted to the frame A³ (Figure 4). These brackets hold and support shafts G¹
gear wheel B, carrying sheaves G and delivery board M¹. A5 in Figure 1 shows
one-half of a threaded shaft or bolt which is readily adjustable to the side frame A ;
the other half of this threaded shaft is shown in Figure 2 and attached to side
frame A2. A is a similar adjustable shaft one-half of which is shown in Figure 1
and the other half shown in Figure 2 at A2. In practice it will require four of
these adjustable shafts or bolts, two to be attached to each pair of
side frames, and two to be attached to
on
the frames the opposite
side of the machine. The object to be attained by using these bolts will be the
joining together of both ends of the machine to form a multiple impression
printing machine. And further, another important purpose is the ability to bring
the two parts together in proper positions; or to open the combined" machines
farther apart, or to draw them closer together as may be necessary, and this fea-
ture will often greatly assist in making correct register of the various parts of
the design while it is being printed. The difficulty of constructing a larger
machine and having. the parts of one extreme end fit exactly with the extreme
end of the other are well-known to those skilled in, the printing art, since the
influence of the atmosphere may elongate or contract a solid machine of this form
By this construction. dampened paper. or contraction of metal is overcome.
is a broken section of the frame to hold the feed board in proper position, which
frame is bolted to frame A, with screw bolt M³,

page_text: The letter B and numerals, relates principally to the main shaft and driving
gears. B shown in Figures 1 and 2 is the main shaft that primarily operates the
entire machine, and on this shaft are placed adjustable bevel gear wheels B³, B³,
B4, B5, and driving pulley B10, and loose pulley Bu. B₁ in Figures 1 and 2
represents gear wheels fastened to the shafts G₁ one shaft on each end of the
machine. The letters and Figures B6, B7, B8 and B (Figures 1 and 2) cover
devices similar in construction and are more fully shown in Figures 3 and 4,
which. I will now describe. B, Figure 3 and B6, Figure 4 show compound
bevel gear wheels attached to a short shaft made to turn easily in the side frame,
with a small spur wheel B on its opposite end; the two other compound wheels B'
and B and short shafts being of the same construction. The bevel face of each
of these compound wheels is on the outside of the frame, and each one co-acts
with B2, B3, B4, B5 located on the main shaft B. On the inside of the frame are
the small spur wheels, as mentioned, and they impart rotary motion to the large
end gear wheels, in Figure 1, B1 situated on shaft G¹ and in Figure 2 the gear
wheels B¹ on shaft G. At B7 it rotates the gear wheel B13, which turns inter-
mediate wheel B17 which in turn rotates the gear wheel B12. In Figure 1, B8
rotates gear wheel B4, which communicates motion to intermediate wheel B16
which in turn rotates gear wheel B5 B2, B3, B4, B15 are gear wheels keyed
to the shafts C which also support and rotate the printing cylinders which will
be described hereinafter. B16 designates brackets bolted to the side frames,
whose purpose is to strongly support the main driving shaft Figures 1 and 2
and the adjustable bevel gears B2, B3, B4, B. 1321 is a spur gear situated on the
shaft G' at the left of Figure 1 which operates the spur wheel B18; through the
spur wheel B19 which spur wheel B18 engages with and drives the compound
wheels E. B is a gear wheel which operates the supplemental feeding device K³
which is here only partially shown as the feeding device has been before claimed
and described in the Specification of prior Patent No. 3587 %, and of the useful-
ness of which I will specify hereafter.
The letter C and numerals accompanying relate to the printing plate or type
cylinders, which I will generally designate printing cylinders. In Figure 1,
C, C designates shafts extending across the machine to which gear wheels B
and B are keyed, and on these shafts are also fastened printing cylinders C
and C (see Figure 3). In Figure 2, C, C also designate shafts extending across
the machine to which are keyed printing cylinders C3 and C and also the gear
wheels B12 and B13. C5, C5, C5, C5, designate groups of inking rolls with their
driving wheels and ink ducts (see Figures 1 and 2). These groups of inking rolls
require no detailed description as they are of a well-known construction and may
consist of any number of form rollers. Though four rollers to each different
impression is preferable, more or less may be used; and also the position of
them here shown may be altered without departing from the improvement as here-
in specified. The position of the different groups of rollers for the different
colors as here shown will allow of easy access for attaching plates or cleaning the
same when necessary. C6, C, C6, C, in Figures 1 and 2 shown in dotted lines
are curved arms, two on each of the machine that hold and support the different
groups of inking rolls. Their purpose is to lift the rollers off the plates when the
machine is at a point of rest, and this is done by turning the levers C. 07, 07.
C, C, in Figures 1 and 2 are flat rods, two on each side of the machine. In
their ends at Cs they are provided with eccentric rods which may be turned by
the levers C8 to open and close them from contact with the side frames A.
The impression cylinders are one-half the diameter of the printing cylinders,
and consequently make two revolutions while the printing cylinders make one
revolution. D, D2 (Figure 1) and D3 D (Figure 2) are spur gear wheels, each
of which is keyed to a shaft D'; each shaft Dextending across the machine from
side to side. In Figures 1 and 2, D³, D³, D5, D³, represent sliding boxes, two of
which are required to each cylinder on opposite sides of the machine making eight
sliding boxes on a four impression machine. These boxes also support the four

page_text: shafts D, the gear wheels D; D3, D3, D4, and the cylinders D6 and D7 shown in
Figures 1 and 3'and D and D shown in Figures 2 and 4. The impression cylin-
ders make four revolutions for every completed impression, two revolutions in
contact with the pitch line of the printing cylinders, while printing, and two
revolutions without contacting with the pitch line of the printing cylinders, but
just sufficiently far apart to escape printing upon, the packing and not entirely
out of mesh with the teeth of the printing cylinders, as is shown rather indis-
tinctly in Figure 1, though here clearly described. Each of the four impression
cylinders are provided with suitable openings in them to permit the 'different
sets of grippers to pass through.
E and its accompanying numerals represent the shaft and apparatus for lifting
the impression cylinders and for withdrawing them from contact with the print-
ing cylinders in proper time so as to allow of two distinct rollings of inking
rolls over the plates or forms in the printing cylinders; or again to be. set to give
four distinct distributions and rollings of the printing plates or forms when the
machine is altered to pass the material being printed upon twice through the
machine in two revolutions or cycles of the sheet-carrier when it is used as an
adjustable flexible alternating carrier. This feature may be modified so as to
lift. the impression cylinders at any number of revolutions of the printing cylin-
ders without departing from my present improvement.
In Figure 1 E is the lifting shaft which is operated by the bevel gear 1³,
which will be further described, said gear E2 turning a bevel wheel which s
fastened to the lifting shaft which gives it a horizontal rotary movement. Look-
ing at E2 on Figures 3 and 4 it will be seen as a compound wheel consisting of
a bevel wheel on the outside of the frame, a short shaft running through the side
frame A, with a spur toothed wheel E on the end of the shaft on the inside of
the frame. E, E in Figure 1 show slotted cams attached to the shaft E; which
serve to depress the impression cylinders from contact with the printing cylin-
ders C¹, C. In Figure 2, E, E are slotted cams fastened to the shaft E which
show the impression cylinders D8, D in printing contact with the printing cylin-
ders C3 and C. The four cams as. shown operate the lifting arms E³, E³, E5, E³,
in Figures 1 and 2 and are attached to four shafts E7 that extend through the
frames at both sides of the machine (see Figures 3 and 4). These shafts have an
eccentric bearing on each end, and when turned to the left depress the impres-
sion cylinders D and D' and when turned to the right lift the impression cylin-
ders 1 and D7 to printing contact with printing cylinders C, and C³. E³, E³,
E, E, represent lifting arms, that are capable of being lengthened or shortened
to accommodate for varying thicknesses of material to be printed upon, and these
arms are connected at their upper ends to the eight sliding boxes D³ being hinged
or jointed thereto as shown, the lower ends of said arms are operated by the
eccentrics E6, E6, E6, E6 shown in Figures 1 and 2 which are operated by the
slotted cams E on the shaft E. Eight of these lifting arms are required, four
on each side of the machine. The letters E³, in Figures 1 and 2 designate brackets
to securely support and hold the shaft E.
The letter F relates to a series of spider wheels and tension fingers for tighten-
ing in Figure 2 F designates a toothed wheel supported by a shaft F. Fa
designates a small gear wheel that is driven by bevel wheel B7 which in turn
imparts motion to F. Figure 6 is a plan view showing the position and character
of the mechanism necessary to use in tensioning or tightening the material to be
printed upon. F is a gear wheel driven by a small gear wheel F2. On the
shaft are four adjustable spider wheels, with openings in them to allow the
gripping mechanism to pass through them shown at F3, F3, F3, F³. F is a small
shaft hinged to the side frames A3 and A3; this shaft is fastened to the frame
and tightened when necessary and upon this shaft are carried springs F5 (also see
Figure 6). These springs are arranged to press upon the material printed upon.
to keep it taut or straight as may be desired. F7, F7, F7, F7, in Figure 1 desig-
nate spider wheels with openings for the gripping carriages to pass through. F

page_text: designates the clamping bar and F8 the tension springs. The spider wheels are
fastened to the shaft and are made adjustable to shift between the margins
of pages or other spaces imprinted upon. This improvement is a desirable one,
and may be used successively upon thin material, while it will not be necessary
to use it when printing tin, or thin wood boards, or thick cardboards.
As shown in Figure 5, the letter G relates to the construction of sheave wheels
which hold, support and propel the endless flexible carriers to which are attached
gripping mechanisms H to hold the material while it is being printed in many
colors without releasing it. There are four of these sheave wheels, two at each
end of the machine, one on each side at either end, said wheels being suitably
secured to shaft G₁ (see Figures 1 and 2). G are two adjustable tee rests inserted
in the periphery of the sheaves, two to each sheave, said tee rests being provided
with a threaded stem on which are placed check nuts. G. Tension bolts G7; G7,
G7, G, screw into the sheave G and press upon the ends of G5. The object of
these tee rests and their adjustments is to assist in lengthening or shortening
the flexible carriers by slightly altering the pitch line of the sheave wheels G.
This method will allow the chain to be shortened or lengthened at the coup-
lings H2 and H³. If it is necessary to shorten the chain, the bolts G7 must be with-
drawn and the tee rests screwed down upon them until the correct pitch is se-
cured. If the pitch requires a longer chain the tee rests must be further set out
than shown in the drawings Figure 5, and the bolts G7 screwed further out
to properly tension them. This is a very delicate and simple method of enabling
the operator to successfully perform the difficult process of securing perfect regis-
ter or fit of all the parts of a design, in many colours. It will be apparent that a
slight change only is necessary to alter the tension of the flexible carrier. G8
are two accurately fitted recesses into which fit the toothed links fastened to the
flexible chain carrier H.
The letter H in Figure 5 relates to the construction of the flexible carrier. H
designates the linked carrier, composed of a series of hinged connections coupling
bolts and propelling blocks. Two of these carriers are required one on each side
of the machine to form an endless chain, or its equivalent of any flexible material
such as steel bands, cables, or belts, like those described in Specification of prior
Patent No. 374298. The two endless flexible carriers are provided with three
sets of gripping devices, which is also an economy in construction. The distance
between each set of grippers is twice the circumference of the printing cylin-
ders; this allows each printing couple to be linked and rolled twice before print-
ing. At one revolution of the said printing cylinder a sheet is printed and at
the other revolution, the impression cylinder which forms a printing couple is
withdrawn from contact and does not print. The impression cylinders are one-
half the diameter of the printing cylinders and of course make two revolutions
to one of the printing cylinders, making four impressions to each sheet being
printed if the machine is adjustable for a continuous feed. The endless flexible
carriers are also provided between each set of grippers with hinged toothed
blocks H; three on each side of the carrier, and between each block are arranged
screw couplings to take up the wear of the links and to assist in tensioning the
carriers to the proper pitch required to make register. These teeth propel the
carrier also at the proper speed and act as internal rack teetli to fit in the carrier
sheaves G H designates the gripper red lever that opens and closes the grip-
pers H. H2 designates coupling joints of which an enlarged view is shown, and
H³ designates coupling screws that fit into the couplings. They are made to
take up any wear that may occur in the wearing of the joints, and to assist in the
important function of properly tensioning the carriers relative to the pitch of the
carrying sheaves G. H* designates hinge bolts that unite the links, toothed
blocks and couplings together to form an endless chain. These bolts are pro-
vided with recesses to hold a lubricant, such as petroleum jelly, or its equivalent;
or if it is desired to run the chain with a dry lubricant finely pulverized graphite,
mica or steatite may be employed; in fact any lubricating material may be used.

page_text: The bolts are provided with screw threads at one end and they screw into one
arm of the link H or the couplings H, and are provided on the other end with a
slot to turn them. These bolts are made of hardened steel, preferably, but may
be made of iron or bronze or any anti-friction metal. The bolts after tightening
are rivetted by hammering the link H, to prevent them from unscrewing but not
enough to prevent them from being withdrawn if necessary. H³ designates a
thin pipe which serves as a bushing for the bolt H, said pipe being inserted
between the hinge of link H. They also are preferably of hardened steel, but
may be made of any anti-friction metal or composition. H designates a series
of blocks which act as internal gear teeth and to which the carrier chain H is
hinged, they enter the openings in the sheave wheels G, and propel the chain
in synchronism with the different printing couples.
The letter J and its accompanying numerals relates to lifting devices which
open and close the grippers in proper time to take on the material being printed
and to release it after it has been printed upon in two or more passages of the
same through the machine. Though the passing of material to be printed upon
has been described in the Specification of prior Patent No. 15515% and claimed,
I present this as an improvement upon said patent; because while in said patent
the form rollers only roll the plate twice, by this new method, the plate here
shown can be rolled four times, and it can be arranged to roll, two, four or as
many times as may be desired. It is well known that many rollings of type or
plates are very essential to produce sharp and clear printing. In Figures 7, 8, 9
and 10, J and Jare teeth cut on the supporting shafts G. J and J are wheels
with cams J6, J6 fastened to the studs that support the wheels J2 and J³. These
cams lift the arms J and J. In Figure 9, J is attached to the feeding end of the
machine and in Figure 10 J5 shows the lifting arm for opening the grippers at
proper time upon the delivery board at that end of the machine.
In Figure 1 the letter K relates to an auxiliary feeding device which is here only
conventionally shown as it has been before shown and described in the Specifica-
tion of prior Patents Nos. 35875 and 1551697. K¹ is a cam arm that holds a
series of grippers K³ attached to a bar running across the machine, made to grasp
the sheet at a point of rest and to transfer it to the main feed mechanism at sub-
stantially the same speed the carrier is moving. K' designates a stop guide
against which the material is fed. The lever K2 lifts the stop guide and permits
the grippers K to close. The gear wheel 1320 has fastened upon its stud a cam
which brushes the cam arm back and forth at the proper time to carry and release
the sheet and deliver it to the main feed mechanism. I do not here present this as a
distinct feature of this improvement, as in feeding thick or unbendable material
the same might be delivered to the adjustable flexible carrier by hand motion.
In Figures 1 and 2 M designates the feed-board. M₁ designates the delivery
board to hold the material when printed. M2 designates an adjustable support
for the feed-board. M³ designates a connecting bolt to hold the feed table A'
to the side frame A.
I will now describe the operation of my machine during the printing of thick
or unbendable material. The structures seen in Figures and 2 must be joined
end to end to make the ends of the shafts and bolts meet and display the machine
in its entirety and the attaching bars must be accurately adjusted. The gripping
mechanism will then have to be made to conform to whatever material is printed
upon, either to lift very high or to tumble open, differently from what is here
shown,. in the manner well-known to constructors of printing machines. If a
fragile material like glass, sheet mica or sheets of gelatine are operated upon an
elastic gripping device may be used, different forms of grippers must be used
for different materials. The material then having been securely gripped passes
between the first printing couple C₁ an 1 D6 and as it is carried onward by the
flexible sheet carriers, it receives its first impression or color; it then continues
to pass from left to right and receives its second impression or color from the
printing couples C2 and D'; then still continuing it passes between printing

page_text: couples C3 and D8 and receives the third impression or color; then to complete
it in the complement of four impressions it passes between printing couples C4
and D and receives the fourth impression or color; still advancing it reaches
the end of the machine, the grippers are then opened by lifting the arm n²
Figure 3 and the material is deposited upon the delivery board M printed side
uppermost. Succeeding each sheet of material printed upon, follows consecutively
the other gripping mechanisms attached to the endless flexible carrier carrying
other sheets, and the first pair follows along after dropping the printed matter
to take on other sheets. In this machine three sets of gripping devices are used
and shown, though the number of gripping devices is arbitrary. By this form
of construction it will be apparent that the material does not have to bend while
being printed upon. In printing tin plates or glass an elastic plate made from the
original whatever it may be, either electro, stereo or wood cut is used, such as a
hard composition of glue, glycerine and sugar syrup, a composition much like
that used in making printer's inking rolls, but much harder. The elastic plates
may be made of india rubber, gutta percha, or any suitable elastic substances
well known to those practicing this branch of the printing art.
I will now describe the operation of printing upon thin or ordinary paper, or
other flexible material when the material is only partially finished at one passage
through the machine and alternately passed through the machine a second time
to complete the full complement of impressions or colors at the second revolution
or cycle of the endless flexible carrier bands. A sheet of paper is presented to
the stop guide K and the ordinary feeding device K¹, K2, K³ is operated to take
the sheet at a point of rest and deliver it to the gripping devices attached to the
endless flexible carriers H at substantially the same speed as the main carriers.
(See Patent No. 358795). As the sheet progresses it passes between C¹ and Du
and C and D7; the cylinders D6 and D7 having been lifted to secure impression,,
it then travels towards the other printing couples, but is straightened out by pass-
ing under the springs F5 that press upon the spider wheels F3. On arriving at
cylinders D and D they are withdrawn from contact by lifting arms E5 and do
not print and the material now passes on around the end wheels G and is carried
along the track H8 until it begins again another cycle through the machine..
When the material reaches the cylinders D and then 17 they are withdrawn from
printing contact and the material passes along without being printed receiving
tension by passing under the springs F5 pressing upon sheave wheels F3. The
material now reaches in turn cylinders Ds and D9 and is here printed upon the
second time in two impressions or colors; making in all four impressions in two
passages through the machine. It then reaches the end of the machine and is
dropped upon the delivery board printel side uppermost. Each set of grippers
acts independently of each other though all are attached to the main carriers and
each carries out its proper function as before described. I have here shown one
specific way of printing upon the sheet in four revolutions of the impression cylin-
ders, but the sheet may be first printed upon by clinders D and C¹ and not receive
another impression until it reaches cylinders D and C and then at the other
cycle of the carrier print again at cylinders D7 and C2 and then to finisli to
print at cylinders 18 and C2. Any modification when to print any certain color
can be made by adjusting the cams E on the lifting shaft E. In printing by.
alternating the sheet twice through the machine, each of the printing cylinders
makes four revolutions; this enables the form rollers to be four times distributed
and also to roll the form completely four times. The impression cylinders which
are one-half the diameter of the printing cylinders and provided with suitable
openings to allow the different sets of grippers to pass through will make con-
sequently eight revolutions.
I will now explain a necessary feature of my improvement in driving the
machine with a horizontal shaft which should be very rigid and stiff. A suitable
pitch and teeth to correspond must be selected for the printing cylinders, which
I preferably choose as 24 inch diameter, 5 pitch and 120 teeth. The impression

page_text: cylinders are 12 inch diameter, 5-pitch, 60 teeth. The bevel wheels B2, B3, B4, B5,
on the main shaft are one-half the diameter of the bevel wheels running through
the frame and should be multiples of each other regarding teeth and which I call
compound wheels. The flat spur gear on the ends of the compound wheels B6, B7,
B8, B, should be 4 inches diameter, 5-pitch, 20 teeth; these should correspond
with intermediate wheels B6 and B7 which mesh in with and drive the printing
cylinders C and C+. The teeth as shown in the different figures of the drawings
are merely conventional marks, which it is the purpose of this description to
clearly describe; as the necessity of making up a train of gears to make the
carrying sheaves and printing couples gear accurately together to produce correct
register of the design is very important, as it will require a pitch that will permit
of multiples in all the driving parts, as described. Any pitch may be used and
any circumference of printing cylinders may be chosen provided it will result
in dividing the teeth in each part into multiples without the use of odd or hunt-
ing teeth as is well known to skilled engineers.
The wheels B18 and B19 are of twice the diameter of the driving gear B17, which
arrangement turns the shaft E once to every two revolutions of the impression
cylinders; and again when altered to alternately print the sheet in two passages
through the machine a larger wheel B2, Figure 7 is employed making one turn
to four turns of the gear B1, as shown in Figure 1, to properly lift the cams J4
and J as shown in Figures 9 and 10.
I have described my improvement as a four impression color printing machine.
But it will be evident to those skilled in the sciences of color that the two first
pairs of printing couples would produce three colors, thus: yellow on first print-
ing couple, and blue on the second printing couple, when printed upon each
other, and the inks united by pressure would produce the third color, green.
Following with red upon the third printing couple, and indigo upon the fourth.
printing couple, a color resembling black would be the result, thus producing
with four impressions six different colors. Further: if the fountains or ducts
were divided, as is often done in printing colored designs,-two colors in each
fountain, twelve distinct shades of color would be produced at one passage of the
material to be printed through the machine; and a still finer quality of work
produced by alternating and passing the material to be printed two or more times
through the machine, thus converting this machine into a four-impression, twelve-
color printing machine.
I have described the adjustable flexible carrier as made up of links provided
with hardened bushings and hardened bolts with threaded ends to screw into the
links, but the links may be provided with a hardened bushing at each end and
one in the middle as shown, and hardened bolts with recesses in them for auto-
matically lubricating the joints without screw ends, and the links may be partially
closed by hammering at each end, to prevent the bolts working out.
It will be evident that other changes may be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore reserve to
myself the right to make all such changes as come within the scope thereof.
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:-
1st. In a multicolor printing machine, suitable adjustable frames adapted to
carry and support the mechanism for two or more printing couples, said frames
being capable of being securely fastened together at any desired distance apart
from each other, by adjustable screw bolts and nuts, and an endless flexible
sheet carrier to convey the material being printed upon through the machine
without releasing it until completely printed.
2nd. In a multicolor printing machine, adjustable frames adapted to carry
and support the movements of two or more, printing couples, said frames being
provided with threaded openings to enable a series of screw bolts to be attached

page_text: o two or more frames in proper position, relative to contraction or expansion,
aid two or more frames when bolted together forming a multicolor printing
machine, and a horizontal shaft extending the length of the combined joined
rames and mechanisms to act as the propulsive member to drive the bevel wheels,
compound wheels, and all the wheels described to make a complete rotary color
printing machine, together with and in combination with endless flexible sets
of carriers to which gripper mechanisms are mounted to enable said grippers to
carry unbendable material through the machine without releasing it from the set
of grippers that gripped it.
3rd. In a multicolor printing machine, a series of adjustable' frames adapted to
carry and support the movements of two or more printing couples, said frames
being provided with threaded openings to enable the different frames to be rigidly
attached to each other in proper position by a series of screw bolts and adjustable
nuts, and a horizontal shaft extending the length of the machine to operate and
drive the combined movements situated in the frames and propel all the wheels,
cams and movements in complete harmony or synchronism with each other in
combination with a series of endless flexible bands or carriers to which are attached
a series of gripping mechanisms to carry a sheet or sheets of paper or other
flexible material through the machine to be printed upon in two or more cycles
of the flexible carrier bands, thus making an alternating multicolor printing
machine.
4th. In a multicolor printing machine, two pairs of printing couples mounted
on suitable side frames, and a horizontal shaft provided with suitable driving
wheels for, actuating the same and the other mechanism in combination with an
adjustable, endless, flexible carrier driven in proper time by suitably constructed
sheave wheels, said carrier being provided with one or more sets of grippers
and said carrier acting as a registering device for each of the printing couples,
and at the same time as a delivery or fly for delivering the material printed
side up.
5th. A combination multiple impression color printing machine designed to
print upon unbendable material in one passage through the machine and also
adapted to be altered to print one or a number of colors, in two or more passages
through the machine of flexible material said machine consisting of frames
to hold two or more printing couples, which may be joined together by adjustable
bolts, a horizontal shaft situated at right angles to the rotation of the printing
couples, means for driving all the wheels and movements necessary to operate
the machine, and mechanism for lifting and lowering the impression cylinders
to enable the printing surfaces to be distributed and inked two or more times
to produce multiple rolling of the printing surfaces as and for the purpose sub-
stantially as described.
6th. An endless flexible and adjustable sheet carrier composed of a number
of links H; joined together and provided with hardened bushings and hardened
bolts; hinged internal gear teeth H; with adjustable take-up couplings H2 and
tensioning screws H3; and gripper mechanisms attached by hinges to the endless
5 flexible and adjustable sheet carrier, in combination with driving sheaves G for
propelling the carrier, said driving sheaves being provided with suitable openings
to receive the hinged tooth blocks H' which propel said carrier and with adjust-
able tee rests to alter the pitch line of said sheave wheel G mounted on the part G¹,
the whole forming an endless adjustable sheet carrying device, that acts as a
O register for each impression, and as a fly or delivering mechanism that delivers
the material printed side uppermost, substantially as and for the purpose as
specified and described.
7th. A series of adjustable spider wheels mounted on suitable shafts and pro-
vided with depressions to allow the main adjustable, flexible, carrier H with
5 grippers to pass F3 and F7; together with tension springs arranged to bear on
said spider wheels with an adjustable pressure substantially as and for the purpose
described.

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8th. In a combination multiple impression color printing machine, means for
adapting the machine to print upon unbendable material in one passage there-
through, means for altering the machine so as to enable it to print one or a
number of colors, in two or more passages through the machine of flexible
material, a plurality of frames adapted to hold a plurality of printing couples,
adjustable devices for holding said frames in position relative to each other, a
laterally extending shaft, impression cylinders and connections from said shaft
to said cylinders for raising and lowering the latter according to requirements.
9th. In a multicolor printing machine, a plurality of adjustable fraines,
mechanism for two or more printing couples, carried by said frames, adjustable
mechanism for fastening or locking said frames at the desired distance from each
other, and an endless flexible sheet carrier for conveying the material being
printed upon through the machine without releasing it until completely printed:
10. In a multiple impression color printing machine, a series of printing
couples, a flexible adjustable carrier, having gripper mechanisms of less number
than the printing couples, said carrier being operated to convey the sheets to
be printed between the printing couples, as and for the purpose described.
11. In a multiple impression color printing machine, a series of printing
couples, a flexible, adjustable carrier having gripper mechanisms one less in num-
ber than the printing couples which carrier is operated to convey sheets to be
printed between the printing couples, as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 12th day of May 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.