Improvements in and relating to Colour Printing and other Printing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1896
IDIONAL DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Colour Printing and other
Printing Machines.
I, JULES MEYRUEIS, of 189 Boulevard Saint-Germain Paris in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to machinery for printing which may be used for printing
in one or different colours on one or both sides of the paper, and for cutting off the
printed sheets when a continuous roll of paper is used for the paper feed, and
stacking said sheets.
The machine is made in a suitable number of superposed stories according to the
number of colour or other impressions to be given to the paper. Each of these
stories comprises a printing cylinder, a pressure cylinder an inking train and adjust-
ment mechanism for these several parts. The printing cylinder carries the stereo-
types in the usual way and its diameter depends on the length of the impression.
It is carried in bearing blocks adjustable horizontally along the bed or frame of
that story of the machine. The pressure cylinder is parallel with the printing
cylinder and is also supported in bearing adjustable along the bed or frame, screw
adjustments being provided for causing the pressure cylinder to bear with the
requisite pressure against the printing cylinder. The inking train is likewise
adjustable to and from the printing cylinder and consists of any suitable ink
trough whence the ink or colour is carried by rollers to other rollers having
end wise movement, and from them to other rollers in contact with the printing
cylinder. From this arrangement of printing, and pressure cylinders and the
inking train, the whole printing mechanism of each story is adjustable to right or
left and thus the distance from the pressure line of any story to the pressure line
of the next is capable of alteration and adjustment. The printing cylinders, one
above the other are driven from the main shaft by a train of spur wheels, alternately
on the cylinder shafts and on idle shafts between them. The cylinders thus turn
in the same direction, but by replacement of any one of the intermediate gear
wheels by two gear wheels the direction of motion of the following printing
cylinders may be reversed for instance when some of the cylinders are to print
on the one side of the paper and the others on the reverse of the paper, the latter
being correspondingly led through the machine.
The exact registering of the several impressions may be provided for by stretching
rollers. The main shaft also drives through a suitable gear train a rotary shaft
carrying a knife which once in each revolution comes in contact with a stationary
knife and thus cuts off the paper passing between the knives. Below these knives
is a rocking arm or frame that throws down the cut off sheets alternately to the
right and left. Bearings are placed at different parts of the machine for receiving
the paper roll the position of which will vary according to number of colours to be
printed and whether on the one or both sides of the paper. When the paper has
been printed on one side, and is then to be printed on the other side, to avoid
soiling the pressure roller or rollers over which it will pass during the printing of the
reverse and to prevent blurring of the printing on the obverse, a roll of guard paper

page_text: may be fed from a drum around said pressure roller or rollers and be rolled up upon
another drum.
Dated this 5th day of December 1895
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Colour Printing and other
Printing Machines.
JULES MEYRUEIS of 189 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to machinery for printing which may be used for printing
in one or different colors on one or both sides of the paper; when a continuous roll
of paper is used for the paper feed and for cutting off or severing the printed
sheets and stacking the said sheets.
The general object of this invention is to provide a machine in which a variety of
printing may be effected and in which when printing in colors is to be performed a
true register of the different colors may be produced without delay or difficulty and
correctly retained throughout the process of printing. In order to obtain this
result the invention comprises the method or means whereby all parts of the
continuous roll of paper (which I hereafter term the "web") remain constantly
subject, so far as possible to uniform conditions of strain, tension, pressure, and
resistance.
This cannot be the case where the lengths, directions and modes of pressure
upon the paper vary substantially in the course of travel of the web from one
printing cylinder to another, and the essential principle of this method consists in
the obviating of the difficulties arising from unequal and varying resistances and
pressures by means of the symmetrical disposition of every part of the machine
which arises from the nature of its construction as hereinafter more particularly
described, as a consequence of the symmetrical disposition of the parts of the
machine, the web of paper also in its course of travel remains subject to constantly
symmetrical conditions both as regards the various lengths of unsupported travel
and as regards the degrees of strain and pressure incident to the direction or manner
in which the continuous web approaches and recedes from each separate printing
cylinder until the printing on one side is completed, after which the web is again
subject to symmetrical and equal tension during the printing on the other side. A
difficulty in continuing to retain a correct register arises from the cumulative effect
of irregularities in working when the machine contains a diversity or a complication
of mechanical parts. By my present invention have also reduced the number
the complication and the diversity of the mechanical parts to a minimum and I
have thus in addition to attaining the principal object of a correct register,
succeeded in devising a machine which can be constructed with great precision at
a comparatively small cost and which for the same reasons can be worked at
much greater speed and with much less expense in labour and material than is
usual.
Partly in consequence of the symmetrical disposition invented I am able to
arrange the cylinders, the stretching rollers and other principal adjustable parts of
the machine in such a manner that they are readily accessible and easily adjusted
even while the machine is in actual operation.
The accompanying drawings illustrate so far as will be necessary for those

page_text: ս
aving a capacity or colors.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the upper part of the whole machine. Fig. 2 is a
similar elevation of the lower part.
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the printing cylinder.
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on line 4-4 Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5-5 Fig. 2. Figs. 3 to 5 being on a
larger scale.
Figs. 6. 7. 8 and 9 illustrate diagrammatically arrangements for varying the travel
of the web hereinafter referred to.
The machine shown in the drawing comprises a base plate continued upwards on
on each side in the form of columns which carry the cross-frames of the stories
marked I. II. III. IV. V.
Each frame essentially comprises two rebated beams T on which slide the
supports S S S² of the printing cylinders B, of the pressure cylinders A and of the
inking train. Each of these superposed frames with the gear. upon it furnishes
the impression of one color the number of superposed frames being equal to that of
the colors to be printed.
Between the stories are guides carrying the stretching rollers of which there are
usually two for each story namely G and H.
Each story is similar to the next and consequently all the printing cylinders are
in one plane, all the pressure cylinders in another plane and the corresponding
stretching rollers are in another plane or planes (that is to say approximately
in such planes allowing for adjustment), the planes being parallel to one
another.
As an example showing the comparatively small size of the machine it will be
seen that in a machine having printing cylinders of 2 feet in circumference capable
of being replaced by cylinders with a circumference of 3 feet, the dimensions of the
printing machine (excluding that is, the cutting and laying contrivances) would
scarcely exceed 6 feet in height by 5 feet in width with a depth of about 3 feet.
The greatest stretch of unsupported web in its travel from one cylinder to another
while being printed on one side would scarcely amount to half a foot, and the
approach of the web to the pressure cylinder and its recession therefrom are in
such a direction that the pressure cylinder exerts a speed regulating pressure upon
it over two thirds or thereabouts of its circumference.
Each printing cylinder B formed of a cylindrical piece of wood or metal on
which the stereotypes are fixed is mounted on its axle b by means of screw-threaded
plates to permit of its replacement rotary adjustment and displacement along its
axis.
The pressure cylinder A which carries the paper and brings it in contact with
the printing cylinder B is also mounted on a screw-threaded axle a by means of
screw-threaded plates in order that it also may be adjusted in like mauner so
that the contact of the same points of the circumference of cylinders A and B may
be assured.
The base of each support S overlaps the edge of the beam T being inclined
inwards thereunder on one side to engage under the dove-tailed top of the beam
and spaced at the other side to receive between it and the side of the beam a
wedge W. A similar construction provides for the guiding of the supports S¹ and S²
on the beam and set screws W₁ are provided for wedging the supports securely
and firmly when they have been adjusted to the positions desired. The supports S¹
and S2 are adjusted by means of screws by means of which they may be respectively
caused to approach or recede from the supports S so as to cause the requisite
pressure between the pressure cylinders on the one hand and between the inking
train and the printing cylinder on the other hand. These screws v v¹ respectively
are jourualled in opposite ends of the beams T which are hollow and have at
suitable places siots cut in their upper faces through which project lugs on the
under sides of the supports S¹ S² having screw threaded holes for passage and

page_text: engagement of the screws vv. The exterior ends of the screws v v¹ end in square
heads on which cranks or hand wheels may be fitted.
It will be seen that in the case of a slight defect occurring in the registering
of any cylinder a correction may immediately be made without stopping the
machine by the adjustment either of the pressure cylinder or of one or both of the
stretching rollers.
The course of the travel of the web is also capable of modification by the
omission of the use of the lower set of stretching rollers in cases when owing to
the fineness of the paper, it may be desirable to reduce its manipulation to a
minimum.
I may use any convenient inking train that illustrated in the drawing comprises
an ink trough m feeding by means of the roller I¹ the rocking roller E which
transfers the ink to the roller E² whence it passes to E³ to E to the cylindrical
table C, having reciprocating endwise movement and thence to rollers E³ E,
rollers E' Es and from there to the rollers D1 D2 D3 which have contact with the
cylinder B.
The following is the gear by which the printing cylinders and adjacent parts
are connected. The axle 6 of the cylinder B carries a gear wheel y which meshes
with a gear wheel y¹ on the shaft of cylinder A. This pair of gear wheels is
replaceable by wheels of other size corresponding to the cylinders when the latter
are changed. The gear wheel y is driven by power as hereinafter described. On
shaft 6 is also a spur wheel y10 geared by chain y² with a wheel y³ on the axle c of
the table C and on the said axle is also a wheel y geared by chain y³ to wheel y
on the shaft 2 the latter carrying also a spur wheel gearing with a spur wheel i³
on the shaft of roller I¹.
When the printing cylinder B is driven in the reverse direction for the purpose
hereinafter described it is necessary that the roller I should not be reversed; on
the other end of the shaft c of table C is placed another wheel y which may be
geared by chain y direct to another wheel y on the shaft i of roller I¹ this chain
being brought into operation while the chain y is taken off or put out of operation
in order that means may be afforded for revolving the roller 1 in the same direction
whichever be the direction of rotation of the cylinder B. The bearings of
rollers E E E are adjustable in slides.
The bearings or trunnions of rollers D¹ D3 are mounted in arms d¹ d² pivoted
at e to the frame and having curved slots 2 through which pass set screws d³.
The trunnions of roller Ds are mounted in sliding bars d having each a slot d³
traversed by a set screw d³.
By this construction the rollers D1 D2 D3 may be adapted to cylinders B of
different characters.
Endwise movement may be given to the table c by a drunken disc d³ on the
shaft a² engaging between studs provided with antifriction rollers or by means of a
drum with helicoidal slot engaging a fixed stud in the known manner or in a
modified construction shown in Fig. 5 the upper roller E' may be moved by the
disk d³ and the grooved drum at. The rocking roller E is carried by arms E*
against which press springs tending to press the roller E against the roller 1¹. On
the shaft of the roller 1' is a cam formed of two leaves of similar radius and
adapted to be adjusted to more or less cover one another so as to form in effect a
single cam adjustable in the length of the arc of its greatest radius. The cam
meets the stud Et on the arm E2 and pressing the the roller E into contact with the
roller E2 for a period corresponding to the length of the aforesaid arc.
Such are the details as applicable to the inking mechanism shown in the
drawing but if other inking mechanism is used the gear will be correspondingly
altered.
To gear each tier with that above so that the direction of movement may be
similar or reversed there is provided on the side of the beam T a bar F2 adapted to
slide with the axis of its length midway between the axes of the cylinders B B of
the two tiers and be secured by set screws or bolts ƒ ƒ² in slots ƒ³.

page_text: This sliding bar F2 carries gudgeons f³ƒ³ ƒ on which revolve wheels f³ ƒ³ ƒ'
the wheels and fe meshing with each other. The wheel f" and the pair of
wheels fare so proportioned to the space between wheels y y and they are
so spaced from each other and arranged to the one and other side respectively of
the plane of the axes of wheels y y that by a movement of the bar F in the
one or other direction the wheel ' engages with the two wheels y y or the
wheels ff engage respectively with the two wheels y y. In the former case
the wheels y y will rotate in similar direction. In the latter case they will rotate
in contrary directions, the surface velocity being equal so long as wheels y y are
equal and wheel / equal to wheel ƒ. To provide for accurate adjustment of this
gearing when the wheel axes b bare not in the same vertical plane the set bolts ff
may pass also through vertical slots in the beams T or in adjuncts thereof which in
addition to the horizontal slots f' in the bar F' will provide for limited universal
adjustment in the vertical plane of the bar F2.
The lowermost printing cylinder B is driven from the main shaft J through spur
wheels y and spur wheel z on the shaft J. The shaft J also carries a spur
wheel gearing with the wheel J journalled in a movable arm J' pivoted at J
to the beam T and adapted to be fixed in either of two positions in one of which
the wheel J engages with a smaller spur wheel J' on the shaft J and in the other
position the wheel J' engage with wheel J of twice the diameter of wheel J'.
The shaft Je carries a helical knife K and the proportion of the above mentioned
gearing is such that when the wheels J and J are in engagement the knife
shaft J makes one revolution for each revolution of the printing cylinders.
When the wheels J' and J* are in engagement the knife shaft Ja makes two
revolutions for each revolution of the printing cylinders. On the support S' is
mounted an adjustable stationary knife L forming with the knife K shears by
which the printed paper passing between the knives will be cut into separate
sheets.
In the vertical plane above the shearing line meet two guide rollers J10 J10
between which the web of paper passes and above one of these rollers is a third
roller Jaround which the web passes from beneath the stretching roller G. The
guide rollers J1 J10 are driven by means of gear from the main shaft J.
In the vertical plane close under the shearing line meet the narrow rollers m¹ m²
and below near the shaft of the laying bars meet two other rollers m² m². Around
the rollers ml m¹ passes an endless riband m³ and a similar riband m* passes round
the rollers m² m².
These two endless ribands are stretched by rollers m² m². A similar set of
rollers is arranged on each side of the machine each set being carried by a plate m®
mounted in a sliding bar or bars m' to permit of adjusting the two sets of rollers
nearer to or further from each other according to the width of the paper the edges
of which are held and drawn downward between said ribands.
In the base of the machine is the shaft r of the layer R.
This shaft is screw-threaded and on it are run the nuts ² which hold pressed
between them the bosses of the bars r. These bars extend radially from the
shaft e and to the latter is given a rocking movement through 180° or thereabouts
by which the bars are caused to take the sheets of paper cut off by the knives
alternately from the one side and the other and deposit them alternately to the
right and left.
By thus placing the layer immediately below the knives the paper passes directly
to the layer and no intervening carrying mechanism is required; thus reducing
expense. By depositing the sheets in two heaps the layer has ample time to
return from its lower position on either side while the next following sheet is
descending so that rapid and jerky movement of this part of the mechanism
is avoided enabling the machine to be run at a quicker rate and with greater
steadiness than would be the case if the layer arms had to make a quick return
movement to pass to the further side of the next sheet of paper before it
descends.

page_text: An adjustable ledge 15 permits of the layer receiving sheets shorter than its
full length.
207
On the end of the shaft is a gear wheel or sector R2 with which meshes a large
wheel or sector R³ having on it an exentrically placed wrist-pin embraced by the
end of the connecting rod by which oscillating movement is given to the sector R².
The position of the bearings of the stretching rollers is adjustable in such a
manner that the distance traversed by the web in passing about any one of them
may be lengthened or shortened. This may be done in various ways but it is
preferable that similar means should be used for adjusting all the rollers G and
similar means also used for adjusting all the rollers H although the one means
may be different from the other. Thus the bearing g of the roller G may be
adjustable horizontally in the plate h² of bracket h by means of screw and
hand wheel h³. The bearing g of roller H may be adjusted vertically in the
guide 20 by means of the screw ³ and hand wheel h.
At suitable places on the framework are bearings for the trunnions of the paper
roll, or of the set off roll or rolls; these are indicated by M M2 M3 M4 M5 M³.
At the upper ends of the columns C and C2 are rollers 2 3 x¹.
At each end of each story are also bearings (not shown) for the reception of
the trunnions of rollers hereinafter referred to, such as S3 S4 which may be shifted
to different stories of the machine as required.
I will now describe with the assistance of Fig. 1 and of the diagrammatic views
shown in Figs. 6 to 9 how the paper may be printed on one or both sides.
As an example a five color machine is shown and Fig. 1 illustrates the method
of printing all five colors on one and the same side of the paper.
Fig. 6 shows the method of printing four colors on the one side and one on
the other.
Fig: 7 shows the arrangement for three colors on the one side and two on the
other.
Figs. 8 and 9 show two methods of printing and rewinding two separate sheets
one in three colors and the other in two colors wherein set off rolls are used.
In the first example, Fig. 1, the roll is at M³ and the paper passes over
rollers and thence downwards between the printing and pressing rollers and
around the stretching rollers commencing with the uppermost tier as shown in
dotted line in Fig. 1.
In the second example Fig. 6 the paper roll is placed at M and the paper
after passing the stretching rollers xxxª³ ³ and the stretching roller G passes
upwards between the cylinders A. B. of the uppermost tier thence over a roller
at S3 back under the roller H over the pressure cylinder of the second tier and
thence over roller G of that tier and so forth downwards to be cut off or to be
rolled up at M' together with a set off paper from a roll at M².
The rotation of the cylinders A. B of the upper tier is reversed.
In the third example the paper roll is placed at M and the paper passes round
rollers G upwards between the cylinders A. B. and around the stretching rollers
of the two upper tiers, thence over rollers 2 S3 and back under the roller H over
the pressure cylinder of the third tier, thence round the stretching rollers and
pressure rollers downwards.
Where it is desirable to prevent soiling the pressure cylinders by the contact
with them of paper already printed on that side, a roll of guard paper Q called a
"set off" paper is placed in the appropriate bearing and is fed over the pressure
cylinder being either again wound or cut off with the paper.
In the fourth example shown in Fig. 8 the upper three stories are used to print in
three colors on one sheet drawn from roll at M³ and rewound at M' while the other
two stories are used for printing in two colors on another sheet drawn from roll
at M and rewound at M. At M2 and M are rolls of "set off" paper which is
wound up with the printed paper at M' and M respectively.
In the fifth example shown in Fig. 9 the upper two stories are used to print on
both sides of the sheet while the three lower stories are used to print once on one

page_text: side of the sheet and twice on the other side. The course of the paper in these-
examples will be obvious from the drawing.
In all the above given as examples only it will be noticed that so long as
successive printings are being performed on one side of the paper the angles or
curves through which the paper is turned and the distances from one to another
of the rollers carrying it are the same between the different stories and that
when the other side is to receive successive printings the said angles, curves, and
distances are again the same.
It will further be noticed that by the use of two stretching rollers G. H. for-
each story the paper when in contact with the pressure cylinder has contact
therewith for about two thirds of its circumference, and that even when one
stretching roller only is used the lateral displacement thereof from the plane.
between one printing couple and the next is such that the paper has contact.
with the pressure cylinder over nearly half the circumference of the latter..
By this means the slipping of the paper on the pressure rollers is avoided and
since the strains on the paper are the same between each printing and the next
on the same face of the paper; the tendency to slip is also avoided while the
stretching rollers are located in a most favourable position for adjustment to
secure accurate register of impressions and can be so adjusted while the machine is
running.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
In machinery for printing by successive impressions in one or more colors on.
one or both sides of a continuous web :-
1. The construction of the machine in or of a series of superposed stories or
juxtaposed parallel frames each carrying a similar series of printing devices
arranged symmetrically and at equal distances for the purposes described.
2. The construction of the machine in or of a series of superposed stories or
juxtaposed parallel frames each carrying a pressure cylinder, a printing cylinder
and an inking train, the axes of the similar parts being substantially in the same.
planes throughout the several stories together with stretching rollers so placed:
that the paper follows the same course to, in, and away from each story while
successive printing is performed on either face.
3. The construction of the machine with or of a series of stories or parallel
frames each with its printing set consisting of cylinder, pressure cylinder, and
inking train made adjustable along the bed of the story or plane and reversible
gear connecting the printing cylinders of each story so that they may revolve in
harmony with each other and with the same parts of the other devices.
4. The combination of printing cylinders pressure cylinders and stretching
rollers in such a manner as to afford equal angles, distances, and curves in the
course of the web throughout the machine for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with a series of printing couples of a rotary straight cut
knife a fixed knife and a layer, the latter being vertically placed below the knives
for the purpose of taking the sheets direct from the knives and laying them in the
manner specified.
6. The combination of a series of stories or parallel frames each with its
printing mechanism with means for holding the roll axles or the like for the
imprinted webs, the printed webs and set-off webs whereby successive printings
may be made simultaneously on two or more webs, and the latter rewound together
with or without the set-off webs.
:תני.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., Agents for Applicant..