Improvements in Rotary Printing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1891 -Accepted, 25th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Printing Machines.
1, JULES MICHAUD, of 96, Rue d'Assas, Paris, France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The first part of my invention relates to a rotary machine for printing in one or
several colours either on one side only or on both sides of a sheet which has been
cut before printing, and of which, the length may vary; and the second part of
such invention relates to improved means of securing engravings or blocks to the
printing cylinders of rotary printing machines generally.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a machine for printing in one colour on each
side of a sheet of paper.
Fig. 2a similar view of a machine for printing a sheet on one side only in two'
colours.
:
Fig. 3 a similar view of a machine for printing two different colours on each
side of a sheet of paper, and
Fig. 4 a similar view of a machine, for printing one colour on one side, of a sheet
of paper and four colours on the other side.
Fig. 5 is a part transverse section and part end view of a printing cylinder
showing the improved means for securing engravings or blocks thereon.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the printing cylinder taken through one of the
grooves therein.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation' of the cylinder.
Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the rules or bars for holding the blocks.
Fig. 9 is a part transverse section and part end view of a printing cylinder
showing the means for holding the engravings or blocks in the direction at right
angles to the axis of the cylinder.
Fig. 10 is a part longitudinal section and part side elevation of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a vertical section and Fig. 12. a plan view of an arrangement for
permitting a slight displacement of circles or rules which are secured to printing
cylinders.
In Fig. 1 the paper coming from the reel 1 is fed by the rollers 2 and 3, then
cut to the desired length by the cylinders 4 and 5. A set of tapes (not shown),
carries the cut sheet forward. and it is then seized by a cylinder 6 and by it trans-
mitted to the blanket or impression cylinder 7. The sheet may pass directly to
the cylinder 7 without first passing to cylinder 6, as I have indicated on account of
the particular form of machine: further, the sheet might be fed directly to the
impression cylinders by hand. Cylinder 7 having seized the sheet by means of the
grippers with which it is provided, carries same and prints it by coming in contact
with the printing cylinder 8, then transmits it to the grippers of the blanket or
impression cylinder 9. This cylinder in its turn carries the sheet and prints it on'
the other side upon printing cylinder 10, and then delivers it to the grippers of
cylinder 11. Cylinder 11 may be an accumulating cylinder, upon which a given
number of printed sheets will be superposed and then directed to the delivery
apparatus 12; or such cylinder 11 may transmit the sheets to a folder and itself
serve to impart the first fold thereto.
The cylinders 7 and 9 are of double the diameter of the printing cylinders 8
and 10, and the latter make two revolutions for each revolution of the cylinders 7
and 9. One half of the development of each of the cylinders 7 and 9 is eccentric
P

page_text: to the other half, so that during their second rotation the cylinders S and 10 do not
touch same, whereby the cylinders S and 10, are inked twice by the inkers 13
before coming in contact with the sheet to be printed:
This arrangement has for its object to enable, by reason of the large diameter
of the cylinders 7 and 9; the making ready-of the blanket or impression cylinders to
be effected with more ease, and also to have a more perfect inking of the cylinders 8
and 10, which are inked twice by the rollers 13 for the printing of one sheet,
whereas in ordinary machines they are only inked once.
In Fig. 2 the paper is conveyed to the blanket or impression cylinder 14, seized
by the grippers thereof and is printed in succession by the cylinders 15 and 16,
then seized by the 'grippers of cylinder 17, which conveys it to the delivery
apparatus or to the folder.
'
I may make the diameter of cylinder 14 double, triple, quadruple, etc., that of
the cylinders 15 and 16; I may also increase the number of printing cylinders.
according to the number of colours it is required 'to print; the greater multiple
the diameter of the blanket or impression cylinder is of that of the printing
cylinders, the greater number of revolutions. the latter will make for the printing of
a single sheet, and the more perfect will the inking be.
In Fig. 3 cylinder 18 prints one of the sides by contact with the printing cylinders 19
and 20, and cylinder 21 prints. the other side by contact with the cylinders 22
and 23.
In Fig. 4 cylinder 24 prints one side by contact with the printing cylinder 25,
and cylinder 26 prints the other side by contact with the printing cylinders 27, 28,
29, and 30; the cylinder 31 conveys the sheet to the delivery apparatus or to the
folder; the diameter of cylinder 26 is equal to three times, that, of the printing
cylinders, but I may make some larger or smaller according to requirements, and I
may further increase the number of printing cylinders, as well as arranging, more
than one in contact with cylinder 24..
“
Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 show the improved arrangement for enabling
blocks of any dimensions to be fixed to the printing cylinders, the sizes of engravings
or prints introduced in a book generally varying very considerably.
The printing cylinder is provided throughout its length with a certain number
of grooves 1, preferably of dovetail form and parallel to the axis of the cylinder,
same being shown in Figs. 5 and 7.
In these grooves 1 clamps 3 and 4 and rules or bars 5 can slide, the grooves.
being widened out at their extremities 2 so as to enable such clamps and rules or
bars to be introduced..
A
The clamp 4 being first introduced is brought to bear against a stop 6, the
position of which in the groove may vary according to the position of the opening 6
in which it is screwed. The position of the clamp 4 is regulated by means of the 4
screw it carries, and the block which bears against the clamp is supported above
the groove by the rules or bars. 5 of varying lengths which slide in this groove.
second clamp holds the block at its other end. Other rules or bars 5 are then
slid into the groove, and upon the last one a screw 7 working through a circle or
ring S secured to the end of the cylinder is brought to bear: a ring 8 is provided at 4
each end of the cylinder. These rings carry as many screws 7 as there are dove-
tailed grooves 1.
To hold the blocks in the other direction I have thought of making slots in the
end rings in which slide bolts fixed to the rules or bars 10, so that I can cause a
rule or bar 10 to bear upon the right and left side of the block and thereby hold it: 5
if the blocks have bevelled edges in this direction the rules or bars may be corre-
spondingly bevelled, as shown at 10 in Fig. 5.
Figs. 9 and 10 show another arrangement for fixing the blocks in the same
direction as last described. The cylinder is provided with circular grooves 11 which
may be dovetailed, or their upper part may be contracted by rings 12 applied 5
thereto so as to hold the clamps 13 and 15, which can slide in the grooves after
being introduced through an enlargement 14, These clamps are employed and,

page_text: adjusted in the same way as those placed in the longitudinal grooves of the
cylinder.
I may also slide segments of circles in the groove 11 under the blocks, so as to
prevent the latter from sinking in the groove.
In the case where circles or rules corresponding to given sizes are fixed to the
printing cylinder, same cannot be moved in machines as hitherto constructed. But
in order to obtain an exact register or guide it is advisable to be able to slightly
displace such circles or rules.
Figs. 11 and 12 show in section and in plan an arrangement have invented for
this purpose; 20 is a section of a circle or rule; 21 a washer of which the bore is
eccentric; 22 is a binding screw engaging the cylinder. It will be seen that by
slightly slackening the screw 22, and turning the washer 21, the circle or rule 20
may be caused to advance or recede, and then be fixed in the desired position by
retightening the screw 22.
Dated this 9th day of October 1890.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Printing Machines.
I, JULES MICHAUD, of 96, Rue d'Assas, Paris, France, 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 first part of my invention relates to a rotary machine for printing in one or
several colours either on one side only or on both sides of a sheet which has been
cut before printing, and of which the length may vary; and the second part of
such invention relates to improved means of securing engravings or blocks to the
printing cylinders of rotary printing machines generally.
In the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a machine for printing in one colour on each
side of a sheet of paper.
Fig. 2 a similar view of a machine for printing a sheet on one side only in two
colours.
Fig. 3 a similar view of a machine for printing two different colours on each side
of a sheet of paper, and
Fig. 4a similar view of a machine for printing one colour on one side of a sheet
of paper and four colours on the other side.
Fig. 5 is a part transverse section and part end view of a printing cylinder
showing the improved means for securing engravings or blocks thereon.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the printing cylinder taken through one of the
grooves therein.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the cylinder.
Fig. S is a detail view of one of the rules or bars for holding the blocks.
Fig. 9 is a part transverse section and part end view of a printing cylinder
showing the means for holding the engravings or blocks in the direction at right
angles to the axis of the cylinder.
Fig. 10 is a part longitudinal section and part side elevation of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a vertical section and Fig. 12 a plan view of an arrangement for per-
mitting a slight displacement of circles or rules which are secured to printing
cylinders.
In Fig. 1 the paper coming from the reel 1 is fed by the rollers 2 and 3, then
cut to the desired length by the cylinders 4 and 5. A set of tapes (not shown)
carries the cut sheet forward, and it is then seized by a cylinder 6 and by it trans-
mitted to the blanket or impression cylinder 7. The sheet may pass directly to the
eylinder 7 without first passing to cylinder 6, as I have indicated on account of the

page_text: particular form of machine; further, the sheet might be fed directly to the im-
pression cylinder by hand. Cylinder 7 having seized the sheet by means of the
grippers with which it is provided, carries same and prints it by coming in contact
with the printing cylinder S, then transmits it to the grippers of the blanket or
impression cylinder 9. This cylinder in its turn carries the sheet and prints it on
the other side upon printing cylinder 10, and then delivers it to the grippers of
cylinder 11. Cylinder 11 may be an accumulating cylinder, upon which a given
number of printed sheets will be superposed and then directed to the delivery
apparatus 12 or such cylinder 11 may transmit the sheets to a folder and itself
serve to impart the first fold thereto.
The cylinders 7 and 9 are of double the diameter of the printing cylinders S
and 10, and the latter make two revolutions for each revolution of the cylinders 7
and 9. One half of the development of each of the cylinders 7 and 9 is eccentric
to the other half, so that during their second rotation the cylinders 8 and 10 do not
touch same, whereby the cylinders S and 10 are inked twice by the inkers 13 before
coming in contact with the sheet to be printed.
This arrangement has for its object to enable, by reason of the large diameter
of the cylinders 7 and 9, the making ready of the blanket or impression cylinders
to be effected with more ease, and also to have a more perfect inking of the
cylinders S and 10, which are inked twice by the rollers 13 for the printing of onc
sheet, whereas in ordinary machines they are only inked once.
In Fig. 2 the paper is conveyed to the blanket or impression cylinder 14, seized
by the grippers thereof and is printed in succession by the cylinders 15 and 16,
then seized by the grippers of cylinder 17, which conveys it to the delivery
apparatus or to the folder.
I may make the diameter of cylinder 14 double, triple, quadruple, etc., that of
the cylinders 15 and 16; 'I may also increase the number of printing cylinders
according to the number of colours it is required to print; the greater multiple
the diameter of the blanket or impression cylinder is of that of the printing
cylinders, the greater number of revolutions the latter will make for the printing
of a single sheet, and the more perfect will the inking be.
In Fig. 3 cylinder 18 prints one of the sides by contact with the printing
cylinders 19 and 20, and cylinder 21 prints the other side by contact with the
cylinders 22 and 23.
In Fig. 4 cylinder 24 prints one side by contact with the printing cylinder 25,
and cylinder 26 prints the other side by contact with the printing cylinders 27, 28,
29 and 30; the cylinder 31 couveys the sheet to the delivery apparatus or to the
folder the diameter of cylinder 20 is equal to three times that of the printing
cylinders, but I may make same larger or smaller according to requirements, and I
may further increase the number of printing cylinders, as well as arranging more
than one in contact with cylinder 24.
In the different arrangements of machines shown in the drawings. and above
described, the blanket cylinders have a diameter which is a multiple of that of
the printing cylinders. These blanket cylinders are only shown as having a single
set of grippers, but I may, however, when the work requires less perfect inking
and a more rapid output, employ several sets of grippers on the blanket cylinders,
so as to be able to utilize the whole or any portion of their surface.
In the case of the machine shown in Fig. 1, for example, the cylinder 7 and 9
would have two sets of grippers so as to be able to seize and print a sheet for each
rotation of the printing cylinders 8 and 10; the same remarks apply to the
machines shown in the other figures of the drawings above described.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 show the improved arrangement for enabling
blocks of any dimensions to be fixed to the printing cylinders, the sizes of engravings
or prints introduced in a book generally varying very considerably.
The printing cylinder is provided throughout its length with a certain number
of grooves 1, preferably of dovetail form and parallel to the axis of the cylinder,
same being shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

page_text: In these grooves 1 clamps 3 and 4 and rules or bars 5 can slide, the grooves being
widened out at their extremities 2 so as to enable such clamps and rules or bars to
be introduced.
The clamp 4 being first introduced is brought to bear against a stop 6, the position
of which in the groove may vary according to the position of the opening Gin
which it is screwed. The position of the clamp 4 is regulated by means of the
screw it carries, and the block which bears against the clamp is supported above
the groove by the rules or bars 5 of varying lengths which slide in this groove. A
second clamp 3 holds the block at its other end. Other rules or bars 5 aro then
slid into the groove, and upon the last one a screw 7 working through a circle or
ring S secured to the end of the cylinder is brought to bear; a ring S is provided
at each end of the cylinder. These rings carry as many screws 7 as there are
dovetailed grooves 1.
To hold the blocks in the other direction I have thought of making slots in the
end rings in which slide bolts fixed to the rules or bars 10, so that I can cause a
rule or bar 10 to bear upon the right and left side of the block and thereby hold
it; if the blocks have bevelled edges in this direction the rules or bars may be
correspondingly bevelled, as shown at 101 in Fig. 5.
Figs. 9 and 10 show another arrangement for fixing the blocks in the same
direction as last described. The cylinder is provided with circular grooves 11
which may be dovetailed, or their upper part may be contracted by rings 12 applied
thereto so as to hold the clamps 13 and 15, which can slide in the grooves after
being introduced through an enlargement 14. These clamps are employed and
adjusted in the same way as those placed in the longitudinal grooves of the
cylinder.
I may also slide segments of circles in the groove 11 under the blocks, so as to
prevent the latter from sinking in the groove.
In the case where circles or rules corresponding to given sizes are fixed to the
printing cylinder, same cannot be moved in machines as hitherto constructed. But
in order to obtain an exact register or guide it is advisable to be able to slightly
displace such circles or rules. Figs. 11 and 12 show in section and in plan an
arrangement I have invented for this purpose; 20 is a section of a circle or rule;
21 a washer of which the bore is eccentric; 22 is a binding screw engaging the
cylinder. It will be seen that by slightly slackening the screw 22, and turning
the washer 21, the circle or rule 20 may be caused to advance or recede, and then
be fixed in the desired position by retightening the screw 22.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a hand fed or a web rotary machine for printing one side only of sheets of
paper which have been cut to the desired length before being printed, the combi-
nation of one or several printing cylinders with a blanket cylinder of which the
diameter is a multiple of that of such printing cylinders, so that the blanket
cylinder is left well exposed in order to facilitate making ready, and so that the
printing cylinders, which make as many revolutions for each one of the blanket
cylinder as the latter is larger in diameter than such printing cylinders, will be
inked a corresponding number of times for the impression of each sheet, sub-
stantially as described and shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
2. In a hand fed or a web rotary printing machine the combination of one or
moro printing cylinders with a single blanket cylinder carrying as many sets of
grippers to seize the sheets as the number of revolutions the printing cylinders
make for cach rotation of the blanket cylinder, for the purpose of increasing the
output, substantially as specified.
3. In a hand fed or a web rotary machine for printing on both side of sheets of
paper which have been cut before being printed, the combination of two blanket
cylinders with two printing cylinder, of onc-half, one-third, one-quarter, or other

page_text: single fractional part the diameter of the blanket cylinders, the blanket cylinders
carrying either a single set of grippers or as many sets as the number of revolutions
the printing cylinders make for each rotation of the blanket cylinders, substantially
as specified.
4. In a rotary perfecting either hand fed or web printing machine, the combi-
nation of two blanket or impression cylinders with four printing cylinders, each
blanket eylinder being in contact with two printing cylinders, and their diameter
being two, three, or more times that of the printing cylinders, the blanket cylinders
carrying either a single set of grippers or as many sets as the number of revolutions
the printing cylinders make for each rotation of the blanket cylinders, substantially
as described.
5. In a rotary perfecting either hand fed or web printing machine, the combi-
nation of two blanket or impression cylinders with a number of printing cylinders,
a part of the latter being in contact with one blanket cylinder and the remainder
in contact with the other, the diameter of the blanket cylinders being a multiple
of that of the printing cylinders so as to permit of having always one part of the
blanket cylinders exposed or open for effecting the making ready, and also to ensure
more efficient inking, each of the printing cylinders being inked two or more times
for the impression of one sheet, substantially as specified.
6. In a rotary perfecting either hand fed or web printing machine, the combi-
nation of two blanket or impression cylinders with a number of printing cylinders,
a part of the latter being in contact with one blanket cylinder and the remainder in
contact with the other, the diameter of the blanket cylinders being a multiple of
that of the printing cylinders so as to permit of having always one part of the
blanket cylinders exposed or open for effecting the making ready, these blanket
gylinders carrying either a single set of grippers, or (when it is desired to increase
the output and it is not requisite to ink the printing cylinders several times) as
many sets of grippers as the number of revolutions the printing cylinders make
for each rotation of the blanket cylinders, substantially as specified.
7. The arrangement of block carrying cylinder described, which arrangement is
applicable to all rotary printing machines.
8. The method of attaching circles and rules to block cylinders of printing
machines as described, so as to enable them to be slightly displaced when
necessary.
This 15th Jove of Tune 1901