Improvements in Printing Machines for Printing in One or More Colours.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1891--Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Printing Machines for Printing in One or More
Colours.
I, CHARLES JOSEPH VIEUXMAIRE, of No. 22 Rue Louis Blanc, Paris,
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in printing machines, more particularly
those known as "pedal" machines for printing in several colours, in which the
electrotype or forme is carried by a rising and falling arm so as to be pressed down
upon the card or paper sheet situated on a table below it. My improvements com-
prise more particularly firstly, in an arrangement whereby the framing carrying
the vertically reciprocating forme is capable of being shifted so as to bring the
forme over different parts of the card or paper; secondly, to an arrangement of
endless chain with grippers projecting to one side thereof, which holds the card or
paper and shifts it with a step-by-step motion from one forme to another when
printing in several colours; and thirdly, in spring supports for the inking rollers
whereby these are caused to exert a uniform pressure upon the inking table.
ends
The formes are attached to vertically guided rods connected at their upper
to the one arm of double ended levers, the other arm of which is connected by a
carried in
rod to a crank on the driving shaft. The axis of the said levers
bearings on two side frames which are arranged to slide between guides upon the
table of the machine, and which can be slid by rack and pinion gear so as to bring
the formes over any desired part of the paper on the front part of the table.
The said axis carrying the forme levers also carry arms extending downwards,
and having attached to their lower ends sliding rods acted upon by springs and
carrying a set of inking rollers, which by the rocking motion imparted to the arms
by the axis, are caused first to pass over the surface of inclined rotating ink discs
and then over the inking table, so as to carry the ink from the former in an evenly
distributed manner on to the latter.
The said arms also have lateral projections to which is hinge-jointed a frame
carrying another set of inking rollers which serve to convey the ink from the
inking table on to electrotype block or forme.
This pivotted frame has a tail pressed against a stop by a spring, so that the
inking rollers can adjust themselves to the surface of the forme, being guided on
their passage over the latter by small guide rollers on the frame which run in
contact with rails at the sides of the forme. An endless pitch-chain passes across
the table of the machine in the space between the inking table which chain has
projecting from the side which faces the impression table a series of gripping jaws
into which is inserted the one edge of the sheet of cardboard or paper on which
the impression is to be effected, so that as the chain is moved with a step by step
motion across the table, it carries the card or paper consecutively underneath the
several printing formes arranged side by side as described, so as to cause these to
print thereon consecutively in different colors. To the front edge of the printing
table are pivotted fingers actuated by a cam motion and levers from the driving
shaft in such manner that when the card or paper has been brought into position
for being printed upon, the fingers are brought down upon the same so as to hold it
securely during the impression.
The step-by-step motion is by preference imparted to the pitch chain, by causing
it to pass over pitch wheels on each side of the table, one of which whecis is con-
nected by a pawl and ratchet gear to a toothed pinion in gear with which is a rack
that receives a to and fro motion from the driving shaft at each impression, so that
027

page_text: one such motion is made to actuate the pitch wheel so as to cause the pitch chain
to perform the above described motion, which during the reverse movement of the
rack the pitch wheel and chain remain stationary.
After the printing of the card or paper is completed, fingers carried by a rocking
bar actuated by a cam motion are made to press upon tails on the gripping jaws, so
as to open them, and allow the card or paper to be removed.
The before mentioned revolving inclined ink discs are carried by inclined spindles
and have ratchet teeth on the periphery of their underside, into which takes a
pawl carried by a lever receiving a rocking motion from the driving shaft, so as to
impart the required step by step rotary motion to the disc.
Although the above construction of the apparatus is more particularly designed
for machines printing in several colors, yet it will be evident that the improvements
are equally applicable to machines printing only in one color.
Dated this 16th day of December 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Printing Machines for Printing in One or More
Colours.
I, CHARLES JOSEPH VIEUXMAIRE, of No. 22 Rue Louis Blanc, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in printing machines, more particularly
those known as 6 pedal "machines for printing in several colours, in which the
electrotype or forme is carried by a rising and falling arm so as to be pressed down
upon the card or paper sheet situated on a table below it. My improvements com-
prise more particularly firstly, in an arrangement whereby the framing carrying
the vertically reciprocating forme is capable of being shifted so as to bring the
forme over different parts of the card or paper, secondly, to an arrangement of
endless chain with grippers projecting to one side thereof, which holds the card or
paper and shifts it with a step by step motion from one forme to another when
printing in several colours; and thirdly, in spring supports for the inking rollers
whereby these are caused to exert a uniform pressure upon the inking table.
The formes are attached to vertically guided rods connected at their upper ends
to the one arm of double ended levers, the other arm of which is connected by a
rod to a crank on the driving shaft. The axis of the said levers is carried in
bearings on two side frames which are arranged to slide between guides upon the
table of the machine, and which can be slid by rack and pinion gear so as to bring
the forme over any desired part of the paper on the front part of the table.
The said axis carrying the forme levers also carry arms extending downwards,
and having attached to their lower ends sliding rods acted upon by springs and
carrying a set of inking rollers, which by the rocking motion imparted to the arms
of the axis, are caused first to pass over the surface of inclined rotating ink dises
and then over the inking table, so as to carry the ink from the former in an evenly
distributed manner on to the latter.
The said arms also have lateral projections to which is hinge-jointed a frame
carrying another set of inking rollers which serve to convey the ink from the
inking table on to electrotype block or forme.
This pivotted frame has a tail pressed against a stop by a spring, so that the
inking rollers can adjust themselves to the surface of the forme, being guided on
their passage over the latter by small guide rollers on the frame which run in
contact with rails at the sides of the forme. An endless pitch-chain passes across
the table of the machine in the space between the inking table which chain has

page_text: projecting from the side which faces the impression table a series of gripping jaws
into which is inserted the one edge of the sheet of cardboard or paper on which
the impression is to be effected, so that as the chain is moved with a step by step
motion across the table, it carries the card or paper consecutively underneath
the several printing formes arranged side by side as described, so as to cause these
to print thereon consecutively in different colors. To the front edge of the print-
ing table are pivotted fingers actuated by a cam motion and levers from the driving
shaft in such manner that when the card or paper has been brought into position
for being printed upon, the fingers are brought down upon the same so as to hold it
securely during the impression.
The step-by-step motion is by preference imparted to the pitch chain, by causing
it to pass over pitch wheels on each side of the table, one of which wheels is con-
nected by a pawl and ratchet gear to a toothed pinion in gear with which is a rack
that receives a to and fro motion from the driving shaft at each impression, so that
one such motion is made to actuate the pitch wheel so as to cause the pitch chain
to perform the above described motion, while during the reverse movement of the
rack the pitch wheel and chain remain stationary.
After the printing of the card or paper is completed, fingers carried by a rock-
ing bar actuated by a cam motion are made to press upon tails on the gripping
jaws, so as to open them and allow the card or paper to be removed.
The before mentioned revolving inclined ink discs are carried by inclined
spindles and have ratchet teeth on the periphery of their underside, into which
takes a pawl carried by a lever receiving a rocking motion from the driving shaft,
so as to impart the required step by step rotary motion to the disc.
Although the above construction of the apparatus is more particularly designed
for machines printing in several colours, yet it will be evident that the improve-
ments are equally applicable to machines printing only in one colour.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews a front view of the above described
improved printing machine. Fig. 2 shews a longitudinal section. Figs. 3, 4 and 5
shew a front, plan, and cross section of part of the endless travelling chain Q with a
gripping jaw. Fig. 6. shews to an enlarged scale the mechanism for obtaining a
uniform pressure of the inking rollers, and Figs. 7 and 8 are front view and end
view of the lower part of the moveable framing shewing the adjustable attachment
to the bed plate..
The machine receives motion from the pulley a fixed on the driving shaft C
through the pinion and spur wheel B.
The shaft (actuates by means of a crank and the rod d, the double ended
lever D and the two levers E E, the former of which imparts an up and down
motion to the forme F which carries the type or clichés f. The levers E carry at
their lower ends the ink distributing rollers H of the table G, the rollers being
attached to a sliding piece.g with spring h which keeps them pressed down on
the inclined table G and inking discs I as the levers E carry them to and fro over
these parts.
The levers E carry, in addition, a small lever J which carries the inking rollers j
for inking the clichés f; these rollers, in moving with the levers, take the ink from
the table G with uniform pressure, owing to the spring Fig. 6, and they are
guided in their motion by small rollers that roll upon guide rails K on the
forine F, so as to effect the uniform inking of all parts of the cliché.
The framing K is arranged to slide on the bed plate as shewn at Figs. 7 and 8,
and it carries toothed racks L with which gear pinions that can be rotated by
a crank handle in order to adjust the position of the frame relatively to the
printing table M according to the part of the latter on which an impression of the
cliché is to be effected.
The shaft C carries a moveable cam which actuates a bar e through the rods and
levers m, n, o for holding the sheet of paper or card while it is being printed
upon.
Another cam N imparts a vertical to and fro motion to the toothed rack p by

page_text: means of the lever P; this rack imparts motion to ratchet gear 7 which causes an
intermittent advancing motion to be imparted to the endless chain Q which carries
the projecting gripping jaws r, Figs. 3, 4 and 5.
The fingers R carried by a bar act on the tails of the jaws r so as to depress
them at the required moment for opening the jaw for the insertion and removal of
the paper or card, the fingers R being depressed by a levers acted upon by
a cam S.
The inking discs I receive a step by step rotary motion by means of pawls
carried by a rocking shaft T actuated by the driving shaft C, the pawls being made
to gear with ratchet teeth on the undersides of the discs.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
The card or sheet of paper being placed between the open gripper jaws of the
chain on the left hand side of the machine, is carried thereby under the first
cliché of the forme, by the first advance of the chain; during this motion the
inking rollers will have inked the cliché, and the chain Q coming to a stand still
the forme F will descend and effect the first impression which will be of the colour
supplied by the first inking disc I. The forme F then rises, and the inking
rollers supply the second cliché with ink of a different colour from the second
inking disc I; at the same time the chain Q receives its second advance carrying
the card underneath the second cliché, so that the forme, in descending again,
prints upon the sheet with the second colour. The chain then carries the card
forward until the fingers R on the right hand side of the machine effect the
opening of the jaws r so as to allow the sheet to be removed. In like manner the
machine may be arranged to effect three or more successive impressions in different
colours.
When printing in a single colour, the chain G might be arranged to travel in the
direction at right angles to the inking rollers, instead of parallel therewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine for printing in one or more colours, or in pedal machines, the
arrangement of the framing carrying the printing forme to be adjustable upon the
bed plate carrying the sheet to be printed upon, so as to enable any desired part of
the sheet to be printed upon without alteration of the forme, substantially as
described.
2. The arrangement of ink distributing rollers and inking rollers herein
described for effecting a uniform pressure of the rollers and consequently a uniform
inking over the whole surface of the farme.
3. The use of an endless chain having projecting gripping jaws and made to
travel with a step by step motion for carrying the card or paper sheets consecutively
beneath any desired number of clichés for receiving several impressions with a
single register, or for receiving impressions in a single colour, substantially as
described.
4. The herein described arrangement of vertically reciprocating forme carrying
several clichés arranged parallel to the chain carrying the sheet of paper or card
so as to print in any desired number of colours with a single register.
5. The herein described combination of rotary inking discs I and table G with
the levers E, ink distributing rollers H and inking rollers j, operating as set forth.
.6. The construction of machine for printing in one or more colours combined
and operating as herein described with reference to the drawings..
Dated this 16th day of September 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.