IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH ROTARY WEB PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Ashley Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th October 1873.
I, GEORGE ASHLEY WILSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH ROTARY WEB PRINTING MACHINES,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to novel devices and combinations of mechanism
in and connected with perfecting machines of the class known as rotary
web printing machines, and has for its main object to perfect newspapers
either from type or stereotype, and deliver the same either open or folded
with greater rapidity and at less cost than heretofore, and consists,―
First. As means for obtaining easy access to stereotype cylinders in
rotary web perfecting machines, and also for constructing rotary web
perfecting machines of symetrical and compact design, in placing both
the stereo cylinders in a line above the impression cylinders.
:
Second. As means for facilitating insertion of late items of news when
tereotype is used, in casting stereotype in segments or rings preferably

page_text: of one column in breadth, and securing the same on discs placed side by
side on a shaft to form a printing cylinder. The said discs and stereos
are secured on the shaft by means of clamps or column turtles, a spaco
of the breadth of one or more columns being left between each stereo
column disc to allow for the fastenings.
Third. As means for printing one side of a newspaper when stereo
column discs constructed and arranged as described under the second
head of my Invention are employed, in passing the paper to be printed
over two sterco disc printing cylinders, so arranged that the stereo
column discs of the second cylinder print the blanks left by the spaces
between the stereo column discs of the first cylinder. One impression
cylinder serves for both the stereo disc printing cylinders. If perfecting
is desired the paper after being printed on one side by the stereo disc
printing cylinders above described is passed over a second pair of stereo
disc cylinders, or through a machine of ordinary construction. To insert
late items of news when machines constructed in accordance with tho
above second and third heads are used, it is only necessary to remove
one of the stereo column discs forming a printing cylinder from the
shaft, and replace it by a fresh disc having a stereo of the desired
news.
Fourth. As means for printing direct from type in rotary web per-
fecting machines. In making use of two printing cylinders twice the
circumference required to print one side of a paper, the type (stereo may
be used) covers half the surface of each cylinder, the remaining half.
surface being used as an inking table. The paper to be perfected is fed
to the machine above described from the web, but is: cut into sheets
before it reaches the printing cylinders, and is delivered a sheet
alternately to each cylinder. Each sheet after being printed on one side
by one cylinder is carried by the tapes to the other cylinder and perfected.
The travel of the papers is so adjusted that cach cylinder is always
printing either a first or second side. This machine can be most con-
veniently used with two deliveries.
.
Fifth. As means of open delivery for several sheets at a time. In
causing any desired number of separate sheets to be wrapped round a
constantly rotating drum, the circumference of which is the exact length
or breadth of a paper. When the desired number of sheets has been
wrapped round the cylinder they are released automatically, and carried
away by tapes to the laying mechanism. If a vibrating table is used so

page_text: that each bundle of papers is laid alternately backwards and forwards, it
will be easy to ascertain the whole number of papers laid.
Sixth. As means for delivering two sheets at a time when folded. In
causing each alternate sheet after having received the first or second fold
to travel a greater distance than the one immediately following, the said
extra travel is so adjusted that the two papers meet at the final folding
mechanism and are delivered folded together.
Seventh. As means for reducing the surface speed of folding cylinders,
I cause each sheet as it leaves the printing cylinders after being per-
fected, to partly enter a hollow rotating drum provided internally with
receiving tapes from which it is withdrawn by the folding cylinders.
Eighth. As means for laying papers delivered by mechanism con-
structed as described under the fifth, sixth, and seventh heads of my
Invention I employ in combination therewith,-
(a). A rocking frame and tapes.
(b). The mechanism known as the hammer layer.
(c). The mechanism known as the double fly.
Ninth. As means for cutting sheets of paper of various lengths from
the web either before or after being perfected. In making use of cutting
rolls so driven by eccentric or oval gearing as to revolve onec round for