Improvements in Machines for Feeding in Sheets or from the Web, Printing in Several Colors at One Operation, and Folding and Delivering such Printed Sheets.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application. 7th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Feeding in Sheets or from the Web,
Printing in Several Colors at One Operation, and Folding and
Delivering such Printed Sheets.
1, JULES DERRIEY, of 81, 83 and 85 Avenue Philippe Auguste, Paris, France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention, to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is a machine which will at one operation or passing
through the machine print in several colors on one side of sheets, and in one color
when required on the other side of the sheet.
To do printing in several colors correct register between one color and another
is absolutely necessary and one main feature by which this is effected according to
my invention is to arrange the mechanism so that each sheet to be printed with
several colors is delivered to one pair of grippers which retain their hold upon
the sheet and carry it to the printing cylinders aud do not release the sheet, to be
folded or delivered, until all the operations upon it have been effected.
In order that the same pair of grippers may accomplish the object above named,
they are made separate from and are not fixed to the impression cylinders. Each
pair of grippers consists of a shaft having gripping fingers that can press upon a
bar, and at cach end there is a part to which the bar is secured, and which parts
form the bearings in which the gripper shaft oscillates, which shafts have cranks at
each end for bowls by which the gripper shaft is operated.
These parts carrying the grippers at each end are secured to an endless band of
thin steel or other suitable metal (like the endless band saw) which endless bands
pass round the ends of two cylinders, the endless band between the two cylinders
being horizontal or thereabouts.
In the ends of the cylinder for the two endless bands one on each side, there are
recesses to receive the parts carrying or to which the grippers are attached, so
that when the cylinders are rotated the endless bands are moved along like an
endless belt.
If required there may be projections attached to the endless bands to come into
spaces in the cylinders between those spaces for the grippers. The parts carrying
the grippers come in between guide bars, attached to the framing on each side of
the machine, formed at the upper side of the endless bands and at the ends when
passing round the cylinders and at other parts where required, a cam like groove
for bowls to work in which are on the gripper shaft and ou studs from the part
carrying the gripper shafts and nipper bar, and by this means the weight of the
grippers are sustained, and they are prevented from twisting or moving upwards
or downwards when the grippers are actuated to open and close, and by this means
lateral strain upon the endless bands is prevented, and they act simply to carry
forward the grippers and keep them at the required distance apart.
The guppers are actuated to open them by fixed cam inclines secured to the
framing at the points where the grippers have to open, being closed by springs.
The cylinders round which the endless bands pass, form the impression
cylinders, against which, the stereo or electro-printing cylinders for the different
colors, act.

page_text: In a five color machine two printing cylinders act upon one impression cylinder
and three upon the other impression cylinder, but these may be varied in number
and arrangement.
When one of the grippers on the endless bands takes a sheet from the feeding
grippers it is carried downwards and partly round the impression cylinder at one
end and receives two colors, then it passes along the lower sides of the endless
band and the sheets are sustained by endless tapes arranged parallel to the under-
side of the endless bands which tapes are upon rollers driven by suitable gearing.
When the sheet arrives at the impression cylinder at the other end of the endless
bands it receives three more colors and after leaving the top of this impression
cylinder, the tail of the sheet being then unsustained falls upon an inclined board
when the grippers release it. The sheets may be taken by a mechanical delivery,
or folded and delivered as hereinafter explained.
Above I have explained how the sheet is taken and printed in several colors on
one side, and such arrangement of mechanism is combined with an impression
cylinder which has or may have one pair of grippers upon it to take sheets fed
from two tables one at a time by hand, such arrangement of feeding mechanism
being ordinary and well known.
It is against this feeding impression cylinder that the color is or may be printed
on the back of the sheet by a stereo or electro printing cylinder and the grippers
of this feeding impression cylinder (which is over the feeding end of the cylinder
for the endless bands) deliver the end of the sheet printed on the back to one of
the grippers on the endless bands which carry the sheet to be printed in several
colors on the front side of the sheet as above explained.
The printing cylinders are only half the diameter of the impression cylinders,
and thus make two revolutions to one of the impression cylinders.
The blanket or impression surface is ouly on one half of the impression cylinders,
thus the printing cylinders make one revolution without printing and one revolution
when printing consequently they are twice inked for one printing or impression
which produces good work.
The printing cylinders are inked by well known arrangements of inking and ink
distributing rollers.
The impression cylinders for the endless bands have each a spur wheel each of
which gears with an intermediate spur wheel driven by spur pinions and the
printing cylinders are geared up with this gearing.
The printing cylinders are arranged so that they may be turned backwards or
forwards in order to obtain correct register and they are then secured to their
driving wheels.
Instead of the machine being fed in sheets by hand, it may be combined with
mechanism for feeding from the web, cutting the web into the required length of
sheet and then such cut sheets are carried from the cutting cylinders by tapes to
the feeding and impression cylinder which delivers to the grippers on the endless
bands, such cutting and feeding mechanism being well known.
The sheets when to be delivered from the grippers on the endless bands are
passed to folding cylinders, and may be carried on by tapes to cross folders and
delivered into a box, or if not cross folded are carried by tapes to a
delivered on to a table.
Ay
"
to be
This folding and delivery mechanism being similar to well known mechanism for
the purpose.
This feeding impression cylinder may have two sets of grippers upon it in which
case there will be additional corresponding grippers on the endless bands.
When so arranged the printing cylinders will print twice at each revolution of
the impression cylinders, consequently the printing cylinders will only be once
inked for each impression. But for better work, the machine may be arranged
so that only half the number of sheets are fed, that is, only one sheet for each
revolution of the impression cylinder, the printing cylinders being thus inked
twice for each impression.
i.

page_text: prace of tue einness Dauus, enatess Jointed moked bands of then equivalents
may be used.
The mode of gearing of the mechanism may also be varied from that above
described.
My invention also consists in the machinery and arrangements above described
when the endless bands carrying the grippers pass round four or six impression
cylinders against which printing may be effected.
My invention also consists as above described with two, four or more impression
cylinders for the endless bands to pass against, but in which machines instead of
grippers hollow bars are employed secured to the endless bind and these hollow
bais are perforated with holes on one side communicating with the interior of the
hollow bars, which hollow is exhausted of air at the proper time so that the paper
placed upon or over the holes in the hollow bars will be sucked to the bar and
held thereto by the vacuum or partial vacuum formed therein.
The hollow bars are brought at the required time into communication with
exhausted cavities and passages which are in communication with a vacuum pump
or other producer of vacuum constantly working.
The communication is opened and closed with the hollow bars by suitable valves
and by a suitable valve each hollow bar has or may have air admitted when the
sheet is to be released or delivered.
The hollow suction bars, may be formed with an elastic diaphragm on one side.
They may be formed with a valve opening outwards automatically, and then
closing by the pressure of the atmosphere when a vacuum or partial vacuum is
formed in the hollow bars assisted by a spring.
The openings to the automatic valves are or may be arranged to come opposite
and make a joint with an elastic facing round a hole formed in a recess for the
suction bar in the impression cylinder or cylinders when passing round one or more
of them and this hole with elastic facing round it communicates by a passage with
a slide valve (somewhat similar to the ordinary slide valve of a steam engine)
which slide valve may be arranged to oscillate on a lever having its fulcrum on the
end of the impression cylinder this slide valve being actuated by a cam fixed on
the framing when a bowl on the lever comes against it. When the slide valve is
moved one way the hollow bar is exhausted by a communication being made with
the pump, which is by a passage in the end of the impression cylinder which is
also a part of its hollow axis, which hollow axis is connected by a stuffing box or
equivalent arrangement with the pump or exhauster.
A slide valve may be used for admitting the atmosphere to the hollow bar when
it is to release the sheet, such slide valve being actuated by a stationary cam.
The machine or machines is or are arranged, so that at each impression cylinder
the vacuum or partial vacuum formed within the hollow bars may be renewed, if
required.
Another arrangement which may be used in place of that last described consists
in making the guiding rails (equivalent to those used for grippers) for guiding the
ends of the suction bars, hollow or tubular, with an opening or shit in their
lengthway closed by two lips formed of leather or other suitable material. The
ends or one end of the suction bars is or are made small and to taper to an edge in
their front and rear so that these edges passing between the lips will cause
the lips as the hollow suction bars pass along to open in front and will allow them
to close in the rear by the pressure of the atmosphere as the hollow guide tube 18
in communication with the exhausting pump. Thus the suction bars are in
constant communication with the vacuum pump, except when the sheet is to be
released. There is a valve in the suction bar to close the passage to the exhaust
when the atmosphere is admitted to the suction bar to release the sheet.
There need only be a hollow tube guide at one side.
By another arrangement which may be used there is a hollow tube guide, upon
which one end of each suction bar slides and this hollow guide bar has holes at
intervals through which the exhaust can operate when the suction bar is passing
.

page_text: such hole by opening a valve as herein before explained when the suction bars are
exhausted while in contact with the recess in the impression cylinders.
By my invention suction bars are or may also be used in place of grippers when
the suction bars are secured to the impression cylinders.
Dated this Sixth day of August 1895.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.
Improvements in Machines for Feeding in Sheets or from the Web,
Printing in Several Colors at One Operation, and Folding and
Delivering such Printed Sheets.
I, JULES DERRIEY of 81, 83 and 85 Avenue Philippe Auguste, 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 object of my invention is a machine which will at one operation or passing
through the machine, print in several colors on one side of sheets, and in one or
more colors when required on the other side of the sheet.
To do printing in several colors, correct register between one color and another
is absolutely necessary and one main feature by which this is effected according to
my invention is to arrange the mechanism so that each sheet to be printed with
several colors is delivered to one pair of grippers which retain their hold upon the
sheet and carry it to the printing cylinders and do not release the sheet to be
folded or delivered until all the operations upon it have been effected.
In order that the same pair of grippers may accomplish the object above named,
they are made separate from and are not fixed to the impression cylinders. Each
pair of grippers consists of a shaft having gripping fingers that can press upon a
bar, and at each end there is a part to which the bar is secured, and which parts
form the bearings in which the gripper shaft oscillates, which shafts have cranks
at each or one end for bowls by which the gripper shaft is operated.
These parts carrying the grippers at each end are secured to an endless band of
thin steel or other suitable metal (like the endless band saw) which endless bands
pass round the ends of two or more cylinders as required, the endless band between
the two cylinders being horizontal or thereabouts but may be both horizontal and
vertical or otherwise for more than two cylinders.
In the ends of the cylinder for the two endless bands one on each side, there
are recesses to receive the parts carrying or to which the grippers are attached, so
that when the cylinders are rotated, the endless bands are moved along like an
endless belt.
If required there may be projections attached to the endless bands to come into
spaces in the cylinders between those spaces for the grippers. The parts carrying
the grippers come in between guide bars, attached to the framing on each side of
the machine forming at the upper side of the endless bands and at the ends when
passing round the cylinders and at other parts where required, a cam like groove
for bowls to work in which are on the gripper shaft, and on studs from the part
carrying the gripper shafts and nipper bar to guide and hold such bar, and by
this means the weight of the grippers are sustained, and they are prevented from
twisting or moving upwards or downwards when the grippers are actuated to open
and close, and by this means lateral strain upon the endless bands is prevented
and consequently they act simply to carry forward the grippers and keep them at
the required distance apart.
The grippers are actuated to open them by fixed cam inclines secured to

page_text: the framing at the points where the grippers have to open, being closed by
springs.
The cylinders round pulleys on the ends of which the endless bands pass, form
the impression cylinders, against which, the stereo or electro-printing cylinders
for the different colors act.
In a five color machine two printing cylinders may act upon one impression
cylinder and three (one each) upon each of the other impression cylinders, but
these may be varied in number and arrangement.
When one of the grippers on the endless bands takes a sheet from the grippers
on the feeding cylinder, it is carried partly round the impression cylinder, and may
receive one color, then in a machine having four impression cylinders for the
endless bands, it may pass along the lower sides of the endless band and the sheets
being printed upon are or may be sustained by endless tapes arranged parallel to
the underside of the endless bands which tapes are upon rollers driven by suitable
gearing.
When the sheet arrives at the second impression cylinder (of four) it receives
one color, and two at the third and one at the fourth impression cylinder and
after leaving the third impression cylinder the tail of the sheet being then
unsustained falls or may fall upon a board or upon tapes.
The sheets may
be taken by a mechanical delivery, or folded and delivered as hereinafter
explained.
Above I have explained how the sheet is taken and printed in several colors on
one side, and such arrangement of mechanism is combined with an impression
cylinder which has or may have one pair of grippers upon it to take sheets fed
from two tables one at a time by hand, such arrangement of feeding mechanism
being ordinary and well known.
It is against this feeding impression cylinder that one or more colors is or may
be printed on the back of the sheet by a stereo or electro printing cylinder and
the grippers of this feeding impression cylinder (which may be on a line with the
first of the cylinders for the endless bands) deliver the end of the sheet printed on
the back to one of the grippers on the endless bands which carry the sheet to be
printed in several colors on the front side of the sheet as above explained.
The printing cylinders are only half the diameter of the impression cylinders and
thus make two revolutions to one of the impression cylinders.
The blanket or impression surface is only on one half of the impression
cylinders, thus the printing cylinders make one revolution without printing and
one revolution when printing consequently they are twice inked for one printing or
impression which produces good work.
The printing cylinders are inked by well known arrangements of inking and ink
distributing rollers.
The impression cylinders for the endless bands have each a spur wheel each of
which gears with an intermediate spur wheel driven by spur pinions and the printing
cylinders are geared up with this gearing.
The printing cylinders are arranged so that they may be turned backwards or
forwards in order to obtain correct register, and they are then secured to their
driving wheels.
Instead of the machine being fed in sheets by hand, it may be combined with
mechanism for feeding from the web, cutting the web into the required length of
sheet and then such cut sheets are carried from the cutting cylinders by tapes to
the feeding and impression cylinder which delivers to the grippers on the endless
bands, such cutting and feeding mechanism being well known.
The sheets when to be delivered from the grippers on the endless bands are
passed to folding cylinders, and may be carried on by tapes to cross folders and
delivered into a box, or if not cross folded are carried by tapes to a "fly" to be
delivered on to a table.
This folding and delivery mechanism being similar to well known mechanism for
the purpose.

page_text: This feeding impression cylinder may have two sets of grippers upon it in which
case there will be additional corresponding grippers on the endless bands.
When so arranged the printing cylinders will print twice at each revolution of
the impression cylinders, consequently the printing cylinders will only be once inked
for each impression. But for better work the machine may be arranged so that
only half the number of sheets are fed, that is, only one sheet for each revolution
of the impression cylinder, the printing cylinders being thus inked twice for each
impression.
În place of the endless bands, endless jointed linked bands or their equivalents
may be used.
The mode of gearing of the mechanism may also be varied from that above
described.
My invention also consists in the machinery and arrangements above described
when the endless bands carrying the grippers pass round four or six impression
cylinders against which printing may be effected.
My invention also consists as above described with two, four or more impression
cylinders for the endless bands to pass against, but in which machines instead of
grippers, hollow bars are employed secured to the endless bands, and these hollow bars
are perforated with holes on one side communicating with the interior of the hollow
bars, which hollow is exhausted of air at the proper time so that the paper placed
upon or over the holes in the hollow bars will be sucked to the bar and held thereto
by the vacuum or partial vacuum formed therein.
The hollow bars are brought at the required time into communication with
exhausted cavities and passages which are in communication with a vacuum pump
or other producer of vacuum constantly working.
The communication is opened and closed with the hollow bars by suitable valves
and by a suitable valve each hollow bar has or may have air admitted when the
sheet is to be released or delivered.
The hollow suction bars, may be formed with an elastic diaphragm on one side.
They may be formed with a valve opening outwards automatically, and then closing
by the pressure of the atmosphere when a vacuum or partial vacuum is formed in
the hollow bars assisted by a spring.
The openings to the automatic valves are or may be arranged to come opposite
and make a joint with an elastic facing round a hole formed in a recess for the
suction bar in the impression cylinder or cylinders when passing round one or
more of them and this hole with elastic facing round it, communicates by a passage
with a slide or other equivalent valve (somewhat similar to the ordinary slide
valve of a steam engine) which slide valve may be arranged to oscillate on a
lever having its fulcrum on the end of the impression cylinder, this slide valve
being actuated by a cam fixed on the framing when a bowl on the lever comes
against it. When the slide valve is moved one way the hollow bar is exhausted by a
communication being made with the pump, which is by a passage in the end of the
impression cylinder which is also or may also be a part of its hollow axis, which
hollow axis is connected by a stuffing box or equivalent arrangement with the
pump or exhauster.
A slide or other equivalent valve may be used for admitting the atmosphere to
the hollow bar when it is to release the sheet, such slide valve being actuated by a
stationary cam.
The same valve may also be used both for admitting air to the hollow bar and
for making communication with the vacuum former.
The machine or machines is or are arranged, so that at each impression cylinder
the vacuum or partial vacuum formed within the hollow bars may be renewed, if
required.
Another arrangement which may be used in place of that last described consists
in making the guiding rails (equivalent to those used for grippers) for guiding the
ends of the suction bars, hollow or tubular with an opening or slit in their length-
way closed by two lips formed of leather or other suitable material. The ends or

page_text: one end of the suction bars, is or are made small and to taper to an edge in their
front and rear so that these edges passing between the lips will cause the lips as
the hollow suction bars pass along to open in front and will allow them to close in
the rear by the pressure of the atmosphere as the hollow guide tube is in.
communication with the exhausting pump. Thus the suction bars are in constant
communication with the vacuum pump, except when the sheet is to be released.
There is a valve in the suction bar to close the passage to the exhaust when the
atmosphere is admitted to the suction bar to release the sheet.
There need only be a hollow tube guide at one side.
By another arrangement which may be used there is a hollew tube guide upon
which one end of each suction bar slides and this hollow guide bar has holes at
intervals through which the exhaust can operate when the suction bar is passing
such hole by opening a valve as hereinbefore explained when the suction bars are
exhausted while in contact with the recess in the impression cylinders.
By any invention suction bars are or may also be used in place of grippers when,
the suction bars are secured to the impression cylinders.
Fig. 1, is a view in a vertical plane showing the arrangement of the impression.
cylinders round which the endless bands pass, which carry the grippers-this view
also showing the pathway or bars for guiding and steadying and preventing the
grippers from twisting or turning when actuated.
Fig. 2, is an end elevation of the mechanism or some of the mechanism shown
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the arrangement when hollow
suction bars are used in place of grippers.
Fig. 4, is an elevation at one end of the parts or some of them shown in-
Fig. 3.
Fig. 5, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one of the parts or castings.
attached to one endless band on one side, and
Fig. 6, is a plan view of the same.
To the parts shown by Figs. 5 and 6, the ends of the hollow suction bars are
attached, but the valve part is only formed in connection with the casting for one
end of the suction bars.
Fig. 7, is a view corresponding to Fig. 5, and
Fig. 8, is a view corresponding to Fig. 6, these Figs. 5 and 6, show the valve
mechanism more fully and how one suction bar is connected and made to com-
municate with adjoining suction bars by india-rubber or other suitable elastic
tubes.
Fig. 9, is a sectional elevation in the plane of the lengthway of the hollow
suction bars, showing a part of one end of a suction bar and the casting to which
that end of it is attached in which casting the oscillating cylindrical or cone_plug
cock or valve is formed, and also in which the lifting disc valve is formed for
closing the cavity against the atmosphere, also showing how the casting forms
a junction when passing round the impression cylinder with a disc or pulley
casting attached to and rotating with the shaft of the impression cylinder
(partly shown) in which disc or casting a passage is formed communicating
with a stationary disc having the segment of an annular passage in it which
communicates by a pipe with the exhausting or vacuum forming pump or other
apparatus.
Fig. 10 and Fig. 10^, when united at the line A-B on each figure represent a
sectional elevation of so much of an entire machine as will be required to explain
my invention, whether grippers or hollow suction bars are used.
Fig. 11, is a side elevation in the same plane as Fig. 10, showing some of the
mechanism therein represented with added arrangements of mechanism illustrating
the mode of feeding from a web or roll of paper, by which arrangements the
machine may be fed either by sheets by hand or automatically from the roll or web
cut into sheets before being printed.
The arrangements of endless bands of steel or other suitable material to work.

page_text: upon four impression cylinders to which grippers are attached, will be first
described by reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
The dotted circles 6, 6, 6 and 67, represent pulley surfaces at each end of each
impression cylinder which are on shafts in bearings in the side frames of the
machine, and these shafts are all geared together to rotate in the same direction at
the same speed as hereinafter explained.
The endless bands c, are of steel, similar to those used for endless band saws, or
of other suitable metal.
These endless bands are made in length four times the circumference of the
impression cylinders (or a multiple thereof of whatever their number) so that every
fourth revolution the same point on the endless bands leaving one impression
cylinder returns to it again.
To the under or inner side of the endless bands, parts d', are attached at suitable
intervals, the lengthway of these parts d', are in the lengthway of the endless
bands (c) and these parts d', are secured upon or form part of a cross bar d,
extending between the two endless bands (one on each side) which the upper or
outer side of which cross bar d, forms the surface against which the fingers of the
grippers act.
One end of each of these parts d', has a stud in its side for a bowl 2, and holes
in these parts d', form bearings for the gripper shaft d³, which has also bowls d*,
free to rotate upon it. The bowls d2, on the studs, and those d, on the shaft d³,
travel and are guided on a single bar e, or between the faces of two bars e and e¹,
(see Fig. 1) attached by suitable means (such as a bracket e³,) to the side frames a,
of the machine.
The horizontal portions of the guide barse and e¹, are or may be single, the
vertical parts double, as shown in Fig. 1, the left side of which two gripper bars d,
are shown, one opposite an upper and the other opposite a lower impression cylinder.
The gripping shaft d, has crank arms d³, upon each end of it for studs, each
carrying a bowl de, which will come upon stationary cam surfaces f, secured to the
side frames a, of the machine, which cam surfaces f, are arranged to act at the
proper time to open the grippers formed by the fingers d', and then allow them to
close by the torsional action of the helical spring ds, on the shaft d³, one end cf
which spring is secured to a collar d', on the shaft d³, the other end to the piece d¹,
at one end of the gripper bar d.
The grippers on the endless bands c, are opened to take the end of the sheet fed
from the grippers of the feeding and impression cylinder for printing on the back
of the sheets, and they retain their hold of the sheet until it has passed the four
impression cylinders upon which the endless bands work, and at the fourth cylinder
they open to allow the sheet to be taken by the grippers of the taking off cylinder
which passes it to a transfer cylinder and this passes it on to tapes to the piling
flyer or to folding mechanism when used.
It will be seen that any tendency in the gripper bar d, to twist or rotate when
the grippers are opened or closed is resisted by the bowls d and d', which are then
between the guiding bars e and e', as shown on the left of Fig. 1.
On the endless bands c, at regular intervals between the grippers there are
projections c¹, (shown in Fig. 3) on the under or inner side of the bands which
projections c', come into notches 6ª, in the peripheries of the pulley surfaces (see
Fig. 3) corresponding to those 6, (see Fig. 3) for the grippers.
If required endless tapes or fixed surfaces may be arranged under the horizontal
guide bais e and e', to hold up the tails of the sheets when passing between the
two upper and lower impression cylinders.
Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive, illustrate the use and application of hollow suction bars
when used in place of grippers.
In Fig. 3, four pulleys 6, 6, 66 and 67, are shown, one at each end of each
impression cylinder (1 and 63, shown in Fig. 4) upon which pulleys the endless
bands c, work.
As shown each pulley 4, 6, 6 and 7, has for notches either for the hollow

page_text: suction bars g, or projections c¹, secured on the endless bands c, coming between
the suction bars.
The suction bars 9, are or may be semi-circular with an upper or outer face
either flat or formed to the curve of the periphery of the impression cylinder, and
this face of each hollow suction bar is perforated with holes g¹, at intervals in its
lengthway communicating with the hollow of the bar g, (see Figs. 6 and 8).
One end of each hollow bar is connected to a flange g², secured to a casting g³,
in which valve mechanism is formed (see Figs. 7 and 8). The casting 93, is secured
to the under or inner side of the endless band c, at one side, by screws g*, and plates
(see Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8).
The underside of the casting 93, rests and is guided upon bars e, as described for
the grippers in reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the guide bars in this case corresponding
to the position of the surface e, Fig. 9, which guide bars will prevent twisting or
lateral strain upon the endless band c, when the valve hereinafter referred to is
partly rotated or oscillated.
In the end of each casting g³, a hollow cylindrical or cone plug cock g, is
ground, the spindle, from its outer end passing through a plate g', which by
screws, can tighten and hold the hollow plug g, in position.
The spindle end 9, of this hollow plug has a double lever arm 98, secured to it,
which has a stud for a bowl, which is or may be acted upon by a stationary cam or
stationary bowls may be arranged to act on the arms 98, to oscillate the cock one
way and by a corresponding stationary cam to move it the opposite way or this
movement may be effected by a spring.
The hollow plug of the cock, has two ports, one go, below or inwards, opening
to a port communicating with the cavity ga, in the casting, and the other port 9°,
will open to a port in the casing of the cock to the external atmosphere. When
the bollow plug go, is in the position shown in Fig. 7, the ports 9, to the hollow
cavity g, in the casting, are opened and the vacuum pump is then in communication
with the hollow suction bar g.
When the hollow plug 95, is oscillated in the opposite direction, the ports last
named are closed and those gb, to the atmosphere are opened, so that the air can
rush into the hollow suction bar g, and destroy the vacuum or partial vacuum
therein and release the sheet previously held to it by suction.
In the casting g³, there is also a disc valve gº, on a stem guided to move the
disc valve to and from a facing or seating formed in the casting g³. When the
suction formed by the pump is operating this disc valve 9, is withdrawn from its
seating and air can pass (when the hollow plug 9, allows) from the hollow suction
bar g, to the vacuum forming pump, and when the cavity g, in the casting is not
in communication with the pump this valve gº, closes against the admission of the
atmosphere to the bollow suction bar g.
The inward branch of the casting for the valve 9, has a plate or washer gd,
secured to it a ring in the centre of which carried by arms from the outer rim of
the washer, forms a guide for the lower end of the stem of the valve g, and thi
washer g, when the mouth of this branch of the casting comes opposite the mouth
of a passage in a branch from a disc ge, secured to rotate with the end of one of the
impression cylinders (6') a tight junction is made by an india-rubber washer g',
held in the passage by a metal ring, so that an air tight communication is then
made between the hollow, suction bar g, and the passage 95, in a radial direction in
the disc ge, which communicates with a shallow annular segmental cavity 9, in a
disc g', mounted on the axis bb, of the impression cylinder b¹, but which does not
rotate with the latter, but the vacuum formed in the shallow cavity gb, causes the
dise plate 9', (stationary as to rotation) to be pressed to make a tight joint against
the face on the rotary disc g°.
There is a pipe g', that communicates with the pump that exhausts the shallow
cavity gh, in the stationary disc plate g¹.
Figs. 3 and 4, show this stationary disc plate which need only be applied to one
impression cylinder.

page_text: There may be only one passage g', in the rotary disc ge, or there may be four.
The inner end of each passage may terminate in a slot or hole in a radial direction,
coming opposite the shallow cavity gh, in the stationary disc g', so that the pump
is only exhausting from the cavity 9", while the hole in the rotating disc ge, in
communication with the cavity gh, in the stationary disc (which may during one
quarter of a revolution of the impression cylinder) and then the hole in the
rotating disc 9°, is covered as it rotates by the flat face of the stationary disc g',
having no cavity gh.
There is a branch 9, from each side of the cavity of the casting g³, in the
direction of the lengthway of the endless band c, and these branches gk, are shaped
so that the ends of india-rubber tubes g', may be secured upon them, these lengths
of india-rubber tube extending between one hollow suction bar 9, and the adjoining
suction bars, thus forming an endless tube together with the branches g, from the
casting, and consequently whenever the pump acts to exhaust the cavity 9", of one
casting it at the same time acts through the india rubber tube g', and branches g*,
upon all the cavities o, at the same time. The india-rubber tube g', is of sufficient
strength or bas helical wire coils within it to resist collapse from the external
pressure of the atmosphere.
The vacuum is renewed in case of leakage if any, every time the casting g³,
of a hollow suction bar communicates with the cavity gh, in the stationary
disc g'.
When one hollow suction bar comes upon each impression cylinder the vacuum
is renewed once, when two, twice for each revolution of the impression cylinder.
Two hollow suction bars may be used when there is only one impression for each
revolution as the suction bar not required to operate can be thrown out of action
by removing the lever actuating the hollow plug of the cock leaving the hollow bar
closed to vacuum and open to the atmosphere.
But if desired more than one impression cylinder may be used for keeping up the
vacuum in the india-rubber tube g', and in the cavities of the castings and
suction bars.
Figs. 10 and 104, illustrate my complete machine when brought together on the
line A B or so much of it as will be necessary to describe my invention.
a, are the side frames of the machines. It is one having four impression
cylinders for the grippers or for the suction bars of the endless metallic bands.
The impression cylinders b, 61, 63 and 6³, are arranged as described in reference
to Figs. 1 and 2, and Figs. 3 and 4.
They are of ordinary construction with the exception hereinbefore named,
having two gaps or openings for grippers or the suction bars, on the endless
bands, and for two blankets or impression surfaces, on each half when two
are used.
They are double the diameter of the printing cylinders h, h, h², h³ and h², and
their shafts bb, carried in bearings on the side frames a, have each a spur wheel be,
(shown in dotted line) upon them, all of which gear with a central spur wheel bd,
on a stud in the framing, consequently the impression cylinders are simultaneously
rotated in the same direction.
The central spur wheel 6, is or may be driven by a pinion 6º, on a shaft b',
having the fast and loose belt pulleys upon it (not shown).
c, represents the endless metallic bands. The guide rails e and e¹, shown in
Figs. 1 and 2 are omitted to make the view more clear. There are two notches b*,
in each impression cylinder for the grippers or the suction bars attached to the
endless bands and two other corresponding notches intermediate for the driving
projections c', on the endless band.
b
When only one impression is taken at each revolution of each impression
cylinder, only one gripper or suction bar need be used, on the endless bands for
each impression cylinder, or four grippers or suction bars for the four cylinders, the
endless metallic bands c, being in this case exactly four circumferences of one
impression cylinder in length.,

page_text: The impression cylinders b, b', and 63, have each one printing cylinder having
the surface upon its periphery which is inked or colored and from which the
impression is taken when the paper passes between it and the surface of the
impression cylinder.
The impression cylinder 63, has two printing cylinders
against it.
and h³, acting
When only one impression is required at each rotation of the impression
cylinder, the blanket is only required on that half which is to print, the other half
being without blanket, consequently the printing cylinder passes without touching
it and is thus inked twice as it makes two revolutions for one of the impression
cylinder, and it produces better work.
The printing cylinders are each geared up with their respective impression
cylinders to rotate exactly two revolutions of the former to one of the latter, and
there are well known arrangements by which the axis of the printing cylinders
may rotate backwards or forwards as required to obtain correct register and may
be then secured to the driving wheel.
The inking rollers and arrangements and the mode of rotating and causing some
of the rollers to move endways to distribute the ink or color, are similar to those
described in the Specification of my previous Letters Patents (say No. 22937
of 1892, and other specifications) and are well known and will be sufficiently
understood by inspection of the drawings without further explanation.
68, is an impression cylinder for printing upon the back of the sheets and it also
acts to take in the sheets fed to it and delivers them when printed on the back to
the grippers or the suction bars attached to the endless bands c.
, is the printing cylinder for the back of the sheets provided with inking or
color mechanism as shown similar to those for the other printing cylinders.
This impression cylinder 68, has grippers secured upon it in the ordinary manner
to take the end of the sheet when presented, one set of grippers only when one
sheet, and two sets when two sheets are to be printed at each revolution, or there
may be two sets of grippers upon the impression cylinder, one set made inoperative
when only one sheet is to be printed at each revolution.
In the arrangement shown by Fig. 10, the sheets are supposed to be fed by
hand alternately from an upper feeding board a¹, and a lower feeding board a², of
ordinary arrangement.
From the upper board a', the sheets are fed directly to the grippers of the
impression cylinder 68, but from the lower board a³, they are first fed to grippers
on a taking in cylinder i, which delivers to the grippers 6, on the impression
cylinder 18.
When the sheets have been fed they receive an impression on the back on the
cylinder, and are then presented by its grippers to the grippers or the suction
bars on the endless bands c, when such grippers or suction bais are upon the
impression cylinder I, where the sheet has one color imprinted on its face it is then
carried past all the other three impression cylinders b', and 63, and at the fourth,
receives its last impression, then the grippers or the suction bars which have held
and carried the sheet while receiving impressions on its face deliver the sheet when
opposite the taking off cylinder j either to grippers thereon or to a suction bar g™,
(a suction bar g, being shown in Fig. 10) which delivers it to another gripper
cylinder k, that transfers the sheet to endless tapes and l', for the margins which
carry it to an ordinary flyer m, working on the axis m', that piles the sheet on the
board m
The tapes and A, are of ordinary arrangement, and are driven in an ordinary
manner. The carrying side of the upper tapes 1, passes from a roller or shaft 3,
against the cylinder k, under roller 13, over roiler 14, over roller 15, down and under
roller, and the return side of the tapes pass from that roller 1, up and over
rollers, 18 and 1°, and back to the roller 1.
The carrying side of the under tapes l', pass from the upper side of roller 1,
against and in contact with the carrying side of the upper tapes (when the sheet

page_text: is not between them) under roller 13, over rollers and 15, and down to roller P,
from which the return side of the lower tapes 1, pass over roller &, under roller 1ª,
and back to the roller la.
n, are movable fingers on a shaft n', which when required can be actuated by a
cam to lift clear of the transfer cylinder k, when sheets are not to pass to the tapes,
and when lowered to cause sheets collected on the cylinder k, to be shunted, or
delivered to the tapes 1 and A, carrying them to the flyer, each time a certain
number of sheets have been collected on the cylinder k.
This arrangement is ordinary and well known for the purpose and will be
hereinafter referred to.
In Fig. 10, two rollers q and q¹, are shown, which are for endless tapes to work
upon for sustaining the tail ends of the sheets when passing between the impression
cylinders b and
When the machine is to be fed automatically from a web or roll of paper, the
arrangement for effecting this is illustrated by Fig. 11, and is illustrated as an
addition to mechanism for feeding sheets by hand shown in Fig. 10.
When two impressions are printed at each revolution of the impression cylinders,
the speed at which the sheets would have to be fed would be too great for hand
feeding, except the machine was driven slowly which would cause a loss of pro-
duction and in order to supply the sheets at the required speed, the machine is fed
from the web or roll and the fed web of paper is cut into sheets which are carried
by tapes to the taking-in or feeding cylinder.
Web or automatic feeding may be used if desired when only one impression is
taken at each rotation of the impression cylinders.
The web or roll of paper p. is arranged in an ordinary manner on a shaft p¹, in
bearings on the framing a. Then the end of the web is taken over roller p², under
roller p³, over roller p, and between it and a roller p³, above it.
These rollers p* and p³, are the measuring rollers and draw off from the web or
roll the exact length required for each sheet and as it passes between the knife
cylinder p, and that p², below it, having the recess for the knife, it is cut
into sheets.
These feeding and measuring rollers and cutting cylinders are ordinary and
well known.
The sheets thus cut from the web are carried by tapes p8 and p³, arranged and
driven in an ordinary manner, against the periphery of the taking in cylinders i, the
grippers, of which take and present it to the grippers 68, of the impression
cylinder 68, for printing on the back of the sheet which deliver it to the grippers on
the endless bands c.
As shown by Fig. 11, it will be readily understood that when required the
machine can either be fed by hand or automatically from the web.
When the machine is printing quickly two impressions for one revolution of the
impression cylinders, the flyer m, will not be able to pile the sheets separately as
its action would have to be too rapid, and in such case the transfer cylinder k, will
have to be made to act as a collecting cylinder superposing as many sheets one
upon the other before delivering them to the carrying tapes I and l', as before
explained by means of the fingers n, on the shaft n', as the flyer m, will have time
to pile without working too quickly.
When printing two sheets at one revolution of the impression cylinders additional
inking rollers will have to be applied to act upon the printing cylinders to produce
good work, the best work being obtained when only one sheet is printed at one
revolution, as then the printing cylinder passes twice against the inking rollers
before printing as before explained.
When the printed sheets have to be folded one or more times, mechanism similar
to that described in the Specification of my aforesaid Letters Patent No. 22937
of 1892, is or may be combined with the delivery mechanism, and this or other
ordinary automatic folding mechanism which being well known need not be further
described.

page_text: It will be obvious that the machine described will print one color and may
be arranged to print two colors on the back of the sheet and that it will print five
colors or six colors easily by adding another printing cylinder to the second
impression cylinder (6') arranged in a similar manner to those for the third
impression cylinder (63) from that giving the first impression or fewer than six
colors may be printed and by adding intermediate or other impression cylinders the
number of colors may be further increased if desired.
The suction bar or arrangements applied to the taking off cylinder j, is supposed
to be formed by a tube extending in the lengthway of the cylinder below its
periphery, and this tube has a series of short tubes at right angles to the main tube
extending to the peripheral surface of the cylinder j.
This arrangement permits the fingers of the grippers of the cylinder k, to get
under the edge of the sheet and in between the short tubes.
Or the perforated side of the suction bar may be made to come flush with the
periphery of the cylinder k, the metal being thick enough to allow parts of it to be
cut away without cutting into the hollow cavity of the bar to give space for the
gripping fingers to take hold of the sheet. Air may be exhausted from and
admitted to the suction bar by a hollow plug cock as hereinbefore described in
reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, or other valves.
Or the entrance to the hollow suction bar at one end of the cylinder may
be arranged to come opposite an annular stationary disc valve pressed against
the end of the cylinder so as to be air tight when air is exhausted from the cavity
in the disc valve.
When the orifice or port in the end of the cylinder communicating with the cavity
of the suction bar is opposite the exhausted cavity in the disc valve, the hollow
suction bar will be exhausted and will hold the sheet, and when it comes opposite to a
cavity in the disc valve open to the atmosphere, the air is admitted to the suction
bar, and the sheet will be released.
Rotary multi-color printing machines are in use, the paper fed to them in the web
being cut into sheets after it is printed.
When paper is so fed to be printed it becomes extended in length when being
printed, and the extension due to one impression is added to that due to the
succeeding impressions, and further when printing from a web of paper the stretch
or tension upon it varies, being less at the beginning when the roll full than when
nearly empty, and consequently the stretch or tension cannot be maintained uniform
during the drawing off from the roll this added to the extension due to printing
above named, adds still more to the difficulty and makes it impossible to obtain
exact "register" for all the impressions subsequent to the first of the series of
impressions to be printed.
There are also frequent breakings of the web from over strain, and this
causes considerable waste of paper and loss of time in again getting the paper all
through the machine.
In making ready for work a multi-color rotary machine cutting after printing,
it becomes necessary to waste much paper before the machine can be got to work
satisfactorily.
By printing on separate sheets, fed in sheets or from a web cut before being
printed the difficulties above referred to as applied to rotary multi-color printing in
which the sheets are cut after printing are overcome, and accurate register is
practically obtained if the means of carrying the sheets to the several printing
cylinders is suitable for the purpose.
And when getting my machine ready for work only a few already spoiled sheets
of paper need be used, in order to get the inking in proper condition and then
afterwards it is only necessary to pass a few sheets in order to ascertain that the
machine is working correctly and at its best.
There is also another important advantage which my rotary multi-color machine
bas over those printing from the web and cutting after printing above referred
|to—namely, any size of sheet can be printed in my machine less than the maximum

page_text: size for which it is constructed, whereas in the above named machines, cutting after
printing from the web, each size of sheet requires a separate machine and when it
is further considered that one of such machines costs from three to four thousand
pounds (£3000 to £4000) the great advantage my machine over such multi-color
rotary cutting after printing machines is obvious.
I have hitherto explained and illustrated my invention with printing cylinders
half the diameter of the impression cylinders which have each accordingly two
separate blanket or impression surfaces, but it is obvious that the printing cylinders
may be arranged of the same diameter as the impression cylinders which in that
case would only have one impression or blanket surface.
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 the combination and construction of rotary multi-color printing machines,
the airanging of separate printing apparatus for each color at a distance one from
the other, the sheets to be printed being carried in succession to each printing
apparatus to receive an impression from each printing cylinder substantially as
herein before described.
-
2. The combination of separate printing mechanism for each color with
arrangements by which each separate sheet is taken by a gripper or by a suction
bar and carried through each printing mechanism the sheet when first taken by the
grippers or the suction bars being retained by them during each time of printing
and being only released after having received the last impression or color
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination of the grippers or suction bars for carrying the sheets to be
printed upon through the machine by attaching them to endless steel or other
suitable metal bands substantially as herein before described.
4. The combination and arrangement of hollow suction bars attached to endless
travelling bands and the arrangements for exhausting air from and admitting air to
such hollow bars substantially as herein before described.
5. The combination and arrangement of hollow suction bars attached to endless
travelling bands, in such manner that when air is exhausted from one suction bar
it may be at the same time exhausted from all the other suction bars, when
the communicating cock or valve for each suction bar is opened substantially as
herein before described.
6. The arrangement for forming the communication between the pump or vacuum
forming apparatus and the hollow suction bars and a rotary disc connected with the
suction bars at intervals having ports in it and a stationary disc having a cavity or
cavities in it, one of which arrangements may be used on one end of each impression
cylinder for the endless bands if desired, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive of the drawings.
7. The feeding of a multi-color printing machine substantially as illustrated
by Figs. 10 and 10A, of the drawings, from two hand feeding mechanism, and also
the feeding of such machines from the web and cutting it before printing, and also
arranging such machines so that they can be readily fed either by hand or from the
web substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
8. The combination and arrangement of endless bands with grippers and guiding
and actuating mechanism substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described
and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
9. The combination and arrangement of endless bands and suction bars and other
connected mechanism for actuating the same substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive of the drawings.
10. The combination and arrangement of mechanism substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 10 and 10 and by
reference to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, and also when combined with
folding mechanism.

page_text: 11. The combination and arrangement of mechanism substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 10 and 10ª as modified as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Fig. 11 of the drawings.
12. The combination and arrangement of mechanism, substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described when adapted to and used with printing
cylinders which are of equal diameters to the impression cylinders each accordingly
.being arranged with one impression surface.
Dated this Third day of June 1896.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.