Improvement in Multiple Color Printing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1898--Accepted, 18th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Multiple Color Printing Machines.
:-
I, WILLIAM HENRY REYNELL TOYE, of 616, Sansom Street, Philadelphia, in the
County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Gentleman, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and
to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification:-
This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in multiple color
printing machines, and has for its object to enable those skilled in the art of print-
ing and lithographing to construct machines for simultaneously printing in one
or a number of colors on one or both sides of a sheet of paper, card or other
material.
The class of printing machines to which this improvement relates belongs
to flat bed multiple color perfecting machines, but the substitution of cylindrical
or curved beds in place of flat beds herein figured and described, may be used with
the various methods of inking such curved or cylindrical bed without departing
from the essential elements of this invention.
The principal features of my present invention is the arrangement of an adjust-
able endless flexible carrier, which is used for transporting sheets of paper or other
material through the machine without releasing said material until it is com-
pletely printed in one or more impressions; and another novel feature is the
arrangement of two endless flexible carriers, one endless flexible carrier being
arranged to print in one or more impressions on one side, and the second carrier
being so arranged as to take the material being treated from the first carrier and
then print it upon the reverse side in one or more impressions; and another novel
feature is the arrangement of a series of set-off or cleaning devices for keeping the
wet printed sheets clean on both sides; still another novel arrangement is the
printing and transferring of the sheet from an ordinary impression cylinder to an
endless flexible carrier which passes under and around two cylinders, which com-
bination prints a sheet of paper or other material on one or both sides in one or
more colors by simultaneous or successive printings, as may be desired, at one
passage through the machine.
In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may
understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now
be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawing forming a part of
this specification, in which-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a printing machine made in accordance with my
improvement;
Fig. 2, a longitudinal section thereof;
Fig. 3, a detail of the stop motion mechanism;
Fig. 4, an enlarged detail section of a set-off cleaner;
Fig. 5, an enlarged detail of the transfer mechanism for delivering the sheet
from one carrier to the other;
Fig. 6, a similar view of the delivery mechanism :'

page_text: Fig., a side elevation representing a machine embodying my invention in a
slightly modified form;
Fig. 8, a longitudinal section thereof;
Fig. 9, an edge view of a section of the endless flexible carrier and one of the
grippers carried thereby;
Fig. 10, a plan view thereof, a portion of the gripper being broken away for
convenience in illustrating the same;
Fig. 11, a detail view of the cylinder carrying one set of grippers and a portion
of the endless carrier, showing a set of grippers thereon in a position which brings
about the transfer of the paper from the primary cylinder to this endless carrier;
Fig. 12, a similar view, showing the mechanism for transferring the paper or
other material being printed upon from the feed cylinder to the primary impres-
sion cylinder, and
Fig. 13 a detail of one of the adjustments of the carrier.
In carrying out my invention as embodied in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, A, A¹
represents the impression cylinders for printing in two or more colors on one side
of a sheet of paper or other material, and A² is a like cylinder for printing on the
reverse side of the sheet, B, B¹, C, D, and D¹ are flat type or form beds that work
in time by the mechanism hereinafter set forth, with the cylinders A, and these
flat beds are oscillated from end to end of the machine, and their length of travel
is equivalent to one revolution of the cylinders. E is a flexible carrier of the
construction set forth hereinafter in connection with the second part of this inven-
tion, and this carrier passes around suitable grooves formed in the cylinder Aª
or drums carried upon the same shaft and also around the idle drum or pulley F,
and likewise around the groove pulleys G, the last named being secured upon the
same shaft and given rotary motion through the gears G¹, G and G³, likewise
the drum F is given rotary motion from the gear G³ through the pinion F¹ and
gear F, by which arrangement the flexible carrier and the several parts will be
caused to move in unison with the cylinder A2. Upon the flexible carrier E are
secured three sets of grippers I, of the construction hereinafter set forth, or of any
other suitable construction, and adapted to fit within suitable recesses in the
cylinder, drum and pulleys, so as to give to the flexible carrier a positive move-
ment relative to the movements of this cylinder, for the purpose which will herein-
after appear. J and J¹ are the impression surfaces upon the cylinder A² arranged
diametrically opposite each other, having a considerable space therebetween which
is left blank, and these surfaces during the travel of the bed register with the
form sections D and D¹ respectively, so that after every complete revolution of the
cylinder A² both of these impression surfaces will have passed into active conjunc-
tion with the type beds or forms, while it is to be noted that after each complete
rotation of the cylinder A2, the flexible carrier will have traveled but two-thirds
of its length, the object being to bring but two of the grippers into active position
for printing upon the paper carried thereby, while the third gripper will then
be in a position to transfer its paper to a second endless carrier next described.
Krepresents the secondary flexible carrier of the same construction as the
primary carrier, and it passes around the cylinders A and A¹ or groove pulleys
carried upon the same shafts, and also over the groove pulleys L and L', and like-
wise over the idle roll L2, and from thence around the pulleys L³, upward and
around the pulleys LA, and finally around the idle drum L5, thus again reaching
the cylinder A. This flexible belt carries nine pairs of grippers M of any desired
construction, and these grippers are adapted to pass within suitable notches or
recesses formed in the cylinders, drums and pulleys over which they pass, thereby
giving to said carrier a positive movement relative to the cylinders, thus main-
taining the time of the grippers relative to the remainder of the machine.
From what precedes the operation of my improvement thus far will be as
follows;
The sheets of paper or other material which have previously been stacked upon
the feed table N are fed in the usual manner to the pair of grippers I, which

page_text: happen to then lie within the notches of the groove pulleys G, and by the pro-
per mechanism these grippers take hold of this sheet of paper and the next move-
ments of the press carry the same from this point to the point 1, during which
time one impression will be made upon one side of the paper by the form carried
by the bed D. Now ignoring the successive feeding of sheets of paper to the
grippers in their rotation, the endless carrier E will dwell at this point, and when
again put in motion will carry the paper from the point 1 to the point 2 in the
direction of the arrow, and in so doing will again bring the paper into position to
next receive a further impression, which impression will be taken from the bed D
in conjunction with the impression surfaces J. The next movement of the end-
less carrier. E will convey the paper from the point 2 to the point 3, at which point
the pair of grippers M which are then registering with the notches in the pul-
leys L will receive the paper, the pair of grippers I releasing their hold thereon,
so that the endless flexible carrier K will therefore convey the paper in the direc-
tion of the arrow marked adjacent thereto, around the idle roll L, and downward
around the cylinder A', until reaching the point 4, and it is to be noted that during
this last movement of the paper no impression is made thereon on account of the
blank side of the impression cylinder revolving in proximity thereto at this time.
From the point 4 the paper is next carried to the point 5 by the flexible carrier K,
in which position it is ready by its next movement to receive the impression from
the form carried by the bed B in conjunction with one of the impression surfaces
of the cylinder A. This impression is imparted at the next movement of the flex-
ible carrier K and the paper is carried from thence to the point 6, the next move-
ment of the flexible carrier will convey the paper from the point 6 to the point 7
without performing any function except this progressive step, and the same is
true of the next movement of the flexible carrier K, which conveys the paper from
the point 7 to the point 8, and the position now occupied by the paper is that just
prior to making the fourth impression thereon, and this impression will be upon
the same side as the previous impression made by the cylinder A, which is upon
the reverse side of the paper upon which the impressions are imparted thereto
by the cylinder A2. Now at the next movement of the carrier K this impression
will be imparted to the paper by the form carried upon the bed C, and the paper
will be conveyed to the point 9, so that at its next movement it will be carried
around the pulleys L and cylinder A receiving an impression from the form upon
the bed and reaching the point 10, this completes the printing operations of
the sheet of paper which has been followed in its travel through the press, and will
have imparted thereto two impressions upon one side thereof by the beds D and D¹
in conjunction with the impression surfaces of the cylinder A2, and three impres-
sions upon the reverse side by the beds B, B and C in conjunction with the
cylinders A and A', it being noted that after each impression, a certain amount of
travel is given to the paper in order that the ink last transmitted to the paper
will have sufficient time to set before a further impression is printed thereon. It
now only remains for the paper to be delivered upon one of the tables 0 and O¹,
and this is accomplished by the next movement of the carrier K, which will again
convey the paper around the pulleys L3 and over said beds, the grippers, by suit-
able mechanism hereinafter described, being caused to release their hold upon
this paper either upon the table 0 or 01, as the case may be, and which is deter-
mined by said release mechanism and occurs altemately.
The mechanism for effecting the release of the paper from the grippers at a pre-
determined time is as follows:
Cam blocks P and P¹ are mounted upon the outer ends of the lever Q, which
latter is supported by the rock rod Q journaled in suitable bearings in the frame
of the machine, the lower end of said rod being provided with an arm Q2 having a
pin or shoe Q3 projecting within the groove of the cam Q, so that when this cam
revolves, the rod Q will be given an oscillating movement, thereby first bringing
one and then the other of the cam blocks P and P into active position relative to
the grippers. The jaws of each of the grippers are carried by a rod R and upon

page_text: the outer end of each of these rods is a short arm R¹ having a roll R2, which latter
is adapted to enter into engagement with the upper cam surfaces of either of the
cam blocks, and in so doing will be forced downward, thereby releasing the jaws
of this gripper from the paper and permitting the latter to fall
upon the proper
table. In order that the gripper may not be distorted or thrown out of position
by the force necessary to swing the arm R¹ downward against the action of suit-
able springs (here not shown), a foot R³ is formed upon each of the grippers and
is adapted to pass into engagement with the rib R4 formed upon the cam block,
and in so doing will receive the reaction of the cam upon the arm R¹. This
arrangement also prevents any strain from coming upon the lever Q.
The transfer of the paper or other material being printed upon from the flexible
endless carrier E to the like carrier K is accomplished in substantially the same
manner as just described in connection with the delivery of the paper to the tables,
since the grippers carried by the first named carrier release their hold upon the
paper at the proper time, by having the jaws thereof swung open, while the reverse
movement is taking place with the jaws of one of the grippers carried by the
carrier K, and as this must be accomplished automatically and at a predetermined
time, push blocks S and St are carried upon the outer ends of the levers S2 and S3³
respectively, said levers being properly pivoted to the frame of the machine and
adapted to receive motion at the proper time from the cams T and T through the
rods T2 and T3, the result being that when the arms R₁ of the grippers carried by
the carrier K come into proper relation to the push block S, the latter being forced
upward will open the jaws of the gripper carrying this arm, and a similar result
will take place with the arm carried by the gripper F, and these movements are
so timed that the gripper M will take hold of the paper just as the gripper F
releases its hold thereon, and thus accomplish the transfer of said paper from the
carrier E to the carrier K.
The cam Q which gives motion to the rod Q and also the cams T and T' which
give motion to the rods T2 and T are secured upon the cam shaft U which is
journaled in suitable bearings in the frame of the machine, lengthwise thereof,
and receives its motion through the beveled pinion U¹ which meshes with a cor-
responding gear U2, and this last named gear is secured upon the shaft U³, which
is the drive shaft of the machine, and it in turn receives its motion from the power
shaft U through the pinion Us and gear U6, as clearly shown in Figure 1, motion
being transmitted to the last named shaft from any suitable source of power by
the pulley U upon which runs the belt U8.
While it is not my desire to limit myself to the exact mechanism for carrying
out the various movements necessary to the performing of the several functions of
this machine, as these, of course, might be varied, yet I have here shown suitable
mechanism for accomplishing the desired results which will now be described.
The type or form beds B, B, C, D and D¹ are carried by the reciprocating
bed B2, and in order that this bed may move in perfect unison with the
impression cylinders, and in proper time therewith, a rack-bar B3 is carried by the
bed B and meshes with the gear wheel B, secured upon the shafts of each of the
impression cylinders, from which it is obvious that when the bed is recipro-
cated, as hereinafter set forth, these cylinders will be given a rotary motion, and
were they constantly in mesh with the rack an oscillatory motion would be
imparted thereto that is to say, they would be revolved first in one direction and
then in the other, but as this would interfere with the proper operations of the
machine provision must be made for the dwelling of the cylinders during the
reverse travel of the bed for the bringing of them into activity at the proper time
upon the forward movement of said bed. This is accomplished by mutilating the
gears B at B5, in order that when this blank section registers with the rack-bar
said bar will pass out of mesh with said gears, as clearly indicated at two points
in Figure 3 after the cylinders have been brought to rest, they are again put into
activity at the proper time by the push-off levers W, WI and W2, which are
properly pivoted, and each have a short series of teeth W³, adapted to enter into

page_text: engagement with a like series of teeth W* secured upon the face of the gears B*;
the push-off levers W and W¹ are connected together and to a cam lever W6, while
the push-off lever W2 is connected to a similar cam lever W7 by a rod W8, all of
which is clearly illustrated in Figure 3, The cam levers W5 and W7 are operated
by the cams X and X¹ respectively, said cams being secured upon the drive
shaft U³, and so timed as to bring the push-off levers into proper position to cause
their teeth to remesh with the teeth 4 as the blank sections of the gears B
approach the point of register with the rack-bar B³, thereby utilizing said push-off
levers as a stop mechanism for arresting the momentum of the cylinders and
bringing them to a standstill at the proper point. These cams are likewise so
timed that the cylinders controlled thereby will be pushed into activity at the
proper time, the cylinder A2 being independent of the movements of the cylinders A
and A', thus permitting the last named cylinders to dwell, while the first named
cylinder is revolving, or vice versa. The bed B is given this reciprocating motion
by means of the rack-bar V carried upon the under side of this bed and meshing
with the gear wheel V1, which latter has secured thereto a similar gear wheel V²,
both being journaled in the forked end of the pitman V3, the smaller gear meshing
with the stationary rack V4, secured upon the frame of the machine.
The pitman
is given a to-and-fro movement by a crank V, carried by or formed with the
shaft U, so that with every revolution of this shaft the gears V and V2 will be
caused to travel to and fro to the full extent of the stroke of said crank. Now
this to-and-fro movement of the gears will cause them to revolve upon their axis
by reason of the meshing of the gear V2 with the stationary rack V4, as is well
understood, and this motion will be increased when transmitted to the rack-bar V,
on account of the large diameter of the gear wheel V1, and this last named motion,
when transmitted to the bed B2, will have added thereto the lengthwise movement
of the two gears, which, as before stated, is equal to the throw of the crank. By
this arrangement a crank of comparatively short throw may be utilized in bring-
ing about a sufficient amount of movement to the bed B2, thus simplifying the
mechanism and placing it in a comparatively small space; and it is to be noted
that to better balance the gears V and V2 a second V2 may be placed upon the
opposite rack V4, provided for the support and meshing of this second gear.
A set-off cleaner is provided for each of the cylinders A and A¹, and are identical
in construction and operation, I will therefore describe but one of the same, which
description will equally apply to both.
a represents a shoe which extends crosswise on the machine and is of sufficient
length to act upon the inner impression surfaces, and is concaved upon its inner
face to correspond to the contour of said impression surface, and at each edge
of this shoe is journaled a small roll b. d represents the strip of cleaning paper
or other material and is fed from the roll f and passing around the rolls b and
under the shoe a will bear against the surface of the cylinder, and from thence is
led beneath the feed roll g, the latter having sufficient pressure exerted thereon by
suitable springs b₁ to bring about the feeding of said strip in connection with the
roll b, and in order that the slack created by the feeding of the paper or other
material may be taken up upon the coil h, a belt i runs upon said roll and upon
a suitable pulley carried by the shaft of the pulley L', but this belt is sufficiently
slack to permit its slipping up on one or the other of its pulleys so long as the
strip d is not fed to the coil has rapidly as the belt turns this coil, as will, be
readily understood.
In the embodiment of my improvement as shown in Figures 7 to 13 inclusive,
1 represents the framework of the machine, which may be of any suitable design,
and therein is journaled the cylinders 2, 3, and 4, the former of which I shall
designate the primary impression cylinder while the two last named will be referred
to as the secondary impression cylinders; the shafts of these cylinders have secured
thereon the gear wheels 5, 6, and 7 respectively, by which continuous rotary
motion is imparted to said cylinders through the idle gears 8, 9 and 10, which
will receive their motion from pinions (here not shown), carried by the beveled

page_text: gears 11, 12 and 13, said beveled gears meshing with similar gears 14, 15 and 16,
secured upon the shaft 17; it being noted that the shaft 18 is the power shaft of
the machine and that the beveled gear 11 transmits motion from this shaft to the
shaft 17 by means of the corresponding gear 14, while the gears 15 and 16 trans-
mit motion from the shaft 17 to the beveled gears 12 and 13 respectively. A feed
cylinder 39 is suitably journaled relative to the primary impression cylinder, and
is revolved therefrom by the gear 20 which is secured to the shaft of this feed
cylinder and meshes with the gear 5, as clearly shown; a suitable set of grip-
pers 21 are carried by the feed cylinder and are provided with a short arm 22
which, when properly operated by mechanism to be hereinafter set forth, will cause
the jaws of said grippers to grasp the sheet or material to be printed upon properly
fed thereto from the table 23, and when so grasped this material will be fed twice
around the feed cylinder and then brought in proper relation to the grippers 24,
carried by the primary impression cylinder, and through suitable mechanism
motion, hereinafter described, will be transferred from the feed cylinder to this
impression cylinder, whereby the material to be printed upon will be carried
around the primary cylinder in the direction of the arrow marked thereon, and in
this passage will have an impression printed upon one side thereof from the
form 25, carried by the reciprocating bed 26, and from thence will be carried
upward and transferred from the primary cylinder to the endless flexible carrier 27
running over suitable idle pulleys and around the secondary impression cylinders 3
and 4. This transfer is accomplished by means of one set of the grippers 28 com-
ing in proper position relative to the grippers 24, and then suitable mechanism,
hereinafter set forth, so acting upon the jaws of said grippers as to cause the first
set to release its hold upon the material while the set upon the endless carrier will
take hold thereof.
After one set of the grippers 28 have received the material being printed upon,
said material will be conveyed from the idle pulleys 29 rearward around the idle
pulleys 30 and from thence downward around the rear secondary cylinder, and
receive an impression from the form 31, carried by the reciprocating bed 26, and
from thence again upward around the idle pulleys 32 and 33, and downward
around the forward secondary impression cylinder 3; and when traveling around
this last named cylinder will again receive an impression from the form 43, also
carried by the bed 26, upon the same side of the paper as the impression printed
by the secondary impression cylinder 4, and these two impressions in color printing
should register, as is well known. The material having been printed upon then
passes upward around the idle pulleys 34 in order that it may be finally delivered
to the table 35 by suitable mechanism which will release the hold of the gripper
thereupon.
It will be seen by reference to Figure 7 that the train of gears 36, 37 and 38
receive their motion from the gear 6, thereby giving to the idle pulleys 33 and 34
their proper rotation to maintain the travel of the endless carrier 27 without undue
drag thereon.
This is likewise true of the train of gears 39, 40 and 41 and 42, as they transmit
motion to the idle pulleys 30 and 32, the said idle pulleys also maintaining a
proper travel of the flexible carrier and preventing drag thereon.
As the impression cylinders are in constant motion in one direction it is abso-
lutely essential that they be elevated sufficiently to pass out of contact with the
forms upon their reverse movement, and this is accomplished by the support
rods 44, upon which the boxes 45 rest, said boxes being guided in suitable hous-
ings, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7; and the lower ends of these support
rods carry eccentric straps which embrace the eccentrics 46, so that when said
eccentrics are oscillated, the throw thereof will be imparted' to the support rods,
thereby elevating the boxes and consequently the cylinder journaled therein, as
will be readily understood.
The eccentric shafts have secured thereon the short arms 47, which carry shoes
projecting within the grooves 48 of suitable cams secured upon the longitudinal

page_text: shaft 49, and this shaft is given motion through the gear 50 meshing with the
pinion 51, and when thus revolved will give the eccentric their oscillatory motion.
A groove 52 is formed in the forward cam carrying one of the grooves 48, and
in this groove projects a pin or shoe 53, carried by a short arm secured upon the
lower end of the rock-rod 54, said rod projecting upward and having an arm 55
secured upon its upper end, which is adapted to be swung into the line of travel
of a suitable arm carried by the grippers 21, to effect the opening of the jaws
thereof after receiving the material to be printed upon as fed from the table 23;
the reason of this arrangement is that the feed cylinder 19 makes two revolutions
for each sheet of paper or other material fed thereto, and therefore these grippers
must retain their hold upon said paper during the second rotation, and yet open
for the reception of a new sheet upon the next rotation.
The rock-rod 54 also has secured thereon an arm 56, which is adapted to be
bed swung in to the line of travel of the arm 22 of the grippers 21, thus opening
the jaws thereof for permitting the transfer of the material to be printed upon
to the jaws 24, the latter being open for the reception of said material by a cam
lug 57 secured to some portion of the frame of the machine.
The transfer of the material being printed upon from the primary cylinder to
the endless flexible carrier is accomplished by the cam lugs 58 and 59 also secured
to some convenient portion of the frame of the machine, and so, located as to act
upon the arms 60 and 61, carried by the grippers of the endless carrier and prim-
ary impression cylinder respectively; likewise the delivery of the material printed
upon to the table 35 is brought about by the arms 60 coming in contact with the
cam lug 62 properly located for that purpose.
The reciprocating bed 26 is caused to travel to and fro by a pin or shoe 63 pro-
jecting from an endless chain 64, or similar contrivance, within a slot 65 formed
in a bracket 66 depending from said bed, and this chain runs over the rolls 67
and 68, the latter being secured upon the power shaft 18, from which it receives
its motion; and it is obvious from this arrangement, the travel of the shoe will
bring about the proper reciprocations of the bed; but any other bed-movement
may be used.
During the to-and-fro movements of the bed, the forms 25, 31 and 43 will travel
beneath the inking rolls 69, 70 and 71 respectively, by which the proper kind
and amount of ink will be conveyed thereto, and an important feature of these
inking rolls is that they consist in sets of rolls bearing directly upon the form,
each set containing besides the distributing rolls (here not shown and well known),
two or more form rolls of varying sizes, the object being to prevent the tracking
of these rolls which would otherwise, as has heretofore been invariably the case,
so match in the ink transmitted to the forms as to line or spot the ink thus trans-
mitted, on account of any surplus of ink upon the rolls being constantly imparted
to the same portion of the form, thus increasing the imperfection; but when the
rolls are constructed and arranged as here shown and described, this tracking is
entirely obviated, since the diameter of one roll being different from the diameter
of the one following, they cannot by any possibility register in their rotations,
and thus any surplus ink imparted from one roll upon one portion of the form
will be spread or overcome by the next succeeding rolls.
In connection with the secondary impression cylinder 4, I have arranged a
set-off cleaner which is similar in most respects to that described in connection with
the first form of machine set forth, and consists of a shoe 72, the under surface of
which is adapted to the contour of the cylinder, while a strip of cleaning material
73 is fed from the roll 74 around suitable idle rolls beneath this shoe and between
a pressure roll 75, and finally coiled upon the reel 76. Motion is transmitted to
the pressure roll 75 by the ratchet mechanism 77, receiving its motion from the
cam 78 through the rod 79, a belt 80 serving to coil the cleaning material upon the
reel 76 as it is fed thereto.
I have here shown another form of set-off cleaner in connection with the
secondary impression cylinder 3, which consists of an endless strip 81, adapted

page_text: to travel around the guide rolls 82, and in this construction the friction of the
cylinder upon the strip 81 serves to feed the latter, but of course I do not wish
to be limited to any particular form of set-off cleaner, as the design thereof may be
considerably varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and other
modifications might be made in the designs of mechanism here shown without
materially affecting my invention, since the gist thereof rests in the broad prin-
ciple of causing the material to be printed upon to pass around a series of cylinders
one or more times so as to receive impressions therefrom, which, when desired,
may be made to register accurately on account of every registering impression
being imparted to the material being printed upon while the latter is held by one
set of grippers.
The Hexible carrier herein referred to is preferably constructed of a series of
flexible cables 83, which are suitably attached to the couplings 84, the latter
having therein the bearings 85 for the journaling of the gripper rods 86, by which
arrangement an exceedingly strong, flexible, unyielding carrier is produced, which
has been found in practice to most advantageously perform the desired function.
While I am aware that the cables or other strands which make up this portion
of the carrier may be attached to the couplings in various ways, I have here shown,
as will be seen by reference to Figure 13, these cables as being attached to the
couplings by the nipples 87, through each of which one of the ends of the cables
pass, and is enlarged so as to prevent its withdrawal, thus permitting the nipple
to revolve upon the cable, and the shank portion of this nipple being threaded is
adapted to run within a threaded hole formed in the coupling, and the head of
each of the nipples is adapted for the aplication of a wrench whereby it may be
manipulated to slacken or tighten the cable as the case may be, as will be readily
understool.
While I have here shown a particular form of flexible carrier any construction
of such carrier may be used, as for instance, a link chain, blocks attached end to
end, or toothed blocks geared together, bands of leather, india rubber or com-
pressed fibre such as paper, or woven wire, or any woven fibre bands, or strips of
steel or other metal may be used to connect the different sets of grippers together
to form a flexible adjustable carrier for printing machines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire that what I
claim is:-
1. In a multiple color printing machine, a suitable frame, a reciprocating bed
adapted to carry a series of type or forms, a series of impression cylinders adapted
to work in conjunction with said forms, an endless carrier provided with suitable
grippers adapted to work in conjunction with one of the cylinders, and a second
endless carrier carrying suitable grippers adapted to work in conjunction with
the other of the cylinders, and means for transferring the material printed upon
from the first named carrier, as specified.
2. In combination, a suitable frame for supporting the operating parts of the
machine, a bed adapted to be reciprocated to and fro and carrying multiple forms
of type beds, a series of impression cylinders adapted to act in conjunction with
said forms, a primary endless carrier having a suitable number of grippers thereon,
said primary carrier working in conjunction with one of the impression cylinders,
a secondary endless carrier working in conjunction with the other cylinders, an
odd numbers of grippers carried by this last named carrier, means for transferring
the material being printed upon from the primary carrier to the secondary carrier,
means for causing the material being printed upon to pass more than one time
around the first named cylinder before being transferred and means for causing
said material to pass more than one time around the last named cylinders before
being delivered, and mechanism for bringing about the operations of the machine,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In combination with a printing machine of the character described, a primary

page_text: cylinder having two impression surfaces thereon, two reciprocating forms or
type beds adapted to work in conjunction with said surfaces, a flexible endless
carrier adapted to work in conjunction with said cylinder, three sets of grippers
carried by said carrier and so arranged that the material to be printed upon will
receive first one impression and then be conveyed idly during the next motion of
this cylinder and then again receiving a second impression which will register
with the first impression and during this last movement will be brought to the
original point of feed and there dwell, and means for transferring this material
from the primary endless carrier to the secondary carrier, as specified.
4. In combination with a printing machine of the character described, a primary
endless carrier adapted to so convey the material to be printed upon in conjunc-
tion with a primary impression cylinder as to impart two impressions thereto
which register with each other, of a secondary flexible endless carrier having an
odd number of grippers thereon adapted to receive the material passing through
the press from the primary carrier and convey it into conjunction with secondary
cylinders which will print upon the reverse side thereof, and mechanism for
delivering said material to suitable tables, as specified.
5. In combination, a primary endless carrier, an impression cylinder, of a
secondary endless carrier, a secondary impression cylinder with which the last
named carrier is adapted to operate, an odd number of grippers located upon the
last named carrier, forms or type beds adapted to reciprocate in conjunction with
the secondary cylinders, and means for delivering the material printed upon
alternately upon one table and then another, substantially as shown and
described.
6. The herein described combination of a primary cylinder having two impres-
sion surfaces therein, two forms or type beds adapted to operate in conjunction
therewith so as to impart two impressions to the material being printed upon
in register with each other, a primary endless carrier passing around said
cylinder and certain idle rolls and pulleys, three sets of grippers carried by this
carrier, a secondary endless carrier, two secondary impression cylinders one
having two impression surfaces thereon and the other one of such surfaces, forms
or type beds adapted to work in conjunction with the secondary cylinders, n
odd number of grippers carried by the secondary carrier, means for causing the
material being printed upon to be carried around the first of the secondary cylin-
ders without receiving an impression, then around the second of the secondary
cylinders receiving one impression, and again around the first of the secondary
cylinders receiving an impression therefrom which register with the first impres-
sion, and finally again around the second of the secondary cylinders receiving a
third impression in register with the first two impressions, two tables, and mech-
anism for delivering the material being printed upon alternately upon said
tables, substantially as shown and described.
7. In a multiple color printing machine, a primary cylinder, secondary cylin-
ders, a reciprocating bed geared to said cylinders by a rack and mutilated gears,
mechanism for stopping the cylinders at a predetermined point so as to permit
the bed to move in a reverse direction without affecting said cylinders, means for
throwing said cylinders into activity at a predetermined time, a primary carrier
provided with grippers so arranged as to convey the material being printed upon
around the primary cylinder twice, a secondary carrier provided with an odd
number of grippers adapted to receive said material from the primary carrier
and convey it twice around the secondary cylinders, and means for delivering
said material to one and then the other of two tables, as specified.
8. A multiple color printing machine comprising a suitable frame, a recipro-
cating bed mounted thereon, forms or type beds carried by said reciprocating
hed, a primary cylinder having two impression surfaces, two secondary cylinders,
one having two impression surfaces and the other one impression surface, muti-
lated gears carried by the cylinders, a rack-bar carried by the reciprocating
bed adapted to mesh with said gears and revolve the cylinders in one direction,

page_text: stop mechanism for bringing the cylinders to rest at predetermined points, the
last named mechanism also serving as a push-off to return the cylinders to
activity, a primary flexible endless carrier working in conjunction with the
primary cylinder, suitable idle rolls and pulleys for the guiding of this carrier,
three sets of grippers secured to the primary carrier and so arranged that the
material being printed upon will be given one impression upon one side thereof,
conveyed illy through the next movement of the cylinder, printed upon the same
side thereof through the next movement of this cylinder and brought to the
point of starting, a secondary carrier passing around the secondary cylinders and
suitable guide rolls and pulleys, an odd number of grippers secured to the sec-
ondary carrier and so arranged that the material being printed upon will be
carried around the first of the secondary cylinders without receiving an impres-
sion, then around the second of the secondary cylinders receiving one impression
therefrom upon the reverse side thereof, again around the first of the secondary
cylinders receiving an impression therefrom which registers with the first impres-
sion of the secondary cylinders, and finally again around the second of the
secondary cylinders receiving the third impression which registers with the last
named impression, two tables, cam blocks for releasing the material being
printed upon from the grippers, mechanism for bringing said cam blocks into
activity at predetermined times whereby said material may be delivered first
upon one table and then upon the other, set-off cleaners adapted to work in con-
junction with each of the secondary cylinders, and suitable mechanism for bring-
ing about the several operations of the machine, substantially as shown and
described.
9. In a multiple color printing machine, a primary carrier, grippers carried
by each of said carriers, mechanism for transferring the material being printed
upon from the primary carrier to the secondary carrier at predetermined times,
and mechanism for finally delivering this material upon one and then the other
of two tables, as specified.
10. In combination with a flexible endless carrier in a printing machine of
the character described, an oscillating lever, two cam blocks carried thereby
adapted to so act upon the grippers at predetermined times as to cause them to
release their hold upon the material printed upon, a rock-rod upon which said
lever is mounted, a short arm carried by said rod, a shoe, a groove cam into which
said shoe projects, and means for revolving said cam whereby the cam blocks
are successively brought into activity, as specified.
11. In combination with the cylinders of a multiple color printing machine,
mutilated gears carried by said cylinders, a rack-bar carried by the reciprocating
bed adapted to mesh with said gears, push-off levers having teeth formed upon
their upper ends, a series of gear teeth secured to the face of the mutilated gears
and adapted to enter into mesh with the gear teeth of the push-off levers whereby
the cylinders may be caused to dwell at the proper points and again pushed into
activity, rods connecting said push-off levers with cam levers, and cams for
operating the last named levers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
12. In combination with the cylinders of a multiple color printing machine,
of set-off cleaning mechanism consisting of a shoe adapted to the contour of the
cylinder, rolls journaled at each edge of the shoe, a strip of cleaning material
passed around the rolls and beneath the shoe so as to bear against the cylinder,
a pressure roll, springs causing the last named roll to bear upon one of the first
named rolls, a drum upon which the cleaning strip is wound, and means for
winding the same, as shown and described.
13. In combination with a printing machine, a set of inking rolls for each
form consisting of two or more such series of different diameters, substantially
as and for the purpose selt forth.
14. In combination with a reciprocating form bed, two or more inking rolls
of varying diameters adapted to transmit ink to said form without tracking, as
specified.

page_text: 15. In a printing machine of the character described, primary and secondary
cylinders, flexible carriers working in conjunction therewith, each of said carriers
carrying a suitable number of grippers for bringing about multiple printing and
the proper transfer of the material being printed upon from one carrier to the
other, as specified.
16. A multiple color printing machine consisting of a suitable frame, a prim-
ary cylinder mounted therein and adapted to print one impression upon one side
of the material being printed upon, a series of secondary cylinders each adapted
to print one impression upon the reverse side of said material, an endless carrier
working in conjunction with the secondary cylinders, grippers carried by said
carrier adapted to receive the material from the primary cylinder and convey it
to and around the secondary cylinders and means for delivering said material
to a suitable table, as specified.
17. In a multiple color printing machine, a suitable frame, a primary cylin-
der mounted therein, means for delivering the material to be printed upon to
said cylinder whereby one impression will be printed thereon, a series of second-
ary cylinders, an endless flexible carrier working in conjunction with said
secondary cylinders, suitable pulleys for guiding said carrier, grippers carried by
the carrier and adapted to receive the material from the primary cylinder and
convey it to and around the secondary cylinders, suitable reciprocating forms
for printing impressions upon the material, a table, mechanism for delivering
the material to the table after having been printed upon, set-off cleaners
arranged to act upon the secondary cylinders, means for giving the forms their
reciprocating motion, and inking rolls for varying diameters arranged in sets,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
18. An endless carrier consisting of a series of flexible cables secured to a
series of couplings, substantially as shown and described.
19. An endless carrier consisting of series of flexible cables, series of coup-
lings to which the ends of said cables are attached, and bearings carried by the
couplings in which the gripper rods may be journaled, as specified.
20. An endless carrier consisting of a series of bands, a series of couplings
to which the ends of said bands are attached, with adjustments to accurately
tighten each separate band, and bearings carried by the couplings in which rods
that hold the grippers may be journaled, substantially as described.
21. An endless carrier consisting of a series of grippers capable of being accur-
ately adjusted, said series of grippers being one or more in number than the
printing sections operated upon.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
Agent for Applicant, 10, St. Georges Crescent, Liverpool.