IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE COLOR PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE COLOR PRINTING MACHINES."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Armand Albert Dunk, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Sealed the 1st December 1871, and dated the 31st August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st August 1871.
-
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE COLOR PRINTING MACHINES,” a
communication to him from abroad by Armand Albert Dunk, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, to be as
followe

page_text: subjects.
"
The essential features of novelty of the said improved machine
consists in the combination of a printing cylinder containing as many
"forms," or printing blocks, or surfaces as there are colors to le
printed, with a peculiar "platen" cylinder, having its surface divided
by longitudinal grooves or channels into as many segmental "platens "
or pressing surfaces as there are "forms" or printing surfaces on the
printing cylinder. Both the printing and platen cylinders are geared
together and are of the same diameter. In connection with the platen
cylinder there are a series of nippers in number one in excess of that of
the " forms or segmental platens, and arranged to revolve in a circle
larger in diameter than but eccentric to that of the platen cylinder.
For this purpose the nippers are carried by two spur wheels revolving
round fixed centres eccentric to the axis of revolution of the platen
cylinder, and gearing into the same spur wheels on the printing cylinder
that the platen cylinder gears into, consequently as these eccentric
wheels are larger than the platen cylinder, they will revolve more slowly
in proportion. Thus in a five-color printing machine the diameter
of the eccentric spur wheels which carry the nippers in respect to the
diameter of the spur wheel on the platen cylinder is as six to five, so
that the nippers will make only five-sixths of a revolution round the
platen cylinder whilst the latter completes a single revolution. By this
eccentric arrangement, and by the difference in the speed the nippers
and platen cylinder each set of nippers is carried when in operation to
transfer a sheet of paper from one platen to another in succession. As
each platen works opposite to or in concert with its own special "form"
or printing block, and as each block is inked with a different color, it
follows that the paper will have received five different impressions or
colors by being transferred to the five different platens by the time the
cylinders have made five revolutions. The nippers are intended to carry
five sheets at one time, so that a completed sheet printed in five colors
may, after the machine has been fairly started, be discharged at every
revolution and a fresh one taken on. The closing of the nippers at the
time is effected by a stationary pin or its equivalent attached to
the inner side of the framing I, which pin strikes a small lever on each
nipper rod as it comes round and so closes it. The opening of the
nippers for the release of the sheets is effected by a pin on the end of a
"

page_text: moveable lever, which pin is brought within the range of the nipper
levers by a pin in connection with the printing cylinder acting upon the
tail end of the said lever.
The different colored inking rollers are brought in contact with their
proper "forms" by grooved cams acting on sliding radial frames or arms
carrying the rollers referred to, such cams being caused to revolve on
the axis of the main printing cylinder, but at a much lower speed.
The cams are so arranged as that the highest and lowest inking rollers
bear on separate "forms" simultaneously whilst the other rollers are
clear of the "forms," but while any one of the intermediate inking
rollers is acting on a "form" all the others are clear of the "forms"
which they have to ink.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JoпN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
35th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MULTIPLE COLOR PRISTING MACHINES," a communication to me from
abroad by Armand Albert Dunk, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument

page_text: in writing under my hand and scal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said 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 the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
"
The said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement
of machinery or apparatus for printing different colors applicable either
for typographical printing or for printing ornamental and pictorial
subjects.
•
.
The essential features of novelty of the said improved machine consist
in the combination of a printing cylinder containing as many "forms"
or printing blocks or surfaces as there are colors to be printed, with a
peculiar "platen" cylinder having its surface divided by longitudinal
grooves or channels into as many segmental "platens" or pressing
surfaces as there are "forms" or printing surfaces on the printing
cylinder. Both the printing and platen cylinders are geared together,
and arc of the same diameter. In connection with the platen cylinder
there are a series of nippers in number one in excess of that of the
"forms" or segmental platens, and arranged to revolve in a circle larger
in diameter than but eccentric to that of the platen cylinder. For this
purpose the nippers are carried by two spur. wheels revolving round
fixed centres eccentric to the axis of revolution of the platen cylinder,
and gearing into the same spur wheels on the printing cylinder that
the platen cylinder gears into; consequently as these eccentric wheels are
larger than the platen cylinder they will revolve more slowly in pro-
portion. Thus in a five-color printing machine the diameter of the
eccentric spur wheels which carry the nippers in respect to the
diameter of the spur wheel on the platen cylinder is as six to five, so
that the nippers will make only five-sixths of a revolution round the
platen cylinder whilst the latter completes a single revolution. By
this eccentric arrangement and by the difference in the speed of the

page_text: nippers and platen cylinder, each set of nippers is caused when in
operation to transfer a sheet of paper from one platen to another in
succession. As each platen works opposite to or in concert with its
own special "form" or printing block, and as each block is inked with a
different color it follows that the paper will have received five different
impressions or colors by being transferred to the five different platens
by the time the cylinders have made five revolutions. The nippers are
intended to carry five sheets at one time, so that a completed sheet
printed in five colors may, after the machine has been fairly started
be discharged at every revolution and a fresh one taken on. The
closing of the nippers at the proper time is effected by a stationary pin
or its equivalent attached to the inner side of the framing, which pin
strikes a small lever on each nipper rod as it comes round, and so closes
it. The opening of the nippers for the release of the sheets is effected
by a pin on the end of a moveable lever, which pin is brought within
the range of the nipper levers by a pin in connection with the printing
cylinder acting upon the tail end of the said lever.
The different colored inking rollers are brought in contact with their
proper "forms" by grooved cams acting on sliding radial frames or
arms carrying the rollers referred to, such cams being caused to revolve
on the axis of the main printing cylinder, but at a much slower speed.
The cams are so arranged as that the highest and lowest inking
rollers bear on separate "forms" simultaneously, whilst the other
rollers are clear of the "forms," but while any one of the intermediate
3 inking rollers is acting on a "form" all the others are clear of the
"forms" which they have to ink.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I
shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a side elevation of the improved machine
for printing in different colors. Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view.
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 1-2 in Figure 2.
5 Figure 4 is a detached view partly in section of a portion of the press
shewing the operation of the inking rollers. Figures 5 and 6 are

page_text: detached views of parts of the press, and Figure 7 is a diagram for
illustrating the operation of the machine.
A, A', are the opposite side frames of the machine, in which turns
the main driving shaft B, a pinion a on the latter gearing into a broad
eug wheel C, secured to one end of a cylinder D) on a shaft E, which
also turns in the side frames. To a shaft F turning in the said frames,
is secured a cylinder G, which is of the same diameter as the cylinder D,
measuring across the printing forms attached to the latter; as the
cog wheel C gears into a similar wheel H on the same shaft as
the cylinder G the two cylinders D and G will revolve at the same
speed and simultaneously with each other. The two cylinders are
so arranged in respect to each other that the surface of the cylinder G
is in contact with the forms on the cylinder D, whilst the surface of the
cylinder G is in the present instance subdivided into five equal portions
by the deep grooves or channels b, which extend longitudinally across
its face (Figure 3), cach portion forming a separate segmental platen
for the press as more fully described hereafter. A cog wheel I adjacent
to, but of greater diameter than the wheel H, turns on a stationary
disc c secured to the side frame A¹; and also gears into the wheel C
of the cylinder D and a similar wheel I' at the opposite end of the
cylinder G gears into a cog wheel C¹ secured to the cylinder D.
It should be hicre understood that the stationary discs c, on which the
cog wheels I and I' turn, are placed eccentrically with the shaft F, but
that the centre of each is on the dotted line ¹ drawn through the
centres of the shafts E and F, as seen in Figure 1. The wheels I and I'
are secured together by rods d, d', d², &c. (Figure 3), and turn indc-
pendently of the cylinder G, the shaft F of the latter passing through
the bearing discs c, as shewn in Figure 1. The diameter of cach of the
wheels I and I' in respect to that of the wheel H is as six of the former
to five of the latter, so that the wheels I and I' will make but five-sixths
of a revolution while the latter completes one revolution. The rods d
are situate at equal distances apart from each other, and at the same
distance from the centre of rotation of the wheels I and I¹, and the
wheels are so adjusted in respect to the cylinder G, that when the parts
are in the position shown in Figure 3 the rod d¹ of the wheels shall be
contained within that one of the grooves of the cylinder marked b¹. If
the cylinder G and wheels be now turned in the direction of the arrow
(Figure 3) until the former has completed a revolution, it will be evident

page_text: from the above that the rod instead of the rod d' will be contained
within the groove b'. The purpose of this will be rendered apparent
hereafter.
Adjacent to each of the rods d'and turning in the rims of the wheels
I, I, is a rode, one end of which projects through the wheel I' and
carries a two-armed lever f. To each of these spindles are secured two
curved-nippers g, the outer ends of which are maintained in close
contact with the adjacent rods d by the action of a spring catch h, which
bears against a notched projection i of the rod, as seen in Figure 6, the
latter view representing the said lever f.as in the act of moving from
one position to another.
A lever J is hung to the side frame A of the machine, and is
operated by a pin / secured to one side of the cog wheel C¹, as shown
in Figures 4 and 5, the opposite arm of the lever being provided with a
projecting pin j, which when the lever is operated strikes one arm of the
lever and partially turns its rod e, thus moving back the nippers
away from the adjacent rod d (Figure 6). The rod remains in this
position until one arm of its lever f strikes a pin k; Figures 1 and 2,
which projects from the side frame A, and which turns the lever and its
spindle to their first position. When the cog wheel O' and its pin / have
made a complete revolution the lever J is again operated and another
one of the rods e is turned, the rods and consequently their nippers
being thus operated in succession by the lever for a purpose described
hereafter.
The machine shown in the Drawings is arranged to print in five colors,
and the five forms of type are secured at equal distances apart to the
cylinder D, as shewn at m, m', m³, m³, and m', Figure 3, these forms are
shown in the Drawing, Figure 2, as simple types, each of a different
letter, for the sake of simplifying the description.
The different colored inks are contained in troughs p, Figures 1 and 3
which are secured to projecting portions of the opposite side frames, and
within each trough is arranged to turn a carrying roller 9 (Figure 3).
Distributing rollers - turn in the side frames of the machine, and motion
is communicated to them by a large cog wheel K on the shaft E through
the medium of flanged pinions S, Figure 1, which are arranged to move
to and fro freely on stationary pins s', the cog wheel K, as shown in
Figure 2, being secured to its shaft in an inclined position, so that as it

page_text: turns the distributing rollers will be rotated, and at the same time will.
have a longitudinal reciprocating motion imparted to them. The inking.
rollers t, and rollers t, turn in radial arms L, which are attached to the
side frames A. and A. by screws v, the latter passing through the slots v',
which permit the arms to move longitudinally to a limited extent from i
or towards the centre of the shaft E (scc Figures 3 and 4). A cam
wheel P turns freely on the shaft E at each end of the cylinder D, each
wheel being turned from the shaft E at a much slower rate of speed than
the cylinder by means of the train of pinions wo and an internal cog
wheel 20' (see Figure 4). A cam groove x, or rather an annular groove, ]
the continuity of which is interrupted by five cams at equal distances
apart, is formed in each of the wheels P, and a pin y projecting from
each of the radial arms L enters. this.groove. The rollers are carried
"
.
by the arms L, and the ink is conveyed by these rollers from the
rollers 7 and deposited on the rollers r, and as the latter have a 1
longitudinal reciprocating as well as a rotary motion the rollers & when
in contact with them are thoroughly inked.
:
The highest and the lowest inking rollers bear on separate forms
simultaneously while the other rollers are clear of the forms; but while
any one of the intermediate inking rollers is acting on a form all the a
others are clear of the forms which they have to ink, this operation of
the different inking rollers at different intervals being effected by the
cam wheels P acting on the arms L, or by other equivalent mechanism.
The operation of this machine is as follows:-As before remarked,
the surface of the cylinder G is subdivided by longitudinal grooves into 2
five segmental platens, which in Figure 3 aro numbered respectively
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, while the forms m, m³, m³, m³, and m consist of type
for printing the letters DUNKS, the colors supposed to be employed
being red, blue, green, yellow, and black, arranged as indicated in the
Drawing. The several parts of the machine being in the position a
illustrated in Figuro 3, sheets of paper, each no larger than one of the
segmental platens, are placed on the inclined platform Z, and the
cylinders are then caused to revolve in the direction of their arrows.
.
The first operation is the scizing of a sheet of paper by the uppermost
nippers. This is caused by one arm of the lever ƒ of the said nippers
coming in contact with the stationary pin k, Figure 1, on the frame A,
which moves the nippers towards the adjacent rod d, so that the paper is
grasped between them. The nippers having thus scized the paper will,
.

page_text: as the cylinders and wheels continue to turn, gradually find their way
into the nearest longitudinal groove 6, Figure 3, and-the-segment-1 of
the cylinder G will act as a platen for this first sheet of paper while, an
impression is imparted to it by the form m of the cylinder D, when that
platen and that form. arrive at such a relative position that the form will
roll over and in contact with the paper backed by that platen; in
other words, when the form and platen are simultaneously and¯-at-the
same speed crossing the line 2, Figuro 3, drawn through the centres
of the shafts E and F. It will be understood that prior to this
impression being made by the form m on the paper the red inking
apparatus liad been brought to bear against the form by means of
the mechanism described above, Figure 3 of the Drawing showing
the red inking rollers in contact with the form m, hence the
impression imparted to the paper will be a red letter "D" (see
diagram Figure 7). The sheet, still held by the first-mentioned nippers,
is carried around with the same, and moves in the arc of a circle equal
to one-sixth of its circumference, while the cylinder G moves in the arc
of a circle of the same extent as that traversed by the nippers, but
equal to one-fifth only of the circumference of the platen cylinder G;
hence, when the sheet of paper is brought to a position to receive
the second impression from the form m¹ which is a type of the
letter "U" previously inked with the blue inking apparatus, the
segment marked 2 of the cylinder G will be the platen for the
paper while it is receiving its impression which will be a blue "U."
The paper is carried round a third time and is transferred to the
segmental platen 3 to receive the impression of a green "N" from
the form m². It is then a fourth time carried round and is transferred
to the segmental platen 4 to receive a yellow impression of the
letter "K" from the form m³, and is finally carried round a fifth
time and transferred to the segmental platen 5 to receive a black
impression of the letter "S" from the form m². The sheet having.
now received the desired number of different colored impressions
it becomes necessary to release it, which is accomplished in the
following manner :—
The nin 1 Figure 4 is the notustine medium for releasing the

page_text: thereby turning the rod e, opening one of the nippers, and releasing
the sheet of paper. But it will be borne in mind that there are six
nippers, cach of which makes one-sixth of a revolution while the
pin is making but one-fifth of a rovolution; hence, any one set
of nippers is never in the proper position to be acted on by the
pin, through the medium of mechanism described, until it has
completed five revolutions when it reaches a point to be acted on
by the pin of the lever the moment the latter is operated by the
pin Z. After one set of nippers lias been thus operated they are
carried around; in the opened condition until they arrive at a point
ready to seize another sheet of paper in the manner described above.
.
'
"
Hitherto I have referred to one sheet of paper only as being carried
around five times, in order to receive five impressions of different colors;
but it will be seen that there are six nippers to five segmental platens
and forms, and that during the operation of the machine five nippers
are in active duty, cach holding and carrying a sheet of paper, while the
sixth is discharging a sheet, and remaining open preparatory to seizing
another. One completely printed sheet of paper is thus discharged from
the machine at every revolution of the platen and form cylinders.
'
As before remarked, the simple letters DUNKS have been illustrated
and referred to with the view of simplifying the description of the
machine's operation. If properly engraved blocks be substituted for these
simple letters, cách block imparting different colors and forms to the
paper, claborate. colored pictures may be produced; and the capacity of
the machine for the production of ornamental and pictorial objects in
different colors may be increased by an increased number of inking
apparatus, and a corresponding increase in the number of forms and
segmental platens, the nippers in all cases being one in excess of tho
number of forms, and these nippers moving in a circle larger than and
eccentric with that in which the platen roller traverses; for on this the
most important feature of the said Invention depends, namely that of
transferring a sheet of paper from one platen to another, so that each
form may have its own platen. The importance of this feature will be
understood when it is borne in mind that each platen may require an
independent backing up, in order to bring out the proper impression from
the form appropriated to its platen, and it is only by transferring the
sheet of paper. from one platen to another that this important end can.
be attained, for; if the paper remained during the operation of the
1

page_text: machine in contact with the same platen to receive the impression_of
different forms requiring different backing, the result would be a series
of more or less imperfect impressions, and a blurred and unfinished
picture.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination of the form cylinder D, the cylinder G divided
into as many segmental platens as there are forms on the said cylinder
D and nippers constructed in the manner described, or any equivalent
for the same, but in number one in excess of that of the forms or
segmental platens and arranged to revolve in a circle larger in diameter
than but eccentric to that of the platen roller, all substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
Secondly. The grooves or channels 6 of the cylinder G and intervening
segmental platens in combination with the series of nippers, so many in
number in respect to the grooves and revolving in a course so eccentric
with that of the cylinder that each set of nippers will transfer a sheet
from one platen to another and will find its way from one groove to
another, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Thirdly. The said revolving nippers moving in a circle eccentric to the
cylinder G having segmental platens, in number one less than that of
the nippers, in combination with the devices herein described or any
equivalent for the same, by the aid of which the paper carried by any
one set of nippers shall be released, but not before it has been carried
round as many times as there are platens on the said cylinder.
In witness whereof; I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day
of February One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.