Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Printing in Colours.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Printing in Colours.
A communication from abroad by PAUL AUGUSTE-GODCHAUX, of 10, Rue de la
Douane, Paris, in the Republic of France, Printer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County
of Middlesex, Civil 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:-
This invention relates to a new machine for printing in various colours either by
typography or lithography or simultaneously by both. This machine can also print
copper plate or simultaneously lithography and copper plate, or typography and
copper plate, or lithography, typography and copper plate simultaneously.
Referring to the accompanying five sheets of drawings and to the figures and
letters of reference marked thereon,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed and arranged according to
this invention and consisting of five printing appliances grouped on a common
frame.
Figures 2 and 3 are views similar to Figure 1, the printing appliances in these
views being so arranged that the paper to be printed upon takes in each case, as
hereinafter described, a different course.
Figure 4 is a view of a portion of the frame of the machine and its adjacent parts
showing how the pressing rollers are driven.
Figures 5 and 6 show varied tracks which the paper may follow and are herein-
after more fully explained.
Figures 7 and 8 show an arrangement for connecting the sheet of paper with the
pressing cylinder.
Figures 9 and 10 are views showing the mode of inking and the bearings for the
pressing cylinders.
Figure 11 shows the printing cylinder covered with belts or straps and
discs.
This machine is composed essentially of five groups of printing cylinders and of
pressure cylinders G' G2 G3 G4 G5, each of these groups being supplied with a
complete inking system.
One of the characteristic points of this invention is that all the printing cylinders
are actuated by means of the same gearing A³.
The printing cylinder I', of the first group G¹ receives its motion from the
gearing A by means of the cog wheel B', which is mounted on a head piece in such
a way as to be able to suit all sizes of paper.
The printing cylinder I", of the second group receives its motion by means of the
gearing B, and the same for the other printing rollers.
5
With this machine there can be printed,
1. Five colours on the same side of the sheet.
2. Two colours on one side, and three on the other.
3. One colour on one side and four on the other.
Figure 1 of the drawings annexed hereto represents the machine printing five
colours on one side of the sheet. The paper wound on the spool P³ passes first over
a little guide roll a³. It is printed first by the printing cylinder I", then from there
it passes over a little guide roll 5; it is printed on by the cylinder 1 passes over
the guide roll c, goes over the printing cylinder I", then over the guide roll d³,
from thence to the printing cylinder I', over the guide e" and then to the printing
5

page_text: roller 1'. From thence it passes over a little roll f' and from there to the cutting
device.
Figure 2 represents the course of the paper when two colours are being printed
on one side and three on the other.
5
5
The paper starting from the spool P', is printed first on I then on I" from there
on I then on I, and then on I.
$
5
It will be seen that the printing cylinders I and I", print both of them on
the same side of the sheet, (the obverse for instance) the three other printing
cylinders I, I, I, printing on the opposite side of the sheet (the reverse for
instance).
Figure 3 indicates the course of the paper which is printed in one colour on one
side and four colours on the other side. The paper starts from the spool P", passes
over the printing cylinder 1", which prints it on one side (obverse for instance) then
from thence passes over the cylinders I, I, I, I, which all print it on the other
side (the reverse for instance).
5
In all three movements of the paper which have just been described, the printing
cylinders turn always in the same direction with the exception of the printing
cylinder I which must turn in the second and third cases in a reverse way to its
direction in the first case.
5
For this purpose a secondary gearing F, Figure 3, is fixed on the frame
which engages, if desired, with a gearing B", having the position shown on the
drawings.
In the case in which the five colours are printed on the same side, the printing
cylinder I" is actuated direct by the gearing B", which itself receives its motion
from the large gear wheel A³. In the two latter cases on the contrary, the printing
cylinder I" is driven by the gearing F actuated by the gearing B", placed in the
position B, the latter being driven by the wheel A°.
5°
Figure 4 of the drawings shows the mode of driving the pressure cylinder Pr
It will be seen that the wheel A drives the gearing B, which in turn actuates the
gearing G, mounted on one of the two ends of the shaft of the printing cylinder I",
which has at its other extremity a cog wheel D", actuating the wheel Ev, mounted
on the axle of the pressure cylinder 1.
It will be thus seen that the appliance works regularly, and that the pressure
cylinder and the printing cylinder have exactly the same rotary speed.
Figure 5 of the drawings is a sketch of an arrangement of rollers a little different
from that represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and which with equal facility allows of
printing either five colours on the same side as shown in full lines, or four colours
on one side and one on the other as shown in dotted lines.
As was mentioned at the commencement, this machine may be used to print in
either lithography or typography or in copper plate, or these two methods of printing
combined.
When it is desired to print in copper plate, the cylinder carrying the block is
replaced by an engraved cylinder.
The mode of inking may be altered and any of the known methods of inking
machines for printing in copper plate may be substituted, such for instance as a
hopper with the cylinder being rubbed by a metallic or india rubber scraper. The
inking can also be done by means of thick ink applied by rags. When the inking
is done by means of rags. mandrels are employed which rest on the cylinders under
the pressure of springs, counterweights or of levers. The mandrels have a back and
forward motion, and have, on the part which does the rubbing, a soft material such
as cloth or india rubber. An endless cloth passes over these mandrels and rubs the
cylinder, leaving the ink in the grooves.
For pressing the paper against each pressure cylinder, the following arrangement
is employed:
Figure 6 represents a machine having four cylinders printing the sheet of paper
on one side only. If it be desired to print both sides, it is only necessary to
double the machine or to cause the printed sheet to pass into a second machine

page_text: similar to the first one. For all these particulars it is only necessary to refer to
the English Patent of Mr. Paul Auguste-Godchaux No. 522 of 1890.
From Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the course of
the paper which starts from the spool Z is a little different than that shown in the
Patent No. 522 of 1890, but this point is of secondary importance and the
characteristic arrangement of this new machine consists in that, instead of placing
pressure roll R R', only at the point where the paper arrives at the pressure
cylinder, two N¹ N', are also placed at the point of exit. In order not to spoil the
impression, the rollers N' N', are provided with sleeves or washers so as to press
only on the blank parts of the paper, or they may be grooved or have one of the
various forms described in the aforesaid English Patent No. 522 of 1890. In
Figure 6, the printing cylinders are designated by the letters 1' 12 13 14 and the
pressure cylinders by P1 P2 P3 P4.
2
R¹ R² R³ R', R₁₁R', R', R', are either smooth or grooved rolls placed where the
paper first comes on the pressure cylinder; N' N₁ N₁, N₁ are smooth or grooved
rollers placed where the paper leaves. In the annexed drawings, there are only
rolls where the paper leaves the printing cylinders I¹ and 14, but is evident that
they could be also placed where it leaves the printing cylinders I* and 13.
The guide rollers G, being placed on the unprinted side of the paper, can be
plain. The guide roll G¹ has sleeves or washers."
In the arrangement just described, the paper forms absolutely one with the
pressure cylinders, and the difference of pressure, which exists in consequence of
the blanks in the blocks or of the parts being unequally impressed by the movement,
is largely compensated for by the series of rolls.
This system consists in connecting as much as possible the sheet of paper with the
pressure cylinder by any suitable means.
One of the most simple and practical will now be described, but any other suitable
method may be employed for the purpose, for instance, a flexible chain of metal or
other material, an endless strip of steel, a belt or strap. Figure 7 represents these
arrangements. On the left hand side, a flexible chain is shown, and on the right
hand, a belt, though in actual practice the arrangement is similar.
The various endless bands are stretched over rollers a b, one of which bis
adjustable as may be required in order to ensure the tension.
As is shown on Figure 8, these bands are placed in the blank parts of the
impression like the sleeves or washers of the pressure rolls R' R² etc. It will be
noted that the two first of these rolls R¹ and R¹, may be plain on all the width of
the paper, as the latter is not yet printed, and the same as regards the bands.
As will have already been seen, in order that the register may be good it is
necessary that the paper shall form one with the pressure cylinder. The arrange-
ment represented in Figure 11 allows of this result being easily obtained. On the
printing cylinder, belts or straps A B C of leather or other material are fixed.
Discs of any suitable metal can also be made use of. These straps or discs are
exactly the thickness of the blocks D E and are placed at the parts where the
paper must remain blank, in the margins for instance. It is easily understood that
the paper thus remains perfectly pressed between the pressure cylinder and the
printing cylinder.
All the arrangements described in the English Patent above referred to No. 522
of 1890 are applicable for lithographic printing in colours. The only modifications
that are to be applied to the arrangements previously described relate: (a) to the
inking, (b) the bearings and case of the pressure cylinders, and (c) the printing
cylinder.
(a.) The mode of inking employed is purely and simply the same as that employed
in flat machines; t are the inking cylinders, the printing rollers; E the ink
holder; M are the moisteners (Figure 9).
(b.) For lithographic impressions, the pressure is obtained by means of levers or
of springs which serve to regulate the amount of pressure. In order to act on the

page_text: bearings of the pressure cylinder, springs or levers can also be used. Figures 9
and 10 represent one of these arrangements.
(c.) For lithographic impressions, the exterior surface of this printing cylinder
may be of stone, or any metal capable of taking lithographic transfers such as zinc,
or any other.
Apart from these modifications, everything described for typographic machines
applies equally to lithographic machines.
This machine can also be combined in such a way that it is possible at the same
time to print lithographically and typographically. For instance, in a machine of
five colours there may be two typographic cylinders and three lithographic
cylinders. According to the number of cylinders any desired combination can be
obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what. I claim is:
"I
1. The machine for printing in five colours shown in Figure and composed
essentially of five groups of printing cylinders driven by the same cog wheel A³
actuating the intermediate gearings B which drive the printing rollers, as shown in
Figure 4, Sheet 4.
2. The machine for printing in five colours, namely, three on one side and two on
the other, or four on the one side and one on the other, as shown on Figures 2
and 3 and consisting essentially in a group of five printing cylinders driven by the
cog wheel A actuating the intermediate gearings B which drive the printing
rollers except printing roller 1", which has a movement in a contrary direction to
the movement of the others, and which is obtained by means of an intermediate
gearing F5.
3. In a machine for printing in five colours, the arrangement of parts in the
manner represented by Figure 5.
4. The machine for printing in typography or lithography, or simultaneously in
typography and lithography, the whole as described above.
5. In a printing machine such as hereinbefore described, the employment of any
one of the following parts:
4
(a) Pressure rollers N, N₁ N, N, placed at the point where the paper leaves
the pressure cylinder.
(b) A flexible chain placed on rollers for the purpose of holding the paper.
(c) A belt serving to hold the paper, and placed over rollers.
6. The method of pressing the paper between the printing cylinders and the
pressure cylinders by means of belts or straps A. B C, Figure 11.
Dated this 7th day of May 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.