IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Cº Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES" to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to printing machines of that class which make two or
more impressions upon each sheet before it is delivered, and has for its object to
secure a very perfect register of the several impressions, and to provide.a machine
which is very compact and occupies but little space, and one which is comparatively
simple in construction.
The said Invention comprises the combination with a number of separate pairs of
form and impression cylinders arranged in a circular series, of a rotary series of
grippers for presenting the sheets successively to the several pairs of cylinders in
the series.
It also comprises the combination with two or more pairs of form and impression
cylinders, arranged in a circular series, of a rotary annular gripper-carriage and
attached grippers, for presenting sheets successively to the pairs of cylinders.
It also comprises the combination with two or more pairs of form and impression.
cylinders, of a centre shaft, a gear-wheel thereon, gear-wheels on the several
cylinders engaging with the wheels on the said centre shaft and a rotary gripper-
carriage and attached grippers for presenting sheets successively to the pairs
cylinders.
of
It also comprises the combination with two or more pairs of form and impression
cylinders, of a rotary gripper-carriage for presenting sheets successively to the pairs
of cylinders, toothed rings comprised in the said carriage, and gear wheels on the
shafts of the cylinders engaging with the said rings and operating the gripper
carriage.
It also comprises the combination with pairs of form and impression cylinders
arranged in a circular series, of a rotary gripper-carriage for presenting sheets
successively to the pairs of cylinders, and devices for relieving the impression
cylinders or moving them away from their form cylinders, to provide for double
rolling or inking of the form cylinders.
+

page_text: It also comprises the combination with pairs of form and impression cylinders
arranged in a circular series, the impression cylinders being arranged inwards of the
form cylinders, and a rotary gripper-carriage for presenting sheets successively to
the pairs of cylinders, of a centre shaft from which the cylinders derive motion,
plungers or rods acting on the bearings of the impression-cylinders, and cams on
the said centre shaft for controlling the said plungers or rods to relieve the
impression cylinders for double rolling or inking.
The said Invention consists partly in making the cams above referred to, each of
two sections or plates, one of which is circumferentially adjustable relatively to the
other, whereby provision is afforded for changing the form of each cam by simply
adjusting one of its sections or plates circumferentially relatively to the other.
When the two plates or sections of a cam are in one position to which they may
be adjusted they form a cam having a true circular periphery which holds the
impression cylinders outwards continuously, and adapts the machine for single rolling
or inking; but when the plates or sections are in the other position to which they 1
may be adjusted they form a cam having projections which will relieve the
impression-cylinders and adapt the machine for double rolling or inking.
În carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a bed-plate whereon side
frames are secured. A shaft is supported in bearings, in the said side frames, and
forms the centre about which are arranged the several pairs of form and impression
cylinders. Several pairs of form and impression cylinders may be used. Each
form-cylinder and its impression-cylinder forms a pair separate from and independent
of, the others, and each form cylinder has a separate inking apparatus which may
be of any suitable character. The inking devices for all the form cylinders are
alike.
The several pairs of form and impression cylinders are arranged in a circular
series,about the centre shaft.
The several form cylinders are mounted in bearings or boxes and the several
impression cylinders are mounted in bearings all of which are secured in the side
frames.
The cylinders of each pair are geared together by spur wheels; the inner wheels
of the several pairs gear into a large spur wheel on the centre shaft.
The cylinders might be operated by other arrangements of gearing.
Upon the end of the centre shaft, opposite the central spur wheel, is a second
spur wheel with which engages a pinion on a counter or driving shaft provided
with fast and loose pulleys for the reception of a driving belt.
A feed-board is provided from which the sheets are fed and a delivery board may
be arranged above the feed board.
-
In connection with the pairs of form and impression cylinders arranged in a
circular series, I may employ a rotary circular or annular gripper-carriage or
circular series of grippers. A rotary gripper-carriage of simple and desirable
construction consists of two large rings arranged concentrically with the centre
shaft and mounted on friction rollers, projecting from the side frames. When so
mounted the rings are free to rotate with but little resistance from friction. The
two rings are connected by gripper-rods or shafts, each carrying gripper-fingers,
and by bars or rods on which the said gripper fingers close and hold the sheets.
The gripper rods extend from one ring to the other.. Proision for the passage of
the said rods between the cylinders of each pair is afforded by cavities in the
peripheries of the said cylinders. As the rods are brought between the cylinders
of a pair they are received in the cavities in which they are passed between the
cylinders. The rings are arranged just 'outside of the ends of the cylinders and
inside the frames. Each of the said rings has a toothed periphery, and upon both
ends of each form cylinder are pinions or wheels which engage with the said rings
and so rotate the gripper carriage. Instead of providing each form cylinder with
driving wheels for engaging with the rings I may provide such wheels on one
cylinder only. The gripper-carriage might be rotated by other mechanism thaṇ
that described, if desired.
:

page_text: I have described only four gripper rods corresponding to four pairs of form and
impression cylinders, but, if desired, more than four pairs of cylinders and sets of
grippers may be employed, or three pairs of cylinders might suffice for many
purposes. Indeed, in cases where but two impressions are required, I may employ
two pairs of cylinders in connection with a rotary gripper-carriage.
Upon the end of each gripper rod is a tumbler or arm and upon the adjacent
side frame are two projections, forming stationary cams which act on these
tumblers to turn the gripper rods, and so open and close the gripper fingers. Each
rod may be acted upon by the usual spring to hold the gripper-fingers closed.
When the gripper rods approach the feed-board the grippers are open, but as the
sheet is fed to them the tumbler strikes one of the projections and so turns the
rods to close the gripper fingers on the sheet. The sheet is then carried forward
and presented successively to the cylinders of the several pairs, and as it
approaches the delivery board the tumbler strikes the other projection and is
moved so as to turn the gripper rod and open the gripper fingers to release the
sheet, which is delivered onto the board, the gripper fingers remaining open to take
the next sheet fed to them.
So far as described the machine might be used for printing where an impression
from each form cylinder is required, but I will now describe how the machine may
be adapted for taking impressions from each revolution of the cylinders or from
alternate revolutions only, thus adapting the machine for single or double rolling or
inking.
The bearings of each impression cylinder are movable slightly towards, and
from, the centre shaft, and when not pressed outwards, move automatically inwards.
The impression cylinders of the two upper pairs will move inwards by gravity, but
those of the two lower pairs are moved inwards by springs acting on their
bearings.
The bearings of each impression cylinder are acted upon by plungers or push
rods, arranged on the inner sides of the side frames, and the inner ends of these
plungers or push rods are provided with anti-friction rollers, which bear upon
cams secured to the centre shaft adjacent to each side frame.
Each cam is
composed of two plates. One plate is provided with a single bolt-hole and the
other with two holes. One plate may be turned or adjusted circumferentially
relatively to the other and they are then connected by a bolt.
When this bolt is inserted through the two holes the projections of the two
plates will coincide and they will then constitute a cam having two projections,
and the machine will be adapted for double rolling or inking and for taking
impressions at alternate revolutions of the cylinders only. When thus operated,
the sheets, in feeding, will be presented to alternate grippers only. When the
bolt, is inserted through two other holes the projections of one plate, will cover the
gaps in the other, and the two plates will then form a continuous cam, having a
true circular periphery holding the impression cylinders outwards continuously.
The machine will then be adapted for single rolling or inking and the sheets in
feeding, are presented to all the grippers, as they severally pass the feed board.
This machine is very compact, occupying but little room, and is comparatively
simple in construction. I secure a perfect registering of the several impressions
and can readily adapt it for either single or double rolling or inking. It is also
capable of doing very rapid work.

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES" 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 printing machines of that class which make two or
more impressions upon each sheet before it is delivered, and has for its object to
secure a very perfect register of the several impressions and to provide a machine
which is very compact and occupies but little space, and one which is comparatively
simple in construction.
•
The said Invention comprises the combination with a number of separate pairs
of form and impression cylinders arranged in a circular series, of a rotary series of
grippers for presenting the sheets successively to the several pairs of cylinders in
the series. :
It also comprises the combination with two or more pairs of form and impression
cylinders, arranged in a circular series, of a rotary annular gripper carriage and
attached grippers, for presenting sheets successively to the pairs of cylinders.
It also comprises the combination with two or more pairs of form and impression
cylinders, of a centre shaft, a gear wheel thereon, gear wheels on the several
cylinders engaging with the wheels on the said centre shaft, and a rotary gripper-
carriage, and attached grippers for presenting sheets successively to the pairs of
cylinders.
It also comprises the combination with two or more pairs of form and impression
cylinders, of a rotary gripper carriage for presenting sheets successively to the
pairs of cylinders, toothed rings comprised in the said carriage, and gear wheels on
the shafts of the cylinders engaging with the said rings and operating the gripper
carriage.
It also comprises the combination with pairs of form and impression cylinders
arranged in a-circular series, of a rotary gripper carriage for presenting sheets
successively to the pairs of cylinders, and devices for relieving the impression
cylinders or moving them away from their form cylinders, to provide for double
rolling or inking of the form cylinders.
It also comprises the combination with pairs of form and impression cylinders
arranged in a circular series, the impression cylinders being arranged inwards of
the form cylinders, and a rotary gripper carriage for presenting sheets successively
to the pairs of cylinders, of a centre shaft from which the cylinders derive motion,
plungers or rods acting on the bearings of the impression cylinders, and cams on
the said centre shaft for controlling the said plungers or rods to relieve the
impression cylinders for double rolling or inking.
The said Invention consists partly in making the cains above referred to each of
two sections or plates, one of which is circumferentially adjustable relatively to the
other, whereby provision is afforded for changing the form of each cam by simply
adjusting one of its sections or plates circumferentially relatively to the other.
When the two plates of sections of a cam are in one position to which they may
be adjusted, they form a cam having a true circular periphery which holds the
impression cylinders outwards continuously, and adapts the machine for single
rolling or inking; but when the plates or sections are in the other position to which
they may be adjusted, they form a cam having projections which will relieve the
impression cylinders and adapt the machine for double rolling or inking.

page_text: '
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a side view of certain parts drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 4 is a detail sectional view drawn to the same scale as Figure 3; and
Figure 5 is a detail view of a cam, two of which are employed to hold the
impression cylinders against their form cylinders, as hereinafter described.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A indicates the side frames of. the machine and A¹ the bed plate whereon the
side frames are secured.
B indicates the centre shaft of the machine, which shaft is supported in bearings a
in the side frames A. The shaft B forms the centre about which are arranged the
several pairs of form and impression cylinders. As shown in the Drawing four
pairs of form and impression cylinders C, D, are employed. One form cylinder C
and its impression cylinder D constitute a pair separate from, and independent of,
the others, and each form cylinder has a separate inking apparatus, E, which may
be of any suitable character. The inking devices for all the form cylinders are
alike, and I have therefore thought it sufficient to represent in outline the apparatus
for two cylinders only.
The several pairs of form and impression cylinders are arranged in a circular
series about the shaft B. The several form cylinders C, are mounted in bearings
or boxes, b, and the several impression cylinders D are mounted in bearings, c, all
of which are secured in the side frames A.
The cylinders of each pair are rotated in the same manner and I have therefore
in Figure 1 shown the gearing for operating, the lower right hand and upper left
hand pairs of cylinders only.
The cylinders of each pair are geared together by spur wheels C¹, D¹, and the.
wheels D¹, of the several pairs all gear into a large spur wheel B' on the centre
shaft B. The cylinders may obviously be operated by other suitable arrangement
of gearing.
Upon the end of the centre shaft B opposite the wheel B₁ is a spur wheel B
with which engages a pinion F, on a counter or driving shaft F¹ provided with fast
and loose pulleys F, F, for the reception of a driving belt.
G indicates the feed board from which the sheets are fed, and H the delivery
board which is arranged above the feed board.
In connection with the pairs of form and impression cylinders arranged in a
circular series, I may employ a rotary, circular, or annular gripper carriage or
circular series of grippers. I have shown, a rotary gripper carriage of simple and
desirable construction. It consists of two large rings I arranged concentric with
the centre shaft B, and mounted on friction rollers, d, projecting from the side
frames A, as best shown in Figure 1. When so mounted the rings are free to
rotate with but little resistance from friction. The two rings I, are connected by.
gripper rods or shafts e each carrying gripper fingers e¹ and by bars or rods, f, on
which the said gripper fingers close and hold the sheets. The two bars, ef, are
best shown in Figure 2, and extend from one ring to the other. Provision for the
passage of the bars e, f, between the cylinders C, D, of each pair is afforded by
cavities s in the peripheries of the said cylinders. As the bars, e, f, are brought
between the cylinders of a pair they are received in the cavities 's, in which they
are passed between the cylinders. The rings are arranged just outside of the ends
of the cylinders, C, D and inside the side frames A. Each of the said rings has a
toothed periphery and upon both ends of each form cylinder .C are pinions or
wheels gwhich engage with the said rings and so rotate the gripper carriage.
Instead of providing each form cylinder with driving wheels for engaging with the
rings I may provide such wheels on one cylinder only. The gripper carriage might
be rotated by other mechanism than that described if desired.
8
As shown in the Drawing there are four gripper rods e, corresponding to the four
pairs of form and impression cylinders, but, if desired,, more than four pairs of

page_text: I
cylinders and sets of grippers may be employed, or three pairs of cylinders might
suffice for many purposes. Indeed, in cases where but two impressions are required,
may employ two pairs of cylinders in connection with a rotary gripper carriage.
Upon the end of each gripper rod e is a tumbler or arm h, and upon the adjacent
side frame A are projections i, j, forming, stationary cams which act on these
tumblers to turn the gripper rods, e and so open and close the gripper fingers e.
Each rod e may be acted upon by the usual spring e, shown in Figure 2, to hold
the gripper fingers closed. When the gripper rods approach the feed board G as
shown in Figure 1, the grippers are open, but as the sheet is fed to them the
tumbler, h strikes the projection, i, and so turns the rods to close the gripper
fingers on the sheet. The sheet is then carried forward and presented successively
to the cylinders of the several pairs and as it approaches the delivery board H, the
tumbler h strikes the projection'j and is moved so as to turn the gripper rode and
open the gripper fingers to release the sheet, which is delivered on to the board H,
the gripper fingers remaining open to take the next sheet fed to them.
. So far as described the machine might be used for printing where an impression
from each form-cylinder is required, but I will now describe how the machine may
be adapted for taking impressions from each revolution of the cylinders or from
alternate revolutions only, thus adapting the machine for single or double rolling or
inking.
The bearings C of each impression cylinder are movable slightly towards and
from the centre shaft B and when not pressed outwards, move automatically
inwards. The impression cylinders of the two upper pairs will move inwards by
gravity, but those of the two lower pairs are moved inwards by springs k, acting on
their bearings c, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
The bearings c of each impression cylinder D are acted upon by plungers or push
rods J arranged on the inner sides of the frames A as best shown in Figures 3 and 4
and the inner ends of these plungers or push rods are provided with antifriction
rollers, which bear upon cams K secured to the centre shaft B adjacent to each
side frame A. Each cam K is composed of two plates mm of the form shown in
Figure 5. One plate is provided with a single bolt hole m³ and the other with two
holes m³ m³. One plate may be turned or adjusted circumferentially relatively to
the other and they are then connected by a bolt n. When this bolt n is inserted
through the holes m² m², the projections of the two plates will coincide, as shown
in Figure 3, and they will then constitute a cam having two projections, and the
machine will be adapted for double rolling or inking and for taking impressions at
alternate revolutions of the cylinders only. When thus operated, the sheets, in
feeding will be presented to alternate grippers only. When the bolt n is inserted
through the holes m¹ m³, the projections of one plate m will cover the gaps in the
other, and the two plates will then form a continuous cam, having a true circular
periphery holding the impression cylinders outwards continuously. The machine
will then be adapted for single rolling or inking and the sheets in feeding, are
presented to all the grippers as they severally pass the feed board.
It will be seen that this machine is very compact, occupying but little room,
and that it is comparatively simple in construction. I secure a perfect registering
of the several impressions and can readily adapt it for either single or double
rolling or inking. It is also capable of doing very rapid work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
•
3.
First. The combination with a number of separate pairs of form and impression
cylinders arranged in a circular series, of a rotary series of grippers for presenting
the sheets successively to the several pairs of cylinders in the series, substantially
as described.
Second. The combination with two or more pairs of form and impression
oylinders arranged in a circular series, of a rotary annular gripper carriage and.
-
.

page_text: attached grippers, for presenting sheets successively to the pairs of cylinders,
substantially as described.
Third. The combination with two or more pairs of form and impression cylinders,,
of a centre shaft, a gear wheel thereon, gear wheels on the several cylinders,
engaging with the wheel on the said centre shaft, and a rotary gripper carriage
and attached grippers, for presenting sheets successively to the pairs of cylinders,
substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with two or more pairs of form and impression
cylinders, of a rotary gripper carriage for presenting sheets successively to the
pairs of cylinders, toothed rings comprised in the said carriage and gear wheels
upon the shafts of the cylinders engaging with the said rings and operating the
gripper carriage, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the pairs. of form and impression cylinders C, D,
arranged in a circular series, the the centre shaft B and its gear wheel B¹, the
wheels C, D¹ gearing the cylinders of each pair together, and with the wheel B¹,
the toothed rings I comprised in the gripper carriage, and the wheels g on the
shafts of the form cylinders engaging with and driving the said rings, substantially
as described.
Sixth. The combination with pairs of form and impression cylinders arranged
in a circular series, of a rotary gripper carriage for presenting sheets successively
to the pairs of cylinders, and devices substantially such as described for relieving
the impression cylinders to provide for double rolling or inking, substantially as
set forth.
Seventh. The combination with pairs of form and impression cylinders arranged
in a circular series, and a rotary gripper carriage for presenting sheets successively
to the pairs of cylinders, of a centre shaft from which the cylinders derive motion,
plungers or rods acting on the bearings of the impression cylinders, and cams on
the said centre shaft for controlling the said plungers or rods to releive the
impression cylinders for double rolling or inking, substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination with the centre shaft B, pairs of form and impression
cylinders deriving motion therefrom, and a rotary gripper carriage for-presenting
sheets successively to the pairs of cylinders, of the plungers J acting on the
bearings of the impression cylinders, and the cam K, on the said shaft B, composed
of the plates or sections m m one of which is circumferentially adjustable
relatively to the other, substantially as described.