Improvements in Machinery for Printing Cylindrical Objects."
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1896-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Machinery for Printing Cylindrical Objects."
We GOTTFRIED EICKHOFF, Machine Manufacturer, and PETER ERNST THEODOR JUHL,
Machine Constructor, both of 97 Vesterbrogade, Copenhagen, Denmark, 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 improved printing machinery for impressing 1, 2 or more
printing formes generally having a corresponding number of colours, on the cylindrical
surfaces of preserve tins, bottles and other cylindrical objects, or, by using lacker,
gum &c. instead of colours to give the objects a coating of lacker &c.
The peculiar features of the said machinery are that during the printing process
the objects to be printed are held in a definite position by means of 2 or more sets
of cylindrical guiding discs or rollers or parts of such, all or some of these guiding
discs, which, with their peripheries touch the object to be printed being rotated
around their axes to that they revolve in the same direction and with the same
circumferential speed, and by friction impart a rotary movement to the object to
be printed while the other guiding discs are put in motion by frictional contact with
the object to be printed.
The printing takes place by means of one or more formes placed upon cylinders,
or segments of cylinders, so that they offer cylindrical printing surfaces which
during the above mentioned rotation of the object to be printed, come in contact
with the latter, while a rotation is simultaneously imparted to the cylinders such
that the printing surfaces turn in the same direction and at the same, or alınost the
same circumferential speed as the object to be printed and the guiding discs.
By a set of guiding discs or rollers is understood either one disc or roller or two or
more whose axes are approximately in liue, so that their places of contact with the
object to be printed are approximately in a straight line parallel with the axes of
the object.
The different discs of a set may either have each their separate axis or several of
them may be connected together or placed on the same body for instance on the
printing cylinder in which case they may take the form of more or less broad
annular ledges or rims placed on the cylinders. The guiding discs or rims are
generally so placed that their edges come into contact with the object to be printed
outside the surfaces upon which the impression is to be made, but they may also
touch the object within the surface to be printed and even, by supplying them
with colour they may be used themselves for printing upon the object.
In certain cases for instance when the object to be printed upon has sufficient
weight to give the necessary pressure against the printing formes in which case it
can rest free on top of the cylinders and the guiding discs these parts and the
mechanisms necessary for their rotation, together with the inking device will be all
that is necessary for the construction of a serviceable machine inasmuch as the
object to be printed can be directly put in position and removed by the hand. In
the majority of cases, however, it will be necessary during the printing to have the
object to be printed so surrounded by guiding discs, that by means of certain

page_text: arrangements nomentary opportunity is given (when printing does not take place)
to place in position or remove the objects to be printed either by hand, or if special
speed is desired by certain mechanical contrivances.
On the accompanying drawing are shown various arrangements for carrying out
the above mentioned invention, partly, such which permit the object to be placed
between the guiding discs and again removed by hand, partly such in which this
function is performed by special mechanisms.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section of a machine (in the position for printing) for the
direct introduction and removal of the object to be printed.
Figure 2 shows a side view partly in section and
Figure 3 shows a vertical section of the machine while in position for introducing
the object to be printed.
In the printing position in figure 1 the object to be printed L is carried by the
sets of guiding discs b₁ b₁, b, bg, B, B, and eventually by B₂ B The two first men-
tioned sets are here connected respectively with the printing cylinders C and C
inasmuch as they only consist of ledges or rins fitted upon these.
Both cylinders are so driven that they turn in the same direction during the
printing and that their guiding disc and forme surfaces have the same circumferen-
tial speed for which purpose for instance they may be supplied with suitable gear
wheels t, t, connected by an interinediate wheel ty, which wheels in figure 1 are only
shown by the pitch line.
As mentioned above the object to be printed is held during the printing process
in a definite position by the guiding discs, and it receives through its contact with
the guiding rims on the cylinders, a rotation around its own axis, during which the
formes ff and ffe situated respectively on the cylinders C₁ and C, make an impression
upon the object. The guiding discs B, B, and B, B., which are not connected with
any special driving mechanism, are also made to revolve through their contact with
the object to be printed.
When both formes have made an impression, the two sets of guiding discs B₁ B₁
and B, B, are brought to the position shown in figure 3 thereby removing the object
which rests upon them, from the printing cylinders so that it is not acted upon any
more by the guiding rims of the latter and may be replaced by another object.
guiding discs B, B, and B, B, are then brought back to the position shown in figure
1 so that the new object may be subjected to the printing process.
The
The movement of the guiding discs B, B, and B, B, may be brought about by
means of mechanisms already known. As an example of such mechanism is here
shown a shaft A, which is acted upon by the printing cylinder C, through two gear
wheels t, and t. On this shaft is fixed a cam E, which, by means of roller R, and
lever a moves the shaft A, and two levers do a connected therewith, so that these
levers in which the axes of the guiding discs B, B, and B, B., are journalled, impart
to the latter the desired movement to and from the printing cylinders.
In order to be able to print with greater surety upon objects which are not com-
pletely cylindrical, the set of guiding discs B, B, may be so placed that, when in the
printing position, figure 1, they are somewhat removed from the object to be printed
so that by means of the discs B, B₁ the object is pressed in between the printing
cylinders and is thus kept in position without assistance of the discs B, B. As
soon as the guiding discs, and with them the object to be printed move away from
the cylinders, the object will also come into contact with the rest upon the
discs B, B..
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a construction of the said machine in which the object to
be printed is brought by means of a special mechanism to the guiding discs and is
again removed from the same when the printing has taken place.
Figures 4 and 5 both show the same vertical section of the machine; figure 4,
however, while the object is in position to be printed, and figure 5 while it is intro-
duced and removed.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of figure 4.
The printing mechanism proper apart from the inking device consists in the most

page_text: primitive form only of the two continuously rotating printing cylinders C, and C, on
which the guiding discs are placed in form of rians b₁ b, and b₂ bu̟.
The mechanism for introducing the object to be printed consists of a shaft A, and
of two bodies M, M, fixed on the same, one on each side of the printing cylinder.
Each body is provided with a certain number (3 in this instance) of arms a, a, a,
equally distributed round the circumference, and is so placed in reference to the shaft
that the arins are situated in pairs opposite each other.
The shaft rests in fixed bearings and rotates either continuously or periodically.
The arms may be provided with curved holders H in which she objects to be
printed can rest.
On the one side of the printing cylinders an inclined surface K, or inclined ledges
straight or curved inclining towards the printing centre may be placed at such a
distance from the shaft of the arms a, that the ends of the latter can just pass by.
When the object to be printed L, figure 5, is placed upon the curved holders Hit
is lowered by the rotation of the axle, and when the arms pass the inclined surface K₁
the object will drop down upon this and resting against the arms will follow these, as
shown with the body L,, figure 5.
By the further movement of the arms the body will roll down the guiding discs
upon the cylinder C, and enter between the printing cylinders (as shown with the
object I, in figure 4) and by contact with the guiding rims it will be made to rotate
and receive the impressions, while the arins a,, against which the object to be printed
rested, have moved further on and are out of contact with the object.
The printing formes f, and f, are so placed upon the cylinders that they make no
impression before the object to be printed has been brought into sure contact with
both sets of guiding dises.
The printing having been performed the next pair of arms reach the object printed
and make it roll up the guiding ledges (see figure 5) of the cylinder C, and out upon
the inclined surface or ledges, K, K, down which it rolls until a suitable position of
rest while at the same time the said arins guide the new object to the printing centre
with their back surfaces.
The rotation of the arms is either continuous, as shown on the drawing for which
purpose they may for instance be driven by means of a toothed wheel t, which gears
with the toothed wheels t, and t, upon the printing cylinders; or the arms may
revolve until they have placed the object to be printed between the cylinders and
they themselves are out of contact with it after which they come to a stand-still
and only move forward again when the printing has been perforined. In the foriner
case the arins must be arranged at a greater distance from each other in order to
give the object time to be printed without being brought in contact with any of
them.
The object to be printed being at times in contact with revolving guiding rims as
well as with the guiding arms the latter do not act directly upon the object but by
means of two small rollers r, and r, which are journalled on the end of each arm and
permit the object to partake of the movement of the guiding rims as soon as it is
brought in contact with these.
The arms may also be used without the curved holders H mentioned above
inasmuch as the objects to be printed may be placed directly upon the inclined
surface behind the arms when these are in a suitable position as shown with dotted
lines at the object L, figure 5.
If the object can not by its own weight be pressed sufficiently closely against the
printing formes to ensure a good impression, a third set of guiding discs B, B, must
be placed above it so that during the printing the object is forced against the
printing formes, which set of guiding discs, when the object is introduced, must
either be forced upwards by the latter or must be raised and lowered by a special
mechanism as shown on the drawing, where the guiding dises B, B, are journalled in
the arms a, a, which in their turn are pivoted to an axle A,, and obtain the desired
motion by means of an arm a,, a roller R, and a cam E.
With the introducing apparatus mentioned it will be difficult to make the impression

page_text: upon an exact place of the circumference of the object to be printed, so that for
instance in the case of repeated printing the object may be printed with a greater
number of harmonizing impressions. This may however, be obtained by the intro-
duction apparatus, described below for which a construction form is shown in side
view at figure 7, in figure 8 in vertical section, and in figure 9 in horizontal
section.
In order to make this apparatus adapted for use some of the sets of guiding discs
must be so placed that the object to be printed can rest upon them, as for instance
in figures 7 and 8, the object L, may rest upon the guiding rims b, b, and b, b, which
are here arranged upon the cylinders C, and C. At the end of the axle of the guiding
discs or the printing cylinders is placed a carrying piece upon which the object to he
printed may be placed before being introduced into the machine so as to lie almost
in continuation of the object upon the guiding dises.
The carrying piece as well as the said guiding discs leave a free space below the
objects to be printed so that a transporter may be provided in this place, for instance
a rod, a leathern belt or the like, which can move forward and backward substantially
in the direction of the axes of the cylinders.
This transporter is so formed on its upper side as to carry the objects to be printed,
and when lifted it takes these away from the carrying piece and the guiding discs
and, by moving in the direction of the axis of the cylinder, carries the objects with it,
so that the one placed upon the carrying piece is removed to the guiding discs and
the one which was lying there is removed to beyond the guiding discs. When the
transporter again descends the first mentioned object is lowered down upon the guiding
discs while the latter may either be removed by hand or be pushed off the transmitter
by means of a suitably arranged striker.
The transporter, being thus freed of both the objects can return unhindered to its
original position, while the guiding dises make the object revolve so that it receives
an impression.
The saine effect may also be obtained when the carrying piece, the guiding dises
on which the object is to rest and the striker move up and down while the transporter
has only a to and fro movement. The main feature is thus only a lengthwise move-
ment of the transporter, and a relative change of the altitude of the carrying piece,
guiding discs and striker on the one hand and of the transporter on the other hand.
By having several printing centres lying in continuation of each other the
transporter can by the movements described, bring the object to be printed from the
carrying piece to the 1st printing centre, by the next movement from 1st to 2nd
centre, and so on to the point of delivery.
If during the printing the guiding discs are to enclose the object to be printed a
part of them must by a special mechanism be moved so much from the printing
position, while the object is introduced, that the room necessary for the free passage
of the object is obtained.
The three figures 7, 8 and 9, which show a machine whose transporter has double-
action correspond-as far as regards the relative position of the mechanisms-to ench
other, while figure 10 which represents a part of the section figure 8, shows the
transporter in another position.
The object L, (figure 8) is carried by the sets of guiding discs b, b, and b, b, (see
figure 7) which are here placed respectively on the printing cylinders C, and C.
Between these cylinders is situated the transporter which consists of a rod 'having
a lengthwise motion in the bearings y y. These are situated on the end of the
mutnally connected arms a, a, pivoted on a shaft A₁. The carrying piece for the
object L, which is to be introduced into the machine is marked G. It is fastened to
the frame S, in which the cylinders C, and C, also have their bearings.
In figures 8 and 9 the transporter z is shown in its position farthest to the right
and, as in figure 7 in its most downward position. The object L, lies on the guiding
rims of the printing cylinders, while the object I, rests upon the carrying piece G₁.
The machine being set in motion the transporter will first raise itself so that it lifts
up L, and L, and will thereupon travel to the left, so that L, comes above the guiding

page_text: rims while L, travels to the left of the printing cylinders, as shown in figure 10. The
transporter is then again lowered so that L is placed upon the guiding rims while I
during the downward motion bears against the striker I and is thereby tilted off the
transporter and rolls down the inclined plane K, to a suitable place of rest.
Above the printing cylinders C, and C, is shewn a third printing cylinder C, with
guiding rims by b. This cylinder rests in bearings N, N, which are here shown in
fixed adjustable connection with the arms a₁, ₁, mentioned below, so that they are
raised and lowered simultaneously with the transporter. When the transporter is
now raised from its lowermost position until it touches the objects to be printed, the
printing cylinder C, has also been raised a little, so that it is out of contact with the
object above the guiding discs, and thus this object is free to follow the transporter.
When after having got into position farthest to the left (figure 10), the latter is
again lowered, the cylinder C, will also be lowered so that its guiding rims come into
contact with the object lying underneath.
This object is now brought into rotation by contact with the cylinders and receives
the impressions of the three printing formes f₁, f, and fs, situated on their respective
printing cylinders.
Meanwhile the transporter travels back and having reached its point of starting
(the position shown in figures 8 and 9) the printing is done and a new period
commences..
Whenever the transporter takes the object from the guiding discs, which carry it,
or delivers it up to these, it is of importance, if not absolutely necessary that the
circumferential speed of the guiding discs be not too great.
In order to obtain this without making the machine work slowly, it is preferable
to drive the printing cylinders by a mechanism which gives them variable speed.
In the present example such a mechanism is shown consisting in a main shaft A₂,
which with a fixed crank ag, and rod and crank p₁, causes a toothed segment a to
swing around P.
The teeth of the segment, shown by the pitch-linė t₁ gear with the gear wheels t₁
and t, on the cylinders C, and C, and which, like all the other toothed wheels in
figure 7, are only shown by the pitch line..
The position of the crank is such that, during the printing process, the cylinders
turn in one direction and then, while the transporter displaces the object, return in
opposite direction.
When the transporter takes or delivers the objects to be printed, the crank is close
to the dead-point positions so that the guiding discs have only a very small speed.
As an example of a mechanism for driving the upperinost printing cylinder, the
gear wheels t, te, ty, tg and t, are shewn, by means of which it is driven from the
cylinder C₂.
The three intermediate wheels ta, t, and to are placed on the arm a, and the gear
wheel te is so placed that it will not come out of gear with t, through the notion of
the arm a₁.
As an example of mechanisms for producing the different motions of the transporter
is shown an eccentric E, (on the shaft A,) which by a roller R, and an arm a, rigidly
connected to the arms a, a, moves these arms up and down, while a cam E,, on the
same shaft moves the transporter lengthwise to and fro by means of a roller R., an
arm (pivottally mounted at A.), an intermediate link P₂, a crank lever a, (with
journal A, and a connecting rod p..
The described transporter may also be employed when the printing cylinders are
inade with several printing formes in a row, as shown in figure 11, which corresponds
to figure 8 except as regards the placing of 2 formes on each cylinder and the
consequent extension of the cylinders and transporters.
In this case the transporter acts in such manner that it simultaneously brings
object L, to the place of I, this one to the place of 14, and the latter to the point of
delivery.
Without altering the movement of the transporter, 2, 3 or more formes may be
placed on each cylinder so that, as compared with machines with one forme per

page_text: cylinder, twice, treble or several times the number of impressions on each object may
be respectively obtained; thus for instance, 6 impressions with the machine shown
in figure 11.
In order to be able to place the object to be printed in a definite position so that
the impression shall occur on a certain place, the carrying-piece G, is supplied with
stops g against which the object may be laid, so that lengthwise it lies exactly
correct, and it may also be so turned upon the carrying-piece that a certain point of
its periphery, for instance, the soldering seam of the tins, corresponds with an
adjustable pointer U, so that the impressions are made at exactly the same distance
from the said point, and with repeated impressions these are made to harmonize. The
pointer U is here shown in connection with the movable cylinder C, but it may also
be connected with the fixed frame, or arranged in any other way.
A transporter which only moves lengthwise, is shewn in figures 12 and 13.
Here are shewn 4 sets of guiding dises B, B, B, B, of which the two uppermost
ones are supposed to have fixed axes while the two lower ones as well as the carrying-
piece G, and the stop I can be raised and lowered. As the transporter carries the
object lengthwise, the said three movable parts are in their lowermost position (shown
in figure 13), but when the transporter with the object has reached its terminal
position, they are raised to the position shown in figure 12, in which position the
printing takes place, while the transporter returns.
Each set of guiding discs can be brought in connection with, or be fitted upon, its
cylinder, so that from 1 to 4 hereof may be employed. The different machines shown
in the drawings need not have exactly the number of printing-cylinders shown as
each cylinder with its guiding rims may be replaced by a set of guiding discs, so
that, for instance, cylinder C, (figure 8) may be replaced by the guiding discs shown
in figure 14.
In all the machines shown, the inking rollers are marked v, v V, and so on.
These rollers are connected with the usual well-known inking-device, not shown in
the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. A machine for printing cylindrical objects by means of printing formes placed
on printing cylinders or on parts of such wherein 2 or more sets of guiding discs or
guiding rollers or parts of such, are provided whose peripheries during the printing
are in contact with the object to be printed and thereby keep this object in a
determined position, while the cylinders and one or more of the said guiding parts
receive such a rotation around their axes, that the formes and guiding parts all have
.during the printing, the same, or approximately the same, circumferential speed and
the same direction of rotation and by contact with the object to be printed, make
this revolve around its own axis.
2. In a machine such as is referred to in claim 1 the arrangement wherein one or
more printing-cylinders are each connected with its set of guiding discs so that they
have a common axis of rotation.
I
3. In a machine such as is referred to in claim 1, the arrangement of a mechanism
by means of which one or more of the sets of guiding discs are moved so far away
from their position after the completion of the printing that the object is left free
to be removed and replaced by a new one, whereupon they are again moved in
contact with the object to be printed and remain in contact therewith while the
printing takes place.
4. In a machine such as is referred to claims 1 and 3, the arrangement whereby
the movable set or sets of guiding discs described in claim 3 are placed in a carrying
position below the object to be printed in such a manner that, by the action the said
object is removed somewhat from the printing cylinders and can be changed for
another by the hand or in any other way substantially as described with reference to
figures 1, 2 and 3.

page_text: 5. In a machine such as is referred to in claim 1 the provision of an introducing
and removing mechanism consisting of a straight or curved inclined surface or
inclined ledges, so placed that the object can roll over them down to its place between
the guiding discs, following the back surface of arms which are placed upon a
continuously or intermittently revolving shaft situated above the inclined surface and
the guiding discs, while the front of the said arms serves to move the previously
printed object away from the guiding discs to a suitable delivery place substantially
as described with reference to figures 4, 5 and 6.
6. In a machine such as is referred to in claims 1 and 5, the arrangement of holders
upon the said arms in which the objects can be placed before the arms reach the
inclined surface and from which the objects drop down upon the inclined surface and
then follow the arms as described under claim 5.
7. In a machine such as referred to in claim 1 the provision of a mechanism for
introducing and removing the objects, consisting of a carrier placed in such a manner
that in resting upon it the object lies approximately in prolongation of the objects
to be printed lying upon the guiding discs, and a transporter which can travel to
and fro below the objects in the machine substantially in a direction parallel with
their axes, and which, by a relative change in the altitude, in regard to the parts
carrying the objects, can lift the objects from the carriers in order by its forward
motion and subsequent return to its original relative altitude to bring them from the
carrier to the first printing centre and from the last centre to the point of delivery,
and, if more printing centres are simultaneously employed, from any of these to the
subsequent one, whereupon the transporter again returns below the objects, without
touching them, substantially as described with reference to figures 7 and 13.
8. In a machine such as referred to in claims 1 and 7, the arrangement of a
delivering device consisting of a striker lying alongside the transporter. specified in
claim 7 and at the place where the delivery of the objects printed is to take place,
and which striker, by partaking in the relative change in altitude of the parts
carrying the objects to be printed, in regard to the transporter, tilts off the object
from the latter and thereby eventually makes it roll down an inclined plane or
inclined ledges substantially as described with reference to figures 7 to 13.
Dated this 21st day of December 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY
Agents for the Applicants.