Improvements in Printing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
Improvements in Printing Machines.
I, WILLIAM HENRY REYNELL TOYE, of 3541 North Carlisle Street, City of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Printers 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:—
My invention relates to printing presses in which a sheet of paper is subjected
to a number of impressions, each given by a separate printing couple, and usually
for the purpose of printing in several colors upon the same surface.
The object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism for printing in
this way, and with particular reference to securing the perfect alignment, even
margin, and correct register of the various operative printing couples with respect
to the sheet on which they operate.
The various features of my invention will be best understood as described in
connection with the drawings in which they are illustrated, and in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a printing press embodying my improvement;
Figs. 2 to 10 inclusive detail views showing various parts of the apparatus
illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 illustrating an impression cylinder and paper carrying
device in the act of receiving a sheet of paper from a supplemental feeding device,
and Fig. 4 showing in plan view a portion of the impression cylinder and of the
carrier used in connection therewith;
Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively elevations of modified forms of printing
presses.
The most important feature of my invention consists in providing a flexible
carrier, the function of which is to transport the sheets of paper through the
machine and between the printing couples. This flexible carrier passes around
and incloses one of the cylinders or sets of cylinders which carry either the type
forms or impression platens, and is made to conform to and follow the path of the
cylinder or cylinders around which it passes at such places and for such a distance
as will insure that the sheets of paper move with the same speed and in the same
path with the type form or impression platen on the cylinder while it is being
printed thereby. The flexible carrier is also provided with a series of equidistant
grippers for engaging the sheets, one more in number than the number of printing
couples which act upon the same side of the sheet, and the length of the carrier
is such that each gripper successively registers with each printing couple. In the
machine specifically illustrated each successive registration with a printing couple
occurs after a complete revolution of the flexible carrier, and where only two
cylinders are used one carrying the impression platens and the other the type
forms, this is necessarily so, but where more cylinders are used as shown in Figs. 1
and 11 obviously two printings can be made for each revolution of the carrier.
In all cases, however, the carrier must exceed the length of the circumference or
circumferences of the cylinder or cylinders around which it passes by a distance
equal to the distance between the centre lines of adjacent platens; thus in the
presses illustrated, where four platens are employed, the length of the carrier will
be to the circumference or combined circumferences of the enclosed cylinders as
five is to four.
In the drawings the flexible carrier is indicated at C in the various figures, and
is shown in each case as passing around the impression cylinders, which, for obvious

page_text: reasons, is the best construction. In the Fig. 1, two impression cylinders are
shown at A and A¹ each divided into two impression platens situated respectively
on either side of the grooves a¹ a¹. B and B are respectively type cylinders
coacting with the impression cylinder, and each carrying two type forms situated
on each side of the groove b¹ b¹. The carrier C shown in this figure is made up of
flexible cords or wire ropes and has secured to it at equal distances five sets of
grippers, that is to say, one more than the number of sets of printing couples,
which, in this construction, are four in number. The grippers and their actuating
mechanism are best shown in Figs. 2 3 and 4. The cords C pass over end
extensions a of the cylinders A and A¹, which are provided with notches a¹ made
to fit neatly the end plates C¹ C² of the gripper bar C³ which bar extends across
from one carrier to the other lying in a prolongation of the groove a¹ in the face
of the impression cylinder. These notches a¹ serve the purpose of gear teeth,
insuring the feeding of the carrier with precisely the same speed as the surface of
the impression rolls. Pivoted in the plates C¹ and C², and extending across from
the carrier cords on one side to those on the other, is the shaft C+ having upon
it the gripping fingers C³ which, when the shaft is revolved forward, rest upon the
bar C³. On the end of the shaft C is a groove head Co having an outwardly
extending arm C7 to which is attached one end of a spring C³ the other end of
which is attached to the plate C and which spring, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is
adapted both to keep the grippers closed as shown in Fig. 2, or open as shown in
Fig. 3. The opening and closing of the gripping fingers is brought about by means
of pins D and D, which, at proper times, are made to engage with the slotted
head C and cause it to turn backward or forward as may be desired.
In Figs. 11 and 12 the flexible carrier C is indicated as made up of links and as
passing around an impression cylinder having four impression platens upon its
surface, and also around a guide wheel N. As before, the carriers are provided
with five grippers, the arrangement of which, and the length of the carrier is such
that each gripper is in turn presented to each printing couple. In constructions
in which, as in Fig. 12, but two cylinders are used to carry the type forms and
impression platens, it is obvious that the carrier must make a complete revolution
for each printing operation on a given sheet. Where more cylinders are employed,
however, as for instance in Fig. 1, it is obvious that a sheet may receive two
impressions or even more for each revolution of the carrier. In the plans shown,
however, I have arranged the machines so that the carrier will make a complete
revolution for each printing on a sheet, doing this with a particular view to the
thorough inking of the type cylinders. Thus, in Fig. 1, the type cylinders B
and B¹ are alternately made to recede from the platen cylinders, so that the sheets
passing between them will receive no impression. The type cylinders are journalled
on sliding bearings B4, which bearings are connected by links B5 with an eccentric B.
This eccentric being actuated through spur-wheels B7 by means of levers B8 which
levers are actuated through rods B and pivoted levers B10 by means of the
cam B, see Figs. 1 and 5. It is obvious that as the cams rotate they will
either push the type cylinders away from, or draw them toward the platen
cylinders. The inking mechanism for each type cylinder is supported on frames E
pivoted to the main frame at E¹ and secured to the sliding bearing B' by rods E2.
The weight of the frame E and parts carried thereby should be partially counter-
balanced as by a spring E3 to enable it to move promptly with the type cylinder.
E and E indicate respectively inking rollers for the two type forms carried by
the type cylinder. They are each brought in contact with the proper form and
prevented from touching the other by the action of the cams B2 and B³,
E indicating springs which hold the rollers in contact with the proper cams.
As my invention is not specially concerned with the inking devices, I have simply
shown the rollers E and E³ in a conventional way in Figs. 1 and 11, and in Fig. 12
I have indicated the four sets of inking rollers in a merely conventional way
at e, e, e, e³.
For the purpose of printing with one impression on the back of the sheet I provide

page_text: a supplemental pair of printing cylinders F and G, one situated on each side
of the flexible carrier, and their relative position being the reverse of that of the
impression cylinders, that is say, the type cylinder being within and the impression
cylinder without the carrier. In each case illustrated in the drawings I have
shown the top or inner cylinder of the supplemental pair as retractable. Thus in
Fig. 1 the type cylinder F is supported on a rod F¹ a portion of its weight being
balanced by the spring F2 and the rod F' is pivoted at F3 on the arm F* of a bell
crank lever FF, the arm F5 of which is actuated by a cam Fe on the shaft S,
see Fig. 2. The shape of the cam is of course such as to cause each sheet to
receive a single impression on its back. In Figs. 11 and 12 the type cylinder F is
carried on one arm of a bell crank lever f pivoted at f¹ and actuated by a cam f2.
I prefer to employ two or more type cylinders as indicated in Figs. 1 and 11 and
to bring them into and out of operation alternately so that though the carrier is
continually moving each type form may receive a double inking between each
impression. The mechanism by which this is effected has all been described with
reference to Fig. 1. In Fig. 11 I have shown a somewhat different constructior,
each type cylinder being carried on a sliding head B and the heads being actuated
through rods 65 by means of cams 60 and 610, acting against cam rollers 6° 66
attached to the rods 6. To insure the proper alignment of the rods 65 it is well to
provide them with a yoke which will pass over the shaft on which the cams are
secured as indicated at 67, and springs as indicated in the drawing will serve to
keep the cam rollers in contact with the cam surface. In this construction the
frame e which carries the inking rollers is conveniently attached as shown to the
bearings B+.
In Fig. 12 I have indicated the manner in which the double inking of the type
forms can be accomplished in a two cylinder machine. In this device the impression
cylinder A together with the carrier derives its motion from the type cylinder B, the
type cylinder being provided with teeth Q and the impression cylinder with teeth P,
and the teeth P are cut away as indicated in P¹ at one point so that once in each
complete revolution the platen cylinder will come to a full stop, as will also the
carrier, while the type cylinder continues to revolve. To ensure that the platen or
impression cylinder shall always stop at the same point, and also to bring about an
engagement at the same point when the type cylinder has completed an independent
revolution I provide the stopping and starting device indicated in the drawings.
The pin R is secured on the edge of the impression cylinder, and is engaged by a
yoke S on the end of a bell crank lever S1 S2 which lever is actuated by a cam S³
the shape of the cam being such that the yoke serves as a stop at its first
engagement with the pin R, and at a proper time it starts the impression cylinder
to revolving, bringing its teeth into operative connection with the teeth of the
type cylinder. To assist the stopping and starting of the type cylinder I provide
a cylinder 02 in which moves a piston 0¹ connected through a rod O with an
eccentric or cam on the shaft of the impression cylinder, the arrangement being
such that air is compressed in the cylinder as the impression cylinder comes to the
position in which it is stopped and the momentum of the cylinder thus checked,
while the compressed air assists the cam in again starting the impression cylinder
to revolve.
I prefer however, to keep the carrier in constant operation, and, to overcome the
well known difficulties incident to feeding the paper to a moving carrier, I have
devised the feeding mechanism best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. H indicates the table
on which the sheets are laid preparatory to being fed to the carrier. Below the
end of this table is a movable plate I secured on the head I¹ of a bell crank
lever 12 I pivoted at 13 and actuated by a cam 15 (see Fig. 8) on shaft S. To a
standard rising from the plate I is pivoted a set of fingers K which are operated
through an arm K¹ by means of a rod K³ pivoted to the arm at K2 and to the
stationary table H. The fingers K are thrown out of the position indicated at
Fig. 1 to that indicated at Fig. 3 by the motion of the plate I. J is a gripping
finger secured on the end of an arm J¹ pivoted at J2 to the head I and actuated

page_text: through a rod J³ by a lever J' which in turn is actuated by a cam J³ on the
shaft S, see Fig. 7. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the sheet
is laid upon the table H, and extends down over the plate I until its edge rests
against the fingers K. As an open gripper approaches the delivery end of this
feeding device the finger J is moved down clamping the paper on the plate I. The
cam I then comes into operation, moving the plate I with the paper clamped upon
it forward in the same direction as the gripper is moving, and with a speed, which,
at the time the paper is engaged, is the same as that of the carrier. In Fig. 3 the
parts are shown just as they are immediately before the gripping of the paper, and
it will be seen that the fingers K are well up out of the way, and the edge of the
paper lying between the bar Cs and the open gripper fingers C³. Just as the
grippers engage it the action of the cam J5 raises the fingers J so that the paper
can travel off with the carrier. The essential feature of this supplemental feeding
device is the delivery to the constantly moving carrier of the sheet of paper which
is brought to proper register and delivered in exact alignment and register by the
supplemental feeding device.
The pin D¹ is shown in Fig. 3 as just coming into the slotted or grooved head to
close the gripping fingers. This pin is secured on the end of a pivoted lever D
the other end of which is actuated by a cam D7 (see Fig. 10) on a shaft D³. The
opening of the gripper is accomplished in Fig. 1 by means of the pin D¹ secured to
a cross bar D held on the end of a lever arm D and actuated through a rack
shaft D and the lever arm D12 by a cam D 14. This same cross bar D° carries also
a pin D2 which operates to close gripping fingers C on the platen cylinder G of
the supplemental pair, so that these fingers will engage the sheet at the same time
that the fingers on the flexible carrier release it, and the pin D3 on the same cross
bar opens the gripping fingers so that the sheet is delivered to the pivoted
fingers L which carry it over to the delivery table M being operated through a
pinion L by a rack L² on the end of a lever L³ L5 pivoted at IA and operated
through a rod L® by a carrier L' on the shaft S, see Fig. 6.
In Fig. 11 the closing of the gripping fingers is accomplished by the pin D
secured on the end of a lever arm d² and actuated through a rack shaft d³ and lever
arm d by a cam on the shaft 68. The releasing pin D' is secured on the lever f
and brought into operation by the movement of this lever. The arrangement in
Fig. 12 is essentially similar, although differing somewhat in detail.
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
1. In a printing machine the combination of one or more type cylinders and one
or more impression cylinders having forms and impression surfaces adapted to
co-act together in pairs in printing, and an endless flexible carrier passing between 4
each coacting type and impression cylinder and following the path of one member
of each printing couple for a time and distarce equal to that required for the sheet
to be printed between them, said flexible carrier having a series of equidistant
grippers secured to it, one more in number than the number of printing couples,
and the length of the carrier exceeding the length of the circumference or 4
circumferences of the cylinders around which it passes by an amount equal to the
distance between the center lines of adjacent platens so as to cause each gripper
to register in turn with each printing couple while the carrier is making two or
more revolutions.
2. In a printing machine the combination of one or more type cylinders and one 5
or more impression cylinders having forms and impression surfaces adapted to
coact together in pairs in printing, an endless flexible carrier passing between each
coacting type and impression cylinder and following the path of one member of
each printing couple for a time and distance equal to that required for the sheet
to be printed between them, said flexible carrier having a series of equidistant 5
grippers secured to it, one more in number than the number of printing couples, and

page_text: the length of the carrier exceeding the length of the circumference or circumferences
of the cylinders around which it passes by an amount equal to the distance between
the center lines of adjacent platens so as to cause each gripper to register in turn
with each printing couple while the carrier is making two or more revolutions, an
independent printing couple having one member on each side of the carrier and
adapted to register with each gripper in turn, said members being arranged in
the opposite order to the main series of printing couples and so as to print on the
back of the sheet, and mechanism whereby said couples are brought to operative
position so as to act once on each sheet passing through the machine.
3. In a printing machine the combination of one or more impression cylinders
with two or more type cylinders, said cylinders having impression surfaces and
forms adapted to coact in pairs and form a series of printing couples, means whereby
each type cylinder in turn is moved away from its coacting impression cylinder so
as to receive a double inking without stopping the machine and so as to permit the
passage of the sheet being printed without impression when it is to be acted on by
another type cylinder, a flexible carrier passing around the impression cylinder or
cylinders and following the path thereof through the distance or distances corre-
sponding to the passage of the sheet between each printing couple, and a series
of equidistant grippers attached to the flexible carrier and one more in number than
the number of printing couples, said carrier being of a length exceeding the length of
the circumference or circumferences of the cylinders around which it passes by an
amount equal to the distance between the center lines of adjacent platens so that
each gripper will register with each printing couple in turn while the carrier is
making two or more revolutions.
4. In a printing machine the combination with one or more type cylinders and
one or more impression cylinders having forms and impression surfaces adapted to
coact together in pairs in printing, of an endless carrier passing between the coacting
type and impression cylinders, said carriers having a series of grippers secured to it
and acting to carry sheets of paper between the printing couples, and a supplemental
paper feeding device moving with a speed regulated by that of the cylinders and
so that each sheet is gripped while at rest and fed forward in the same direction
as the carrier so as to be engaged by a gripper thereon while in motion.
5. In a printing machine the combination of one or more type cylinders and one
or more impression cylinders having forms and impression surfaces adapted to
coact together in pairs in printing, an endless flexible carrier passing between each
coacting type and impression cylinder and following the path of one member of
each printing couple for a time and distance equal to that required for the sheet to
be printed between them, said flexible carrier having a series of equidistant grippers
secured to it, one more in number than the number of printing couples, and the
length of the carrier exceeding the length of the circumference or circumferences
of the cylinders around which it passes by an amount equal to the distance between
the center lines of adjacent platens so as to cause each gripper to register in turn
with each printing couple, while the carrier is making two or more revolutions, and
a supplemental paper feeding device moving with a speed regulated by that of the
cylinders whereby each sheet is gripped while stationary and fed forward to the
gripper on the carrier so as to be seized by it while in motion.
6. In a printing machine a sectional type cylinder and sectional impressional
cylinder carrying respectively type forms and corresponding impression platens
forming a series of printing couples, means whereby the impression cylinder is
driven by or through the type cylinder or its gearing, means for throwing the
impression cylinder out of gear with the type cylinder and at the same time
positively arresting its motion, a flexible carrier enclosing and driven by the
impression cylinder, said carrier following the path of the impression platens at the
point where they meet the type sections and for a distance beyond equal to
the length of the sheet, and a series of equidistant grippers carried on the flexible
carrier and one more in number than the number of printing couples, said carrier

page_text: and grippers being arranged to bring each gripper in turn in register with each
printing couple.
Dated this 19th day of February 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.