IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HENRY BOND of number 126 Wilderspool Road, Latchford (Warrington) in
the County of Chester Newspaper Manager do hereby declare the nature. of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in a form of Rotary Printing Machines in
which the type or stereo-plates to print both sides of a sheet of paper is placed on
the circumference of one and the same cylinder and around and against which one
or more impression cylinders are geared.
For the purposes of explanation the circumference of the type or stereo-type-
bearing cylinder may be considered as divided into three equal parts. The first of
these divisions is occupied by the type-formes or stereo-plates intended to print the
first side of the sheet; the second represents ink-distributing table; and the third.
carries the type formes or stereo-plates intended to print the second side of the
sheet. To correspond with this apportionment the circumference of the impression
cylinders is one third that of the type cylinder. This relation of sizes is not,
however, absolutely necessary and may be varied without affecting the principle of
my invention.
The improvements sought to be protected in this Specification consist (1) of a
new method by which a sheet of paper, after being printed on one side by passing
between the rotating type cylinder and an impression cylinder, is turned over
without leaving such impression cylinder and printed on its second side by again
passing between the same impression cylinder and the type cylinder, and, (2) of a
new combination of mechanism to accomplish this.
As the operations of each impression cylinder (if more than one be used) are
identical it will be sufficient to describe the process in connection with a single one
only.
The paper to be printed is supplied either from a continuous web or is fed from a
stock of single sheets. In the former case it is cut into the required lengths as it
enters the machine.
The front or leading edge of the sheet is first laid hold of between the fingers of
a double series of grippers arranged on a shaft set in a longitudinal opening or slit
running lengthwise in the impression cylinder, and, during the first revolution of
the impression cylinder, the sheet receives the impression of the type or stereo-
plates occupying the first of the three divisions of the type cylinder. Immediately

page_text: after passing between the type cylinder and the impression cylinder the head of the
sheet is liberated and conveyed away clear of both. But after releasing the head
and while the hinder portion of the sheet is yet wrapped round the impression
cylinder, the grippers, by partly turning on the shaft on which they are set as an
axis, swing across to the opposite edge of the longitudinal opening and take hold of
the tail of the sheet which is of such dimensions as that this part of it comes
within their grasp. As the impression cylinder continues to revolve and the second
division of the type cylinder (representing ink-distributing table) is passing, the
binder edge of the sheet thus becomes the leading edge or head, for the grippers,
retaining their hold of the tail of the sheet, now return to their original position
against that lip of the longitudinal opening fronting the direction in which the
impression cylinder is revolving. By the end of the second revolution of the
impression cylinder the sheet has become wholly turned over and is again in
position to be printed. During the third revolution of the impression cylinder the
sheet receives the impression on its second side from the type or stereo-plates
occupying the third division of the type cylinder which will then have completed
one revolution. The sheet is now entirely liberated by the grippers and is
&
conducted to suitable delivame annonatur
after passing between the type cylinder and the impression cylinder the head of the
sheet is liberated and conveyed away clear of both. But after releasing the head
and while the hinder portion of the sheet is yet wrapped round the impression
cylinder, the grippers, by partly turning on the shaft on which they are set as an
axis, swing across to the opposite edge of the longitudinal opening and take hold of
the tail of the sheet which is of such dimensions as that this part of it comes
within their grasp.
As the impression cylinder continues to revolve and the second
division of the type cylinder (representing ink-distributing table) is passing, the
binder edge of the sheet thus becomes the leading edge or head, for the grippers,
retaining their hold of the tail of the sheet, now return to their original position
against that lip of the longitudinal opening fronting the direction in which the
impression. cylinder is revolving. By the end of the second revolution of the
impression cylinder the sheet has become wholly turned over and is again in
position to be printed. During the third revolution of the impression cylinder the
sheet receives the impression on its second side from the type or stereo-plates
occupying the third division of the type cylinder which will then have completed
one revolution. The sheet is now entirely liberated by the grippers and is
conducted to suitable delivery apparatus.
EXPLANATION OF DRAWING.
The four diagrams indicate the relative positions of the sheet and the type and
ink-distributing surfaces up to the point when the sheet has become turned over
preparatory to receiving the impression on its second side.
Fig. 1. Commencement of the first revolution of impression cylinder during
-which the sheet will receive the impression on the first side.
Fig. 2. Half way in the first revolution of the impression cylinder shewing the
front edge of the sheet liberated. The grippers have swung across to the opposite
side of the longitudinal opening and have taken hold of the tail of the sheet.
Fig. 3. Completion of first revolution of impression cylinder. During the next
half revolution the grippers, retaining hold of the tail of the sheet, swing back to
their normal position.
Fig. 4. Half way in second revolution of impression cylinder during which the
tail of the sheet has become the leading edge-and-the-ink-distributing division of
the type cylinder is passing. At the completion of this revolution the sheet will
be in the same position as in Fig. 1 ready to receive the impression on its second
side from the type or stereo-plates occupying the third division of the type
cylinder.
Dated this snared dave of May 100%

page_text: I HENRY BOND of 126 Wilderspool Road, Latchford (Warrington) in the County.
of Chester Newspaper Manager do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES and in what manner the
same is to be perfornied, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The principal details of the mechanism for effecting the special purposes men-
tioned in my Provisional Specification are shewn in the drawing accompanying
this description. As the complete machine embodying my invention will, in regard
to its other features, be made up of parts well known and in common use it is only
necessary briefly to indicate what these parts are.
In a simple form the complete machine will consist of a type or stereotype
cylinder and one impression cylinder of the relative circumferences mentioned in
my Provisional Specification geared into each other in a convenient position in a
suitable framework. The type or stereotype cylinder will also be apportioned into
printing and ink-distributing surface as therein mentioned. Ink is supplied to
and distributed over the portion of the type cylinder set apart for that purpose,
and over the type or stereotype surfaces by the ordinary methods and the paper
is fed to the machine either in single sheets or from a roll from which the required
lengths are cut by a preliminary process. After being printed upon both sides
the sheets are also delivered or accumulated in any suitable and convenient
manner.
Premising these particulars a description of the subject-matter of my invention
may be entered upon.
Taking the four diagrams which accompany my Provisional Specification as
indicating the position in which the type cylinder and the impression cylinder are
supported in the framework of the simple machine the drawing herewith shews at
Fig. 1 an enlarged view of the end of such impression cylinder and its accessories
(the framework removed) the type cylinder being indicated by a segment at the
right hand bottom corner. The scale is nine sixteenths and the size calculated for
a sheet of the maximum length of 42 inches. The positions of the various moving
parts are shewn at the time when the sheet to be printed is approaching the
point at which it is laid hold of by the grippers working in the longitudinal opening
in the revolving impression cylinder the front edge of the sheet being represented
as coming down the feed race of tapes at "a". The double row of gripper
fingers "b" and "c", between the tips of which the sheet is received and held,
move upon one and the same axis "d". This axis consists of a solid shaft "d"
enclosed in a tube-shaft "e" both running the full length of the longitudinal
opening in the impression cylinder and supported by centres in the end-pieces.
Each of the rows of fingers "c" encircles and is adjusted by set-screws on to the
tube-shaft "e" while each of the complementary row of fingers "b" is screwed
directly and rigidly on to the solid shaft "d" through apertures made at suitable
intervals along the the length of the tube-shaft these apertures being sufficiently
large to allow the two rows of fingers the necessary play for opening and closing.
At the end of the cylinder nearest the observer the tube-shaft and the solid shaft
project beyond the centre in which they are carried and form a double shaft like the
hour and minute hand centre at the front of a common clock. An outside crank
and wharl "g" attached to the projecting tube-shaft and one attached to the
further projecting extremity of the shaft "d" (shewn at "h") provide means of
opening and closing the two rows of fingers, which, in a state of rest are brought

page_text: "
together at their tips by means of a spring not shewn in the drawing. The
combined gripper is also capable of swinging backwards and forwards on the
axis d" easily, but with sufficient drag or break upon its movement as to
enable it to stand in any position within the limits of oscillation. The cranks
"g" and "h" are in turn depressed and the gripper fingers opened by the passing 5
of the wharls attached to them under the guides "1", "2" and "3" affixed to
the framework of the machine after the manner in common use, the row of
fingers not for the moment actuated being meanwhile kept in position by the
guides "1", "12" and "13" under which the wharls on the "rockers" "m" and
pass. These "rockers" are each in communication with one of the rows of 1
fingers "b" and "c", that at the further side of the-cylinder being fixed directly on
to the projecting end of the shaft "d" while that nearest the observer controls the
projecting tube-shaft by gearing from a separate centre "o". The function of the
"rockers" is to give to the combined gripper the necessary motion to and fro
between the opposite lips of the longitudinal opening in the cylinder and this is
effected by their being alternately "thrown over" by contact with the projecting
pins "p" and "q" also affixed to the framework of the machine.
"N
"
Let us now follow the sheet along its course commencing with the position of the
parts shewn in Fig 1.
As the cylinder revolves the row of gripper fingers "c" moves apart from the
row "b", and afterwards returns, by the depression and subsequent recovery of the
crank and wharl "g" acted upon by the guide "1", the row of gripper fingers "b"
being meanwhile kept stationary against the lip of the cylinder by the passing of
the wharl on "n" under the fixed guide "11". During the period that the tips
of the gripper fingers are apart the front edge of the sheet, delivered from between
the two rows of tape-carrying wheels "u1" and "2" is timed to fall and be
received within their grasp. The sheet thus held between the combined gripper is
carried forward and receives the impression on its first side from the type cylinder
indicated by the segment "". At a point nearly opposite the place at which it is
fed in, the front edge of the sheet is liberated by the gripper fingers by the action
of the fixed guides "2" and "12" and is conveyed by a taking-off gripper cylinder
(shewn without detail at "8" the mechanism being well-known and in common
use) on to the moving race.of.tapes."t". Tho-"rocker"-"m" now comes in contact
with the pin. "" and being thrown. backwards by' the onward motion of the
cylinder the combined gripper is swung across the opening and brought to the
opposite lip of the cylinder. In the course of this operation the crank and
wharl ""become depressed by being brought against the fixed guide "3" and
the row of gripper fingers "b" open preparatory to closing upon the tail of the
sheet shortly after it emerges from the two rows of tape-carrying wheels "u1" and
"u2". This position is maintained as the cylinder continues to move round until
the full sheet has run on to the race of tapes "t" and the "rocker" "n" meets the
stationary pin "q." This "rocker" being then thrown backwards the return of the
combined gripper to its original position is effected, hold of the tail of the sheet
being still retained. The continued rotary movement of the impression cylinder
now draws around it the reversed sheet and carries it along to the type cylinder to
receive the second impression. Contact between the "rocker" "m" and the
pin "p" during this period of the revolution of the cylinder is avoided by the
depression of the said pin on an axis in the framework at "v" during a previous
period of revolution. Similarly the action of the guide "1" is averted by its
being raised on an axis in the framework at "w", both of these motions and the
return ones being effected by suitable cam mechanism well known in connection
with printing machinery. After passing the type cylinder a second time and
receiving the impression on its second side the sheet is finally and completely
released from the combined gripper through the action of the guides "k 2" and
"12" and is again conveyed by the taking-off gripper cylinder "s" on to the race
of tapes "t" and forward to the delivery apparatus. During the next period of
revolution of the impression cylinder the pin "p" remains depressed and the

page_text: <<
"
ocker" m2 passes it without disturbance. The guide "k1" has, however,
turned to position during a previous period of revolution thereby causing the
ipper fingers to again open for the reception of a new sheet and the various
erations are repeated, the pin "p" returning, of course, to its original position
fore being reached by the "rocker" "m". It will be noted that as each "rocker"
Is the other rises, and that, by rising, the wharl on the extremity of each is mado
"clear" the guide by which it would otherwise have been controlled. In a
nilar manner, it will be observed, that the swinging motion of the combined
ipper alternately "clears" the cranks and wharls "g" and "h" from the action of
e guides "1", "k 2", and "k3". The "plan" Fig. 2 shews the extension of the
rious parts beyond the ends of the impression cylinder and from the framework
d needs no explanation further than to remark that the two rows of tape-
rrying wheels "1" and "2" have been removed and that, for more clearly
serving the construction of the "rocker" m " and the various other moving
rts on the same side of the line of fracture, these are depicted in the position
ey will have acquired after one revolution of the impression cylinder. The
phabetical letters refer, of course, to identical parts in both
elevation."
"
plan" and
Two important modifications and adaptations of my Invention may be noted.
1. An alteration of the relative circumferences of the type cylinder and the
impression cylinder or cylinders for the purpose of printing both sides of the
sheet with the same type or stereotype surface. To this end the impression
cylinders would be made one half the circumference of the type cylinder
and the type or stereotype would occupy one half of the latter the other half
being utilised as ink-distributing surface.
2. A modification made possible by the fact that the sheet to be printed need
not necessarily be taken hold of by grippers in the first instance but can be
led round the impression cylinder to receive the first impression by margin
tapes passing and re-passing in the grooves of the type formes after the
manner in common use, to accomplish the reversing process it only being
necessary that the tail
the sheet shall fall into such a position as to be
taken hold of by the combined gripper to be dealt with as hereinebfore
described. With this arrangement a sheet of varied dimensions shorter than
the maximum size may be printed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
claim is:-
1. I claim the method herein described of turning a sheet of paper fed to a
revolving cylinder by taking and retaining hold of its hinder edge, by
mechanism affixed to the said cylinder, in such a manner as that by and
during the revolution of the said cylinder this retained hinder edge is
converted into the leading edge.
2. I claim the swinging double or combined gripper hereinbefore mentioned as
and for the purposes herein described.
3. I claim the combinations for bringing into action and throwing out of action
the various parts hereinbefore mentioned as and for the purposes herein
described.