Improvements in and relating to Color Printing and other Printing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Color Printing and other Printing
Machines.
I JULES MEYRUEIS of 189 Boulevard Saint Germain, Paris in the Republic
of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to belas
follows:-
In the Specification filed in respect of my application for Patent No. 23322
of 1895, I have described a machine for making successive impressions whether in
one or more colors on one or both sides of a continuous web, wherein similar sets
of printing appliances each consisting of a printing cylinder, a pressure cylinder,
stretching rollers and an inking train are placed parallel to one another; the
similar parts of each set being moreover themselves each approximately in the
same plane. I have described such a machine consisting of superposed horizontal
sets.
When however it is desirable to have such sets arranged each vertically this
can be done without departing from the object attained by the aforesaid invention,
namely the symmetrical disposition by which the web is subject to strains equal in
force and direction between each successive impression on either side, simply by
so constructing the machine that each printing set occupies a vertical plane and
the similar parts of each set are in corresponding horizontal planes, while the
layer is now placed in such a position that it is still vertically below the knife..
Such arrangement will enable me to produce a machine having a knife and layer at
each end which will permit of two webs being simultaneously printed and cut into
separate sheets when desirable.
The present invention further concerns improvements applicable principally
both to this modification and to my previously described machine but also useful
for other printing machines.
These relate to the construction permitting reversal of the inking train and of
the damping device used for lithographic cylinders, to the construction of printing
cylinder or of the mounting of the stereotypes thereon permitting of the adjust-
ment of parts thereof separately from other parts, to the construction for
permitting adjustment of the koife to sever the web into lengths expressed by a
figure of which the circumference of the printing cylinder is a multiple, the cut
being at all times perpendicular to the edges of the web; and to the means by
which I may employ electricity for driving the machine, heating the stretching
rollers or otherwise used for drying the ink and for stopping the machine in event
of the web tearing.
When reversing the direction of revolution of the printing cylinder it is
desirable to adjust the inking train so as to properly spread the ink upon the
table before the latter comes in contact with the rollers which distribute it on the
printing cylinder.
I obtain this result by placing the ink distributing rollers in a bracket frame
turning on the axle of table.
When the cylinders turn in one or other direction the distributing rollers are
moved into one or other position so that the ink is received by the last roller or
directly by the table from the dancing roller and is distributed by them upon the

page_text: table before coming into contact with the rollers which transfer it to the printing
cylinder.
The ink is thus always distributed before contact with the roller.
On changing the printing cylinders for others of different diameter in order to
vary the size of the printed paper it is necessary that the ink transferring rollers
are always in contact with the table and the cylinder and it is desirable to have
means for varying their position.
I obtain this result first by forming the supports of these cylinders of two levers
each composed of two pieces sliding oue upon the other and giving consequently a
variable length second by fixing these levers upon the support of the table by
means of a fixed pivot and a movable pin in a slide, allowing of displacing the
rollers tangentially to the table.
For the printing of several colors by the different stages of the machine the
lateral register is regulated by displacing the printing cylinder upon its axle which
is screw threaded for this purpose, but if upon this cylinder there are several
different stereotypes requiring displacements which do not coincide the one with
the other then one must remove these stereotypes in order to give a true register
to each of them which is a delicate operation and requires time.
I remedy this inconvenience by composing my printing cylinder of 4 sectors
movable round a core in which passes the driving axle.
These sectors are displaced parallel to the axle by means of the regulating
screw which allows of changing the position of any of the sectors without touching
the others.
These sectors are displaced in direction of the circumference by means of pins
which move in a slide. One can thus regulate any of the stereotypes in the two
directions without losing time and without touching anything else in the machine.
When using printing cylinders of lithographic stone the extremities of these
stone cylinders are provided with iron-disks, allowing of mounting them upon
the same axles that serve for carrying the typographical cylinders and the function
of the machine is the same except the following modifications.
1. The ink distributing rollers are no longer of gelatine but of steel covered
with leather as in lithographic machines, each of these small rollers is provided
with a gearing wheel, and they all receive movement from a gear-wheel keyed
upon the axle of the table upon which they all roll.
2. Lithographic printing requires the wetting of the stone before working. I
therefore arrange upon my machine a wetting apparatus, which can be placed at
pleasure over or under the printing cylinder in order to always wet the stone
before the contact of the ink transferring rollers.
This apparatus is composed of a wetting cloth roller receiving water from a
small roller equally of cloth which takes it from a sponge-roller and upon which a
movable plate presses to extract the surplus water which falls back into the vessel.
For rotary machines it is useful and desirable to have means for instantaneously
and at pleasure varying the velocity of rotation; I realize this result by attaching
to my machine a dynamo electric machine fixed up on the framing itself of the
printing machine and connected by means of gearing directly with the driving
arbor of the printing cylinders.
This dynamo is fitted with a rheostat allowing of regulating at pleasure the
number of amperes which pass through and consequently its power and velocity.
I use this electic installation not only for operating my machine, but for drying
at the same time the printed paper.
For this purpose I form the stretching rollers for the paper of metallic tubes, at
the centre of which I arrange a resistance which may be included in the circuit
of the dynamo; this resistance produces a heating of which I can regulate the
temperature at pleasure, and I thus obtain a drying of the paper by electrical
heat.
Inay also use the electric current for obtaining the instantaneous stoppage of
the machine in case the paper breaks which avoids waste or loss.

page_text: I realize this result by connecting the current switch of the dynamo to the lower
stretching rollers for conducting the paper, which rollers, supported by the paper
itself, sink in case of a rupture of this latter and so cause an immediate contact
which disengages the switch.
Dated this 30th day of October 1806
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Color Printing and other Printing
Machines.
1, JULES MEYRUEIS of 189 Boulevard Saint Germain Paris in the Republic
of France, Manufacturer, 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 :-
In the Specification filed in respect of my application for Patent No. 23322
of 1895, I have described a machine for making successive impressions whether in
one or more colors on one or both sides of a continuous web wherein similar sets of
printing appliances each consisting of a printing cylinder, a pressure cylinder,
stretching rollers and an inking train are placed parallel to one another: the
similar parts of each set being moreover themselves cach approximately in the
same plane. I have described such a machine cousisting of superposed horizontal
sets. When however it is desirable to have such sets arranged each vertically this
can be done without departing from the object attained by the aforesaid invention
namely the symmetrical disposition by which the web is subject to strains equal in
force and direction between each successive impression on either side, simply by so
constructing the machine that each printing set occupies a vertical plane and the
similar parts of each set are in corresponding horizontal planes, while the layer is
now placed in such a position that it is still vertically below the knife. Such
arrangements will enable me to produce a machine having a knife and layer at
each end which will permit of two webs being simultaneously printed and cut into
separate sheets when desirable.
It is desirable to always have the pressure cylinder A on the top of B for
facility of use and "making ready" and the delivery of paper to the machine.
The present invention further concerns improvements applicable principally
both to this modification and to my previously described machine but also useful
for other printing machines.
These relate to the construction permitting reversal of the inking train and of
the damping device used for lithographic cylinders; to the construction of printing
cylinder or of the mounting of the stereotypes thereon permitting of the adjust-
ment of parts thereof separately from other parts; to the construction for permitting
adjustment of the knife to sever the web into lengths expressed by a figure of which
the circumference of the printing cylinder is a multiple, the cut being at all times
perpendicular to the edges of the web; and to the means by which I may employ
electricity for driving the machine, heating the stretching rollers or otherwise
used for drying the ink and for stopping the machine in event of the web
tearing.
.
In the annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the printing machine with
the several printing sets placed vertically and a knife and layer at each end.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale of the reversible inking train ;
Fig. 3 is a section in line 3-3 Fig. 2.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a side view of the damping device for lithographic cylinders.
Fig. 5 is an end view and Fig. 6 a longitudinal section of the printing cylinder
with parcel adjustment.
Fig. 7 illustrates the fixed knife and the revolvable knife.
Fig. 8 shows the bracket permitting adjustment of the knife.
Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the cut made by the knife.
When reversing the direction of revolution of the printing cylinder B it is
desirable to adjust the inking train so as to properly spread the ink upon the
table E before the latter comes in contact with the rollers C C which distribute
it on the printing cylinder B.
I may obtain this result by placing the ink distributing rollers tttt' in a bracket
frame S turning on the axle of table E.
When the cylinders turn in the direction of the arrow a the distributing rollers
are in the position indicated in full lines t¹ t t t the ink received by rollers t' from
the dancing roller F is distributed by them upon the table E before coming into
contact with the roller C.
When the direction of rotation of the printing cylinder B is reversed so that it
turns according to the arrow b the distributing rollers are brought into the position
shown in dotted lines, by turning the support S round the axle of table E the
roller takes the place of the roller t' and the other rollers t2 t t are beneath
the level of the axle E. The ink is thus also distributed before contact with
the roller C. I may also so construct a fixed supporting frame for the
rollere tttt that the said rollers may be placed in the position shown in full
lines or removed and replaced in positions corresponding to the dotted lines iu
Fig. 2.
On changing the printing cylinder B for others of different diameters in order
to vary the size of the printed paper it is necessary that the ink transferring
rollers CC are always in contact with the table E and the cylinder B and it is
desirable to have means for varying their position.
I obtain this result first by forming the supports of these cylinders of two levers
each composed of two pieces G, H, sliding one upon the other giving consequently
a variable length: second by fixing these levers upon the supports of the table E
by means of a fixed pivot P and movable pin R in a slide, allowing of displacing
the rollers CC tangentially to the table E.
When using printing cylinders of lithographic stone the ink distributing
rollers D1 D2 D3 D (Fig. 4) are no longer of gelatine but of steel covered
with leather as in lithographic machines, each of these small rollers is provided
with a gearing wheel and they all receive movement from a gear wheel keyed upon
the axle of the table E upon which they all roll.
Lithographic printing requires the wetting of the stone before working; I there-
fore arrange upon my machine a wetting apparatus which can be placed at pleasure
over or under the printing cylinder B in order to always wet the stone before the
contact of the ink transferring rollers C, C¹.
This apparatus shown in the two positions either of which it may occupy, is
composed of a wetting cloth roller M receiving water from a small roller
equally of cloth m which takes it from a sponge roller e and upon which a
movable plate R' presses to extract the surplus water which falls back into the
vessel R².
For the printing of several colors by the different stages of the machine the
lateral register is regulated by displacing the printing cylinder B upon its axle
which is screw threaded for this purpose, but if upon this cylinder there are several
different stereotypes requiring displacements which do not coincide the one with the
other then one must remove these stereotypes in order to give a true register to
each of them which is a delicate operation and requires time. I remedy this
inconvenience by composing my printing cylinder of 4 sectors A A' AA movable
round a core B in which passes the driving axle.
These sectors A are displaced parallely to the axle by means of the regulating

page_text: screws C which allow of changing the position of any of the sectors without
touching the others.
These sectors A are displaced in direction of the circumference by means of
the pins D D which move in a slide. One can thus regulate any of the stereo-
types in the two directions without losing time and without touching anything else
in the machine.
When using printing cylinders of lithographic stone the extremities of these
stone cylinders are provided with iron disks, allowing of mounting them upon the
same axles that serve for carrying the typographical cylinders, and the function of
the machine is the same.
For the rotary machines it is useful and desirable to have means for instan-
taneously and at pleasure, varying the velocity of rotation; I realize this result by
attaching to my machine a dynamo electric machine fixed upon the framing itself of
the printing machine and connected by means of gearing directly with the driving
arbor of the printing cylinders.
This dynamo is fitted with a rheostat allowing of regulating at pleasure the
number of amperes which pass through, and consequently its power and
velocity.
I use this electric installation not only for operating my machine but for drying
at the same time the printed paper.
For this purpose I form a stretching rollers for the paper of metallic tubes at
the centre of which I arrange a resistance which may be included in the circuit
of the dynamo, this resistance produces a heating of which I can regulate the
temperature at pleasure, and I thus obtain a drying of the paper by electrical
heat.
1 may also use the electric current for obtaining the instantaneous stoppage of the
machine in case the paper breaks which avoids waste or loss. I realize this result
by connecting the current switch of the dynamo to the lower stretching rollers for
conducting the paper, which rollers, supported by the paper itself sink in case
of a rupture of this latter and so cause an immediate contact which disengages the
switch.
In order to cut the paper, without stopping it during the time of cutting, and in
order to obtain a good square cut in it is indispensable that the line of contact of
the two cutting blades be inclined with regard to the paper sheet, and that this
inclination be proportional,
(1) To the linear velocity of the paper in the machine.
(2) To the linear velocity of the movable knife, in the circumference which it
describes.
In this machine shown, the movable knife c3 Fig. 7 being fixed in helical line
upon its axle a', each of its points comes successively in contact with the fixed
blade B. Between the two extreme points c¹ c2 of the knife cd, there are according
to its helix 20 mm. circumferential displacement.
This inclination corresponding to 20 mm. for a blade describing a total circum-
ference of 320 mm. furnishes the indication of the time of the cutting T we have
linear velocity of the knife V L = 320 mm.
in a more general manner T =
VL
Time of cut T =
320
20
of of turn
This rate of determines the inclination which the line of contact X, X¹³, of
the two cutting blades must take with the sheet of paper.
If the knife makes one cut for each revolution of the printing cylinder the sheet
of paper ACDB descending in the sense of the arrow and having a linear
velocity equal to the circumference of the printing cylinder will be cut on the
line X X inclined in such a manner that the distance O P is equal to 1 of the
circumference of the printing cylinder.

page_text: If the knife makes two cuts for one revolution of the printing cylinder the
inclination O P will be reduced to the half: in this case the linear velocity of the
knife being double, it requires half the time to cut the sheet.
The conditions for the line of contact of the cutting blades are thus given
by the following formula: Inclination O PL (circumference printing
cylinder,) 16 X (number of cuts).
This formula allows of regulating the position of the fixed and movable knives
for any size of paper and any number of cuts to be made. In the machine this
can be realised by mounting the two supports of the knives upon two slides and
by providing them with screw-threaded rods K allowing of raising or lowering
them at pleasure for regulating the inclination: the form of these supports can
vary, but what is important is the variation of the cutting line as herein
before described for rotary printing machines and allowing a free cut, without
indents and of square form obtained upon the printing machine without
stopping the paper during the cutting, which simplifies the organs necessary for
-the cutting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
In machines for printing in colors or otherwise on one or both sides.
(1.) The construction of reversible inking train comprising the combination with
the rotary table E of a series of rollers t t t t etc. adapted to be moved or placed
above or below the table so that the one or the other end roller takes the ink from
the dancing roll according to the direction of revolution of the table E and the
rollers C, C, C, for transferring the ink to the printing cylinder whereof the two
rollers C, C are carried by bipartite extensible levers G H and are pivoted
excentrically with regard to the table A for the purpose of inking printing
cylinders of different diameters.
(2.) The combination with a lithographic cylinder of an inking table E and a
series of leather covered ink distributing rollers D', D2 D3, D', etc. each having a
toothed pinion geared with a toothed wheel on the inking table.
(3.) The combination with a reversible lithographic cylinder and an inking train
therefor of a device for wetting the cylinder adapted to be moved with regard to
the inking train so as to wet the cylinder before it receives the ink in either
direction of revolution.
(4.) A printing cylinder the circumference of which is divided longitudinally
into several parts A A1 A2 A3 each of said parts being separately adjustable
parallel to the axis of the cylinder by means of screws C2 and also in circum-
ferential direction by pins and slots D' D' substantially as illustrated and
described.
(5.) The combination with a printing machine composed of juxtaposed or
superposed printing sets geared together, of an electric motor for driving the
same and resistances in the circuit of said motor adapted to act as means for
heating the stretching rollers or otherwise drying the printed web.
(6.) In a printing machine having stretching or registering rollers, the con-
struction whereby said rollers or some of them are upheld by the web. In
combination with an electric motor for driving the printing machine and means
for breaking the motor circuit by the fall of any of said rollers on breakage of
the web.
(7.) The combination with a rotary printing machine of a stationary straight
knife and a rotary helicoidal knife adapted to revolve with an angular velocity
which bears a desired relation to the velocity of printing cylinder as described, the
axle of the rotary knife and the stationary knife having means for adjusting them
at a desired angle in relation to the passage of the printed web between them to
form a straight cut parallel with the impression for any size of paper without
stopping the movement of the paper.

page_text: (8.) A printing machine composed of an indefinite number of similar printing-
sets arranged vertically side by side the pressure cylinder being uppermost so that
the same members of each set lie approximately in the same horizontal planes in
combination with a rotary cutting device at one or at each end of the machine and
a layer the axis of which is directly beneath each said cutting device, the whole-
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th day of December 1896.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agents to Applicant..