IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH ROTARY WEB PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ashley Wilson, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
CONNECTED WITH ROTARY WEB PRINTING MACHINES."
Sealed the 17th April 1874, and dated the 17th February 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ashley Wilson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th February 1874.
I, GEORGE ASHLEY WILSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH ROTARY WEB PRINTING MACHINES," to be
as follows:-
My Invention relates to novel devices and combinations of mechanism
in and connected with perfecting machines of the class known as rotary
web printing machines, and has for its main object to perfect newspapers
either from type or stereotype and deliver the same either open or folded
with greater rapidity and at less cost than heretofore, and consists,-
First. As means for obtaining easy access to stereotype cylinders in
rotary web perfecting machines, and also for constructing rotary web

page_text: perfecting machines of symmetrical and compact design, in placing both
the stereotype cylinders in a line above the impression cylinders.
Second. As means for facilitating insertion of late items of news when
stereotype is used, in casting stereotype in segments or rings, preferably
of one column in breadth, and securing the same on discs placed side by
side on a shaft to form a printing cylinder. The said discs and stereos
are secured on the shaft by means of clamps or column turtles, a space
of the breadth of one or more columns being left between each stereo
column disc to allow for the fastenings.
Third. As means for printing one side of a newspaper when stereo
column discs constructed and arranged as described under the second
head of my Invention are employed, in passing the paper to be
printed over two stereo disc printing cylinders so arranged that the
stereo column discs of the second cylinder print the blanks left by
the spaces between the sterco column discs of the first cylinder. One
impression cylinder serves for both the stereo disc printing cylinders.
If perfecting is desired the paper after being printed on one side of the
stereo disc printing cylinders above described is passed over a second
pair of stereo disc cylinders or through a machine of ordinary con-
struction. To insert late items of news when machines constructed in
accordance with the above second and third heads are used it is only
necessary to remove one of the stereo column discs forming a printing
cylinder from the shaft and replace it by a fresh disc having a stereoof
the desired news.
Fourth. As means for printing direct from type in rotary web
perfecting machines, in making use of two printing cylinders twice the
circumference required to print one side of a paper; the type (stereo may
be used) covers half the surface of each cylinder the remaining half
surface being used as an inking table. The paper to be perfected is fed
to the machine above described from the web, but is cut into sheets
before it reaches the printing cylinders, and is delivered a sheet
alternately to cach cylinder. Each sheet after being printed on one
side by one cylinder is carried by tapes to the other cylinder and perfected
The travel of the paper is so adjusted that each cylinder is always
printing either a first or second side. This machine can be most con
veniently used with two deliveries.
T:&h As means of onen delivery for several sheets at a time, in

page_text: causing any desired number of separate sheets to be wrapped round a
constantly rotating drum, the circumference of which is the exact
length or breadth of a paper; when the desired number of sheets has
been wrapped round the cylinder they are released automatically and
are carried away by tapes to the laying mechanism. If a vibrating
table is used so that each bundle of papers is laid alternately backwards
and forwards it will be easy to ascertain the whole number of papers
laid.
Sixth. As means for delivering two sheets at a time when folded, in
causing each alternate sheet after having received the first or second
fold to travel a greater distance than the one immediately following, the
said extra travel is so adjusted that the two papers meet at the final
folding mechanism and are delivered folded together.
Seventh. As means for reducing the surface speed of folding cylinders
I cause each sheet as it leaves the printing cylinders, after being
perfected, to partly enter a hollow rotating drum provided internally
with receiving tapes, from which it is withdrawn by the folding
cylinders.
Eighth. As means for laying papers delivered by mechanism con-
structed as described under the fifth, sixth, and seventh heads of my
Invention, I employ in combination therewith (a) a rocking frame
and tapes; (b) the mechanism known as the hammer layer; and (c)
the mechanism known as the double fly.
Ninth. As means for cutting sheets of paper of various lengths from
the web either before or after being perfected, in making use of
cutting rolls so driven by eccentric or oval gearing as to revolve once
round for each paper perfected at the same time that the knife while
cutting has a surface speed equal to that of the paper to be cut.
Tenth. As means for facilitating the delivery of a rapid supply of
printed papers, in causing the papers as they issue from between the
type and impression or folding cylinders to divide into two or more
streams between tapes, each stream being led to folding, collecting, or
laying mechanism.
Eleventh. As means for delivering any desired number of sheets
folded together, in causing the sheets to travel along endless tapes equal
in length to two or more sheets, in such manner that the said sheets
present themselves again and again at the supply, when a sufficient

page_text: number of sheets have thus been superimposed they receive a fold by
means of a folding knife whilst passing between two of the rollers
carrying the endless tapes. After being folded they are delivered by a
fly swinging frame or equivalent mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said George Ashley Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ASHLEY WILSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Ashley Wilson, Her special
licence that I, the said George Ashley Wilson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Ashley
Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH ROTARY WEB PRINTING MACHINES,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Ashley
Wilson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Ashley Wilson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-

page_text: panying four Sheets of illustrative Drawings, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to novel devices and combinations of mechanism
in and connected with perfecting machines of the class known as
rotary web printing machines, and has for its main object to perfect
newspapers, either from type or stereotype, and deliver the same either
open or folded with greater rapidity and at less cost than heretofore, and
consists,---
First. As means for obtaining easy access to stereotype cylinders
in rotary web perfecting machines, and also for constructing rotary
web perfecting machines of symmetrical and compact design, in placing
both the stereotype cylinders on a line above the impression cylinders.
Second. As means for facilitating insertion of late items of news
when stereotype is used, in casting stereotype in segments or rings,
preferably of one column in breadth, and securing the same on discs
placed side by side on a shaft to form a printing cylinder. The said
discs and stereos are secured on the shaft by means of clamps or column
turtles, a space of the breadth of one or more columns being left
between each stereo column dise to allow for the fastenings.
Third. As means for printing one side of a newspaper when stereo
column discs constructed and arranged as described under the second
head of my Invention are employed, in passing the paper to be printed
over two sterco disc printing cylinders so arranged that the stereo
column discs of the second cylinder print the blanks left by the spaces
between the stereo column discs of the first cylinder; one impression
cylinder serves for both the sterco disc printing cylinders. If perfecting
is desired the paper after being printed on one side by the stereo disc
printing cylinders above described is passed over a second pair of stereo
dise cylinders or through a machine of ordinary construction. To insert
late items of news when machines constructed in accordance with the
above second and third heads are used, it is only necessary to remove
one of the sterco column discs forming a printing cylinder from
the shaft, and replace it by a fresh disc having a stereo of the desired
news.
Fourth. As means for printing direct from type in rotary web
perfecting machines, in making use of two printing cylinders twice
the circumference required to print one side of a paper, the type (stereo

page_text: may be used) covers half the surface of each cylinder, the remaining
half surface being used as an inking table. The paper to be perfected
is fed to the machine above described from the web but is cut into
sheets before it reaches the printing cylinders and is delivered a sheet
alternately to each cylinder. Each sheet after being printed on one
side by one cylinder is carried by tapes to the other cylinder and
perfected. The travel of the papers is so adjusted that each cylinder
is always printing either a first or second side. This machine can be
most conveniently used with two deliveries.
Fifth. As means of open delivery for several sheets at a time, in
causing any desired number of separate sheets to be wrapped round a
constantly rotating drum the circumference of which is the exact length
or breadth of a paper. When the desired number of sheets has been
wrapped round the cylinder they are released automatically and are
carried away by tapes to the laying mechanism. If a vibrating table is
used so that cach bundle of papers is laid alternately backwards and
forwards it will be easy to ascertain the whole number of papers laid.
Sixth. As means for delivering two sheets at a time when folded, in
causing each alternate sheet, after having received the first or second
fold to travel a greater distance than the one immediately following, the
said extra travel is so adjusted that the two papers meet at the final
folling mechanism and are delivered folded together.
Seventh. As means for reducing the surface speed of folding cylinders,
in causing each sheet as it leaves the printing cylinders after being
perfected to partly enter a hollow rotating drum provided internally with
receiving tapes from which it is withdrawn by the folding cylinders.
Eighth. As means for laying papers delivered by mechanism con-
structed as described under the fifth, sixth, and seventh heads of my
Invention, in employing in combination therewith (a) a rocking frame
and tapes; (b) the mechanism known as the hammer layer; and (c) the
mechanism known as the double fly.
Ninth. As means for cutting sheets of paper of various lengths from
the web either before or after being perfected, in making use of
cutting rolls so driven by eccentric or oval gearing as to revolve once
round for each paper perfected at the same time that the knife while
cutting has a surface speed equal to that of the paper to be cut.

page_text: folding machine arranged as above described the speed of motion of the
folding mechanism past the vibrating tapes is half the speed of the
printing mechanism, thus greatly reducing wear and tear.
The tenth head of my Invention is illustrated by the vibrating rollers
and tapes e in combination with the folding mechanism. The said
tapes e receive folded papers from the folding cylinders d, d', and deliver
such papers alternately to the cross folding and delivering mechanism.
The vibrating tapes and rollers might, if desired, receive the papers
from the stereotype and impression cylinders, and deliver the said
papers alternately to two sets of folding or delivering apparatus; f, web
of paper; g, inking mechanism; a, stereotype cylinders; b, impression
cylinders; h, cutting cylinders; d, first folding cylinder; d', second
folding cylinder; e, vibrating tapes and rollers; i, ³, first cross folding
knives, second cross folding knives; k, k¹, rocking frames for
delivering and laying the folded and printed papers on the tables 1, 1.
Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet IV., are respectively a plan and end view of
apparatus illustrative of the second and third parts of my
Invention.
The second part is illustrated by the segments of stereotype 1 secured
on the discs 2 carried by the shaft 3. Each stereo is secured to its
disc by clamps or column turtles, the discs being secured to the shaft in
such manner as is found most convenient.
The third part is illustrated by the combination of the stereo column
disc printing cylinders 4 and 5, arranged so that the one cylinder prints
the blanks left by the other cylinder. The impression cylinder 6 serves
for both printing cylinders; 6, inking mechanism; 7, web of paper.
The web after being printed on one side by the arrangement shown can
be perfected by being passed through a second set of stereo column
disc printing cylinders or through any ordinary rotary web printing
machine.
In the above arrangement one or more of the sterco discs can be
quickly removed and be replaced by a disc or discs containing fresh
matter or late items of news.
Fig. 7, Sheet IV., is an end view of apparatus illustrative of the fourth
part of my Invention; 8, web of paper cut as it enters the tapes 9 and
delivered one sheet alternately to and between the vibrating rollers and
tapes 10, 10', the sheets then travel to and are printed on one side by

page_text: the type cylinders 11, 11', after which the said sheets pass through the
vibrating tapes 12, 121, and travelling tapes 13, 13', to be printed on
the other side by the type cylinders 12', 12. The perfected sheets are
delivered at 14, 14'. The course of one sheet is shown by the arrows,
the course of the other sheet is just the opposite. The travel of the two
sheets is so adjusted that as soon as a type cylinder has finished printing
the first side of one sheet it commences printing the second side of
the sheet of which the first side has been printed on the other cylinder.
In this way each type cylinder is always printing a first or second
side.
By arranging a machine as above described the type cylinders, "the
same amount of type being used," can be obtained double the diameter
ordinarily required to print a paper, thus facilitating the securing of the
type. One half the circumference of each type cylinder is used as an
inking table; 15, inking mechanism.
Fig. 8, Sheet IV., is an end view of apparatus illustrative of the fifth
and cighth parts of my Invention. Here the web as it is received from
the printing machine is severed by the cutting cylinders 16 and delivered
by the tapes 17 to the rotating drum 18, the circumfcrence of which is
the exact length of a paper. When as many papers as desired have
been wrapped round 18 the roller 19 is lowered by the lever 20, the
spring 21 projects so as to cause the bundle of papers collected by the
drum to travel along the tapes 22; 23, laying hammer; 24, table. The
table may be caused to vibrate so as to register each bundle of papers
delivered.
Fig. 9, Sheet IV., is an end view illustrative of the sixth and eighth
parts of my Invention. Here the printed papers are received by the
vibrating tapes 25 and delivered alternately to the tapes 26, 27. The
paper delivered at 26 follows the direction shown by the arrows and
arrives at 27 in time to meet the paper entering 27, the two papers
travel together along the tapes 28 and are laid two at a time by the
double fly 29. Instead of a double fly folding and delivering mechanism
may be used.
Fig. 10, Sheet IV., is an end view illustrative of the seventh and
eighth parts of my Invention. Here the printed papers are received by
the tapes 30, and delivered alternately to the tapes 31, 32, contained in
the constantly rotating drum 33. A paper enters the drum between
the tapes 31 and is by them caused to half enter the said drum whilst

page_text: being carried from the tapes 30 to the folding cylinder 34, so that the
folding cylinder 34 can seize the said paper and give it the first fold. A
second fold is given by the rollers 34, 35, and a cross fold by the
mechanism 36; 37, swinging delivery.
During the time the tapes 31 are carrying a paper from 30 to 34 the
tapes 32 are being carried round into position to receive the next paper.
The arrangement above described reduces the speed of the folding
mechanism about one third.
Fig. 11, Sheet IV., is an end view illustrative of the ninth part of my
Invention. Here 38 are the cutting rollers driven by the adjustable
eccentric gear 39 and bevel gear 40. The rollers 38 are caused to
revolve once for each revolution of the printing cylinders. By means of
the eccentric gear the speed of the knife at the time of severing the
paper can be made to correspond with the speed of the travel of the
paper, thus cutting off any required length of the web.
Fig. 12, Sheet IV., is an end view of apparatus illustrating the
eleventh part of my Invention. The web received from the printing
machine is severed at 41. The separate sheets are carried round and
round the tapes 42 until a sufficient number are superimposed, upon
which each bundle receives a fold as it passes the cylinders 43, and is
delivered by the tapes and hammer 44. In the arrangement shown the
tapes 42 are equal in length to three papers, longer or shorter tapes
may be used.
In all the views in Sheet IV. gearing, framework, and similar parts
not essentially of my Invention are not shown, as various obvious com-
binations of such parts can be used to actuate the mechanism.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and par-
ticularized the same, I claim,-
First. Arranging in rotary web printing machines both the stereotype
cylinders above the impression cylinders, substantially as described
and illustrated under head 1, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, for the purposes set
forth
Second. Building up a printing cylinder of discs and stereo, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated under head 2, Figs. 5 and 6, for
the purpose set forth.
Third. The combination and arrangements of parts for perfecting one
side of a sheet of paper when printed from cylinders constructed under

page_text: the second head, substantially as described and illustrated under head 3,
Figs. 5 and 6.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement of type cylinders, vibrating,
and carrying tapes and rollers, substantially as described and illustrated
under head 4, Fig. 8, for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as.
described and illustrated under part 5, Fig. 8, for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as
described and illustrated under part 6, Fig. 9, for the purpose set
forth.
Seventh. The combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as
described and illustrated under part 7, Fig. 10, for the purpose set
forth.
Eighth. The combination, substantially as described and illustrated
under part 8, Figs. 9 and 10, for the purpose set forth.
Ninth. The combination and arrangement of parts for cutting various
lengths of paper from the web, substantially as described and illustrated
under part 9, Fig. 11, for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. The combination of vibrating and folding mechanism, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated under part 10, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,
for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. The combination and arrangement of parts, substantially
as described and illustrated under part 11, Fig. 12, for the purpose set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ashley Wilson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
In the presence of
WILLIAM ASHLEY WILSON.
In the presence of
WILLIAM ASHLEY WILSON.
GEORGE ASHLEY WILSON. (L.S.)