IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES in what manner the same is to beed
Year: 1885

page_text: and
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is more particularly applicable to lithographic printing presses,
and relates to stop cylinder presses or machines in which the cylinder carries a
segment gear and the bed a rack, whereby the cylinder, during printing, is geared
with the bed, but which permits the bed to move back or return after printing,
leaving the cylinder stationary.
Owing to the difficulty of engaging the segment-gear of the cylinder with the
bed-rack when the bed is moving at a high speed, and of stopping the cylinder, if
its segment runs out of the bed rack when the bed is moving at a high speed, the
beds of stop cylinder presses have heretofore been largely driven by cranks,
because the crank gives a gradual decreasing and then a gradual increasing speed
to the bed at the end of its movement.
These crank presses are, however, objectionable because the method of operating
the cylinder has necessitated a comparatively slow performance of work by the
press. The stop cylinder press has been greatly improved by giving the bed a
uniform speed of movement, and by attaching to the cylinder a short segmental
gear independent of the segment with which the bed-rack engages and by
employing in connection therewith, a sector gear, which, by a suitable cam, is
brought into engagement with the segment gear as the cylinder is disengaged
from the bed, so as to gradually take up the momentum of the cylinder and bring
it to a full stop, and which by another suitable cam, is moved in an opposite
direction to overcome the inertia of the cylinder and start it forward with such a
gradually accelerated movement that it and the bed shall have a common
speed when its rack and the cylinder segment are brought to their point of
engagement.

page_text: In order to secure a proper action of the mechanism for stopping and starting
the cylinder just described, a careful adjustment of the sector-gear, whereby the
cylinder is turned in stopping and starting, and of the cams whereby said sector
is operated, was necessary; and even then there was the liability especially in
running very fast, of a thump or knock at the time the cylinder is let go by the
bed and taken by the cam-actuated sector-gear and vice versa.
An important object of my present invention is to obtain a still smoother
operation of the cylinder, whereby the press may be safely run at a higher speed
than has been before attainable in stop-cylinder presses; and furthermore, to
enable the cylinder, while receiving its entire movement from the bed to be turned
considerably more than a complete revolution during the forward movement of
the bed, so that the printed sheet may be delivered from the front of the cylinder,
the time taken by such rotation of the cylinder to deliver, being utilized in a
lithographic press to give the bed a longer movement which will carry its form
in the forward or printing stroke entirely beyond the cylinder and under the
wetting rollers located at the opposite side of the cylinder from the color or inking
rollers.
To these ends my invention consists in novel combinations of parts which are
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of such parts of a press as are necessary to illustrate
my invention, the parts being shown in the positions which they occupy at the
instant the bed commences its movement to print.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of said parts on the dotted line x, x
Figure 1, looking toward the cylinder.
Figure 3 is a vertical section and side elevation of certain parts of the press on
the dotted line y, y Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a sectional view on the plane of the dotted line z z Figure 3.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A A designate the side frames of the press which are erected on the bed plate B,
and C designates the cylinder which is journalled in suitable bearings a, in the
upper side frames or cylinder frames A¹.
D designates the bed which is capable of sliding on suitable bearers b received
upón cross-pieces or stretchers A³ connecting the side frames A, A and D¹
designates the form which in the example of my invention consists of a lithogra-
phic stone.
Attached to the underside of the bed D is a rack c with which engages a pinion
or wheel d. This pinion or wheel d is mounted on a shaft d', in which is a
knuckle or universal joint or coupling d³, as best shewn in Figure 2 and which is
supported at one end in a bearing in the side frame A, and adjacent to the
wheel d in a bearing d³ wherein it can rise and fall a sufficient distance to allow it
to engage with the upper or lower side of the rack c on the lower side of the bed.
The shaft receives a motion continuously in one direction through the wheel
and pinion, e, e¹ from a shaft E on which are placed the driving pulleys e³ ³ shewn
in Figure 2. This mechanism for driving the bed is a well known movement for
transforming uniform rotary motion into uniform reciprocating motion, the shaft
engaging with the under or upper side of the rack c to move the bed in one or
other direction at a uniform or nearly uniform speed.
The shaft E therefore constitutes the driving shaft of the machine and imparts
the desired uniform motion to the bed, and the entire movement of the cylinder
is produced by suitable gearing operated by the bed and which I shall now
describe.
In one of the side frames A. is journalled a short shaft f having fixed on one
end a pinion f¹ which engages with a rack f' on the underside of the bed, and
receives a rotary motion alternately in opposite directions as the bed is recipro-
cated; and having fixed on the other or outer end a similar pinion f³, which gears
into a large spur wheel F, fast on a shaft F¹. This shaft is journalled at one end

page_text: in one of the side frames A, and at the other end in an outside or supplemental
frame or standard A; and the wall F has such a circumference that it will make
a complete turn at each forward or backward movement of the bed. Consequently
the shaft F is not rotated continuously in one direction, but has imparted to it a
reciprocating rotary motion, moving in each direction a complete or nearly
complete turn.
G designates a second shaft which is likewise journalled in the frames A A³,
and on which is fixed a spur wheel G₁ gearing into a spur wheel G³ on the shaft
of the cylinder C. The wheel G is fast on the cylinder shaft, and consequently
it will be understood that whenever the shaft G is turned, the cylinder is also
turned.
On the shaft F¹ are two wheels H, I which are both fast thereon and which
gear into two other wheels H¹, I on the shaft G. The wheels H¹, I are loose on
the shaft G, and are severally connected therewith or locked thereto at the desired
times by a clutch piece J, capable of sliding on the shaft to cause it to engage
with one or other of the said wheels, or to bring it to a position midway between
them in order to leave both wheels free. This clutch-piece is connected with the
shaft G, in a well understood manner by a feather or spline, and is operated by a
lever K, K¹ fulcrummed at g, to a bracket g¹ projecting from the outer frame or
standard A. The upper arm K of the said lever is forked to embrace the clutch
piece J and the lower arm K¹ thereof is connected with a rod K³, as best shewn in
Figure 2.
L designates a shaft which extends lengthwise of the press and which is driven
by bevel gear wheels g* g³ from the driving shaft E.
Upon the shaft L is a cam L' the form and purpose of which will be hereinafter
described and the rod K' is forked to straddle the shaft, and carries a bowl or
roller h which engages with a groove in said cam.
The wheels H, H₁ are cam-shaped spur wheels, the forms of which are best
shewn in Figure 3, and the wheels I, I¹ are not cam shaped but have a plain
uniform periphery, the wheel I being smaller than the wheel I¹.
During printing the cylinder C is geared with the bed D, by spur segments i,
on the cylinder engaging with racks j on the top of the bed; and as shewn in
Figure 2 one rack ₁₁ is directly above and formed in the same piece with the
rack f.
In its side is a groove
The form of the cam L' is best shown in Figure 4.
which comprises three concentric portions k, k', k³ of different radii and three
offsets k, k* ****. The cam turns in the direction indicated by the arrows
thereon in Figures 2 and 4, and produces the following movements of the clutch-
piece J. So long as the bowl or roller h, is in the longer concentric groove
portion k, the clutch-piece is held in engagement with the wheel H', as shown in
the drawing, but by the rotation of the cam the offset k¹ acts upon the said bowl
or roller h, and directs it into the second concentric portion k¹ which is of shorter
radius, and thereby throws the clutch-piece J out of engagement with the
wheel H, and across into the wheel I', where it remains during the passage of the
grooved portion k', over the roller h, and until the offset **, reaches the said
roller. The offset ***, acting on the roller h, draws the clutch piece J out of the
wheel I, and into an intermediate position out of engagement with both
wheels H, I, where it remains during the time the concentric grooved portion ³
traverses the roller k, and until the offset k***, acting on the said roller h throws
the clutch-piece J, again into engagement with the wheel H³, in which position
it appears in the drawing.
In front of the cylinder C I have represented, in outline, inking or color rollers l,
and behind the cylinder wetting-rollers are represented in a similar manner
which would not be necessary in a type press.
At the top of the cylinder is the feed board S, and at the front of the cylinder
opposite the feed board, are chain wheels m, over which pass endless chains

page_text: carrying delivery grippers. I have not here shown these chains fully nor the
delivery grippers as they form no part of my present invention.
In the specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated
September 30th AD 1884 N° 12970. I have shown and described a printing
press having front delivery apparatus in which are employed endless chains and
gripper-bars and rods extending between them and this delivery apparatus may be
of that character.
As before stated, the position of parts shown is that which exists just as the
bed D commences its forward movement in the direction of the arrow 1 Figure 1,
and at this time the receiving edge 8, of the cylinder is in the position shown in
Figure 1, by a full line.
As the bed moves its rack få acting upon the pinion 7 and through the shaft f,
pinion, wheel F, and shaft F¹, turns the cam-shaped gear H, in the direction
indicated by the arrows thereon in Figures 1 and 3, and inasmuch as the fellow
cam wheel H is now locked by the clutch J, to its shaft G, said shaft will also
be turned, and through the wheels G¹, G', will turn the cylinder forward in the
direction of the arrows Figures 1 and 3. At the initial movement of the wheel H
the portion *, is coming into engagement with and meshes into the corresponding
portion, of the fellow wheel H, and consequently the inertia of the cylinder will
be overcome very gradually, and the cylinder gradually increased in speed until, at
the time the bed-racks j, come to the cylinder, they mesh into the segments i,
without shock or jar, and continue in gear there with until printing is completed.
In the press here shown the travel of the bed is sufficient to carry it entirely
beyond the cylinder and into the position shown in dotted lines at the right of the
cylinder in Figure 3. This carries the stone or form D', under the wetting rollers,
and during the whole forward movement of the bed, the concentric groove.
portion k, of the cam L¹ has held the roller h, and therefore kept the clutch-piece J,
in constant engagement with the wheel H'.
As before stated, the circumference of the wheel F, is equal to the travel of the
bed D, and the wheel H, being upon the same shaft also makes a single revolution
at each movement of the bed, and by the time the bed has reached the end of its
movement, the wheels H H¹ are again in the position shown in Figure 1, and have
brought the cylinder to a stand still without shock or jar.
In a front delivery press, as here shown, the gearing should be so proportioned
as to give the cylinder more than a complete revolution, and therefore the gearing
shown is arranged to carry the receiving edge 8 of the cylinder beyond the position
shown in Figure 1, to the position indicated by the dotted line s*, or thereabouts;
and as the cylinder after a complete turn, moves from 8, to s*, the sheet is delivered
and the cylinder brought to a stand still at 8, at the time the bed terminates its
movement.
As the bed completes its movement and just before it begins its return, the
cam L¹, by its rotation brings the off set k, against the roller h and by acting
thereon moves the clutch piece J, out of engagement with the wheel H¹, and into
engagement with the wheel I', 'at which time said roller is in the concentric
portion, of smallest radius; but as soon as the clutch piece J, is unlocked from
the wheel H', the bed D commences its return movement, thereby turning the
shaft F, and its wheels H, I, in the opposite direction.
The instant that the clutch-piece J, engages with the wheel I', the cylinder is
turned back at a slow. speed because of the comparatively small size of the wheel I,
and the larger size of the wheel I' and until the receiving edge of the cylinder is
brought back to the position indicated by 8, in Figures 1 and 3. The off set k**,
of the cam L', now acts on the roller h and draws the clutch piece J out of
engagement with the wheel I', and into an intermediate position where it remains
while the concentric groove-portion ², of the cam traverses the roller h, the cylinder
being left stationary to properly register the sheet upon it.
As the bed completes its return movement, the off set ***, meets the roller h
and thereby throws the clutch-piece J again into engagement with the wheel H', to

page_text: move the cylinder forward with its sheet, and as before described, the portions * *
of the wheels H, H¹, coming into gear effect the starting of the cylinder very
slowly, and accelerate its speed, until at the time of coming together of the bed
racks and cylinder segments i, the bed and cylinder have a uniform movement.
If found necessary or desirable on high speed presses, I may employ means to
clamps the cylinder at the time of reversing the bed, and also at the time of
unlocking the cylinder, when it is brought to a position to receive the fresh sheet
from the feed-board.
In a stop-cylinder press in which it is not important to run the cylinder over
to facilitate the delivery of the printed sheet, the bed will "run by "the cylinder
only about four to six inches, and in this time the cylinder will run down to slow
and stop, which will just place the receiving edge of the cylinder in the proper
position for feeding the fresh sheet, and by unlocking the cylinder at the point of
reversal of the bed, or just before, the cylinder will not be disturbed. In this case
the two concentric spur wheels I, I, would not be required, and the clutch piece J,
would simply be actuated to lock into and unlock from the wheel H¹.
By my invention I operate the cylinder by gears which are always in mesh, and
are thus enabled to run very rapidly and to effect the engagement of the bed and
cylinder for printing without shock or jar, and also to stop and start the cylinder
very gradually, I am also enabled to run the cylinder ahead after printing
to facilitate the delivery of the printed sheet and then return it to a receiving
position while the bed is returning, and before it completes its return movement,
thus giving ample time for.registering the sheet on the cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated
to me by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. In a stop-cylinder printing press, the combination with a bed, of a
cylinder geared directly to the bed during printing, and gearing and intermediate
mechanism connecting the bed and cylinder, substantially as described, whereby
the cylinder is carried past the point of taking a sheet during the forward move-
ment of the bed, in order to deliver the printed sheet at the front of the cylinder,
and is then returned to the point of taking the sheet and there allowed to dwell
until the next forward movement of the bed; substantially as, and for the purpose,
herein described.
Second. In a stop-cylinder printing press, the combination with a bed, of a
cylinder which is geared directly with the bed during printing, and cam-shaped
gear wheels deriving motion from the bed and serving to start the cylinder
gradually and accelerate its speed, so that it and the bed will have a uniform
motion at the time of coming into gear, and also serving to bring the cylinder
gradually to a stop; substantially as, and for the purpose, herein described.
Third. In a stop cylinder printing press the combination with a bed, of a
cylinder geared directly with the bed during printing; a shaft geared with the
bed and receiving a reciprocating rotary motion therefrom; an intermediate shaft
geared with the cylinder; can shaped gear wheels connecting said shafts, the
wheel upon the intermediate shaft being loose; and a cam-actuated clutch-piece
whereby said loose wheel may be locked to its shaft during the forward move-
ment of the bed and left unlocked during the return movement of the bed,
substantially as, and for the purpose, herein described.
Fourth. In a stop cylinder printing press, the combination with a bed, of a
cylinder having a gear segment, and a rack on the bed whereby the cylinder is
geared directly with the bed during printing; and cam-shaped gear wheels serving
to start the cylinder gradually and accelerate its speed, so that the bed and cylinder
will have a uniform speed at the time of the rack on the bed coming into gear
with the segment on the cylinder, and also serving to gradually stop the cylinder
after the bed rack has run out of gear with the cylinder segment, substantially as,
and for the purpose, herein described.

page_text: Fifth. In a stop-cylinder printing press, the combination with a bed and a
cylinder, of cam-shaped gear wheels whereby the cylinder is started gradually at.
the commencement of its movement, and carried past a position to that the sheet
and there stopped; other gear wheels whereby the cylinder is reversed and moved
back to a position to take the sheet; and a cam actuated clutch piece whereby said
cylinder may be alternately connected with the cam shaped gear wheels and the
reversing gear wheels; substantially as, and for the purpose, herein described.
Sixth. The combination with the bed D, and cylinder C, provided with the
rack j and segment i, for engagement during printing, of the shaft G geared with
the cylinder; the shaft F, geared with the bed and having a reciprocating rotary
motion; the cam-shaped wheel H, on the shaft F¹; the cam-shaped wheel H³,
loose on the shaft G; the clutch piece J and the cam L'; and connections for
controlling the clutch-pieces J; substantially as herein described.
Seventh. The combination with the bed D and cylinder C, provided with the
rack j and segment i, for engagement during printing, of the shaft G, geared with
the cylinder and the wheels H', I', loose thereon; the shaft F¹, geared with the
bed and having a reciprocating rotary motion; the wheels H, I, fast on the
shaft F; the clutch piece J, and the cam L'; and connections for controlling said
clutch-piece; substantially as herein described.