Year: 1899

page_text: We, GASTON ELIE BOUVET, of 1 Rue Leopold Robert, Engineer, and EDOUARD
ALBERT FIX, of 47 Rue du Montparnasse, Printer, both of Paris, in the Republic of
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to printing machines of the kind described in the Specifica-
tion of our former Patent No. 30543 of 1897.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the figures of which
are hereinafter referred to.
The improved printing machine comprises three cylinders A A¹ A² of equal
diameters which are mutually in gear by means of their toothed crowns so as to have
the same uniform circumferential speed.
The cylinders A1 and A2 are the plate cylinders each having one half of its periphery
provided with a zinc plate or stereotype 71 or 72 or a metal plate with the design for
printing. The cylinder A is the impression or paper cylinder, that is to say the
cylinder having a uniform or even cylindrical surface and carrying the paper web or
band X for receiving the impression.
=
=
2.m 40
2
By taking the dimensions given by way of example in the Specification of the said
former Patent that is to say 2.40 as the circumference of the three cylinders it will
m¹'m m² m² z² n²
= 1.20.
be seen from Figure 1 that n¹ z¹ m¹
Thus the cylinder A¹ prints 1.20 of the paper web X, then passes over 1.20, then
again prints 1.20 and so forth; the interval left by the cylinder A¹ being subsequently
printed by the cylinder A² so that the design will be continuous without any break.
Obviously the principle of the invention, will not be altered if in lieu of a single
centrally arranged cylinder we use two cylinders a¹ and a² as shown in Figure 2.
The action of the machine indeed remains identically the same providing the
length m¹ mm² is always exactly equal to 21 or 2 this being the half of the circum-
ference of A¹ or A².
In the case referred to it will therefore be sufficient to place the cylinders a¹ and a²
at a convenient distance apart, such cylinders having equal or unequal diameters as
may be desired, so that m¹ m m² is exactly equal to 1m20.
It should be noted that the 1.20 requires to be measured over the external surface
of the paper web or the like. If the length m¹ m m² is exactly 1.20 for a tissue-
paper or other thin paper it will be greater when a thicker paper or material is
used.
This inconvenience may be remedied by providing any suitable arrangement for
enabling the length m³ m m² to be regulated in accordance with the material which
is to receive the impression.
By way of example we will now proceed to describe a few of such arrangements.
As indicated in Figure 3 the tissue or paper web may be caused to pass over a
roller R which may be loose or fast on its shaft the ends of which are arranged in
bearings in the side frames of the machine. These bearings may be vertically adjusted

page_text: by means of a micrometer screw in such a manner as to regulate the position of the
roller R to adapt the length m¹ m m² to any desired thickness of paper.
Again if desired two or more rollers R may be employed.
As shown in Figure 4 the tissue or paper-web may be guided over a dome or
bridge piece D of wood or other material having a very even surface; the curvature
of the said piece being somewhat sharp to facilitate the sliding motion of the paper,
while moreover a perfect joint is made between the arched piece and the cylinders a¹
and a² by spring blades d¹ and 2 for example. By suitably suspending the bridge
piece D and enabling it to be slightly adjusted vertically by screws it will be easy to
adjust the same to any particular thickness of paper. With the object of facilitating
this adjustment, marks or lines may be made upon the sides of the frame which will
serve to indicate the points of adjustment of the bridge piece D for certain sizes or
thicknesses of paper or the like.
The cylinders a¹ and a² may be covered with a certain thickness of paper or special
fabric so as to increase their diameter when required for printing upon very thin paper
or they may be reduced in diameter by partially or wholly removing the covering for
printing upon thick paper or the like.
In short we may employ any convenient means which enables the length m¹ m m²
of the external surface of the materials for printing to be exactly adjusted to the
precise length of the design upon the zinc plates or the like ¹ or z².
The rollers or cylinders a¹ and a² may be replaced by pressers analogous to those
used in ordinary lithographic machines without in any way affecting the principle of
our continuous printing action by two coupled plate cylinders. These pressers.are
arranged to force the tissue or paper web X into contact at the points m¹ and m² and to
produce, by means of springs and other appropriate mechanisms known in connection
with lithography, the required impression in contact with the plate cylinder.
Although this arrangement is apparently not so effective as the arrangements
above described we have shown the same by way of example in Figure 5, in which
R1 and R2 are the pressers carried in supports r¹ and 2 respectively, while D is the
removable bridge piece which may be of cylindrical or any other convenient form.
In the said former Patent we have shown that the principle of our machine is not
altered when any number of plate cylinders are used such as 3, 4 and so on.
In order to more precisely state the principle of this application we will now
explain the arrangement of three plate cylinders. If in this case a single central
paper cylinder A (Figure 6) is adopted the three plate cylinders A1 A2 A3 may be
arranged in the positions indicated and taking the circumference of the plate cylinder
at 2.40 this length of the design upon each of the plates Z' Z2 Z3 should be
2m 40
3
-0.80 corresponding to an angle at the centre of
m² m m³
=
2m. 40
3
=
360°
3
=120°.
0.80 it will be evident that
In adjusting the plates in the manner shown in Figure 6 and arranging them in
such a manner that m¹ m m² =
during the first third of a
revolution A¹ prints 0.80 and leaves blank
2.40 0.80=1.6 for the next two thirds of a revolution. At the second part of a
revolution A2 prints 0.80 in continuation to the 0.80 printed by A¹. Finally at the
last part of the revolution A³ prints the remaining 0.80 left blank by A¹ and A² so
that thereby the tissue or paper web X will be printed in a continuous manner with-
out any blank spaces or the like appearing thereon. It will be understood that in
order to make m¹ m m² m² m m³ = Z1 Z2 Z3 it will be sufficient that circum-
ference of A; 1 circumference of A¹ or A2, or A³, or that circumference of A=%
circumference A¹. In our example therefore circumf. A=4×2.40-320.
With this arrangement any variations in the thickness of the tissue or paper web
for printing may be remedied by increasing or reducing the cylinder A as may be
required.
If the machine with three plate cylinders is furnished with three paper or im-
pression cylinders a¹ a² a³ (which is a preferable arrangement) these latter may be
arranged as shown in Figure 7. In this case the driving shaft of the machine may

page_text: be that of one of the cylinders A¹ A² or A³.
The motion for the two other cylinders
may be obtained in a simple manner by toothed wheels B1 and B2 fast upon shafts b¹
and 6 respectively and gearing at the side of the machine with the toothed rings of
the said cylinders.
The equal distances m¹ m m² and m2 m m³ to be travelled by the paper web between
the three generatrices of contact of the plate cylinders and the paper cylinders, may
be regulated by fixed, or loose, rollers R1 and R2 adjusted to the thickness of the
printing paper or the like.
We have shown the plates Z1 Z2 and Z³ as covering the half of the periphery of the
plate cylinders, the remaining half of such periphery constituting the inking table, but
it will be evident that the design on such plates with an angle at the centre of 180°
must not exceed 2 of the length of the plates, or in other words an angle of 120° at
the centre.
The portion of the design upon the plate 21 is indicated by dotted lines m¹ n¹ the
point m¹ being the beginning of the design; the design upon 72 is shown by dotted
line n² m² with n² as the starting point, and the design upon 73 is shown by dotted
linen13 with n³ as the starting point.
.
In giving the plates a length equal to the semi-circumference of each plate cylinder
it will be possible to print two different forms of design. If in fact we adhere to the
2m.40 for the circumference of three cylinders the length of the plates 71, 72, and Z³
will be 1.20 and that of the design 0.80.
Thus this machine is capable of printing three designs of 0.80 at each turn and if
the tissue or paper is in two widths and the design discontinuous it will be possible
to produce six different designs in six different non juxtaposed colours. Now by
stopping anyone of the three cylinders while working the two others with the design
of 1.20 in length it will be noticed that the machine acts in a similar manner to
that with two cylinders described in our former Patent and that consequently this
machine permits of printing two different forms viz.: 0.80 and 1.20.
We will now examine the requirements for realizing this result.
We will presume
that it is desired to change the working with three cylinders into a machine working
with two cylinders by stopping the action of the cylinder A2, obviously this may be
effected by elevating the corresponding paper cylinder a² in a vertical direction
Eufficient to permit the paper coming in contact with the cylinder A2. This latter
continues to rotate it being the driving cylinder for the two other cylinders A¹ and A³
by means of the intermediate gearings B1 and B2 but in this case it is not furnished
with the plate nor provided with ink and does not come in contact with the printing
material, so that its action is prevented and thus the cylinders A¹ and A3, furnished
with designs 1.20 in length, now alone act as printing or plate-cylinders.
The impression cylinder a² no longer rotates as it does not gear with anything and
the paper-web X passes with its back over it so that no inconvenience is experienced.
Another condition indispensable to the proper working of this machine with two
cylinders is to raise the cylinder a² sufficiently to reduce the length m¹ m² m³, which
was formerly 0.80 + 0.80 = 1.60, to 1.20. This may be effected with great
exactitude by ascertaining upon the diagrammatical tracing of the machine the
position which it is necessary to give the cylinder a² so as to reduce the
distance m¹ m² m³ from 1.60-1.20 0m.40. In the diagram Figure 8 which
shows the three cylinder machine arranged to operate as a two cylinder press we have
by way of example, arranged the three cylinders in a horizontal line after having
raised a for the required distance so that m¹ m² m² = 1.20; and this is rendered
possible by placing the cylinders a¹ and a³, of any suitable diameter, at an appro-
priate distance apart. If desired the cylinder a² may be raised slightly higher than
the horizontal so as to avoid the paper rubbing against it.
-
The vertical movement may be inparted to the said cylinder by any convenient
mechanism. It will of course be necessary to provide for the sliding of the bearings
of the shaft of this cylinder in a slotted recess in the sides of the machine frame,
the said bearings being adjusted in position by means of screws or other convenient

page_text: means which will permit of the cylinder being rapidly moved from one position to
the other.
The stretching rollers R¹ and R2 must also be capable of displacement in such a
manner that they will remain at the inner side of the paper X while being capable
of adjustment so that m¹ m² m³ is equal to 1m.20.
In addition to the before described re-arrangement of the parts for working
with two cylinders it will be necessary to subject the cylinder A³ to a single
separate angular displacement of 120° in the direction of its normal rotation so as
to place the beginning of the design n³, Figure 7 at m³ Figure 8. This is
effected by quickly removing the key of the toothed wheel B2 and then turning
the cylinder A³ for one third of a revolution, then replacing and fixing the wheel B²,
when the machine will be ready to operate with two cylinders.
We will now notice the modifications which the alteration in the working of the
machine may cause in the movable points d which serve for marking the position
for printing in several colours. When working with three cylinders these prints
or marks are separated 0.80 from centre to centre, while when working with
two cylinders they must be set at 1.20 apart. We will now explain how this may
be rapidly effected by taking as an example the following arrangement:
The endless chains d² have always a total length of 4m.80
1.20 =
6 x 0.80 (Figure 9). It is therefore necessary to articulate to these chains bars
having points d¹ in the case of working with three cylinders, and four only in the
case of working with two cylinders.
= 4 x
=
The wooden rollers C and D¹³ are provided with grooves d³ in which the bars d¹
fit during the rotation. By giving to these rollers a circumference of 0.80 the
distance from centre to centre will be x, being
With these dimensions it suffices to have a single groove in each roller C or C¹³
so as to lodge the bars spaced at 0.80. But if the design is 1.20 in length
and C makes one revolution it develops 0-.80 so that another semi-revolution
will be required to enable it to receive the next bar situated 0.40 further along
the chain d². Thus the roller must be provided with a second groove diametrically
opposite the first groove. With the grooves thus arranged all the bars will be duly
received since the distance between them from centre to centre is 0.40, or 0.80,
or 1.20 that is to say a multiple of 0.40.
The same conditions exist with reference to the roller C1s.
It is not necessary
that the roller C18 should be a complete cylinder as in this case it is not used for
supporting the paper. It may thus be reduced to a horizontal shaft carrying two
toothed pinions C¹³. It will be sufficient to employ eight bars d' arranged as shown
in the diagram Figure 9. Two of these bars, viz. the top and the lowest ones will be
engaged in every case whether the design is 0.80 or 1.20. The others act as
follows: In the case of a design of 0.80 their position will be as represented at the
right hand side of the said diagram, i.e. the points spaced at 0.80 are placed outside
while taking off or turning to the interior those of the bars d' that are spaced
at 1m.20. This obviously will be the contrary with a design of 1.20 as shown at
the left hand side of the diagram. In order to save time instead of removing the
points which are useless in the one or in the other case, it suffices to cause them to
move below the level of the bars d¹. Now it will be remembered that each of these
bars is double and that the rear-bar ds held by the openings d carries the points d
.and therefore it is only required to depress the bar d. by means of suitable wedges
or otherwise in such a manner as to move the superfluous points d to a level with
the external surface of the bar d¹.
It may be mentioned that it is not necessary to make any alteration in the bars in
order to pass from the form 0.80 to 1.20 and vice-ersa. We will presume that

page_text: TIC T1100
8.80.
D
1m
.00
10°
911
க
+110
Thus with this arrangement the marking should be successively effected every
1.60 and 0.80, that is to say that registering would take place only once during
the first two thirds of a revolution and once again during the last third. Therefore
during the first two-thirds a bar with points passes without registering owing to there
being no mark in the paper while the following will duly register and so on in the
same manner. Consequently all the points may be left undisturbed and every third
bar the points enter the printing material. Thus a chain of 3.20 in length may
serve in registering the form 1.20 notwithstanding that 3.20 is not a correct
multiple of 1.20. Evidently it is not necessary to mark the points z¹ 22 23 exactly
in the middle of the plates Z1, Z2 and Z3 and that the same conditions obtain what-
ever may
be their position on the plates providing always Z¹ Z2Z2 Z3=Z³ Z¹=0.80.
In short, to convert the machine from the form 0.80 into that of 1.20, it
suffices
-
1. To raise the impression cylinder a² to the required height so as reduce the
travel of the paper web X by 0.40 between the points of contact m¹ and m³.
2. To adjust the cylinder A3 by turning it through an angle of 120° in the direction
of its normal movement.
3. To fix upon A¹ and A³ plates Z¹ and Z2 respectively with a design of 1.20 in
length.
Obviously if desired the action of either the cylinder A¹ or that of A3 may be
stopped instead of that of the cylinder A2; and by a very quick change the machine
may be made to print in two different forms, viz. 0.80 and 1.20 in this case which
serves as an example only. We will now show that this machine is capable of
executing any number of other forms. We will again consider the working with
three cylinders. If the design reproduced upon Z¹ has an extension of 0.90 in lieu
of 0.80 and the design upon Z is 0.70 in lieu of 0.80 it will be evident that
these designs still fall right providing the commencement of the design on Z² is
moved back 0.80 0.70 = 0.10 from the edge of this plate.
-
Therefore in suitably placing the designs upon the three plates Z1 Z2 and Z³ it
will be possible to print 0.90 with 2, 0.70 with Z2 and 0.80 with Z³, being three
different forms or lengths.
This may be carried as far as can be desired without having to make any modifica-
tion in the working of the machine.
It is clear moreover that if the design is not a continuous one, this machine
permits a margin to be left around the design the width of which can be regulated
to any size.
For example in working with two cylinders, if the design upon Z¹ and
upon Z3 is only one meter in length it will be sufficient to place it in the middle of
each of these plates in order to provide a margin of 0.20 at each end of the
design. If the design upon Z₁ is 1.20 and that on Z3 1.00 only the latter is
placed in the middle of the plate and there will be then a margin of 0.10 at each
end.

page_text: Thus with designs of unequal lengths equal margins may be secured.
Moreover if the design is 2.40 in length, one half thereof may be printed by the
plate and the other half by Z³; or again ½ may be printed by 7, another third
by Z and the other third by 7, or any other combination may be utilized.
In short this machine permits of printing any forms of a length equal to or less
than the circumference of these two plate cylinders.
When the forms are other than 1.20 and 0.80 in length it suffices to place the
designs upon their plates in an appropriate position. The bars with the points will
be found to suit all combinations providing the registering holes are arranged upon
the plates in accordance therewith.
Having thus expounded the principle we will next proceed to describe several
arrangements in which we have combined the plate cylinders with a number of press
or paper-cylinders and registering chains in such a manner as to reduce, as far as is
possible, the extent of travel of the paper or tissue between the time of registering
and the printing and thereby enable the bridge piece to be omitted together with
the required guides and chains and so forth. It must be understood that these
arrangements serve only as examples.
By combining our system of endless chains or cables having bars, with the
principle of multi-press-cylinders, we can provide the arrangement shown in
Figure 10 in which the press-cylinders a¹ and a³ fulfil the same functions as the
rollers C and C¹s in our former patent, that is to say they receive the bars while at
the same time they press against the plate cylinders. To this end it is required
and sufficient to have
1. m¹ m² = circumf. A² =
1.20 in the said example.
2. Circumf. a¹ = circumf. a circumf. A¹ = 1m.20.
m² m²
Thus m¹ m¹
=
=
=
0.60 and the total length of the point-chains is
2 x 0.60 + 2 x 1m.20 3.60 3 x 1.20, and therefore three bars d2 and s
are required. The doubler blanket does not leave the chains and follows them over
their entire path.
3. The bars should completely fill the single groove in the cylinders a¹ a² so that
by entering the groove the surface of the cylinder is rendered uniform.
If desired the same arrangement may be disposed in a horizontal or even an
inclined position, and also with 3, 4 or more plate cylinders.
When it is feared that the bars do not exactly cover the plate cylinders and thus
produce faulty impressions, it suffices to employ press-cylinders C and C¹³ inde-
pendent of the cylinders a¹ and a² and to pass the tissue or paper web around an
intermediate cylinder R as indicated in the diagram Figure 11, and in which the
registering is effected in descending instead of in ascending as in the previous
example.
This arrangement, as also the previous one, obviates the use of bridge pieces F
and F¹ and the considerable length of double-blanket D perforated along its edges
with equidistant holes, together with the conveyor chains G and endless apron E.
Moreover no further heed need be paid to the thickness of the tissue or paper X
the distance m¹ m² being constant whatever may be the thickness.
This arrangement is equally applicable to machines having 3, 4 or more plate-
cylinders.
A similar arrangement to the previous one is that shown in the diagram Figure 12
in which the plate cylinders are disposed at each side of the press-cylinder thereby
enabling the vertical elevation of the upper plate-cylinder to be reduced so that it
can be reached while standing on the floor, this being the preferred arrangement.
The roller shown in this figure serves as a tightening roller for the blanket D for
taking up slack.
Figure 13 shows an arrangement suitable for use in connection with three
plate-cylinders.
It will be readily understood that quite a number of other arrangements may be
produced which would be within the scope of this invention. Thus the plane
passing through the axes of the press-cylinders, where only two plate-cylinders are.

page_text: used, may be disposed horizontally or inclined and the plate-cylinders may be
arranged to suit. The chain can also be arranged in such a manner as to suit the
various systems of printing with multiple press-cylinders.
Moreover the chain may be replaced by any other convenient driving mechanism
for actuating the movable points without deviating from the main principle of the
system here adopted which consists in imparting to the registering points & a speed
exactly the same as that of the tissue or paper in such a manner that at the second
colour printing the attendant-pointers are enabled to register by means of the points
marked by the machine upon the tissue or paper during the printing of the first
colour.
This principle having been admitted it will be evident that it may be carried out
by various means, some of which we will describe by way of example.
1) Instead of endless chains provided with bars metallic or other cables or
ropes, or preferably endless steel bands may be employed which are perforated with
equidistant holes which engage with the teeth of their driving pinions, these bands
having the advantage of rendering the point-carriers less extensible. Instead of
carrying these chains, cables or bands vertically they may be horizontal, inclined
circular and so forth and may be supported by suitable guides.
2) The registering points may be arranged upon the extremities of the arins of a
sort of turnstile or star wheel T of such a size and rotating at such a speed as to cause
the points to be displaced in a manner corresponding to the speed of progression of
the paper or tissue Figure 4.
For example in the case described in our former patent it is sufficient to cause the
points d to describe a circle of 2.40 in circumference and to impart a complete
revolution to the star wheel for each complete revolution of the plate cylinders A¹
and A².
For the form of 1.20 it suffices to place the points at the extremity of a uniform
diameter T. For the form of 0 80 two supplementary arins T2 and T3 are required
spaced one with respect to the other and also with regard to T¹ at 120° from centre
to centre. For 1.20 only d and d¹ and for 0.80 d, 2 and 3 will be employed.
The tissue or paper X may be caused to move vertically in front of the said star
wheel or it may move horizontally underneath the same; again it may be at an
incline or circular by sliding over a suitably arranged bridge.
3) The point-bars ( may be arranged in the interior of a drum T of the same
diameter as the cylinders A, A1 and A2, and geared or driven so as to rotate at the
same speed as the said cylinders.
In Figure 15 we have shown this drum as situated at the top of the machine with
the object of preserving the usual aspect or form of the machine, but obviously the
drum may be arranged at any other point ahead of the commencement of pressure on
the tissue or paper X. We may employ cams to force the points somewhat outward
at e that is at the moment the tissue or paper begins to roll upon the drum, while
they are withdrawn at f at the moment when the paper leaves the drum and slides
over the bridge piece F. Thus registering takes place during the passage from e to
f and ceases at this latter point by the withdrawal of the points d from the paper or
tissue so that this latter is now properly registered with the plate cylinders. The
blanket or apron E will be pierced by the points but this does not cause any incon-
venience.
Longitudinal grooves provided in the drum T permit the points d to project
beyond its periphery while at the same they may be capable of being displaced
longitudinally so as to provide for pointing or registering at various widths.
If desired these points may be set from the exterior of the drum by mounting in
their bearings d a right and left handed screw which when turned by the aid of a
key causes the screws either to approach or to move apart from each other in a
uniform manner.
For a machine for a single form the points d d' are set diametrically opposite each
other, while for a machine for two forms such as 1.20 and 0.80 long the said

page_text: points would be disposed at d, d² and d³ in the manner described in connection with
the star wheel.
The before mentioned drum T may have a circumference of 1.20 and be fitted
with one row of points. A drum of 1.20 in cumference with three rows of points
spaced at 0.40 (.e. placed at three points on the circumference 120° apart) is
perfectly suitable for a machine printing two different forms.
Because with a form of im.20, working two cylinders, a single registering row of
points d is required, while with a form of 0.80 working three cylinders, one in every
two rows is omitted, that is to say the registering or pointing is effected with d d³
then d² d then d³ d2 and so on in succession.
4) Another arrangement, which may be found advantageous is to arrange the drum T
against the first plate-cylinder so as to serve at the same time as a press-cylinder.
In this manner all danger of the displacement of the tissue or paper during feeding
between the points fand the commencement of pressure on the cylinders A and A¹ is
obviated. In this case it is advantageous to place the plate cylinders A¹ and A²
above one another but with their horizontal axes arranged exactly at a distance a a
equal to half their circumference, being 1".20 in this instance. This machine would
thus resemble the arrangement indicated in Figure 16. The attendant will therefore
place the points in register upon the upper semi circumference d d of the drum T
and the blanket D will follow the path as indicated. The other press-cylinder ² may
be of any diameter. Lastly another advantage of this arrangement is that no heed
need be paid to the thickness of the tissue or paper X. Whatever may be the thick-
ness thereof the distance dm2 will always remain constant at 1.20, and thus no
other part of the machine need be displaced to allow for variation in thickness.
Dated this 27th day of October 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
We, GASTON ELIE BOUVET of 1, Rue Leopold Robert, Engineer, and EDOUARD
ALBERT FIX, of 47, Rue du Mont Parnasse, Printer, both of Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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 :-
This invention relates to printing machines of the kind described in the Specification
of our former Patent No. 30543 of 1897.
The invention is illustrated in the drawings accompanying the Provisiona
Specification and the figures of which are hereinafter referred to.
1
The improved printing machine comprises three cylinders A A¹ A2 of equal
diameters mutually in gear by means of their toothed crowns so as to have the same
uniform circumferential speed.
The cylinders A¹ and A² are the plate cylinders each having one half of its periphery
provided with a zine plate or stereotype 1 or 2 or any other metalplate with the
design for printing. The cylinder A is the impression or paper cylinder, that is to
say the cylinder having a uniform or smooth cylindrical surface and carrying the
paper web or band X for receiving the impression.
By taking the dimension given by way of example in the Specification of the said
former Patent that is to say the circumference of the three cylinders it will be seen

page_text: from Figure that
=1" 20.
Thus the cylinder A¹ prints 1m. 20 of the paper web X, then passes over 1.20,
then again prints 1.20 and so forth; the interval left by the cylinder A' being
subsequently printed by the cylinder A2 so that the design will be continuous.
Obviously the principle of the invention will not be altered if in lieu of a single
centrally arranged cylinder we use two cylinders a¹ and a² as shown in Figure 2.
The action of the machine indeed remains identically the same providing the length
mm m2 is always exactly equal to 1 or 2 this being the half of the circumference
of A¹ or A2.
In the case referred to it will therefore be sufficient to place the cylinders a¹ and a²
at a convenient distance apart, such cylinders having equal or unequal diameters
as may be desired, so that m³ m m² is exactly equal to 1.20.
It should be noted that the 1.20 requires to be measured over the external surface
of the paper web or the like. If the length m¹ m m² is exactly 1.20 for a tissue-
paper or other thin paper it will be greater when a thicker paper or material is
used.
This inconvenience may be remedied by providing any suitable arrangement for
enabling the length m³ m m² to be regulated in accordance with the material which
is to receive the impression.
By way of example we will now proceed to describe a few of such arrangements.
As indicated in Figure 3 the paper web may be caused to pass over a roller R
which may be loose or fast on its shaft the ends of which are arranged in bearings
in the side frames of the machine. These bearings may be vertically adjusted by
means of a micrometer-screw in such a manner as to regulate the position of the
roller R to adapt the length m¹ m m² to any desired thickness of paper.
Again if desired two or more rollers R may be employed.
As shown in Figure 4 the tissue or paper-web may be guided over a dome or
bridge piece D of wood or other material having a very smooth surface; the curvature
of the said piece being somewhat sharp to facilitate the sliding motion of the paper,
while moreover a perfect joint is inade between the arched piece and the cylinders a¹
and a2 by spring blades d¹ and d² for example. By suitably suspending the bridge
piece D and enabling it to be slightly adjusted vertically by screws it will be easy
to adjust the same to any particular thickness of paper. With the object of facilitating.
this adjustment, marks' or lines may be made upon the sides of the frame which
will serve to indicate the points of adjustment of the bridge piece D for certain
sizes or thicknesses of paper or the like.
The cylinders a¹ and a² may be covered with a certain thickness of paper or felt
so as to increase their diameter when required for printing upon very thin paper,
or they may be reduced in diameter by partially or wholly removing the covering
when required for printing upon thick paper or the like.
In short we may employ any convenient means which enables the length m¹ m m²
of the outer surface of the materials for printing to be exactly adjusted to the precise
length of the design upon the zinc plates or the like Z¹ or Z2.
The rollers or cylinders a¹ and a2 may be replaced by pressers analogous to those
used in ordinary lithographic machines without in any way affecting the principle of
our continuous printing action by two coupled plate cylinders. These pressers are
arranged to force the paper web X into contact at the points m¹ and m² and to
produce, by means of springs and other appropriate mechanisms known in connection.
with lithography, the required impression in contact with the plate cylinder.
Although this arrangement is apparently not so effective as the arrangements above
described we have shown the same by way of an example in Figure 5 in which R¹
and R² are the pressers carried in supports 1 and 2 respectively while D is the removable
piece which may be of cylindrical or any other convenient form.
In the said former patent we have shown that the principle of our machine
is not altered when any number of plate cylinders are used such as 3, 4 and
so on.

page_text: With this arrangement any variations in the thickness of the paper web for
printing may be remedied by increasing or reducing the cylinder A as may be
required.
If the machine with three plate cylinders is furnished with three paper or
impression cylinders a¹ a² a³ (which is a preferable arrangement) these latter may be
arranged as shown in Figure 7. In this case the driving shaft of the machine may
be that of one of the cylinders A¹ A2 or A³. The motion for the two other cylinders
may be obtained in
a simple manner by toothed wheels B₁ and B2 fast upon
shafts 61 and 62 respectively and gearing at the side of the machine with the toothed
rings of the said cylinders.
The equal distances m¹ m m² and m² m m³ to be travelled by the paper web between
the three generatrices of contact of the plate cylinders and the paper cylinders, may
be regulated by fixed, or loose, rollers R1 and R2 adjusted to the thickness of the
printing paper or the like.
We have shown the plates Z1 Z2 Z3 as covering half of the periphery of the
plate cylinders, the remaining half of such periphery constituting the inking table,
but it will be evident that the design on such plates with an angle at the centre
of 180° must not exceed 2/3 of the length of the plates, or in other words an
angle of 120° at the centre.
The portion of the design upon the plate Z is indicated by dotted lines m¹ n'
the point m¹ being the beginning of the design; the design upon 22 is shown by
dotted line n² m² with n² as the starting point, and the design upon 73 is shown by
dotted lines n³ n¹s with n³ as the starting point.
In giving the plates a length equal to the semi-circumference of each plate cylinder
it will be possible to print two different forms of design. If in fact we adhere to
the 2.m40 for the circumference of three cylinders the length of the plates Z1, Z2 and Z³
will be 1.20 and that of the design 0."80.
Thus this machine is capable of printing three designs of 0.80 at each turn and if
the web or paper is in two widths and the design discontinuous it will be possible to
produce six different designs in six different non juxtaposed colours. By stopping
any one of the three cylinders while working the two others with the design of 1.m20
in length the machine acts in a similar manner to that with two cylinders described

page_text: in our former patent and consequently this machine permits of printing two different
forms viz.: 0.80 and 1.m20.
We will now examine the requirements for realizing this result. We will presume.
that it is desired to change the working with three cylinders into a machine working
with two cylinders by stopping the action of the cylinder A2, obviously this may be
effected by elevating the corresponding paper cylinder a² in a vertical direction
sufficient to prevent the paper coming in contact with the cylinder A². This latter
continues to rotate it being the driving cylinder for the two other cylinders A¹ and
and A3 by means of the intermediate gearings B1 and B2 but in this case it is not
furnished with the plate nor provided with ink and does not come in contact with the
printing material, so that its action is prevented and thus the cylinders A¹ and A³,
furnished with designs 1.20 in length, now alone act as printing or plate-cylinders.
The impression cylinder a² no longer rotates as it does not gear with anything and
the paper-web X passes with its back over it so that no inconvenience is experienced.
Another condition indispensible to the proper working this machine with two
cylinders is to raise the cylinder a² sufficiently to reduce the length m¹ m² m³, which
was formerly 0.80 + 0.80 = 1.60, to 1.20. This may be effected with great
exactitude by ascertaining upon the diagrammatical tracing of the machine the
position which it is necessary to give the cylinder a² so as to reduce the distance
m1 m2 m³ from 1.60 - 1.m20 0.40. In the diagram Figure 8 which shows the
three cylinder machine arranged to operate as a two cylinder machine we have, by
way of example, arranged the three cylinders in a horizontal line after having raised
a² for the required distance so that m¹ m² m³ 1.-20; and this is rendered possible
by placing the cylinders a¹ and a³ of any suitable diameter at an appropriate distance
apart from each other. If desired the cylinder a² may be raised slightly higher than
the horizontal so as to avoid the paper rubbing against it.
The vertical movement may be imparted to the said cylinder by any convenient
mechanism. It will of course be necessary to provide for the sliding of the bearings
of the shaft of this cylinder in a slotted recess in the sides of the machine frame, the
said bearings being adjusted in position by means of screws or other convenient means:
which will permit of the cylinder being rapidly moved from one position to the
other.
The stretching rollers R¹ and R2 must also be capable of displacement in such a
manner that they will remain at the inner side of the paper X, while being capable
of adjustment so that m¹ m2 m³ is equal to 1.m20.
In addition to the before described re-arrangement of the parts for working with
two cylinders it will be necessary to subject the cylinders A3 to a single separate
angular displacement of 120° in the direction of its normal rotation so as to place the
beginning of the design n³, Figure 7, at m³ Figure 8. This is effected by quickly
removing the key of the toothed wheel B2 and then turning the cylinder A³ for one.
third of a revolution, then replacing and fixing the wheel B2, when the machine will
be ready to operate with two cylinders.
We will now notice the modifications which the alteration in the working of the
machine may cause in the movable points d which serve for marking the position for
printing in several colours. When working with three cylinders these prints or marks
are separated 0.80 from centre to centre, while when working with two cylinders
they must be set at 1.20 apart. We will now explain how this may be rapidly
effected by taking as an example the following arrangement:-
The endless chains d have always a total length of 4.m80 4 x 1.20 6 x 0.80
(Figure 9). It is therefore necessary to articulate to these chains, bars having
points d¹ in the case of working with three cylinders, and four only in the case of
working with two cylinders.
The wooden rollers C and C¹³ are provided with grooves d³ in which the bars d¹ fit
during the rotation. By giving to these rollers a circumference of 0.80 the distance
from centre to centre will be x, being:

page_text: With these dimensions it suffices to have a single groove in each roller C or C13 so
as to lodge the bars spaced at 0.80. But if the design is 1.m20 in length and C makes
one revolution it developes 0.080 so that another semi-revolution will be required to
enable it to receive the next bar d¹ situated 0.40 further along the chain d. Thus
the roller must be provided with a second groove diametrically opposite the first
groove. With the grooves thus arranged all the bars will be duly received since the
distance between them from centre to centre is 0.m40, or 0.80, or 1.20 that is to
say a multiple of 0.40.
The same conditions exist with reference to the roller C¹³. It is not necessary that
the roller C¹³ should be a complete cylinder as in this case it is not used for support-
ing the paper.
It may thus be reduced to a horizontal shaft carrying two toothed pinions C¹³. It
will be sufficient to employ eight bars d¹ arranged as shown in the diagram Figure 9.
Two of these bars, viz.: the top and the lowest ones will be engaged in every case
whether the design is 0.80 or 1.m20. The others act as follows: In the case
of a design of 0.80 their position will be as represented at the right hand side of
the said diagram, i.e. the points spaced at 0.80 are placed outside while taking-off
or turning to the interior those of the bars d' that are spaced at 1.20. This obviously
will be the contrary with a design of 1.m20 as shown at the left hand side of the
diagram. In order to save time instead of removing the points which are useless in
the one or in the other case, it suffices to cause them to move below the level of the
bars d. Now it will be remembered from the Specification of our prior Patent herein
referred to that each of these bars is double and that the lower bar d³ held by the
springs d shown at Figures 29 and 30 of the said specification carries the points d
and therefore it is only required to depress the bar d5 by means of suitable wedges or
otherwise in such a manner as to move the superfluous points d to a level with the
external surface of the bar d¹.
It may be mentioned that it is not necessary to make any alteration in the bars in
order to pass from the form 0.80 to 1.m20 and vice-versa. We will presume that this
three cylinder machine is fitted with chains d2 having a length of 3.m20 == 4 x 0.m80.
Then there will be only four bars with points and we will further presume the
marking points Z1 Z2 Z3 to be in the middle of the corresponding plates Z¹ 7² 73.
Thus the impression upon the web or paper X will be effected in the manner indicated
in the diagram Figure 17.
It will be observed that Z¹ Z² = Z2 Z3 = 73 Z¹ are equal 0.m80 and thus bars
spaced at 0.m80 from centre to centre will correspond perfectly with the markings or
pitch for the lay.
We will now consider the working with two cylinders and a design 1.m20 long.
If we place, as shown in the diagram Figure 18, the first point e¹ of the markings
at 0.m40 from the front edge of Z', and the second point at 0.m40 from the rear edge
of Z2, we find that the distance for the points marked upon X is alternately
21 m² m² Z2: =
1.m60 and 22 m² + m¹ z¹ 0.m80.
Thus with this arrangement the marking should be successively effected
every 1.m60 and 0.m80, that is to say that registering would take place only once
during the first two thirds of a revolution and once again during the last third.
Therefore during the first two-thirds a bar with points passes without registering
owing to there being no mark in the paper while the following will duly register and
so on in the same manner. Consequently all the points may be left undisturbed and
every third bar the points enter the printing material. Thus a chain of 3m.20 in
length may serve in registering the form 1.20 notwithstanding that 3.20 is not a
correct multiple of 1.20. Evidently it is not necessary to mark the point 23
exactly in the middle of the plates Z1, Z2 and Z³ and that the same conditions obtain
whatever may be their position on the plates providing always Z Z Z² Z³ Z3 Z¹
0m.80.
In short, to convert the machine from the form 0.80 into that of 1.20, it
suffices

page_text: 1, to rise the impression cylinder a² to the required height so as to reduce the
travel of the paper web X by 0.40 between the points of contact m¹ and m³.
2, to adjust the cylinder A³ by turning it through an angle of 120° in the di-
rection of its normal movement.
3, to fix upon A¹ and A³ plates and Z³ respectively with a design of
1.20 in length.
Obviously if desired the action of either the cylinder A¹ or that of A³ may be
stopped instead of that of the cylinder A2 and by a very quick change the machine
may be made to print in two different forms, viz. 0.80 and 1.20 in this case which
serves as an example only. We will now show that this machine is capable of
executing any number of other forms. We will again consider the working with
three cylinders. If the design reproduced upon Z¹ has an extension of 0.90 in lieu
of 0.80 and the design upon Z is 0.70 in lieu of 0.80 it will be evident that the
lay for these designs is correct providing the commencement of the design on Z2 is
inoved back 0.80 0.70 0.10 from the edge of this plate. Therefore in suitably
placing the designs upon the three plates Z1 Z2 and Z³ it will be possible to print
0.90 with Z1, 0.70 with Z2 and 0.80 with Z³, being three different forms or
lengths.
This may be carried as far as can be desired without having to make any modifica-
tion in the working of the machine.
It is clear moreover that if the design is not a continuous one, this machine per-
mits a margin to be left around the design the width of which can be regulated to
any size. For example in working with two cylinders, if the design upon Z1 and upon Z³
is only one meter in length it will be sufficient to place it in the middle of each of
these plates in order to provide a margin of 0.20 at each end of the design. If the
design upon Z is 1.20 and that of Z3 1.00 only the latter is placed in the middle
of the plate and there will be then a margin of 0.10 at each end.
Thus with designs of unequal lengths equal margins may be secured.
Moreover if the design is 2.40 in length, one half thereof may be printed by the
plate Zand the other half by 73; or again 13 may be pointed by Z¹, another third
by Z and the other third by Z3, or any other combination may be utilized.
In short this machine permits of printing any forms of equal but inferior length
than the circumference of these two plate cylinders.
When the forms are other than 1.20 and 0.80 in length it suffices to place the
designs upon their plates in an appropriate position. The bars with the points will
be found to suit all combinations providing the registering holes are arranged upon
the plates in accordance therewith.
Having thus expounded the principle we will next proceed to describe several
arrangements in which we have combined the plate cylinders with a number of press
er paper-cylinders and registering chains in such a manner as to reduce, as far as is
possible, the extent of travel of the paper between the time of registering and the
printing and thereby enable the bridge piece to be omitted together with the
required guides and chains and so forth. It must be understood that these arrange-
ments serve only as examples.
By combining our system of endless chains or cables having bars, with the prin-
ciple of multi-press-cylinders, we can provide the arrangement shown in Figure 10 in
which the press-cylinders a¹ and a² fulfil the same functions as the rollers C and C13
in our previous former patent, that is to say they receive the bars while at the same
time they press against the plate cylinders. To this end it is required and sufficient
to have
1, m1 m² = circumf. A2 1.20 in the said example.
2
==
-
circumf. A' = 1.20.
2, Circumf. a¹ = circumf. a²
Thus m¹m: - m² m² = 0.60 and the total length of the point-chains is 2 x 0.60+
2 x 1m.20 3.60 3 x 1.20, and therefore three bars d1, d2 and d³ are required.
The doubler blanket does not leave the chains and follows them over their entire
path.

page_text: 3. The bars should completely fill the single groove in the cylinders a¹ a² so that
by entering the groove the surface of the cylinder is rendered uniform.
If desired the saine arrangement may be disposed in a horizontal or even an in-
clined position; and also with 3, 4 or more plate cylinders.
When it is feared that the bars do not exactly cover the plate cylinders and thus
produce faulty impressions, it suffices to employ press-cylinders C and C¹³ indepen-
dent of the cylinders a¹ and a² and to pass the paper web around an intermediate
cylinder R as indicated in the diagram Figure 11 and in which the registering is
effected in descending instead of in ascending as in the previous example.
This arrangement, like the previous one, obviates the use of bridge pieces Fand F¹,
and the considerable length of double-blanket D perforated along its edges with
equidistant holes, together with the conveyor chains G and endless apron E
described in the Specification of our prior Patent hereinbefore referred to. Moreover
no further heed need be paid to the thickness of the paper X the distance m¹ m²
being constant whatever may be the thickness.
This arrangement is equally applicable to machines having 3, 4 or more plate-
cylinders.
A similar arrangement to the previous one is that shown in the diagram Figure 12
in which the plate cylinders are disposed at each side of the press-cylinders thereby
enabling the vertical elevation of the upper plate cylinder to be reduced so that it can
be reached while standing on the floor, this being the preferred arrangement. The
roller t shown in this figure serves as a tightening roller for the blanket D for taking
up slack.
Figure 13 shows an arrangement suitable for use in connection with three plate-
cylinders.
It will be readily understood that quite a number of other modified arrangements may
be produced which would be within the scope of this invention. Thus the plane passing
through the axes of the press-cylinders, where only two plate-cylinders are used,
may be disposed horizontally or inclined and the plate-cylinder may be arranged to
suit. The chain can also be arranged in such a manner as to suit the various systems
of printing with multiple press-cylinders.
Moreover the chain may be replaced by any other convenient driving mechanism
for actuating the movable points without deviating from the main principle of the
system here adopted which consists in imparting to the registering. points d a speed
exactly the same as that of the paper in such a manner that at the second colour
printing the attendant-pointers are enabled to register by means of the points
marked by the machine upon the paper during the printing of the first colour.
This principle having been admitted it will be evident that it may be carried out
by various means, some of which we will describe by way of example.
1. Instead of endless chains d² provided with bars metallic or other cables or
ropes, or preferably endless steel-bands may be employed which are perforated with
equidistant holes which engage with the teeth of their driving pinions, these bands
having the advantage of rendering the point-carriers less extensible. Instead of
arranging these chains, cables or bands vertically they may be horizontal, inclined
circular and so forth and may be supported by suitable guides.
2. The registering points d may be arranged upon the extremities of the arms of
a sort of turnstile device or star wheel T of such a size and rotating at such a speed
as to cause the points to be displaced in a manner corresponding to the speed of
progression of the paper Figure 4.
For example in the case described in our former patent it is sufficient to cause the
points d to describe a circle of 2.40 in circumference and to impart a complete
revolution to the star wheel for each complete revolution of the plate
cylinders A¹ and A².
For the form of 1.20 it suffices to place the points at the extremity of a uniform
diameter T¹. For the form of 0.80 two supplementary arms T2 and T3 are
required spaced one with respect to the other and also with regard to T¹ at 120

page_text: from centre to centre.
employed.
For 1.20 only d and d¹ and for 0.80 d d2 and 3 will be
The paper X may be caused to move vertically in front of the said star wheel or
it may move horizontally underneath the same; again it may be at an incline or
circular by sliding over a suitably arranged bridge piece.
3. The bars d may be arranged in the interior of a drum T of the same diameter
as the cylinders A, A1 and A2, and geared or driven so as to rotate at the same speed
as the said cylinders. In Figure 15 we have shown this drum as situated at the top
of the machine with the object of preserving the usual aspect or form of the machine,
but obviously the drum may be arranged at any other point ahead of the commence-
ment of pressure on the paper X. We may employ cams to force the points
somewhat outward at e that is at the moment the paper begins to roll upon the
drum, while they are withdrawn at fat the moment when the paper leaves the drum
and slides over the bridge piece F. Thus registering takes place during the passage
from e to fand ceases at this latter point by the withdrawal of the points d from the
paper so that this latter is now properly registered with the plate cylinders. The
blanket or apron E will be pierced by the points but this does not cause any
inconvenience.
Longitudinal grooves provided in the drum T permit the points d to project
beyond its periphery while at the same time they may be capable of being
displaced longitudinally so as to provide for pointing or registering at various
widths.
If desired these points may be set from the exterior of the drum by mounting in
their bearings da right and left handed screw which when turned causes the
screws either to approach or to move apart from each other in a uniform manner.
For a machine for a single form the points d d¹ are set diametrically opposite each
other, while for a machine for two forms such as 1.20 and 0.80 long the said points
would be disposed at dd2 and 3 in the manner described in connection with the
star wheel.
The before mentioned drum T may have a circumference of 1.20 and be fitted
with one row of points d. A drum of 1.20 in circumference with three rows of
points spaced at 0.40 (i.e. placed at three points on the circumference 120° apart)
is preferably suitable for a machine printing two different forms. Because with a
form of 1.20, working two cylinders, a single registering row of points dis
required, while with a form of 0.80, working three cylinders one in every two rows
is omitted, that is to say the registering or pointing is effected with d d³ then d² d
then 3 d² and so on in succession.
4. Another arrangement, which may be found advantageous, is to arrange the
drum T against the first plate-cylinder so as to serve at the same time as a press-
cylinder. In this manner all danger of the displacement of the paper during feeding
between the points f and the commencement of pressure on the cylinders A and A¹
is obviated. In this case it is advantageous to place the plate cylinders A¹ and A²
above one another but with their horizontal axes arranged exactly at a distance aº a
equal to half their circumference, being 1.20 in this instance.
This machine is of a similar arrangement as that indicated in Figure 16. The
attendant or machine-minder will therefore place the points in register upon the
upper semi-circumference d d¹ of the drum T and the blanket D will follow the path
as indicated. The other press-cylinder a² may be of any diameter. Lastly another
advantage of this arrangement is that no heed need be paid to the thickness of the
paper X. Whatever may be the thickness thereof the distance d¹ m² will always
remain constant at 1.20, and thus no other part of the machine need be displaced
to allow for variation in thickness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1
Anatome maintin
32°

page_text: material either on one or both sides thereof consisting mainly in the combination
of two or more cylinders of uniform diameter and provided with the plate or other
printing surface covering the half, or any portion, of the periphery thereof according
to the number of such cylinders which act in conjunction with one or more press-
or paper-cylinders and which are arranged in such a manner that each plate-cylinder
is caused to print upon a continuous paper-web or other material, in its passage
between the said cylinders, a series of sections separated by blank spaces which latter
are printed in succession by the other printing cylinders which are so adjusted as
to produce a continuous design upon the paper-web without interruptions or broken
portions, substantially as herein before described.
2. In the machine claimed in Claim 1 the arrangement of movable points
adapted to be varied as to their numbers and position upon their carriers which
may consist of chains, cross-pieces, drums and the like.
3. A rotary printing machine constructed arranged and combined substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
aucu CHID
uay
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.