Improvements in Chromatic Printing-presses.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1889-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chromatic Printing-presses.
I. HARRY F. WYATT, of 50, West Houston Street, New York in the United
States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to that class of presses in which newspaper and other matter
is printed in different colors at one impression, and I attain this object by mechanism
illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which―
Figure 1 is a top view of the device complete.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view (on the line 22 in Figure one)...
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view (on the line 3 3 in Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the details of construction of C 01.
Figure 5 is a rear view of the arrangement of the inking rollers.
Figure 6 is a side view of the same.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A represents the cylinder of a printing press upon
which the ordinary stereotype plates B B are clamped. Separate stereotype plates
are made of the articles to be printed in color represented by CC, which fit in
openings cut to receive them in the fixed stereotype plates B B. These loose stereo-
types are cast or otherwise fastened to a plate E made of brass or other suitable
material and which conform to the shape of the cylinder A and re-inforces (C.
These loose stereotypes (C are made such a thickness that when the plate E to
which they are attached, rests upon the cylinder, they are a little below the surface of
the plates B B. Fastened to the under side of the plates E E are lipped wedges or
lifts, FF, which work in recesses K K made in the sliding bars DD, and in the
centre of the plate E, and exactly vertical with it are steadying pins S S working in .
The upper
holes X X made in the cylinder to receive them, between the recesses.
side of the plates E E are supplied with recesses or projections that will firmly
hold CC when the metal is cast on them, as shown best in Figure 4. Around the
periphery of the cylinder, recesses are cut, for the purpose of receiving bars DD
that work within them, and which are dovetail shape or lipped, or otherwise suitably
secured. Along these bars are cut lipped recesses K K for the purpose of receiving
the lipped wedges F F. The lips of the wedges F F working under the lips of the
recesses K K cause them to be firmly held vertically, except as the bars are moved,
when the lips of the wedges slide under the lips of the recesses, and the plates EE
supporting the stereotypes CC are raised and lowered as desired, the steadying
pins S S working within the holes X X preventing any lateral motion. The lips of
the recesses are not made the full length of the recess, in order that the lips of the
wedges may be freed when it is desired to take the plates C Cout, or to put them
in by pushing the bars so that the roller P is freed from the cam at the opening R
in the cam.
It is manifest that the recesses and wedges can be square or any other
shape, so long as the lips of the wedges, and grooves in the recesses made to receive
the lips of the wedges, are slanting or otherwise arranged to give a vertical movement
to the plates CC. The bars D D are provided at one end with a revolving steel
roller which works between the cams H H and two or more bars can be clamped
together and operated simultaneously by one roller as shown in Figure 1 when
desired. These cams H H are so shaped and arranged with reference to each other that
when the cylinder A revolves, the bar or bars D being operated by them (through
pressure on the roller P) will be moved laterally in and out of the recesses in the
cylinder A and the depressions K in the bars D will press upon the wedges F F
thereby raising and lowering the plates E E according to the relative positions of
the roller I between the cams H H. Therefore when the bar D is at the position /'

page_text: on the cams H H. this position being the nearest to the cylinder A the higher part of
the recess K will be brought against the thickest part of the wedge F thereby
raising the plates E (supporting the stereotypes : C) above the level of the stereo-
types B B, as best shown on the left-hand side of Figures and 3, and when the
bar D is at the position 3 on the cams H H this position being the furthest from
the cylinder A the bars I will be withdrawn and the lowest part of the recesses K
will be brought under the wedges F F causing the plate E to be withdrawn by the
action of the lips of the wedges on the lips of the recesses, the movement being kept
vertical by the pins S working in the holes X as best shown on the right-hand side
of Figure 3, and when the bar D is at the position on the cams H H it is drawn
out of the cylinder A to such a position that the position of the wedges F F in the
recesses K K is such that the surface of the stereotypes (C is exactly level with the
surface of the plates B B, as best shown on the right-hand side of Figure 2 and
the bottom of Figure 3.
These positions h², h², 1³ so occur on the cams H H as to cause the plates CC
to be depressed below the surface of the plates B B just prior to reaching the black
ink roller M, as shown by dotted lines on the right-hand side of Figure 3, so that
while the stereotypes B B are receiving black ink from the roller M they receive no
black ink, but are raised by the next position on the cam above the level of the
plates B B at the time they are travelling between the black ink roller M. and the
paper (or blanket roller O) as shown in Figure 3 and when raised they receive ink
of such color as desired from a set of inking rollers N so arranged as to feed
different colored inks to each plate, if desired, as shown in Figure 5, and the next
position on the cam causes the plates CC to be depressed to such a position as will
bring their surfaces exactly flush or level with the surfaces of the plates B B just
prior to their reaching their point of contact with the paper so that they will
imprint the paper in color at the same time that the plates B B are printing it
in black. The cams H H can be attached to the side frame of the press, but in
those drawings only such parts of the press are shown as are affected by my
invention, the other parts being omitted to avoid confusion.
Figures and 6 illustrate my method of applying different colored inks at N
(position on cams HH) on Figure 3. A represents the cylinder supporting
the stereotype plate B which is divided into seven columns of printing, as shown
by dotted lines. CC are the movable stereotypes as before. Opposite each column
is a fixed inking roller a, a, a, a, a, a, a, just enough removed from the face
of B B that they will apply no ink to B; 61, 12, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, represent other
rollers which ink the rollers a a having received ink from a set of distributing
rollers c¹, c², c³, c, c³, c, c', which have a lateral movement, and receive ink from
a set of ink wells d', d², d³, d', d³, d', d. The rollers a a and b b do not move
laterally. The rollers bb and c c and their respective ink wells d are arranged in
two rows, alternating, b c d, b c d³, b c d³, b c d being in one row, and b c d²,
bed, bed being in another row, as shown in Figure 6. By this arrangement
the rollers c c have room for their lateral distributing motion, as shown by dotted
lines, without mixing their inks. If each ink-well is supplied with a different
colored ink, it is manifest that each movable stereotype that is raised to it by the
bars and wedges, as it comes round, will be fed with that color with which it is in.
line. The rollers a a are movable upon their shaft, and are sectional, being secured
to their shaft by a set screw e, as shown in Figure 6. By pushing two or more
together, or changing their size they can therefore be made to feed more or less
than one column in the same color.
The devices and combinations of devices herein shown are capable of use in
more or less modified forms on other kinds of presses and I therefore do not limit
myself to their use in the particular apparatus described, nor do I limit myself to
the exact mechanism herein shown for securing a lateral motion to the bars D,
as if desired, a system of gearings, gauges, tracks or other well known
mechanical devices can be substituted for the cams shown. Figures 7, 8,
9, 10, 11 show a method of applying my system to a flat bed press, in which the

page_text: tracks H H take the place of the cuns H H and in which the wedges F F are
put on the plate in the reverse, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, the plate E
being secured to the bar D, and the recesses for the wedges F F being made in the
loose stereotypes C C.
Figures 12, 13, 14, 15 show the same system applied to a rotary press as is shown
on the flat press in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
In the same way I do not limit myself to the particular shape of the bars and
recesses shown herein as they may be of various shapes. Nor do I confine myself to
bars of a similar shape as the recesses, as this is not necessary in all cases; nor do I
confine myself to the wedges or lifts of such shape as shown herein, as a means of
raising and depressing the movable stereotypes, as a system of rods working within
the recesses and having cams on them would accomplish the raising and depressing,
the movable stereotypes being secured to the cams by grooves and lips, or rings, or
springs etc., and the cams or bars being rotated once to each revolution of the
cylinder by mechanism in place of the cams H H, or chains could be used in place
of the bars, or screws could be substituted for the wedges; in like manner, other
devices than lips to the wedges may be used for securing the movable printing
surfaces. It is manifest also that by putting in one or more additional cams, and a
corresponding number of inking arrangements, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, three or
more colors can be printed in the same column.
Having thus described my invention and the operation thereof, I claim as follows,
using for convenience in all cases, the expression "printing surface" to signify not
only stereotype plates, but also electrotypes, moulds, type forms, cuts, engravings
&c. &c. &c., which are equally capable of being used in connection with the other
elements of my invention.
1st. In a printing machine, a system of lifts or wedges of any suitable shape but
preferably as herein shown, cams or their equivalents, operating under one or more
movable printing surfaces for the purpose of raising and depressing them.
2nd. In a printing machine, a form of cylinder having one or more grooves or
recesses cut in it, as a means and for the purpose of conveying motion by sliding
bars, rods, chains or their equivalents, working within the recesses to one or more
portions of the printing surface independent of the rest of the printing surface.
3rd. In a printing machine, the combination of two or more printing surfaces,
some of which are fixedly attached, and the others movable with reference to those
fixed, the movable ones being less in thickness than the fixed, and being reinforced
by plates of brass, steel or other suitable material, to which mechanism for raising and
depressing the movable printing surface can he attached or operated against.
4th. In a printing machine, the combination of a fixed and movable printing
surface together with a system of lipped wedges working under the movable portion
of the printing surface, the said wedges being arranged at such an angle relative to
the thickness of the printing surface and the distance they travel, that they raise and
depress the movable printing surface above and below the level of the fixed printing
surface, as above set forth.
5th. In a printing machine, the plate E conforming to the cylinder or bed plate,
in combination with a system of wedges, lifts or cams, substantially as above
described.
6th. In a printing machine, one or more sliding or rotating bars operating a
system of wedges, lifts, or cams for the purpose of raising or depressing movable
printing surfaces above and below the level of a fixed printing surface, substantially
as above set forth.
7th. In a printing machine, a cam or cams of such shape as herein shown in
combination with one or more sliding bars, substantially as set forth.
Sth. In a printing machine such combination of a cam or cans, operating a sliding
bar or bars to which are attached a system of wedges or lifts, operating under
movable printing surfaces, as will produce more than one continuing position of the
said movable surfaces.

page_text: 9th. In a printing machine such combination of a system of cams or gearing or
both, with bars, rods or chains to which wedges, lifts or cams are attached, and
which operate under a movable printing surface as will produce more than one
continuing position of the movable printing surface.
10th. In a printing machine an inking roller composed of adjustable sections, hollow
or solid, shaped and arranged so that they can be crowded together or set at any
distance apart substantially as set forth.
11th. In a printing machine, two or more sets of ink wells arranged in parallel
rows and alternating with each other, for the purpose of feeding inks of different
colors to fixed or laterally moving rollers without the colors getting mixed,
substantially as above set forth.
12th. In a printing machine, two or more sots of supply and distributing rollers
arranged parallel to and alternating with each other for the purpose of receiving
different colored inks without blending them.
13th. In a printing machine, an inking roller composed of one piece or adjustable
sections in combination with one or more sets of supply and distributing rollers,
together with one or more sets of separate ink fountains arranged parallel to and
alternating with each other, the whole arranged to feed different colored inks parallel
to each other, without blending them, substantially as above sot forth.
14th. In a printing machine the combination of a fixed printing surface with one or
more movable printing surfaces, solidly supported and adjustable by a system of
wedges, lifts or cams, substantially as above set forth.
15th. The combination with a printing machine of the fixed cam H H comprising
the projections, h², h³, substantially as herein shown.
16th. In a printing machine a cam or cams of such shape as herein shown, in
combination with a sliding bar or bars operated laterally by said can, and thereby
conveying motion to one or more movable printing surfaces, substantially as set
forth.
17th. In a printing machine the combination with a cylinder, provided with grooves
extending longitudinally across the surface thereof, of one or more movable printing
surfaces that are supported and held upon said cylinder by one or more bars, rods or
chains, movable in said grooves and one or more lifts, wedges or cams between said
bars and printing surfaces, by which combination the motion of said bars and
lifts will place said printing surfaces successively in more than one continuing
level.
18th. In a printing machine, the combination with a cylinder having a fixed
printing surface thereon and provided with grooves extending longitudinally across
the face thereof, of a movable printing surface supported and held on said cylinder
by one or more bars, rods, chains, or their equivalents movable in said grooves, and
one or more lifts, wedges or cams between said bars and movable printing surfaces,
and a series of inking rollers supported at different distances from the level of the
said fixed printing surface, substantially as described.
19th. In a printing machine, the combination of one or more movable printing surfaces,
together with one or more wedges, lifts or cams, operating under the movable
printing surfaces the said wedges, lifts or camis being provided with lips or pro-
jections, whereby the movable printing surface is firmly held and withdrawn, or else
is provided with recesses or surfaces for the reception of lips or projections on the
movable printing surface:
20th. The combination with a form eylinder of movable printing surfaces that
aro secured thereto by lipped wedges or lifts or by cams, substantially as described.
21st. In a printing machine, the combination of fixed and movable printing surfaces,
together with a system of cams, lipped wedges, or lifts working beneath the movable
printing surface, together with a plate reinforcing the movable printing surfaces
provided when necessary with steadying pins and to which the wedges or lifts can be
attached, together with a sliding bar or bars, rods, or chains working in recesses
made in the cylinder, which operate the wedges, lifts or cams, and have at one end a
fixed or revolving roller working on gears, or between two cams, or in a track or

page_text: gauge, together with a cam or cams, track, gauge, guide or system of gear so shaped
or arranged as to produce more than one continuing position of the movable printing
surfaces, together with a suitable device for applying colored inks, substantially as
above set forth, the whole designed to produce printing in different colors at one
impression.
22nd. In a printing machine, the combination of a form-holder provided with
longitudinal recesses, a fixed printing surface, a relatively movable printing surface,
and means, such as bars, for operating the said movable printing surfaces, substantially
as described.
23rd. In a printing machine, the combination of a plurality of relatively movable
printing surfaces alternating across the form, means, substantially as described, for im-
parting motion to a part of the said surfaces, and a form-holder having recesses in its
surface through which, and beneath the stationary surfaces, the said means operate
upon the movable surfaces, as shewn and described.
Dat the 21nd dose of T... 1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.