Improvements in Printing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1892-Accepted, 13th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Printing Machines.
We, WILLIAM HENRY REYNELL_TOYE of 1028 Snyder Avenue Inventor,
ROBERT PITFIELD BROWN and EDWARD LIVEZEY BAILEY Paper Box
Manufacturers, of 8th and Willow Streets and GEORGE EDWARD VICKERS
Special Agent Worlds Fair, of 5th and Chestnut Streets, all of Philadelphia, in
the United States of America, 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in multiple color printing machines, and
consists of the combination with a printing couple having a registering device, of
an endless sheet carrying device having registering means co-operating with the
registering device of the printing couple, and means independent of the sheet
carrier for driving the printing couple.
It also consists of the novel construction of the sheet carrying device, and means
for adjusting the same, as will be hereinafter set forth.
It also consists of a multiple color printing machine having a travelling band
provided with grippers and formed of a cable, a block, sockets in said block to
which the ends of the cable are attached, an eye in the said block in which the
stem of one of the said sockets is fitted, and a nut on the said stem, whereby the
cable may be adjusted.
It also consists of details of construction as will be hereinafter set forth:
First, of a multiple color printing machine having a frame composed of primary
sections provided with bearings for the cylinders, and attaching or connecting
sections for the said primary section.
Second, of means substantially as described for securing an accurate register of
the printing surface with the material printed on.
The invention also consists in means for readily and accurately adjusting or
registering the printing plates of a cylinder press, and for holding them securely
while so adjusting them, such means comprising a chase adapted to be secured to
the printing cylinder, and having adjustable binder bars on which are secured
reglets formed as described, and adjustable on the said bars.
:-
To enable our invention to be fully understood we will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1, Sheets 1 and 2, represent a side view of a multiple color printing press
embodying our invention.
Figure 2 represents a side view of a portion of the travelling band and operating
pulley or wheel on an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section on line.
scale.
Figure 2, on an enlarged
Figure 4 represents a side view of a primary press embodying our invention.
Figure 5 represents an end view of the press shewing gripper mechanisms
attached to the registering bands.
Figure 6 represents a side view of a portion of the machine, shewing the means
for taking up any slack in the cables, also the gripper carriage and its operating
springs.
Figure 1, Sheet 3, represents a perspective view of a registering attachment to a
printing machine embodying the invention.
Figure 2 represents a perspective view of a printing cylinder having said
registering attachment thereon.
Figure 3 represents a perspective view of one of the curved reglets on which the
printing plates are secured.

page_text: Figure 4 represents a perspective view of portions of the device.
Figure 5 represents a vertical section of the parts shewn in Figure 4, in operative
position.
Figure 6 represents a perspective view of another form of binding bar that may
be employed.
Figure 7 represents a vertical section on the line x x of Figure 2.
Referring to Sheets 1 and 2,
A indicates the frame of the machine in which is mounted the printing cylinder B,
and the impression cylinder C.
One or more pairs of the said cylinders may he employed according to the
number of colors to be printed and each printing cylinder is interchangeable in
position with its impression cylinder, owing to its being mounted on bearings or
boxes B*, which are interchangeable and adjustable in openings in the frame A on
opposite sides of travel of the material on which the printing is to be done, so as to
adapt it for work on either side of the sheet. Each printing cylinder is supplied
with the proper inking rollers shewn at D and E of any well known or usual con-
struction. The frame A is formed of intermediate and end sections the intermediate
section being provided with bearings for the said cylinders and a machine for
printing more than one colour is made by attaching two or more of the said
intermediate sections together with the said end sections.
On each of the journals of the printing cylinder is secured a wheel F, having one
eighth of its periphery toothed for a purpose hereinafter explained; and secured
on the journals of the rotary drums G, H, which are mounted in the end sections of
the frame, are the wheels J, K respectively.
Each of the cylinders above the registering band is geared with its companion
cylinder below the registering band, by means of the toothed wheels B³ secured on
the shafts of the said cylinders, outside of the frame A, and in the compound
printing press shewn in Figure 1, the printing and impression cylinders above the
registering band are connected by means of the intermediate gear wheel F³,
suitably mounted on the frame A, and meshing with gear wheels on the shafts of
the said cylinders. The drum H is connected with the adjacent cylinder within
the registering band by means of an intermediate gear wheel suitably journalled
on the frame A, and meshing with a gear wheel D³ on the shaft of the said drum
and a wheel on the said cylinder and outside of the frame. Power is com-
municated to the multiple machine by means of the driving belt 3 on a pulley on
the shaft of the gear wheel F2, or if desired the machine may be driven by a belt 2
on a pulley on the shaft of the gear wheel 1. In the primary press shewn in
Figure 4, the driving pulley 7 is on the shaft of the intermediate
gear wheel.
It will be seen that if the drum H is to be connected with a primary cylinder or
with different sized impression cylinders within the registering band, different sized
intermediate gear wheels will be required.
The various sections of the frame are connected by means of fish plates 5 which
are secured by bolts or rivets to parts of adjacent sections, as shewn in Figure 4.
The travelling or registering bands to which the gripper mechanisms are
attached, consist of a series of blocks N, having grooves in their sides in which the
connecting cables P are located the said cables being held in the said grooves by
means of the bars Q secured to the walls of the groove and across the same.
The wheels J and K are of octagonal shape, and the peripheries thereof are
provided with the studs R adapted to fit in openings 6 in the blocks N, which latter
are of a length coinciding with a side of the periphery of the wheel, so that, as the
band comes in contact with the wheel, a block N registers with a side thereof.
The adjacent ends of each two contiguous blocks are provided with meshing
teeth S, which permit the turning of the blocks upon each other as they revolve
around the wheel, without any strain upon the cables P. The upper face of each
eighth block corresponding to the eighth toothed part on the wheel F, is provided
with teeth T, which mesh with the teeth F¹ on the wheels F, whereby the printing
cylinder and the travelling bands are rotated together, so that the register of the

page_text: paper or material on which the printing is done will be made steady and accurate.
Supported on a suitable portion of the frame of the machine, are the brackets V,
having horizontal channels therein, in which the blocks move in their travel,
whereby they are prevented from sagging.
The gripper carriages may be of usual and well known form, having the grippers
extending across the machine from side to side, see Figure 5, so as to seize the
paper or other material on which the printing is done, at the end of the same.
The gripping device as shewn in the drawings, is composed of a cross bar W, the
strikers Y, the spring Z and the grippers A', but as these parts are old and well
known, and as the said gripping device is not claimed per se the same is not herein
more fully described.
If it should become necessary to print a sheet in two full colours at one passage
through the machine, two intermediate sections with the end sections of the primary
machine are bolted or attached together. This duplication of the primary machine
may be carried on indefinitely, thereby forming machines for printing any number
of colors desired on either or both sides of the sheet.
By forming the frame in sections, the same may be made of different lengths by
combining different numbers of primary machines according to the number of colors
and kind of work required.
The ends of the cables P are secured in the sockets B and C, on each side of a
block N, the socket B* being stationary and the socket C adjustable on the said
block by means of a screw-threaded stem D thereon, which freely moves in an
opening in a projection E2, part of the block N, and a nut F' which works on the
said stem and bears against the said projection E².
It will be noticed, that as shewn in the drawings, the faces of the wheels J and K
are eight in number, and the wheel on the printing cylinder has one eighth of its
periphery cogged or toothed, whereby only a single block comes into contact with
the wheel of the printing cylinder in a revolution of the same, but the faces of the
wheels J and K may be of a different number and the blocks N made to corre-
spond therewith, and the toothed portion of the cylinder wheel made to correspond
with the block.
In the present case, we denominate the printing and impression cylinders as a
printing couple, but it is obvious that means other than cylinders might be employed
without departing from our invention.
Having described the mechanism of our multiple color printing machine, with
pairs of printing and impression cylinders geared together so that they will revolve
in perfect harmony or unison, together with sets of gripper carriages attached to
cables for properly carrying the sheet of paper or other material, we will now
describe the means provided to make the different patterns or parts of color designs
match or register with each other and this part of the invention relates to improve-
ments in a combined registering attachment to readily and accurately adjust the
printing plates and hold them securely, while adjusting them.
Referring to Sheet 3, A indicates the plate cylinder of a printing machine having
longitudinally extending slots or openings B and B' therein, the walls C of which
are beveled for a purpose hereinafter explained.
D is a chase conforming to the shape of the cylinder, so as to be readily secured
thereto, and consisting of the segmental arms E, and the cross bars F, the latter
being secured to the said segmental arms and having their outer edges G beveled.
The printing plates H, which are of the usual form and construction, are
attached to the strips J, which are of wood or metal, and are preferably made
type-height, but they may be made of any width or thickness to accommodate any
kind of plate or surface printed from. The said strips are made of various widths,
like printers reglets, and may be properly termed curved reglets. The bottom of
each of the reglets J is provided with grooves or recesses K, extending transversely
of the same, so as to permit the insertion of the binder bars L, and with a long-
tudinally extending groove M for the insertion of the foot strips N, which secure
the reglets to the said binder bars.

page_text: The said reglets are made of wood, compressed paper or any other suitable
material that can be moulded, such as brass, cast iron, type inetal or other substance
or combination of substances which will give the required rigidity and strength to
resist the impact of the impressing cylinder.
The binder bars or strips L, which are of tough metal, such as steel, brass or
iron, and are curved conforming to the plate cylinder, have their ends provided
with notches P, forming projections Q, so as to readily fit in and be attached to the
body part of a sliding piece R.
Each of the said pieces R has a threaded stem S, which freely moves endwise in
an opening in a block T, and has a nut U thereon. The said block T has a socket
or recessed portion V, in which the body part of the piece R is guided, and a
bevelled shoulder W, so as to fit closely against the bevelled wall C of the cylinder
and the bevelled edge G of the cross bar F of the chase.
On the binder bars or strips L are clamps X, consisting of a boss or collar
movable on the said bars and provided with a screw working in an opening therein,
and bearing against the bar. The said clamps secure the reglets in place on the
bars. It will be seen that if it be required to adjust the printing plate H towards
the opening B, so as to properly register it, the nuts U at the other ends of the bar
at the opening B are rotated, bearing against the blocks T, so as to move the
pieces R with their bars L, and the reglets J and the printing plate H towards the
said opening B. If it be desired to move the plate away from the opening B,
the nuts U at that opening are loosened, and the nuts at the opening B₁ are
tightened against their blocks T, so as to draw the bars L with the plate H, towards
the said opening B₁, and away from the opening B.
After the plate has been adjusted, the loose nuts are tightened against their
blocks T, so that the bars L are held in place.
The reglets J may be employed with a screw-threaded binder bar Y of the form
shewn in Figure 6, the same passing freely through the transverse openings or
recesses in the said reglets.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performned, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A multiple colour printing machine having a frame consisting of sections with
interchangeable attaching pieces substantially as described.
2. A multiple colour printing machine having a frame consisting of sections of
two or more primary machines with attaching sections, substantially as described.
3. A multiple colour printing machine having its printing and impression
cylinders interchangeable in their bearings, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
4. In a multiple colour printing machine, a travelling band consisting of a series
of blocks having connecting cables, substantially as described.
5. A travelling band consisting of a series of blocks having side grooves, con-
necting cables in said grooves, and means substantially as described for taking up
slack in the said cables, substantially as described.
6. A travelling band consisting of a series of blocks having grooves in their
sides, cables secured at one end to one of the said blocks, and at their other end to
a socket adjustable on the same block, the said cables being located in side grooves
in each of the said blocks, substantially as described.
7. In a multiple colour printing machine, a rotatable wheel having its periphery
composed of plane faces, and a travelling band consisting of a series of blocks with
plane under faces coinciding with the said plane faces of the periphery and
connecting cables for the said blocks, the said parts being combined substantially
as described.
8. In a multiple colour printing machine, a rotatable wheel having plane
peripheral faces with the studs R thereon, and a travelling band consisting of a
series of blocks with under faces coinciding with the faces of the wheel and provided

page_text: with openings in which the said studs B are adapted to enter, and connecting cables,
the said parts being combined substantially as described.
9. In a multiple colour printing machine, a rotatable wheel having plane
peripheral faces, a travelling band consisting of a series of blocks with connecting
belts, the said blocks having meshing teeth at their adjacent ends, the said parts
being combined substantially as described.
10. In a multiple colour printing machine, a printing cylinder with a wheel
having a portion of its periphery provided with teeth, and a travelling band con-
sisting of a series of blocks having teeth meshing in turn with the said teeth on the
cylinder wheel, substantially as described.
11. In a multiple colour printing machine, a frame. a travelling band consisting
of a series of blocks with connecting cables, and guides secured to the said frame
and supporting the said blocks, the said parts being combined substantially as
described.
12. In a multiple colour printing machine composed of primary machines, a
travelling registering band with gripper mechanism connected therewith,
substantially as described.
13. A registering attachment for a printing cylinder, consisting of a frame,
binder bars adjustable thereon, and reglets carried by the said binders and to which
a printing plate is adapted to be secured, the said parts being combined substantially
as described.
14. A registering attachment for a printing cylinder, consisting of blocks adapted
to be attached to the walls of openings in the said cylinder, bars adjustable in the
said blocks, and reglets on the said bars adapted to have the printing plates secured
thereon, substantially as described.
15. A registering attachment for a printing cylinder, consisting of a chase, blocks
fitting on the said chase, curved bars with end pieces movable in the said blocks,
and having projecting screw-threaded stems, nuts on the said stems, reglets movable
on the said bars, and clamps for securing the said reglets in place, the said parts
being combined, substantially as described.
16. A registering attachment for a printing cylinder consisting of adjustable
binder bars, a reglet having transverse and longitudinal grooves on its bottom, and
a bottom strip fitting in the said longitudinal groove, the said parts being combined
substantially as described.
17. A curved reglet for the purpose set forth, having on its bottom transverse
grooves and a longitudinal groove, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
18. The improved printing machine hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.