Improvements in or relating to Cylinder Printing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Cate of Application, 29th May, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in or relating to Cylinder Printing Machines.
I, ARTHUR HELLMANN of 28, Französischestrasse, Berlin, Germany, Banker
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 :-
Hitherto with double acting printing machines the sheet printed on the forward
movement of the carriage was turned and printed on the other side by the same
cylinder on the return movement; and by the employment of two or more
printing cylinders, each of them had to print the two forms in succession (i.e. those
of the first impression and those of the second impression) so that the whole
winding off was determined by the total of the heights of the two forms. With
the new system the winding off, or the travel of the carriage, is determined by the
height of one single form only, each cylinder always working together with only
one of the two forms. In this way the length of the machine is reduced to nearly
one half without diminishing its efficiency, since each of the two cylinders prints as
well by the forward as by the return movement, that is it is double acting, and
with the medium speed of the carriage, as determined by experience, this in
proportion to the travel shortened by about one half, can swing backwards and
forwards twice as much per unit of time. On the other hand special first
impression and special second impression cylinders were hitherto only employed on
such machines as only utilised the forward movement, but not the return movement,
of the carriage, therefore only delivering the half. A peculiar American system
of paper feeding formed on exception, but here the paper was not fed in sheets,
but endlessly, the cutting of the paper taking place after completion of the
printing of both sides.
In opposition to the latter system, the present new invention has for its purpose
with equally perfect utilisation, the abolition of the difficulties of feeding or
drawing in of the long paper from the roll, as also to obviate the unavoidable
danger of tearing the paper in the machine itself, whereby it can directly run on
the form and into the ink-mechanism. These dangers are so much the greater as
the many rollers round which the paper is conducted undergo great and sudden
oscillations, in consequence of which the paper is subject to incessant violent and
quick change of tension and resistance. The present invention has for its purpose
likewise to feed endless paper in such a way that the paper coming from a single
paper-roll again leaves the machine at one place. Thus only one folder or folding
apparatus is necessary whereas with the present double acting machines a person
for laying in, and a special folder or folding-apparatus for each cylinder is
necessary; and in the so-called quadruple machines even two persons for laying in
and two folders per cylinder, which would make the feeding of these machines
with endless paper very complicated and unpractical, and consequently this has
not been tried.
The advantages referred to are attained by the present invention, first by the
paper, as in the case of rotary machines of various forms, being conducted to the
cutting cylinders S S, through a pair of feeding rollers, or even direct from
the paper roll P, and immediately on entering the machine being cut into sheets.
The induction of the paper takes place in an exceedingly easy manner, and
has only a moderate uniform speed on the short journey to the cutter. For each

page_text: forward and backward movement of the carriage two sheets of equal length are
cut and forcibly conducted round the cylinder by a peculiar combination of bands;
and the paper even in the case of its tearing or winding off the roll, is nevertheless
transported without injury by the bands. In contradistinction to the American
system, where the paper always runs on one course and in one direction around
the cylinder, the special feature of this invention consists in the paper winding
off the roll P being immediately cut into sheets and branched off at two different
courses towards the cutting cylinders, in such way that every second sheet is
passed through the one course and the remaining sheets through the other course.
In this way the branch conducts a sheet from the right round the first impression
cylinder, this sheet leaving it on the left, and then reaching the second impression
cylinder on the left. The time of transport from one to the other cylinder is
calculated so that the sheet arrives, either immediately on the second cylinder
at the dead point, where it has left the first impression cylinder; or after one
revolution of the crank, as is shewn on the drawing; or after a multiplicity of
the time of one revolution of the crank; at the second impression cylinder runs
over this and leaves it on the right fully printed. The second branch conducts
the sheet in similar way, but in the opposite direction around the cylinder, that
is from left to right around the first impression cylinder and from right to left
around the second impression cylinder. The one branch feeds the printing
cylinder on the forward movement, the other on the return movement, so that
each cylinder receives one sheet on the forward movement, and the following on
the return movement; thus not one and the same sheet simply turned over on
the return movement as is the case with the proper double acting machines.
Whereas accordingly, one sheet leaves the carriage at the dead point of the
cylinder and is further conveyed on its course, the following sheet reaches the
cylinder from the side in question through the other course.
The essential constructive difficulty of the two opposite directions of the bands
running round the printing cylinders consists in the two courses mutually crossing,
and the points of intersection must be so calculated that one sheet can pass such
point turning the interval in which two sheets pass the other course.
According as the second impression cylinder operating with the second impression
form, can be arranged above, beside or under the first impression cylinder operating
with the first impression cylinder form, as also according to the selection of the
usual manner of band courses, the form of the single intersecting branches and
particularly with regard to the suitable means of intersection (which may occur in
various ways), various arrangements may be effected as is seen from the accom-
panying drawings.
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only shew the uncovered courses traversed by the sheets, the
full line running in the direction of the arrows I, II, III shewing the course,
which conducts round the first impression cylinder on the left, and round second
impression cylinder on the right; and the dotted line marked by the arrows IIª,
111 etc. shewing the other course conducting to the right round the first impression
and to the left round the second impression cylinder. Fig. 1 shews the arrange-
ment of the sheets corresponding to the bands; Fig. 2 the same in relation to
Fig. 2; and so on.
The courses beginning and branching immediately, behind the cutting cylinder
always run in the same direction, and can have a uniform speed; or as is shewn in
the drawing are drives by the printing cylinder, or the carriage, in order that the
speed in every part of the course of the sheet always corresponds with that of the
cylinder circumference, and enabling a good register to be kept. But in this case
the operation in order to retain the same motion must be automatically reversed at
the dead point by any suitable friction or claw coupling. Only the bands running
directly over the cylinders, shewn by dotted lines ou the drawing run like these
backwards and forwards as is the case with common double action machines with
bands. As in the latter case, the paper also may be carried round the printing
cylinder in any well known manner by means of claws.

page_text: With the arrangement suitable for large forms and limited space (Figs. 1
and 14) with printing cylinders placed one above the other, the two branches of
the sheets beginning at A cross each other only. at the printing cylinder, the latter
accomplishing the direct crossing, whilst the two branches do not obstruct each
other in the rest of the course, and constructed in the usual way sheet courses are.
In order that the sheet leaving the cylinder may not reach the entrance of the
other opposite course, the last part of the course entering has a sufficiently slanting
direction to the tangent of the cylinder, which the front-part of the sheet has the
tendency to leave, lest it enter by mistake.
With the arrangement of the printing cylinders at equal heights beside each
other, whereby both forms rest upon one long common carriage, unless it is
preferred to give to this carriage, for the purpose of equalising the motive-power,
an opposing, but much more complicated movement, there arises with each printing
cylinder besides the intersections effected by the latter, another intersection
above each of the two cylinders. In Fig. 2 these other intersection points are
marked K K and besides still another intersection point K arises, the two bands
being taken separately. These direct intersections of the sheets effected by
grouping the rollers e h i k l m, each of them ending in an upper and under band
system, in such way that the sheet issuing from between the rollers k and lis
included in the band system beginning with the oppositely lying rollers ef, and
now runs round the cylinder from the right, leaves it and crosses the course it has
run by coming out between the rollers e m, and reaches the further course of the
sheets beginning.with the rollers i k. The sheet entering on the cylinder from the
left passes on the other hand, first the intersection K' with the other course, which
in similar way is effected by grouping of the rollers e h¹ i¹ k¹ l'm².
Besides the divider a' where the two sheet courses branch off, the whole sheet
diversion is effected exclusively by continuous band system without other
mechanism, or motion, besides the rollers running in fixed bearings, so that
transport of the sheets is assured in any case.
The arrangement, Figs. 3 and 34, effects in contradistinction to the previous one,
reduction of the band system with retention of fixed bearings of all band rollers,
nevertheless with assistance of dividing tongues 2 2 in addition to the dividing
tongue a at the beginning of the deviation. Here the intersections K and K' are
avoided in peculiar manner by the courses II and III leading to the intersection
points instead of directly crossing each other first unite in a kind of mouth M in
one piece of like-running course IV, and afterwards with help of dividers 2, which
are moved by curved disks in the direction II and IV, are again branched off.
The mouth M (Fig. 3) is, as shewn in Fig. 34 formed by the sheet coming out
of the course III, entering at n in the horizontal course coming from a¹. At
Ma further union takes place by the course III entering the horizontal course I Vaa
and then at Z making a further deviation to V. Accordingly one of the
mouths M and diviators Z as also M¹ and Z opposite to the arrangement, Fig. 2,
replaces intersection K or K.
In the arrangement, Fig. 4, 4^, the branchings as also the intersections of the
sheet, one effected by a so-called oscillating divider. The paper running off the
paper roll P, Fig. 4, is conducted by the continuously uniformly running feed-
rollers S S to the cutting cylinders S S upon which the cut sheets reach. the band-
system beginning with the pair of rollers A A, which always correspond with the
speed of the printing cylinder also in uniformity, but always running in the same
direction.
The part of the paper running from the rollers A A downwards ends below
with the roller c for the return journey of the lower band, and the roller ƒ for
the ascensions of the upper band, which then forms the beginning of an ascending
sheet course with a new under band coming from a¹.
The rollers cand a¹ just mentioned and the roller flying between them are
placed with their ends at the lower part of the arms V swinging round O, and
form a so-called oscillating divider.

page_text: This oscillating divider receives its motion through a curved disc K in such
manner that it is opposite to the printing cylinder D changing into one of the
different positions shewn in Fig. 44 then Fig. 4B and Fig. 4". Around the printing
cylinder, the lower bands run in the spaces of the letter-press, over the rollers b
and the upper bands round the rollers c and a. In the position shewn in Fig. 4^
the divider stands in such way that the band system running downwards from A
(as also shewn in Fig. 4) enters the entrance beginning with c and b, so that the
descending sheet is carried round the cylinder from the left, whilst the carriage
moves from left to right. In the unchanged position of the divider the one time
printed sheet then comes out between the rollers and a and conducts the
ascending sheet course beginning with fand a, further over roller c to the second
impression cylinder D. While the end of the sheet is coming out between the
rollers 6 and a the divider moves to the right into the position shewn in Fig. 4, in
such manner that the second sheet now coming is no longer carried between b
and but between b and a on to the cylinder and conducted round it from the
right, the carriage beginning to run from right to left. But before the front end
of the sheet running round the cylinder from right to left issues from between the
rollers bande the divider has moved so far to the left (in position shewn in
Fig. 4) that the sheet is taken from the ascending band course beginning at f
and a¹, and like the previous sheet, is carried further by same band course in such
way that the two deviating branches again unite, and the course running over the
roller C and Z is in similar manner again divided by another divider, like the one
described, in such way that the sheet which had run round the first impression
cylinder from the right is now conducted round the second impression cylinder from
the left and the other in the opposite direction.
The two new branches again unite in the ascending course of the dividers in
such way that all the sheets now completely printed on both sides are conducted
over the roller Y and received by the folder R or may be conducted into a
suitably arranged folding apparatus.
Fig. 4 shews an arrangement only varying so far in that instead of an underband
roller being arranged over the centre of the cylinder two more laterally
arranged underband rollers are employed in such manner that the on and off
conduct of the sheet to the cylinder occurs tangentially, but thereby the
oscillating motion has a somewhat longer stroke to perform.
The arrangement (Fig. 5-54) keeps the middle between the two described,
Fig. 2 and 3, in which the direct intersection K is transferred quite near to the
cylinder and the intersection K', Fig. 2 is again correspondingly suitably replaced
by an entrance M¹ Fig. 5 and a branch Z', the first M' of which, like K is
arranged directly on the cylinder. Hence a strange roller grouping ba f g arises
in such way that the sheet entering in the direction of the arrow II between the
rollers ed on the cylinder D, Fig. 44, on issuing reaches into the ascending
course III, beginning at f. The sheet coming with II reaches, at the beginning
of the return cylinder motion, between b and a on to the cylinder, by which it is
printed and carried completely round, until it comes out of the rollers bg, when it
shorts into the angle formed at fa and consequently, like the previous sheet,
reaches the ascending course III in which the two branches again unite in common
course. This course then branches off anew at Z' with the help of the dividing
tongue Z in the same way as formerly at A, in such manner that a course
conducting round the second impression cylinder to the right arises and a course V
conducting round the same from the left, which unite anew at Y and K in the
common course VI again ascending, and the sheets completely printed on both sides
.are conducted in the common course in the direction of arrow VII to a folder
or folding apparatus. The arrangement of the rollers and bands of the second
impression cylinder is the same as that of the first impression cylinder.
With all the above mentioned arrangements the form can be altered at will by
changing the speed of the feeding rollers ss, as is the case with variable
rotation engines, as also instead of the upper and lower cylinder bands the

page_text: claw mechanism G universally used with printing cylinders may be employed
(Fig. 4).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what.
I claim is:
1. In double action machines, that is, flat type board machines, the cylinders of
which print as well on the forward movement as on the return movement, of the
form and besides are so arranged that each works with a special cylinder, one for
the first impression form alone, and another cylinder for the second impression
form, the improvement regarding the paper-feeding consisting in the paper coming
from a single paper roll P being, as is the case with variable rotation machines,.
cut into sheets by the cutting cylinders S S before printing and these then
conductes round the printing cylinder by means of the band, the peculiarity.
of which consists in their branching. off in two different courses from the
beginning, so that the sheets are alternately conveyed into the one from the left
and in the other from the right to the first impression cylinder, then from this
to the second impression cylinder, the first course from the right, the second from
the left round this corresponding to the forward and return movement of the
form whereupon the two branches unite in common course for the purpose of
allowing of the employment of common folding apparatus for all the sheets,
whereby the courses in their opposite movements intersect in running round the
cylinder, whilst further intersections take place above the same, according to the
arrangement of the cylinders above or next to one another, as described.
2. The arrangement of the improvement claimed in Claim 1, for the avoidance
as much as possible of the intersections, and for limiting to those only effected by
the cylinder, by arranging the printing cylinders together with their respective
forms above one another according to Fig. 1 whereby the course only branches.
once at A which branches are carried round the form, the one directly left of the
first impression cylinder arranged below, the other from the right of it, in the
same way both run round the course of the upper form right and left to the second
impression cylinder by forming of the intersections on the cylinder by slanting.
direction of the forward course II 11" to the tangent at which the opposite sheet.
would have the tendency to run off, as described.
3. The application of the improvement claimed in Claim 1 with arrangement of
the printing cylinders and their forms for the purpose of coupling the forms next
to one another and operating together in common, according to Fig. 24, 34, 44 by
which further points of intersection take place above the cylinder, as set forth.
4. The forming of the branches of the arrangements claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3.
by well known dividing mechanism, Figs. 14, 24, 34, 5^, or an oscillating divider
(Fig. 44) operated by the cam K as set forth.
5. The forming of the intersections of the two branches of the arrangements
of bands (see Fig. 14) claimed in Claims 1, 3 and 4, by grouping of the
rollers e fik 1 (Fig. 2A) in such manner that the part of the band ending
at and runs the sheets into the part beginning with the opposite rollers e h the
sheets crossing their course they have run by coming out between the rollers e m.
and going between the rollers ki, as set forth.
6. The forming of the intersections (see Fig. 2.) and 24 in such manner that the
branches I and I11 (Figs. 3 & 34), running to the intersection points first unite
through simple entrance at M (and M) in a shorter or longer piece of parallel.
running course, and then are diverted by dividing tongues z and 2, which are
moved in the usual way by curved discs in the directions II, IV and Va and VII
running from the intersection point, as described.
7. In the arrangements claimed in Claims 1 and 3 the simultaneous effecting of
the deviations and intersections according to Figs. 4 and 44 with help of an
oscillating sheet divider V with 3 rollers and a' of which c¹ and f form the
termination of the course descending to the printing cylinder, as well to the left.

page_text: as to the right, according to the position determined by the curved disc K, whilst
f and a which take up the sheets leaving the cylinder and form the beginning of
an ascending common band system, conducting the sheets to the succeeding
cylinder, or form this to the folder or folding apparatus, as set forth.
8. The forming of the intersections with the arrangements claimed in Claims 1
and 3, the grouping of the lower band roller b of the printing cylinder with
adjoining upper band roller a, in such manner that notwithstanding the fixed
position of all the rollers, the sheet issuing from the left between 6 and g, as also
that from the right between b and a, goes into the common further course
beginning with fand a, whilst the sheet coming with course ending in g and f
reaches the entrance formed by b and a, whilst the sheet coming from the left
reaches the cylinder by the course II with c and d, directed at a tangent to it, as
set forth.
9. In the above arrangements, the substitution of the bands running directly
round the cylinder by the well known claw system (Fig. 4), as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1896.
ARTHUR HELLMANN,
28 Französ Strasse, Berlin.