Improvements in Colour Printing.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE WALTER TURNER, of 74, Columbia Heights,
Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of America, Publisher.]
Improvements in Colour Printing.
I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 that branch of the art of printing known as colour
printing, its object being to provide an improved method and means for printing in
colours by which an impression in two or more colours may be taken upon paper or
textile fabrics by one impression operation.
While this invention is in general application in colour printing, it is of especial
value as applied to book and newspaper work, in which the necessity for speed renders
it desirable that but one impression operation should be made for printing the sheet,
and that the mechanism by which the result of printing in colours is attained shall be
as simple as possible. In the make-up of matter, and other operations of making
ready for printing modern newspapers, the utmost despatch is required, and although
the desirability of being able to give that prominence to a particular subject which
would result from printing in different colours is apparent, and has long been
recognized, the usual means for accomplishing this end are so complex as to render
them unavailable for use in newspaper work.
By this invention, means are provided which can be readily applied to existing
printing machines, and so expeditiously as to enable it to be used in the printing of
daily newspapers, and this object is attained by preparing a printing form or plate
having surfaces of different heights, the picture or other matter which is to receive the
colour different from the body of the paper, being placed, preferably, slightly below
the surface or plane of the main portion of the form or plate, so that the primary
inking rollers or other inking device will ink only the body or higher portions of the
form or plate, without coming in contact with, or inking the lower portions. These
lower portions are inked preferably by a secondary inking roller, or other suitable
device, carrying the desired colour, and of the proper dimensions and so constructed as
to ink only the lower portions of the form or plate. With this printing form or plate,
an impression surface is used having corresponding faces of different heights arranged
reversely to those of the printing form or plate, the higher portions of the impression
surface being constructed of dimensions corresponding to those of the lower surfaces
of the printing form or plate.
The raised portions of the impression surface are formed preferably by an extra
overlay, of a form and dimensions corresponding with those of the lower printing
surfaces, and the paper or other material to be acted upon is fed in the usual inanner,
the impression being given by bringing the impression surface into printing contact
with both the upper and lower printing surfaces by one impression operation.
Although it is evident that this invention is especially adapted for use in that class
of machines known as web machines, it is also applicable to any other class of printing
machines, whether using a curved or flat printing surface, as will hereinafter appear.
For a full understanding of the invention, a detailed description of mechanism
embodying the same will now be given, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings forming a part of this Specification, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of mechanism embodying the invention,
as applied to a web printing machine.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, certain portions of the printing and inking
mechanism being broken away to better illustrate the invention.

page_text: changed position.
pa pression cynders of Fig. 1, but in a suguay
Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a flat printing form made up
according to this invention.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the impression surface for printing from a flat form.
Fig. 6 is a cross section of a flat form corresponding to the impression surface
of Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 shows in perspective a modification of the invention, using three printing
surfaces of different heights.
Referring now especially to Figures 1 to 3, H is the form or type cylinder of a web
printing machine, I the impression cylinder, J a portion of a second impression
cylinder, and K distributing and form rollers of the primary inking mechanism of the
usual construction. O is a stereotype plate, secured to the type cylinder H in the
usual manner, and provided, as shewn clearly in Figures 1 and 3, with a portion A
depressed below the hody or main portion B of the plate. The impression cylinder I
is provided with an overlay C of any suitable material, secured to the blanket R, by
the use of cement, thread, or in any other suitable manner, this overlay being of a
size corresponding to the depressed portion of the stereotype plate, and placed in such
relative position thereto, as to ensure its impression therewith as the cylinders
revolve. Only one depressed portion on the type cylinder, and one overlay on the
impression cylinder, aro shewn, as this is sufficient to illustrate the invention, but it
will be understood that the number and form of these corresponding raised and
depressed portions will be varied, as desired, in accordance with the result to be
.attained.
For the purpose of inking the depressed portion A of the stereotype plate, a secondary
inking mechanism as follows is provided:-The cylinder L is geared to the type
cylinder H, so as to rotate in unison there with, and is provided upon its face with an
inking pad P, corresponding in size and shape to the surface A, the cylinder L being
so timed in its movement that the pad P registers with the surface A of the stereotype
plate, as the cylinders L and H revolve. This inking pad P is inked by means of the
inking roll M receiving ink from the roll N, which may be supplied with ink by any
of the usual methods, or covered with porous material, and charged with ink.
The cylinders and rolls are geared by means of gears a, b, c, d, and e, as shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to rotate in proper relative time, and the cylinder L, as
shewn in Figure 2, is made adjustable, so as to secure the accurate registry of the
pad P with the lower surface A or the stereotype plate.
The operation of the mechanism described is as follows:-The paper T is led from
the web roll over the impression cylinder I, and between it and the type cylinder H,
and thence around the perfecting impression cylinder J, as shewn by the arrows in
Figure 1. The body of the type cylinder H is inked by the main inking mechanism K,
the surface A of the stereotype plate receiving no ink therefrom, on account of its
position below the surface B of the body of the stereotype plate. The pad P on the
cylinder L is supplied from rolls M, N, with ink of a colour different froin that of the
main inking mechanism K, and, by the revolution of the cylinder L, inks the depressed
surface A, but, its size and shape corresponding thereto, inks no portion of the body
of the stereotype plate. As the type and impression cylinders H. I revolve, and the
impression is taken, the part of the paper which is opposite the overlay C is brought
into printing contact with the lower surface A of the stereotype plate, and receives an
impression therefrom in ink of a different colour from that of the body of the paper,
the result of the operation described being a product consisting of a web or sheet of
paper printed in two colours, and thus printed by one impression operation.
The inking mechanism shewn and described is that which it is preferred to use, but
it is evident that any other form of inking devices may be employed, whereby the
upper and lower portions of the stereotype plate will be inked in different colours.
In Figures 4, 5, and 6, this invention is shewn applied to a flat form. Figure 4
shows clearly a construction in which the surface A, containing the illustration or

page_text: other matter which is to be printed in a different colour is depressed below the surface
of the body B of the type form or plate.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew, in cross section, a corresponding flat impression surface and
type form employed in carrying out this invention. As shown in Figure 5, the
overlay C of the impression surface is backed up by additional paper B, or other
material.
For the purpose of preventing an abrupt bend in the paper when the impression is
taken, the edges of the overlay C are preferably bevelled. It has also been found
advisable to make the overlay C of sufficient thickness to insure its contact with the
surface A, slightly in advance of that of the main portion of the impression surface,
with printing surfaces B.
In Figure 7 a inodification of the invention is shown, in which printing surfaces of
three different elevations are used, a third printing surface A being shown inside the
surface A. In printing from a form of this character, a third inking pad will be used
for inking the surface A', as will be readily understood. It will also be understood,
that instead of the surface A' being below the surface A, and supplied with a different
colour, that this surface may be level with the surface B, so that an impression in the
same color as the body of the paper will be taken within the matter printed in a
different colour by the depressed surface A, and it will be understood that with either
a flat or curved form or plate, the form and size of the depressed portion may be varied
in any manner desired.
The depression necessary to avoid contact of the lower surface or surfaces with the
primary inking mechanism, and to insure its or their engagement with the corre-
sponding projecting face or faces of the overlay or raised portion or portions of the
impression cylinder for printing contact, is so slight, as to cause no injurious or
undesirable effect upon the paper, in printing it.
Instead of the printing surface or portion A being depressed, it may be raised above
the body or main printing surface of the type cylinder, sufficiently to permit its being
inkod in one colour by ordinary inking mechanism, which will not ink such main
surface. The latter, in such case, may be inked by an inking cylinder of such
diameter as that one revolution of it will ink said main surface, a portion of its face
being cut away or depressed to clear the raised portion A without inking it. In such
case, also, instead of the impression cylinder having a raised face, it will be provided
with a depressed face corresponding in shape with the raised portion A, and so as to
properly press the paper against such raised portion. Various other modifications
may be made on the apparatus for carrying out this invention, by persons skilled in
the art, without departing from the invention.
I would here remark that it is known that printing forms or surfaces have been
made up in sections, and so that one or more of them may be so moved as to stand
above the level of the other sections temporarily, and for the purpose of taking ink,
each section taking a different colour after which the different sections are brought to
a common level for the impression, but in such constructions, each impression is
taken only from those sections which are relatively ou a common printing level.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invon-
tion, as communicated to me from abroad, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method of printing in colours which consists in taking an impression from
printing surfaces of different heights, which have been inked in different colours, by
one impression operation, substantially as described.
2. The method of printing in colours, which consists in taking an impression from
printing surfaces of different heights, which have been inked in different colours by
bringing into impression contact with said surfaces, by one impression operation, an
impression surface having corresponding portions of different heights, substantially as
described.
3. The method of printing in colours which consists in preparing a printing form
or plate having surfaces of different heights inking said surfaces in different colours,

page_text: and taking an impression froin said surfaces by one impression operation, substantially
as described.
4. The method of printing in colours which consists in preparing a printing form
or plate having surfaces of different heights, and an impression surface having
corresponding portions of different heights, inking said printing surfaces in different
colours, and taking an impression by said printing and impression surfaces at one
impression operation, substantially as described.
5. The combination of a printing form or plate having surfaces of different heights,
means for inking the same in different colours, and means for taking an impression
from said surfaces by one impression operation, substantially as described.
6. A printing form or plate having surfaces of different heights, in combination
with means for inking the same in different colours and a coacting impression surface
having corresponding portions of different heights, whereby an impression is taken
from both lower and upper printing surfaces by one impression operation, substantially
as described.
7. The combination with a printing form or plate having relatively fixed surfaces of
different heights, of an inking mechanism whereby the upper surfaces only are inked,
and a second inking mechanism whereby the lower surfaces only are inked, sub-
stantially as described.
8. The combination of a printing form or plate having relatively fixed surfaces of
different heights, independent inking mechanisms whereby said surfaces are inked in
different colours, and a coacting impression surface adapted to act upon both the upper
and lower printing surfaces at one impression operation, substantially as described.
9. A printing form or plate having relatively fixed surfaces of different heights, in
combination with an inking mechanism whereby the lower surfaces only are inked,
substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of August 1890.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.