Improved Machinery for Printing in Several Colours.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Dec.. 1892-Accented. 11th Feb. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery for Printing in Several Colours.
I, EDOUARD LAMBERT, of No. 16, Rue Drouot, Paris, France, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of machinery for printing in
several colours, which is characterised by the combination with two or more
machines which are single platen machines, placed side by side, of a system of
mechanism which effects the transport of the sheets from one printing forme to
another the uniform travel of which is determined by a rod of definite length that
moves between two fixed stops.
The principal characteristics of the invention are as follows.
I. The machines are so placed relatively to each other that the cylinders carrying
the paper sheets are in line with each other, that is to say, have the same axis of
rotation, and each two have a frame common to both which carry the cylinders.
II. During the return motion of the table of the machines, that is to say while
the cylinder is stationary the sheet of paper is conveyed parallel to the axis of the
cylinder and in the direction of the generatrices thereof, and is stopped in a
determined position.
III. The guiding and register of the sheets during such motion is insured:
a. As regards the travel of the sheets:
1. By a sufficient number of pins that pierce the sheet at the margin side before
the opening of the nippers of the cylinder and as soon as this has stopped.
2. By small spring blades with caoutchouc or other adhesive surface which press
upon the sheet when coiled round the cylinder; these smail blades being fixed
relatively to the beforementioned pins and facilitating the transporting movement
of the tail and of the sheet.
b. As regards the uniform extent of motion of the sheet, notwithstanding any
variation in the motion of the mechanical devices that effect the movement of the
sheet:
By means of a rod which carries the pins and the small blades, and which is
carried along by friction by a combination of mechanical devices called the
transporter."
66
The rod which is of definite length, can move between two fixed stops and the
total travel effected by the transporter greater than the difference between the
distance between the fixed stops and the length of the rod.
It follows that the rod carried along by the "transporter" bears against each
stop before the end of each travel of the transporter, and remains stationary while
the transporter is finishing its travel.
The rod, and consequently the pins, the blades and the sheet thus have an
absolutely constant travel.
I will describe by way of example a machine for printing in four colours according
to my invention. Two single platen machines are placed side by side with their
cylinders in line, and each machine is provided with two formes, each forme being
for a different colour, and all four formes are made to travel simultaneously to and
fro so as to print four sheets at once. The beforementioned reciprocating carriage
which extends along both machines, carries the beforementioned rod in frictional
bearings in which the rod can slide longitudinally. At each end of the double
machine is an adjustable stop with which the rod comes in contact at the end of
each travel. The rod carries arms that can turn thereon and that have a head
provided with pins, that, when permitted by stationary cams along which the arm
slides with a roller, descend with the aim and pierce the sheet of paper placed on

page_text: the cylinder so as to carry it along with the arm and rod when these are carried in
one direction by the carriage. At the same time that the pins sieze the paper as
described, the ordinary nippers of the impression cylinders that hold the paper while
it is being printed on, are raised so as to allow the paper to be transported by
the pins.
At the commencement of the printing operation, a margined sheet is feed on to
the end of the one cylinder and is held by the nippers for effecting an impression
from the first forme, on the rotation of the cylinders. On the return motion, while
the cylinders are stationary the transporting carriage seizes the printed sheet by
means of the pins and transports it to the next position on the cylinder opposite the
second forme, while at the same time a second sheet is placed in the former position
of the first sheet. On the cylinders being made to rotate, the sheet No. 1 has the
second colour printed on it, while sheet No. 2 receives the first impression.
On the return motion, the pins of the carriage now sieze both sheets and transport
No. 1 to forme No. 3 and No. 2 to forme No. 2, while at the same time a fresh sheet
is placed in front of forme No. 1.
All three sheets are now printed upon, after which the transporting operation is
again repeated bringing sheet No. 1 opposite forme No. 4, sheet No. 2 opposite
forme No. 3 &c., so that at the next impression sheet No. 1 will have received the
impression of all four colours and is removed. The printing now proceeds in like
manner so that every time four sheets are printed, the one at one end having received
four colours while the fresh sheet at the other end receives its first colour.
The motion of the bar carrying the pins being arrested at each end by a stop
while the carriage continues to travel a certain distance, the cams carried by the
latter are thereby made to act on the arms carrying the pins so as to alternately
lower these on to the sheets and raise them up therefrom again.
Dated this 7th day of April 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery for Printing in Several Colours.
I, EDOUARD LAMBERT, of No. 16 Rue Drouot, Paris, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved construction of machinery for printing in
several colors, which is characterised by the combination with two or more machines,
which are single platen machines, placed side by side, of a system of mechanism
which effects the transport of the sheets from one printing forme to another, the
uniform travel of which is determined by a rod of definite length that moves between
two fixed stops.
The principal characteristics of the invention are as follows :―
I. The machines are so placed relatively to each other that the cylinders
carrying the paper sheets are in line with each other that is to say, have the same
axis of rotation, and each two have a frame common to both which carry the
cylinders.
II. During the return motion of the table of the machines, that is to say, while
the cylinder is stationary, the sheet of paper is conveyed parallel to the axis of the
cylinder and in the direction of the generatrices thereof, and is stopped in a
determined position.
III. The guiding and register of the sheets during such motion is insured.
a. As regards the travel of the sheets:
1. By a sufficient number of pins that pierce the sheet at the margin side before
the opening of the nippers of the cylinder and as soon as this has stopped.
2. By small spring blades with caoutchouc or other adhesive service which press

page_text: upon the sheet when coiled round the cylinder; these small blades being fixed
relatively to the beforementioned pins and facilitating the transporting movement
of the tail end of the sheet.
b. As regards the uniform extent of motion of the sheet, notwithstanding any
variation in the motion of the mechanical devices that effect the movement of the
sheet :
By means of a rod which carries the pins and the small blades, and which is
carried along by friction by a combination of mechanical devices called the
"transporter."
The rod which is of definite length, can move between two fixed stops and the total
travel effected by the transporter is greater than the difference between the distance
between the fixed stops and the length of the rod.
It follows that the rod carried along by the "transporter" bears against each
stop before the end of each travel of the transporter and remains stationary while
the transporter is finishing its travel.
The rod, and consequently the pins, the blades, and the sheet, thus have an
absolutely constant travel.
The accompanying drawings shew by way of example a machine for printing in
four colours, composed of two single machines placed side by side.
Figure 1 shews a part side view of the machine, Figure 2 is a cross section,
Figure 3 is a plan of the cylinders and of the transporter.
Figure 4 shews a section of the cylinder and of the "transporter" to a
larger scale.
Figure 5 shews a front view of the carrier of the pins.
The bed or platen of each single machine has two formes for different colours, so
that each machine prints in two colours. The arrangement of these formes is shewn
at Figure 2 in cross section. Each single machine has its own platen and cylinder
and the two machines are so driven that they receive the same to and fro motion and
that such motion takes place simultaneously in the same direction. The travel of
the sheets of paper is as follows:-
A sheet is margined at the end of one of the two cylinders, in the ordinary
manner of single machines, during the stoppage of the cylinder.
The
The maximum width of the sheet is equal to half the width of the cylinder of each
of the single machines. The nippers of the cylinder are closed and the sheet is
carried round by the rotation of the cylinder which is made to revolve for printing
from the first forme. The cylinder then stops, the nippers being still closed.
pins of the transporter then descend and the nipper being now opened, the sheet
begins to travel and carries the sheet along the cylinder while this is stationary,
until the sheet is brought in front of the second forme. During this time a fresh
sheet is margined on the margin table, and being brought on the cylinder in the
position where the first one was originally situated the nippers are closed upon it
and the pins of the transporter rise.
On the cylinder now rotating both sheets are printed upon by the two formes of
different color, after which the cylinder stops again.
During the rotation of the cylinder the transporter has returned to its original
position and seizes the margined sheets by its pins; the sheets then pass, the first one
from the second forme to the third forme on the other machine, and the second sheet
from the first forme to the second one.
A third sheet is then margined and secured on the first cylinder, the two
cylinders are then rotated, so as to print upon such sheet with the first forme,
upon the second sheet with the second forme and upon the first sheet with the
third forme. On the cylinders again stopping, the transporter seizes the sheets
and conveys the first one to the fourth forme, the second one to the third forme
and the third sheet to the second forme.
A fourth sheet is then margined and attached to the cylinder, which then
rotates and prints all four sheets respectively with the fourth, third, second and
first formes; the first sheet having thus travelled along the entire length of the

page_text: two machines and being now printed upon with the four colors. is removed,
and the three other sheets having been shifted by the transporter and a fresh
sheet having been placed upon the first cylinder opposite the first forme, all
four sheets are again simultaneously printed upon, and so on continuously, there
being, after each impression, a sheet removed at one end that has been printed
upon in four colours, while at the other end a fresh sheet is introduced.
The above described transporting of the sheets is effected by the following
<mechanisms.
A Figure 6 represents a carriage having a to and fro motion imparted to it by
any suitable mechanism, the extent of such motion being equal to d; B is a bar of
determined length c, which slides with friction in the supports E and F carried by
carriage A. C and D are two fixed stops at a distance a from each other.
Assuming that d is greater than a-c, that is, b, and assuming that the carriage A
is at the one end of its travel, that one end of the rod B is in contact with the
stop D, and that the motion of the carriage is towards C. Then at a given moment
the bar B carried along by the supports E and F will butt against the stop C, and
as d is greater than b, bar B, being stopped, will slide with friction in the
supports E and F to the extent d―b.
On the carriage A travelling in the contrary direction, it will carry rod B with
it again, in the same position which it had relatively to A at the end of the first
travel. It follows that when carriage A travels towards stop D, the bar B will
butt against the latter before A arrives at the end of its travel, so that B will then
again remain stationary while A completes its motion, keeping B pressed against D
by reason of the frictional contact of B with its support, the extent of the relative
motion between A and B being again equal to d-b as before.
Thus it will be seen that whatever may be the travel of carriage A, the motion
of B will always be constant.
Assuming to represent the sum of the movements of all the mechanical
devices actuating A, it will be seen that to insure a constant travel of B it suffices
that d-b be greater than <j.
exact extent of motion.
Thus, if the bar is made to carry a sheet of paper along with it either
by means of pins or by nippers, it will always impart to such sheet a perfectly
In practice the distance db is made sufficiently greater
than for allowing a length of time for the stoppage of B sufficient for the pins
thereof to descend on the sheet of paper and for the nippers of the cylinder to
open at one end of the carriages travel, and for the nippers to close, and the pins
to rise again at the other end of the travel.
The arrangement of mechanism for carrying out this action is as follows:-
A casting G, Figure 2 formed with guides is carried by the uprights Y and Z of
the machine; on this casting slides the carriage A receiving a to and fro motion
as follows:-
At the one end of the machine Figure 1 is a wheel O receiving rotary motion
and having a crank pin P that slides in the slotted rod R Q which can oscillate
upon the pin at R, so that by the rotation of the crank pin, a to and fro motion is
imparted to R Q of the kind known as "a rapid return motion" and this motion
is imparted by the link N M to the lever L M, fixed at L' to a shaft L L which
revolves in bearings fixed on the framing X. At the end L of this shaft is fixed a
lever L K, which is connected to the carriage A by the rod H K. Thus it will be
seen that by the uniform rotation of the wheel O, a to and fro motion with quick
return will be imparted to the carriage A. On the carriage A are fixed the
supports E F that carry the bar B, sliding therein with friction.
The bar B is carried by bearings m m¹ adjustable in the supports E F, the
friction being regulated by screws n which act on springs upon the upper check m
of the bearing. The carriage A consequently carries the bar B with it in its to
and fro motion on the casting G, at the ends of which are the screw stops C, D
situated in line with the bar B.
On this bar B are rotatably fitted two-armed pieces 1, one arm of which carries

page_text: it.
a part k on which are the pins h. The bar B consequently carries the pins along with
The other arms of the pieces 1 carry rollers
P which bear against cams fixed
on the carriage A by the part r. Figure 4 shews an enlarged section of these
several devices, and Figure 5 a front view of the part k carrying the pins h.
At the moment when the cylinders S and T stop, the pieces 7 which rest on the
bar B, fall on a bar f carried by the cylinders.
The pins then penetrate into a longitudinal groove g in the bar fand are thus
made to pierce the margined sheet between the nippers z of the cylinders, and the
bar f. The nippers of the cylinders then rise and leave the course free for the
pins h.
At this moment the carriage A begins to travel and carries the bar B and pins h,
and consequently also the sheet of paper with it. But before the end of the travel
of A the bar B butts against C, so that the motion of the pins and paper sheet is
stopped and the nippers are again close down upon the latter by suitable known
devices. The carriage, in completing its stroke, carries the cams q with it, and as
the roller p is stationary (being carried by forming part of the bar B) the cam in
acting on the roller causes the piece / carrying the pins / to rise, in turning round B,
whereby the pins in rising out of the groove of the bar f, set the sheet free.
The cylinders then commence to rotate again for effecting the impression of the
sheets, and during this time the carriage A brings the pieces and the pins h back
to their original position. It will be seen that during this motion the carriage A
and bar B not having altered their relative positions, the roller p is still held by
the cam so as to keep the pins raised. On the completion of the motion of the
cylinders, the bar B will have again been arrested by contact with the stop D, so
that the pins are also stationary and the carriage continuing its travel, the cam 9
releases the roller p and the pins in falling into the groove 9 of the bar f, again
pierce the sheet of paper held by the nippers ; these then open again and
allow the pins / to carry the sheet along as soon as the carriage begins its return
motion.
The bar B then again bears against the stop C, the pins are raised from the
paper and the nippers close upon it again and the next impression is made by the
rotation of the cylinders, and so on.
The sheet being only held at the head of the margin by the pins h, the travel of
the sheet is facilitated by spring arms fixed at one end to the piece and carrying
at the other end a caoutchouc or other pad a which in pressing on the sheet, while
the arm travels with the pins, assists in carrying the paper along.
These spring arms fall on the sheet at the same time that the pins pierce the
same.
It will be readily seen from Fig. 2 that the distance & from axis to axis between
the first and second formes mounted on the bed V of one of the single machines is
exactly the same as the distance 8 from axis to axis of the 3rd & 4th formes on the
bed U of the second machine. But the distance A between the 2nd forme on the
first machine, and the 3rd forme on the second machine is greater. In consequence
hereof the transporting carriage A' travelling between the second and third forme
requires to have a greater travel than A. For obtaining this, I have utilised the
to and fro motion of A, for which purpose the carriage A¹ is carried in guides on
the carriage A, and on A' is mounted a toothed rack & gearing with a wheel
E
γ fixed
on the axis à mounted on the carriage A, and at the end of which is also fixed the
wheel gearing with a toothed rack fixed on the bed G.
Y
A-8
=
It
I
The proportion between the diameters of the wheels y and ẞ is
is seen from this that the travel of A' is composed, firstly of the travel of A= 8,
and secondly of the travel A-8, and therefore the total is: 8+ (1-8) Ξ Δ.
Instead of the said bar B carriage A¹ carries in its supports E and F a tubular
bar B in which slides the bar B, and this carries two fixed rings C' D'. The result
of this arrangement is that when the bar B bears against either of the stops C or D
the tube B will bear either against C or D', so that the action of the pins ' and

page_text: the lever arms (1 will be exactly the same as that of the pins and lever, arms
at each end of the travel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what, I
claim is:
1. The improved construction of machinery for printing in several colors,
consisting of the combination of two or more separate single printing machines
wherein the sheets of paper are conveyed from one forme to the next by means of
an arrangement of transporting mechanism based on the employment of fixed stops
for controlling the exact extent of travel required, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In combination with the arrangement of machine for printing in several
colours referred to in the preceding claim, the construction of transporting
mechanism, for transferring the paper sheets from one forme to the next while the
cylinders are at rest, consisting of a series of pins that pierce the paper at the head
thereof where it is held by the cylinder nippers, and before these are opened, the
said pins being made to travel longitudinally so as to carry the paper sheet with
them, and to release the same after the nippers have closed again when the travel
of the paper is completed, substantially as described with reference to the
drawings.
3. In combination with the arrangement of machine for printing in several
colours referred to in the preceding claims, the use of auxiliary transporting
devices consisting either of nippers holding the sheet at the side, at right angles to
the position of the nippers at the head of the sheet, or of spring arms with adhesive
pads of caoutchouc or other material made to bear upon the surface of the paper,
and receiving the same transporting motion as the pins, substantially as herein
described.
4. The use in machines for printing in several colors by conveying the sheets
consecutively from one form to another, of transporting mechanism wherein the
devices for seizing the paper sheets have their exact motion determined by fixed
stops, while the carriages that impart the motion to such devices are so connected
thereto that their length of travel is greater than that of the transporting devices,
so that when the latter are arrested by the stops, the carriages continue to travel
to a certain extent substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1892.
ABEL & IMRAI.