Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 10th Aug., 1888
We WILLIAM CONISBEE of No. 17 Oakden Street, Kennington Road Lambeth
Engineer and THOMAS SAMUEL CONISBEE of No. 74 York Road Lambeth Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
-
A printing machine for pictures or illustrations in multiple colours from a colour
block containing the colour in itself in conjunction with a key block in wood or stéreo
to be inked in the ordinary way so as to produce a complete picture or illustration
in any required number of colours at one operation of feeding the sheet.
For the above purpose we prepare two side frames and the necessary cross frames,
on the latter and extending the whole length of the side frames we place two ribs on
which are placed a series of anti-friction rollers mounted in carriages. On these
rollers we place a double table fitted with side cheeks on these cross ties so as to form
two distinct boxes or "coffins."
Between the cheeks and cross pieces we place a table or plate planed true on both
sides, and accurately fitting between the lower table and the plate we fit 4 screws, one
at each corner or thereabout, on which screws we fit 4 worm wheels cut with a thread
in the bosses to fit the screws. The upper ends of the screws are fixed to the under
side of the plate to prevent them turning, while the bosses of the worm wheels are
made to fit in corresponding holes in the bottom table so as to act as nuts.
The wheels are geared into two worm spindles, the ends of which are provided with
toothed wheels. Between the 2 spindles we place a shaft also provided with a toothed
wheel gearing into the two worm spindles so as to enable us to actuate the four worm
nuts simultaneously for the purpose of elevating the plate in the first box.
"
The other box or coffin" is also fitted with four similar screws but fitted with nuts
of a star shape on their peripheries surrounded by a flat linked chain to enable them
to be actuated as one for the purpose of raising the plate in the box to the requisite
impression level.
The side cheeks are fitted with toothed racks and bearers in the usual manner capable
of being geared into a printing cylinder which is placed transversely nearly midway
in bearings fixed to the side frames. Over this cylinder likewise in bearings we place

page_text: another cylinder half the diameter of the lower one provided with a fast and loose
wheel with pawl and catch. This cylinder only is provided with grippers for taking
the sheet and is covered with a printer's Blanket.
The lower cylinder is covered with a suitable material for taking the colour from
the colour block and the key block, which latter is capable of being inked by ordinary
printing ink supplied from an ink duct fitted at the end of the machine by the aid of
ordinary printing rollers.
At the Duct end of the machine we place a pinion shaft and pinion having fast and
loose pulleys for driving. The pinion gears into a stud wheel provided with a collar
pin near the outer rim, which stud fits into a connecting rod having an open fork end
capable of receiving a spur wheel which is made to work in a fixed bottom rack
secured to the cross frames and a top rack fitted to the under side of the table for the
purpose of giving the necessary traverse of the table in the process of printing.
By turning round the driving shaft motion is given to the spur wheel thence by the
connecting rod to the traverse wheel, the table is made to travel to and fro giving
motion to the lower cylinder which reciprocates with the table while the top
cylinder remains stationary only while the sheet is being laid and (after printing)
taken off.
Having described the nature of our invention we now explain the method of
working when printing. The colour block containing the colour in itself and there-
fore supplying its own is raised in the box to the impression level. The key block is
also raised & when at the required level is fixed there as no regulation is required
subsequently. But the colour of the colour block being used at each impression, it
has to be correspondingly raised in order to supply the necessary quantity by means
of the worm nuts and screws acting automatically at each impression.
The ink is placed in the ductor, distributed in the ordinary way, the key block is
inked by passing under the inking rollers, the two tables now pass under the bottom
cylinder (the circumference of which is equal to the colour block and key block)
giving off colour to the covering on the cylinder which then becomes the printing
cylinder having the two impressions on itself. The sheet is fed into the top cylinder
passing between it and the bottom cylinder and taking off the colour given by the
colour and key blocks is printed in colours at one traverse of the machine.
We claim the combination of the double coffin or box having distinct means of
regulating the impression and automatically supplying colour from the colour block
in conjunction with the two cylinders actuated substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of October 1887.

page_text: We, WILLIAM CONISBEE, of No. 17, Oakden Street, Kennington Road, Lambeth,
Engineer, and THOMAS SAMUEL CONISBEE, of No. 74, York Road, Lambeth, Engineer
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 has reference to printing machines designed. to produce a picture or
illustration in any required number of colors by one feeding to and passage through
the machine of the material to be printed upon.
Color printing machines have heretofore been employed in which a color block was
used that in itself contained the colour that is to say a block consisting of a number of
moist colors placed side by side and each extending through the thickness of the
block the several colors being so relatively arranged as to correspond throughout the
thickness of the block with the desired picture or illustration to be printed. In other
words the block, as seen in any section thereof parallel to the surface intended to yield
an impression would correspond as regards design and arrangement of the several
colors with the illustration to be produced. In such machines the printing has been
effected by direct contact of the material to be printed' with the surface of the color
block and no provision has been needed to automatically compensate for the gradual
reduction in thickness of the block due to printing. With such machines however
satisfactory results have not been obtained because, owing to slight differences in the
texture or quality of different sheets of paper or the like to be printed, and also to
difference in the pressure used in applying successive sheets of such material to the
color block an equal amount of colour could not be taken off the color block at each
impression and consequently uniform printing could not be effected.
In a color printing machine according to this invention we employ a color block of
the kind herein before referred to in conjunction with a cylinder for transferring color
from the surface of the block to the material to be printed which is held upon another
cylinder means being provided for automatically adjusting the height of the color block
to compensate for the gradual consumption thereof due to printing. The arrange-
ment and operation are such as to admit of producing a picture or illustration in
any required number of colors by one feeding to and passage through the machine, of
the material to be printed upon.
In conjunction with the color block a key block (wood or stereo) inked in the
ordinary way; may in some cases be employed for printing an outline to produce a
complete picture or illustration. Or in lieu of a key block, a second color block may
be sometimes employed to give an even tone or tint to the picture produced by the
first block.
And in order to en: ble this invention to be carried into effect a multiple color printing
machine according thereto is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying
drawings in which-
Fig. 1 is a side view of the machine with part of the fly wheel broken away to more
clearly show inking mechanism.

page_text: "
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line A B Fig. 1 with a double box or
with tables (hereinafter described) removed.
or
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line CD Fig. 1.
cotin
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a side view and a plan or top view, of a double box
"coffin" for carrying the color blocks or a color block and a key block.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are drawn to larger scales than Figs. 1 and 2.
"
1, 1, are the side frames of the machine connected by cross frames 2, on which are
secured two ribs 3, that extend the whole length of side frames. On the ribs 3
are placed a series of anti-friction rollers 4 mounted in side frames or carriages 5
which keep the rollers a fixed distance apart. On these rollers is placed a double
box or "
coffin that carries the color block and 'key-block; it comprises a plate 6
with side cheeks 7 connected by three cross ties 8 (Fig. 5) so as to form two distinct
boxes or
"coffins." 9 is a table or plate for supporting the color block A shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 3. This table or plate which is planed true on both sides
is placed between the cheeks 7 and cross ties 8 and is automatically adjusted in
height to compensate for the consumption of the color block due to each printing
operation. For this purpose it rests in the arrangement shown upon the upper ends
of four screws 10 that are connected and prevented from turning by a rectangular
frame 11. Upon each screw 10 is fitted a worm wheel 12 the boss of which is
screw threaded internally to serve as a nut to the screw upon which it is fitted, so
that when the wheel is turned the screw upon which it works and which is prevented
from turning will rise or fall according to the direction in which the wheel is
turned.
Into the worm wheels 12 gear worms 13 carried by spindles 14 each of which is
provided at one end with a toothed wheel 15. Between the spindles 14 is placed
another spindle 16 provided with a toothed wheel 17 that gears into the two toothed
wheels 15. On the spindle 16 is also placed a ratchet wheel 18 that is intermittently
operated by a pawl 19 carried by the arm 20 of a lever journalled on the spindle 16
and the other arm 21 of which carries a pin 22. This pin acts against a fixed projec-
tion 23 just before the double box or coffin reaches the limit of its travel to the left
(Fig. 1) and thereby operates the lever and mechanisın herein before described and
automatically raises the table and color block a short distance to compensate for the
layer of color used in the preceding printing operation.
The lever arm 21 is provided with a series of holes 21* in order that the position of
the pin 22 and the extent of movement imparted to the lever and connected mechanism
and consequently to the table 9 and color block thereon may be varied according to
requirement.
The other box or coffin is also fitted with four screws 10 for elevating a table placed
thereon and which may or may not carry either a key block or a second color block
as desired. These screws may be automatically and simultaneously operated by
gearing similar to that in the first box or coffin, as shown in Fig. 5, or they may be
fitted with nuts 12 of a star shape the peripheries of which are surrounded by a band
or chain operated in any convenient manner for causing the screws 10 to be simul-
taneously operated. When a key block is used it must be raised by means of its
screws 10 to the requisite impression level before commencing to print, and will not
need to have its height adjusted afterwards. When a second color block is employed
the table that supports it must be operated in a similar manner to that carrying the
first color block.
At 24 is represented inking mechanism comprising an ink duct and printing rollers
of ordinary construction for inking the key block when such block is used. 25 are
ink distributing rollers also of ordinary construction.
26 is a printing cylinder mounted in adjustable bearings 27 carried by side
frames 28; it is provided with toothed wheels 29 that gear with and are operated
alternately in opposite directions by racks 30 secured to the top of the side cheeks 7,
and is covered or coated with suitable material such as celluloid for taking the colors
from the color block and key block. 31 is a second cylinder located above and having
a diameter one half that of the cylinder 26. It is mounted in adjustable bearings

page_text: carried by the side frames 28. This cylinder is provided with grippers operated in
the ordinary manner for taking and holding the material to be printed and is covered
with a printers blanket. 33 and 34 are toothed wheels mounted on the same shaft as
the cylinder 31 and gearing with the toothed wheels 29. They are so arranged that
the cylinder 31 always rotates in the same direction. For this purpose the wheel 33
is loosely mounted on its shaft and carries a pawl that engages with a tooth or catch
on the adjacent end of the cylinder, 31 when the wheel rotates in one direction, but
slips over the tooth or catch when the wheel moves in the reverse direction and leaves
the cylinder 31 free. The wheel 34 which is fixed to the cylinder 31, has its circum-
ference cut away at one part in order that it may become disengaged from the
corresponding wheel 29 when this wheel rotates in a backward direction.
This construction and arrangement of mechanism for preventing backward
rotation of the cylinder 31 is well known in printing machinery and is not fully shown
in the drawings.
35 is a brake pulley secured to the shaft of the cylinder 31; it is provided at its
circumference with a projection 36 against one side of which a spring stop 37 acts to
prevent rotation of the cylinder 31 in a backward direction 38 is a brake block that
acts against the other side of the projection 36 and arrests the motion of the cylinder 31
during the backward motion of the cylinder 26 at which time the material previously
printed is removed from the cylinder 31 and fresh material applied thereto. The
brake block is carried by a lever 39 that is operated at the required times by a cam 10
through the intervention of a lever 41 rod 41× lever 42 and rod 43. 44 is a brake
strap secured at one end to a fixed support 45 and connected at its other end to
one arm of the lever 39 and is so arranged that it acts against the periphery of the
brake pulley 35, when the lever 39 is operated to apply the brake block 38.
46 is a driving shaft provided with fast and loose pulleys 47, a fly wheel 47", and
a pinion 48. This pinion gears into a toothed wheel 49 provided with a crank pin 50
which is journalled in one end of a connecting rod 51 the other end of which is
forked and connected to a toothed wheel 52. This wheel works in a fixed rack' 53
and in a rack 54 secured to the underside of the double box or coffin 7-8.; By
rotating the driving shaft 46 the wheel 52 will be caused to impart the necessary
longitudinal to and fro movements to the double box or coffin and the color and key
blocks carried thereby, the cylinder 26 being consequently rotated in alternate direc-
tions, the cylinder 31 being rotated only during the forward motion of the platform
or table and held stationary during the backward motion thereof by the brake
mechanism herein before described.
Having described the nature of the invention and illustrated a suitable arrange-
ment of machine for carrying it into effect we now proceed to explain the method of
working when printing with this particular machine. The color block containing (as
already stated) the colors in itself, and therefore supplying its own color is placed on
the table 9 and raised to the impression level. The key block is also raised, and when
it is at the required level it is fixed there, no further regulation being subsequently
required.
The ink for inking the key block is placed in the ductor and distributed in the
ordinary way, the key block being inked by passing under the inking rollers. When
the double box or coffin is reciprocated the color block and key block are passed under
and in contact with the cylinder 26 thus imparting color to the covering on the
cylinder which then becomes the printing cylinder having the two impressions from
the blocks thereon. The sheet of material to be printed is fed to and carried by the
cylinder 31 which forces it against the cylinder 26 so as to cause it to successively
take off the color previously imparted thereto from the color and key blocks. The
cylinder 31 makes two revolutions whilst the cylinder 26 is making one and the color
and key blocks and consequently the impressions therefrom on the cylinder 26 are so
relatively spaced that the successive impressions on the material printed coincide or
register thus producing a complete picture or illustration in any required number of
colors by one feeding to and passage through the machine of such material.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is: :―
1. In a machine for color printing a table for a color block provided with means
for automatically adjusting the table to compensate for consumption of the said
block.
2. In a machine for color printing the combination of a table for a color block
means for automatically adjusting the table to compensate for consumption of the
said block, a cylinder for material to be printed upon and a cylinder for transferring
to the said material, a desired representation from the substance of the color block.
3. In a machine for color printing the combination of an automatically adjustable
table for a color block, a cylinder for material to be printed upon, a cylinder for trans-
ferring to the said material a desired representation from the substance of the said
⚫ block and a table for a key block in wood or stereo to be inked, the arrangement and
operation being such as to admit of producing a picture or illustration in any required
number of colors by one feeding to and passage through the machine, of the material
to be printed upon.
4. We also claim our improved color printing machine constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described with reference to and shown in the
drawings annexed.
WILLIAM CONISBEE.
THOMAS SAMUEL CONISBEE.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.
Dated this 24th day of April 1888.
WILLIAM CONISBEE.
THOMAS SAMUEL CONISBEE.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.