Improvements in Machines for Printing Envelopes and other Small Articles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1890--Accepted, 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Printing Envelopes and other
Small Articles.
We, FRANCIS CONST BARKER and ROBERT FRITH SPROULE, both of Denmark
Street, Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to further improvements in that class of printing machine
described in the specifications of Letters Patent Nos. 3707 of 1874 and 5802 of 1885,
for the purpose of printing with two or more colours.
The improvements consist essentially in a revolving or movable cylinder or its
equivalent, with reciprocating motion with two sets of type, placed at intervals round
its periphery, and a corresponding number of sets of inking rollers, by means of which
the printing surface is inked at each successive movement of the cylinder. It need
not, however, necessarily be cylindrical in shape, as various other shaped equivalents
may be used.
In carrying out the invention, the cylinder or its equivalent is pivoted in a fraine,
so as to be capable of revolving about its centre. In bearings in this frame are
also carried the inking rollers, which revolve on their own centres, but without
any movement about the centre of the cylinder. The cylinder or its equivalent is
provided with die or type at two points in its circumference, preferably diametrically
opposed to each other.
It receives a vertical reciprocating motion from treadle or other lever, and a move-
ment round its axis from a handle affixed to it, and operated by the attendant, or by
means of a lever, or parallel or other link motion connected to it, or from a rack at
the side of the frame and a pinion on the end of the cylinder shaft. A stop or catch
fixed to the framing or bearing prevents it moving more than the required distance to
bring the printing surface into proper position, and holds it in position until the
completion of the vertical stroke. The movement of the cylinder on its axis
will be reciprocating, so that each die may always pass under the same inking
rollers.
The blanks to be printed are placed on the table of the machine and held in position
by guides. They are printed with one colour at each stroke of the machine, and
as soon as they receive all the colours, are removed, and the next one is operated
upon.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Printing Envelopes and other
Small Articles.
We, FRANCIS CONST, BARKER and ROBERT FRITH SPROULE, both of Denmark
Street, Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland, 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-printing machines, and inore especially to small machines of
the kind described in the specifications of Letters Patent Nos. 3707 of 1874 and 5802
of 1885 and which are applicable for printing monograms, crests or other small
devices upon envelopes, note paper, cards, labels, or the like. The object of the
invention is to produce a simple and cheap machine of this kind which shall be able

page_text: to print such devices in two colours in perfect register, and which may be worked
rapidly either by hand or other power.
The invention consists essentially of an impression cylinder, prism, or its equivalent,
having two impression blocks or their equivalent, each placed, by preference, at
diametrically opposite points on its periphery, and each arranged to be inked with
its own proper colour by a relatively stationary roller or set of rollers which
bears upon a certain portion of the periphery of the cylinder, such cylinder being
capable of two movements, one, a reciprocatory movement bodily (in common with
the inking rollers) to and from a table supporting the blanks and in a direction
perpendicular to the cylinder axis, for the purpose of effecting the printing
operation, and the other, a movement about its axis, for the purpose of bringing
each impression block successively into the printing position, and for simultaneously
inking the device on such block with its own particular colour by bringing it
into contact with its respective ink roller or rollers.
In the drawings :—
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and
Figure 2 a side elevation of the machine, only such parts of the entire machine
being shown as are necessary to fully describe and ascertain the nature of the present
invention and to enable the same to be carried into effect by a person skilled in
the art.
Figure 3 is a section of a portion of the machine, taken on line xx, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 3, showing a cam arrangement for preventing
the two inks from overlapping on the cylinder.
Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 4, showing another modification.
A, is an overhanging standard which is mounted upon a table or bedplate A¹, this
again being supported in any suitable manner at a convenient height for the operator.
The blanks a are placed upon the table A¹ and held in position by suitable guides a'.
B is a cylinder or prism, or other body of suitable shape in cross section having its
sides parallel to its axis, such part being hereinafter called the "impression cylinder."
It is fixed upon a horizontal shaft b which is capable of oscillating in bearings within
a forked frame C. The latter is attached to or formed in one with a slide or
plunger C, which is capable of being reciprocated in or upon vertical guides C² on
the standard A. The slide C', the impression cylinder B, and the frame C, and parts
supported thereby as hereinafter described, are held normally in their highest position
by a suitable counter-balancing device such as a spiral spring c, which is inserted
between the top of the standard A and the cross-head c¹ of the slide or an adjusting
screw c² therein. The spring is retained in position by a sliding stem c³, which has a
collar cat its upper end, adapted to abut against the upper end of the spring, the
lower end of the stem being adapted to slide within a hole c³ in the top of the
standard A. The tension of the spring may be adjusted by the set screw c²
aforesaid.
B1, B2, are two sets of type, or two stereos, blocks, dies, or equivalent devices
hereinafter called "impression blocks," which are secured to or otherwise attached to
or formed upon the periphery of the impression cylinder B, preferably at two
diametrically opposite points. When the blocks are formed of separate pieces, they
may be secured to the cylinder in any suitable manner, such as by being let into
dovetail recesses therein, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
At each side of the cylinder B, there is mounted one or more inking rollers D DI,
which are capable of revolving about their own axes, by reason of their contact with
the cylinder as hereinafter described, but have no movement bodily about the axis of
the cylinder. The rollers D D' are mounted in suitable bearings d in the forked
frame C, and partake of the vertical reciprocatory movement of the cylinder and
frame. The rollers are held in yielding contact with the periphery of the cylinder
and the type by springs or elastic bands d' connected with the outer ends of the
rollers as seen in Figure 2, and each roller or set of rollers is supplied with ink of
a different colour or shade. The ink may simply be placed from time to time
upon the cylinder with a palette knife, being distributed thereon and conveyed to

page_text: the type, as hereinafter described, by the rollers, or it may be conveyed indirectly to
the surface of the cylinder or rollers by any well known distributing arrangement.
The impression cylinder and its frame may be reciprocated by any suitable
mechanism, worked either by hand, foot, or other power. In the arrangement shown
in the drawings, a lever E is pivoted at one end as at e to the slide C, and at the
other end el it is jointed to a connecting rod E' which is connected with any suitable
treadle device (not shown) preferably in such a manner that a downward pressure on
the treadle effects the downward stroke of the cylinder. E is a short link which
supports the lever pivot 2 in such a movable manner as will permit the forward end
of the lever to partake of the rectilinear movement of the slide C1.
A pinion or hand wheel F is fixed on one end of the cylinder shaft b, for the.
purpose of enabling the operator to oscillate the cylinder and bring each of the
impression blocks B¹ B alternately into position for printing. Any suitable device
inay be employed for holding the cylinder exactly in its two printing positions. In
the drawings, Figures 1 and 3, there is shown for this purpose a pointed spring stop G
which is mounted on the frame C, and is adapted to enter one or other of the holes
or indentations g located at opposite points on the cylinder end.
One of the two blocks B¹ B' bears in relief only that portion of the device which
is to be printed in one of the two colours employed, the remaining portion of the
device being borne by the other block, and the two portions are so arranged with
respect to each other that they print in exact register. It will be obvious, however,
that certain parts of the devices on the two blocks may overlap one another, if
desired.
It will be seen that when two different colours are employed, say, for instance, blue
and red, the blue is distributed, say by the roller D, over one half of the circum-
ference of the cylinder including one of the impression blocks, say B', while the red
is distributed by the roller D¹ upon the other half of the cylinder including the other
block B2. To prevent the blue roller from overlapping the red colour on the
adjacent half cylinder-or the red roller the blue colour-when the cylinder is in,
or is approaching, either of its printing positions, as in Figures 2, 3 and 4, we
provide a suitable cam arrangement which oscillates with the cylinder, and by means
of which the rollers are lifted off the surface of the cylinder at the proper moment.
The details of such cam arrangement will vary according to the number of rollers
employed in each set, that is, for each colour. Where only one roller is employed
for each colour, as in the machine shown, we provide each end of the cylinder or
its shaft with two cam-pieces 61, Figure 4, of a suitable width and placed diametri-
cally opposite each other. As the cylinder, in its oscillation, approaches either of its
printing positions, the cam-pieces 61 engage the roller shafts d², or suitable bosses or
collars thereon, and lift the rollers out of contact with the cylinder, in which position
they are held until the cylinder is turned in the reverse direction.
Instead of the above cam arrangement, the cylinder may simply be cut away at
two opposite sides, as shown at 62, Figure 5, to such a depth that the rollers, even
when their shafts are resting against the inner ends of their bearings, do not come in
contact with the cylinder in the position indicated.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The pile of blanks a having been adjusted upon the table A1 and held in position
by the dogs or guides a¹, the cylinder and ink rollers are supplied with inks of the
colours required and the cylinder is then oscillated a few times by the wheel F
through an angle sufficient to distribute the inks upon its surface. The cylinder is
then turned through half a revolution, say, in the direction of the arrow, whereby.
the device on its blocks B1 B2 is inked by their respective rollers D D' and that on
the block B is brought into the printing position, being held therein by a spring
stop G. The cylinder is now depressed by means of the treadle device or its
equivalent, and the inked device on the block B' is brought down on to the upper-
most blank. On releasing the treadle, the cylinder rises by means of the spring c to
the top of its stroke. During its ascent or descent or while it is at the top of its
stroke, the cylinder is again turned as before through a half revolution, but in an

page_text: opposite direction, so that the devices on the blocks B1 B2 are inked as before by
their respective rollers D D', and that on the block B is brought into the printing
position. The cylinder is again brought down upon the blank and again released.
The top blank is now removed, the cylinder again turned in a reverse direction, and
the above cycle of operations repeated as often as required.
Instead of oscillating the cylinder directly by means of the wheel F,
oscillated by the following mechanism :-
it may
be
A swinging frame F¹ is suspended by its upper end upon a pivot f carried by
the standard A, its lower end being provided with a handle f. The two vertical
sides of the frame are each provided on their opposing inner faces with a rack of
a length approximately equal to half the circumference of the pinion F. When the
frame is hanging freely, neither of these racks can gear with the pinion during its
vertical reciprocatory movement. On the completion of each downward (or upward)
stroke, of the cylinder, the operator swings the frame to one side or the other, so.
that the proper rack will come into gear with the pinion F during the succeeding up
(or down) stroke and turn the cylinder in the right direction to bring the
blocks B B into contact with their respective inking rollers D D¹. On the
completion of the following down (or up) stroke, the operator swings the frame F¹ in
the opposite direction, so as to bring the other rack into gear during the next up (or
down) stroke.
It will be obvious that the cylinder could, however, be oscillated independently of
any action of the operator,-except by the working of the treadle or its equivalent―
by means of a suitable automatic device.
If the machine be employed with an arrangement of inking rollers and movable
table such as described in the specification of Letters Patent No. 5802 of 1885, it
may be adapted to print devices with three or more shades or colours.
It will be obvious that, instead of reciprocating the cylinder to and from the
blanks, the table supporting the latter could be reciprocated to and from the
cylinder for the same purpose, namely, to effect the impression.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a printing machine, an impression cylinder bearing at two diagonally
opposite points of its periphery two different portions of the device to be printed,
such portions being each adapted to receive ink of a different shade or colour and to
print in exact register one with the other, and the said cylinder being capable of
two movements, one a movement about its axis for adjusting each of said portions
alternately in the printing position, and the other a reciprocatory movement as a
whole in a direction perpendicular to its axis for the purpose of effecting each
successive impression, substantially as described.
2. In a printing machine, the combination with a table for supporting the blanks,
having a device for holding the same in their correct position for printing, and a
reversible carrier bearing on two of its sides two different portions of the device to
be printed, such portions being each adapted to receive ink of a different shade or
colour and to print in exact register one with the other; of means for reversing said
carrier and for adjusting and holding it with each portion of said device alternately
facing the blanks, and means for impartiug a reciprocating motion to said cylinder
(or table) and thereby causing the lower portion of the printing device to come, at
each alternate stroke, in contact with the top blank, substantially as described.
3. In a printing inachine, the combination with a table supporting the blanks and
means for holding the latter in position, of a reversible impression cylinder mounted
upon a reciprocating frame and bearing at two diagonally opposite points of its
periphery two different portions of the device to be printed, each adapted to print in
exact register with the other; means for reciprocating said cylinder and frame as a
whole to and from the blanks; two inking rollers or sets of inking rollers mounted
on the said frame in contact with two opposite sides of the cylinder respectively,

page_text: said two rollers or sets of rollers being adapted to be supplied respectively with two
different kinds of ink as described, and being so arranged with respect to the
cylinder that the two inks thereon shall not overlap each other; means for turning
the cylinder upon its axis through half a revolution during each reciprocation of
the cylinder and alternately in either direction, whereby the two portions of the said
device are brought into contact with their respective inking rollers and alternately
placed in the printing position; and an arrangement for holding the cylinder
securely in position with either portion of said device opposite the blanks,
substantially as described.
4. In a printing machine, a reversible reciprocating impression cylinder such as
described, bearing at two diagonally opposite points of its periphery two different
portions of the device to be printed, each adapted to print in exact register with the
other; and two inking rollers or sets of inking rollers, mounted on the reciprocating
cylinder frame in contact with two opposite sides of the cylinder respectively and
adapted to be supplied with two different kinds of ink as described; in combination
with a pinion movable synchronously with the cylinder shaft; a pair of racks
adapted alternately to engage opposite sides of said pinion during each alternate
stroke of the reciprocating cylinder frame and to turn the cylinder through half a
revolution alternately in opposite directions, so that each portion of said device
comes in contact with the roller or rollers carrying the ink of the shade or colour in
which it is to be printed; and means for holding the cylinder securely in position
upon its frame with either portion of its device directly opposite the blanks,
substantially as described.
4711 1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, and London, Patent Agents.