Year: 1897

page_text: FRANCIS JOHN ROBSON, of Dartmouth Square, West Bromwich, Master Printer,
and CHARLES WILLIAM GREEN, of 24, Florence Road, West Bromwich, Printer's
Machine Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is a new and improved method of printing two or more colours
at one impression.
The usual plan adopted for printing two or more colours at one impression is
to set the distributing rollers at right angles to the direction of motion of the
machine instead of one being at an angle greater than a right angle and another
at an angle less than a right angle as in one colour work. The objection to this
is that the ink is imperfectly distributed.
Distributing rollers consist of an iron or steel rod or stock which is clothed for
the whole of its length except a few inches at each end with a thick casing of
some elastic material or composition, which comes in contact with the ink and
distributes it upon the slab. By cutting away portions of this elastic composition
so as to leave a part of the stock naked between each of the colours, it is possible
with the rollers in ordinary use and set at the usual angles, to print two or more
colours at one impression, but the cutting away makes the rollers useless except
for the job for which they were cut.
Our invention consists in a series of metal tubes of various lengths which slide
on to the unclothed roller stocks and are provided with a screw to fix them firmly
in any desired position. These tubes we cover with elastic composition leaving the
screws exposed.
We adapt the same principle to rollers for lithographic machines to duct rollers
and to all rollers for printing purposes to which the principle may be applied.
Dated this 27th day of January 1897.
We, FRANCIS JOHN ROBSON, of Dartmouth Square, West Bromwich, in the
County of Stafford, Printer, and CHARLES WILLIAM GREEN, of Florence Road,
Price 8d.]

page_text: West Bromwich, aforesaid, Printer, 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 consists of the herein described new or improved adjustable
colour roller by which we are enabled to print two or more colours at one
impression.
'
.
The usual plan adopted for printing two or more colours at one impression is to
set the distributing rollers at right angles to the direction of motion of the
machine instead of one being at an angle greater than a right angle and another
at an angle less than a right angle as in one colour work. The objection to this
is that the ink is imperfectly distributed.
"
Ordinary distributing rollers consist of an iron or steel rod or stock
which is clothed for the whole of its length except a few inches
at each end with a thick casing of some elastic material or composition
which comes in contact with the, ink and distributes it upon a slab. By cutting
away portions of this elastic composition so as to leave a part of the stock
naked between each of the colours, it is possible with the rollers in ordinary
use and set at the usual angles, to print two or more colours at one impression
but the cutting away makes the roller useless except for the job for which they
were cut.
Our invention consists in a series of any desired number of metal tubes of various
lengths which slide on to the unclothed roller stock and are each provided with a
screw to fix them firmly in any desired position on the roller stock. These tubes
we cover with the elastic composition leaving the screws exposed so that they
can readily be turned as by a screw driver.
On the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is an adjustable colour roller constructed
in accordance with this Invention; Fig. 2 shews a part of the same in longitudinal
section and Fig. 3 shews separately in longitudinal section and in end elevation
one of the adjustable metal tubes of the colour rollen covered with the elastic com-
position.
A is the naked roller stock and C1 C2 C3 C4 are four metal tubes of various
lengths and of the proper internal diameter to slide on to the roller stock A. and
each provided with a small screw d near one end for fixing the tube in any desired
position. The elastic composition coverings of the tubes C1 C2 C3 C4 are respectively
marked B1 B2 B3 B4. Each of these can distribute a different colour or black and
a colour or colours alternately. By slackening the screws d one or more of the
elastic composition covered tubes C1 C2 C3 C4 can be moved along the roller stock A
and fixed in any desired position or can be removed and replaced by a longer or
shorter tube according to the width and the position of the colour or colours on the
job which is being printed.
We construct adjustable colour rollers for lithographic printing machines and
duct rollers and any other colour rollers for printing purposes similarly as above
described.
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. The improved adjustable colour roller for printing machines consist-
ing of the unclothed roller stock A provided with two or more elastic
composition covered metal tubes such as C adjustable along said roller
stock and each secured thereon by a set screw d so as to be fixed in any desired
position all substantially as herein before set forth with reference to the accompany-
ing drawing.
2. In or for an adjustable colour roller for printing machines the employment
of a series of short tubes such as C adapted to fit on a roller stock and each covered
with elastic composition such as B₁ extending almost to one end and provided at

page_text: that end with a fixing screw such as d substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 26th day of October 1897.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.