IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING IN COLORS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
.
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING IN COLORS."-A com.
munication from abroad by Elie Gaiffe, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 13th March 1874, and dated the 23rd October 1873.
PROVISIONAĻ SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd October 1873.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING IN
COLORS," to be as follows:
-
This Invention relates to improved cylinder machinery for printing
typographically in several colors at one time on continuous paper. The
machine is applicable for producing colored illustrations generally, and
for printing labels and headings, and may both as regards speed and
economy be employed with advantage as a substitute for the chromo
process usually employed in color printing.

page_text: The chief features of improvement consist in the combination in ono
machine of as many engraved printing cylinders as there are colors in
the subject to be reproduced, printing simultaneously on continuous
paper. Also in the special mechanical means employed to ensure the
perfect "register" of the colors.
Each printing cylinder is provided with a series of ductor distributing
and inking rollers; and the impression is produced by means of cylinders
of copper or other metal engraved in relief cither by hand or preferably
in the following manner :-The design is first drawn with a pen in black
ink to the scale desired or to an enlarged scale, the design for each color
being drawn separately, and then by the aid of photography a proof is
obtained either on the same or a reduced scale which serves for pro-
ducing a steel plate in relief by a heliographic process. The plate thus
obtained is then touched up with a graver and hardened. Then by
means of the clamming machine used in engraving cylinders for calico
printing a counterpart is obtained on a steel roller by the aid of which
the engraved design may be reproduced on the printing cylinder. The
cost of engraving by this method is very trifling as compared with hand
work, which would render it impossible to complete with chromo-
lithography, especially if a few copies only are required,. when it is
necessary to reduce the expense of engraving as much as possible.
The accompanying Drawing shows a portion of a machine for printing
in three colors, although it may be made to print a fewer or a greater
number of colors.
.
The machine is composed of two side frames firmly bolted to a cast-
iron base; these frames carry the cylinders and also the whole system
of inking rollers, while other frames fixed to the former carry the ink
fountains. These latter frames are made detachable, being secured by
four nuts only, so that they may be readily removed for cleaning, which
is necessary every time the color is changed. The pressure cylinder A
is mounted to turn freely in brasses at the centre of the main framing,
and carries an endless web K either of paper, or some close fabric, or
india-rubber, the tension of which is regulated by a roller and screw
adjustment. -
The engraved cylinders B, C, D, are mounted in bearings in the.
manner herein-after described, and are caused to rotate in contact with
cylinder A by a toothed wheel keyed on the shaft of the latter, gearing

page_text: with three toothed wheels of similar diameter keyed one on the axis of
each of the engraved cylinders; these cylinders which may be of copper,
bronze, or other metal, are each engraved in relief, and receive ink from
the three inking rollers. a, b, c, made of gelatine or india-rubber, above
which are two brass distributing rollers ; receiving an endwise move-
ment to and fro from cams on their axes for the purpose of equalizing.
the color on the inking rollers a, b, c. Above these distributing rollers
is placed a principal feed roller g of gelatine or india-rubber, which is
supplied with color by another feed roller h from a vibrating roller e
also of gelatine, supplied in its turn from a steel ductor roller i engraved
with very fine deep grooves in which the ink is deposited, the superfluous
ink being removed by a gauge r in contact with the ductor roller i; the
gauge is mounted in the ink fountain t, t, one portion of which is
removable, and all three parts are fixed together by small bolts.
The supply of ink is regulated by causing the vibrating roller e to
bear with greater or less pressure on the ductor or fountain roller i.
Each set of inking rollers for the several engraved cylinders is carried
on a movable support d, d, sliding on a bar fixed inside the framing of
the machine, so that the same may be readily removed for cleaning
when the color is changed.
-The paper
The impressions are produced in the following manner :-)
which is wound on a drum, not shown, passes round the guide roller m,
and thence to the pressure cylinder A where it receives successive
impressions from cylinders B, C, D, after which it is wound on another
drum receiving motion from the cylinder A by a band..
In order that the three cylinders may "register" exactly their bearings
are made adjustable, the arrangement being shown in the Drawing as
applied to cylinder B only, to avoid complication. For this purpose the
bearing block F is pivoted to a slide G, the vertical adjustment being
effected by means of screws H, I, and it is moved laterally by means of
a screw acting in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. The adjust-
ment in the circular direction is effected by making the boss of the
toothed wheel which drives each cylinder in two parts, the one part
being fitted to turn on the other which is fixed to the shaft.
parts are secured together by means of two screws, by loosening one of
which and tightening the other the cylinder may be caused to rotate to
The two

page_text: a sufficient extent to bring the engraved surface into the required
position.
The levers in use in ordinary printing machines are also dispensed
with, and as a substitute therefor the support G is hollowed out to receive
an india-rubber cushion × or spiral spring whereby the desired clastic
pressure is obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licenco
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING IN COLORS," a communication
to me from abroad by Elie Gaiffe, of Paris, France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the two accompanying
Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):-
This Invention relates to improved cylinder machinery for printing
typographically in several colors at one time on continuous paper. Tho
machine is applicable for producing colored illustrations generally, and
for printing labels and headings; and may both as regards speed and
economy be employed with advantage as a substitute for the chromo
process usually employed in color printing.
The chief features of improvement consist in the combination in onė
machine of as many engraved printing cylinders as there are colors in
the subject to be reproduced, printing in the manner of type cylinders
simultaneously on continuous paper, also in the special mechanical
means employed to ensure the accurate" register" of the colors..
Each printing cylinder is provided with a series of ductor, distributing,
and inking rollers, and the impression is produced by means of cylinders
of copper or other metal engraved in relief either by hand or preferably
in the following manner:-The design is first drawn with a pen in black
ink to the scale desired or to an enlarged scale, the design for each color
being drawn separately, and then by the aid of photography a proof is
obtained either on the same or reduced scale, which serves for pro-
ducing a steel plate in relief by a heliographic process. The plate thus
obtained is then touched up with a graver and hardened. Then by
means of the clamming machine used in engraving cylinders for calico
printing a counterpart is obtained on a steel roller, which in turn serves
to reproduce the engraved design on the printing cylinder. The cost of
engraving by this method is very trifling as compared with hand work,
which would render it impossible to compete with chromo-lithography,
especially if a few copies only are required, when it is necessary to
reduce the expense of engraving as much as possible.
The accompanying Drawings show a machine for printing in three
colors, althrough it may be made to print a fewer or a greater number of
colors; the features of novelty consisting, first, in the means employed
for obtaining a ready adjustment of the cylinders in any direction, this

page_text: being an indispensable condition in printing in differient colors; 2ndly,
in the combination and arrangement of parts all conducing to the same
practical result.
Figure 1 is a transverse section of the machine; and Figure 2, a part
sectional sectional front clevation of same. The same letters of reference
apply to both Figures.
The machine is composed of two side frames firmly bolted to a cast-
iron base; these frames carry the cylinders and also the whole system
of inking rollers, while other frames fixed to the former carry the ink
fountains; these latter frames are made detachable, being secured by 1
four nuts only so that they may be readily removed for cleaning, which
is necessary every time the color is changed. The pressure cylinder A
is mounted to turn freely in brasses at the centre of the main framing,
and carries an endless web K, either of paper, or some close fabric, or
india-rubber, the tension of which is regulated by a screw V and roller P
mounted in bearings N working in slots at the lower part of the
framing.
The engraved cylinders B, C, D, are mounted in bearings in the manner
herein-after described, and are caused to rotate in contact with cylinder
A by a toothed wheel keyed on the shaft of the latter, gearing with three
toothed wheels of equal diameter keyed one on the axes of each of the
engraved cylinders; these cylinders, which may be of copper or other
metal, are each engraved in relief, and receive ink from the three inking
rollers a, b, c, made of gelatine or india-rubber, above which are two brass
distributing rollers J, each receiving an endwise to-and-fro movement
from a cum (Figure 2) on its axis for the purpose of equalizing the
color on the inking rollers a, b, c; above these distributing rollers is
placed a principal feed roller g, of gelatine or india-rubber, which is
supplied with color by another feed roller / from a vibrating roller e,
also of gelatine, supplied in its turn from a steel ductor roller i engraved
with very close deep grooves in which the ink is deposited, the
superfluous ink being removed by a gauge r in contact with the ductor
roller; the gauge r is mounted in the ink fountain t, t, one portion of
which is removable, and all three parts are fixed together by small
bolts.
11

page_text: Each set of inking rollers for the several engraved cylinders is carried
on a movable support d, d, sliding on a barf fixed inside the framing of:
the machine, so that the same may be readily removed for cleaning
when the color is changed.
The paper
The impressions are produced in the following manner :-
which is wound on a drum T passes round the guide roller m, and thence
to the pressure cylinder A, where it receives successive impressions from
cylinders B, C, D, after which it is wound on another drum S, receiving
motion from the cylinder A by a band. One or more tappets may be
provided on the fountain rollers i to press back the vibrating rollers e
and cause an intermittent distribution of the ink, the quantity being.
regulated according to the number of tappets employed.
1
In order that the three cylinders may accurately "register" their
bearings are made adjustable, the arrangement being shown in the
Drawing as applied to cylinder B only, to avoid complication. For this
purpose the bearing block F is pivoted to a slide G, the vertical adjust-
ment being effected by means of screws H, I, and it is moved laterally
by means of a screw K, Figure 2, acting in the longitudinal direction of
the shaft. The adjustment in the circular direction is effected by making
the boss of the toothed wheel R, Figure 2, which drives each cylinder in
two parts, the one part being fitted to turn on the other which is fixed
on the shaft; the two parts are secured together by means of two screws
L, M, by loosening one of which and tightening the other the cylinder
may be caused to rotate to a sufficient extent to bring the engraved
surface into the required position.
The levers in use in ordinary printing machines are also dispensed
with, and as a substitute therefor the support G is hollowed out to
receive an india-rubber cushion X or spiral spring, whereby the elasticity
of pressure is obtained.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The combination of a number of engraved cylinders, each supplied
with ink of a color different to the rest by a series of inking, distributing,
and feed rollers, said engraved cylinders being geared together and
arranged for printing typographically in several colors at one time on
continuous paper, all as herein-before shown and described.

page_text: 2ndly. The means of obtaining a ready adjustment and so ensuring
an accurate "register" of the impression cylinders, whereby the colors
on their engraved surfaces may be applied in the required positions on
the surface of the continuous paper, the vertical adjustment being
obtained by means of bearing blocks F pivoted in slides G, the longi-
tudinal adjustment by screws K, and a circular adjustment by means of
toothed wheel R, whose boss is formed in two parts, the one fixed on the
shaft of the cylinder, and the other loose upon it, substantially as herein
shown and described.
3rdly. The employment of a fountain roller i having grooves or lines
engraved on its surface which become filled with ink, the supply being
regulated by a gauge, all as herein-before described. .
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-four.