An Improved Machine for Printing in Colours.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Printing in Colours.
I, LOUIS CHAMBON of 16 Rue Drouot, Paris in the Republic of France,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
My invention has for its object a machine enabling any suitable impression to be
made in any desired number of colours, and is characterised by the combination,
with an arrangement of feed rollers placed on the head of the machine, of an
arrangement of tension or drawing rollers and a cutting apparatus placed at the
point of discharge, and impression apparatuses placed between the feeding rollers
and the drawing rollers, the number of said impression apparatuses being absolutely
unlimited and equal to the number of colours comprised in the impression. All
these different parts are carried by two longitudinal shafts operated the one by the
other, one of said shafts carrying the driving pulley and the flywheel and the other
a system of worm wheels intended for operating the different apparatuses of the
machine grouped in series on a table of suitable length

page_text: being fixed in place, which is indispensable at least for the front cheek which must
be removed at each change in the size of paper.
The central spindle is operated from the principal shaft by means of worm
gearings, and a double system of regulation by slides and screws enables such a
position to be given to the cylinder mounted on the spindle as may be required for
causing it to fit in with other smaller apparatuses.
The spindle has a flange or collar at one end provided with a pin or stud which
engages in and carries with it the impression cylinder whilst ensuring its exact
position at each mounting and dismounting.
The pressure between the cylinders is obtained as in the feeding apparatus by
means of a system of levers and screws which may be caused to rest on an elastic
block or support in order to give more spring to the pressure.
The upper cylinder which receives its movement from the central cylinder by
means of toothed gearing acts as an inking table and receives a reciprocating
movement which is imparted to it by a pin which runs constantly on a lateral
cam face of a collar on the spindle being kept in engagement by spring pressure.
The difference or relation between gearings (which operate the spindle and
which reciprocate the cylinder by means of the pin) imparts to the spindle a
different rate of movement to that of the cylinder so that the displacement of this
cylinder only takes place at the same points.
Two gelatine rollers mounted on axles which slide in levers take ink from the
inking table and convey it on to the stone or engraving. Two springs force the
rollers to constantly bear on the travelling tracks in such a way as to regulate
the impression of the gelatine rollers on the stone.
The upper cylinder receives ink from two rollers and a third roller transfers to
them ink which a roller oscillating on arms takes from an ink roller in order to
bring it to the ink transferring roller by contact with the latter. A roller which
similarly to the inking rollers is mounted on an axle sliding freely in grooves
spreads in a uniform manner the ink which the "table" has received.
The roller revolving between centres fixed in levers forms with the latter and
their axis a frame which is operated by a roller and cam, the latter thus imparts
in its rotation a reciprocating movement to the said roller similar to that of the
cylinder, a movement which enables this roller to equalize the ink which it deposits
on the inking rollers.
The transferring roller is operated by a cam and roller mounted in a support
which also holds a pawl serving to operate a ratchet wheel mounted on the upper
inking roller which revolves in an ink trough.
The regulation of the touch or pressure of the transferring roller on the cylinder
is obtained by means of a screw bearing on a little lever rigidly fixed together
with the roller carrying lever on the one axis in such a way that the two levers
only form so to speak a single one.
In order to clean the inking rollers and cylinder, the upper parts of the cheeks
which are connected by two ties or bars bearing pins allow the part which has been
dismounted to be replaced exactly in its correct position.
A screw acting on a stop fixed in the table allows (by means of slides in
the sole or bed plate) the position of the printing apparatuses to be regulated
laterally.
When the machine is to execute lithographic work, that is to say when the
central roller is a roller made of lithographic stone it is of importance to be able
to wash this roller at will. I employ for this purpose a damping apparatus which is
composed of an arrangement carried by the axle of the lever which carries the
touching ink-rollers. This arrangement comprises a trough filled with water in
which a damping or moistening cylinder in contact with the aforesaid cylinder
revolves. The trough is fed by a flask or vessel, the neck and mouth of which
are reversed and inserted into the liquid and maintains the level of the latter
coustaut. This flask or vessel is connected by a screw stopper with the box casing
which allows of its being easily replaced.

page_text: III. DRAWING APPARATUS.
This apparatus which presents a great analogy to the feeding apparatus is
composed essentially of two cylinders, the first of which has a slightly larger
diameter than that of the cylinder of the feed so as to give a constant tension to
the paper; it receives its movement from the shaft by means of worm gearings.
The pressure of the cylinder can be regulated by means of levers and screws.
The principal part of this apparatus is the knife fixed on an oscillating rod. It
bears constantly under spring pressure against a counter-knife or a guide which is
a vertical prolongation of the edge of the knife. This knife is operated by a rod
hinged on a lever and by a crank wheel.
A slide piece serves for modifying the relation of speed of the shafts by means of
gearing of variable diameters and thus permits the length fed by the cylinders to
be cut into various sizes.
Further, circular knives and corresponding counter-knives may be placed on
shafts at suitable points in order to cut the printed matter into a number of
corresponding bands.
A plate fixed on a lever which is operated by a cam and a roller extends across
the whole width and, during the cutting, presses the paper onto fixed grips which.
are regulated in such a way as to touch the unprinted parts.
Small indiarubber rollers resting on a cylinder wider than the paper and
revolving at a superior speed to that of the cylinders of the feeding apparatus bring
back the loop formed by the paper during the cutting.
The cut sheets fall on to a table sliding in a box, the sides of which are
adjustable. The table is mounted on a support capable of sliding freely on a screw
which is operated by a wheel and an endless screw. A nut hinged on the axis
produces the regular descent of the table carrying the sheets; the disengaging
or releasing of this nut allows the support to be displaced without the aid of the
screw.
The
A counting wheel mounted on a sleeve is operated by wheels and a screw.
setting back to zero is obtained by means of a lever fixed on an eccentric sleeve
the displacement of the lever releases the counting wheel, and thus allows the latter
to be returned to any desired position.
THE DRIVING OF THE MACHINE.
The driving of the machine is effected by means of two longitudinal shafts
carrying as has been already herein before stated the one the driving pulley and
the flywheel, and the other the worm wheels intended for operating the different
apparatuses of the machine. The driving pulley is a friction pulley; the engaging
ond diconcocina
therefore be affected in on instantaneous manner by means
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents.

page_text: An improved machine for Printing in Colours.
I, LOUIS CHAMBON of 16, Rue Drouot, Paris in the Republic of France,
Mechanical 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 :-
My invention has for its object a machine euabling any suitable impression to
be made in any desired number of colours, and is characterised by the combination,
with an arrangement of feed rollers placed on the head of the machine, of an
arrangement of tension or drawing rollers and a cutting apparatus placed at the
point of discharge, and impression apparatuses placed between the feeling rollers
and the drawing rollers, the number of said impression apparatuses being absolutely
unlimited and equal to the number of colours comprised in the impression. All
these different parts are carried by two longitudinal shafts operated the one by the
other, one of said shafts carrying the driving pulley and the flywheel and the other
a system of worm wheels intended for operating the different apparatuses of the
machine grouped in series on a table of suitable length..
In order to facilitate the comprehension of the description, I will now refer to
the accompanying drawings, in which are shown as an example views of the
apparatus.
Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views in side elevation and plan respectively
of the whole of the machine ;
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively sectional views on the lines C-D of Figure 4
and A-B of Figure 3 of the distributing apparatus ;
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively sectional views on the lines G-H of Figure 6
and E-F of Figure 5 of any of the impression apparatuses;
Figure 7 is a section showing the mode of operation of the drawing levers and
inking cylinder;
Figure 8 a damping arrangement for use in printing lithographs ;
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a section on the line -J, Figure 10, and a
plan view of the cutting apparatus;
Figure 11 is a section on the line K-L of Figure 9.
The machine is composed of a table on which are grouped the different parts of
the machine as shown diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 2, namely I, the feeding
apparatus, II the several impression apparatuses, III the tension or drawing
apparatuses, IV the cutting apparatus.
The paper which is to be printed is placed on a spool or roll and is mounted on
a spindle A, provided with a brake which may be regulated by means of a rod B
and adjustable screw knob b. The paper passes between the rollers C C' of the
feeding apparatus I which have a diameter suited to the length of the sheet which
is to be printed and cut, then between the cylinders D D', E E, F F¹ and so forth
of the different printing or impressing apparatuses II, and from thence between the
cylinders G G of the drawing apparatus III, and finally into the cutting
apparatus IV from whence it passes into the receiving box I.

page_text: 11. THE IMPRESSING APPARATUS (Figures 0, 6 and 7).
The principal parts of this apparatus are two cheeks T¹ mounted on a sole plate S¹
to which they are connected by screws V₁ and pins v ensuring in a perfect manner
their being fixed in place, which is indispensable, at least for the front cheek, which
must be removed at each change in the size of paper.
The central spindle R is operated from the main shaft J' by means of worm
gearings, and a double system of regulation by slides and screws j³ enables
such a position to be given to the cylinder mounted on the spindle as may be
required for causing it to fit in with other similar apparatuses.
The spindle R has a flange or collar r at one end provided with a pin or stud U
which engages in and carries with it the impression cylinder D' whilst ensuring
its exact position at each mounting and dismounting.
The pressure between the cylinders D and D is obtained as in the feeding
apparatus by means of a system of levers c and screws c10 which may be caused to
rest on an elastic block or support in order to give more spring to the pressure.
The upper cylinder D which receives its movement from the central cylinder D'
by means of toothed gearing d d d² and d³ acts as an inking table and receives a
reciprocating movement which is imparted to it by a pin 1, which runs constantly
on a lateral cam face R2 of a collar on the spindle R', being kept in engagement by
the pressure of a spring r².
The difference or relation between the gearings d and those d' which operate the
spindle and others d³ (which reciprocate the cylinder D by means of the pin r¹)
imparts to the spindle R' a different rate of movement to that of the cylinder D²
so that the displacement of this cylinder never takes place at the same points.
Two gelatine rollers D³ and D* mounted on axles and ¹ which slide in
levers ZZ take ink from the inking table and convey it on to the stone or
engraving. Two springs 223 force the rollers 2 to constantly bear on the travelling
tracks in such a way as to regulate the impression of the gelatine rollers on the
stone.
The upper cylinder D' receives ink from two rollers O O¹, and a third roller (³
transfers to them ink which a roller O³ oscillating on arms o takes from an ink
roller O in order to bring it to the ink transferring roller 02 by contact with the
latter. A roller Os, which similarly to the inking rollers O and O', is mounted on
an axle sliding freely in grooves of spreads in a uniform manner the ink which the
"table" D2 has received.
The roller O2 revolving between centres o² fixed in levers L forms with the
latter and their axis la frame, which is operated by a roller and cam 1', the latter
thus imparts in its rotation a reciprocating movement to the said roller 02 similar
to that of the cylinder D2, a movement which enables this roller to equalise the ink
which it deposits on the inking rollers O and O'.
The transferring roller O³ is operated by a cam M and roller m mounted in a
support M' which also holds a pawl m¹ serving to operate a ratchet wheel m
mounted on the upper inking roller O' which revolves in an ink trough m³.
The regulation of the touch or pressure of the transferring roller on the cylinder
is obtained by meaus of a screw m bearing on a little lever m³ rigidly fixed,

page_text: The principal part of this apparatus is the knife H fixed on an oscillating rod h.
It bears constantly under the pressure of a spring K2 against a counter-knife K or
a guide K which latter is a vertical prolongation of the edge of the counter-
knife K. This knife H is operated by a rod ¹ hinged on a lever A2 and by a crank
wheel h³.
A slide piece serves for modifying the relation of speed of the shafts h° and ho
by means of gearing h h h of variable diameters and thus permits the length fed
by the cylinders C C¹ to be cut into various sizes.
Further circular knives H H and corresponding counter-knives H³ and H*,
Figure 11, may be placed on shafts H and Hat suitable points in order to cut
the printed matter into a number of corresponding bands.
A plate N fixed on a lever n, which is operated by a cam n¹ and a roller n
extends across the whole width and, during the cutting, presses the paper onto
fixed grips n which are regulated in such a way as to touch the unprinted parts.
Small indiarubber rollers n' and no resting on a cylinder N° wider than the paper
and revolving at a superior speed to that of the cylinders C C' of the feeding
apparatus bring back the loop formed by the paper during the cutting.
The cut sheets fall on to a table 1' sliding in a box I, the sides of which are
adjustable. The table is mounted on a support i capable of sliding freely on a
screw which is operated by a wheel and an endless screw i³. A nut i hinged
on the axis produces the regular descent of the table carrying the sheets; the
disengaging or releasing of this nut allows the support i to be displaced without
the aid of the screw.
.
A counting wheel W mounted on a sleeve w is operated by wheels w¹ and w³ and
a screw w³. The setting back to zero is obtained by means of a lever wo* fixed on

page_text: TORNGs the counting wheel, ana.
thus allows the latter to be brought to any desired position.
THE DRIVING OF THE MACHINE.
The driving of the machine is effected by means of two longitudinal shafts J
and J carrying, as has been already herein before stated, the one J. the driving
pulley and the flywheel, and the other J' the worm wheels e intended for operating
the different apparatuses of the machine. The driving pulley is a friction pulley;
the engaging and-disengaging can therefore be effected in an instantaneous manner
by means of suitable spring catches y' and y2, Figure 2, and a rod Y running along
the whole length of the machine.
The forms, dimensions, proportions and accessory parts may be suitably varied
without affecting the essential parts of this invention, and any suitable materials.
may be employed for their construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. An improved machine for printing in several colours consisting of the
combination with an arrangement of feed rollers placed on the head of the machine,.
of an arrangement of tension, or drawing rollers and a cutting apparatus placed at
the point of discharge, and impression apparatuses placed between the feeding
rollers and the drawing rollers, all the before mentioned parts being carried by two-
longitudinal shafts operated the one by the other, one of said shafts carrying the
driving pulley and the flywheel, and the other a system of worm wheels for
operating the different apparatuses of the machine grouped in series on a table
of suitable length, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a machine for printing in several colours, a feeding apparatus, consisting
of three cylinders between which the paper or substance to be printed upon passes,.
two of said cylinders having a fixed diameter for a given rate of delivery of the
paper or material to be impressed, and the third acting solely as a pressure roller
by means of an arrangement of levers and pressure screws capable of adjustment
substantially as herein before described and shown as an example in the accom-.
panying drawing.
3. In a machine for printing in several colours, an impressing or printing
apparatus, consisting of the combination of two cheeks between which the
constituent parts of the apparatus are held, one of said cheeks being capable of
removal; and also adjustable by means of slides and pressure screws substantially
as herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a machine for printing in several colours such as described in Claim 3, the
combination with a damping apparatus, more particularly applicable in the case of
lithographic work, said damping apparatus consisting of a roller in contact with.
the printing roller, said damping roller revolving in a trough fed with water by a
suitable device, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
5. In a machine for printing in several colours, a drawing apparatus having
a great analogy to the feeding apparatus, consisting essentially of two cylinders,
one of which is slightly larger in diameter than the feeding cylinders in order to.
produce and constantly maintain a certain tension of the material to be printed or
impressed during its passage through the whole of the different parts of the
machine substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
drawing.
6. In a machine for printing in several colours, an apparatus for cutting the
paper or other material to be impressed, consisting of a transverse kuife mounted
on a variably reciprocating bar in combination with knives and counter-knives for

page_text: effecting the longitudinal cutting of such paper or material and a movable plate
holding the paper in position and pressing it on fixed grips adjusted in such a way
as to ouly touch the imprinted parts of said paper, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown as an example in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 21st day of Auơnst 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.