Improvements in or relating to Printing Machines for Printing in Two or More Colours at One Impression or Operation.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Printing Machines for Printing in
Two or More Colours at One Impression or Operation.
I, THOMAS JOHNSON, of Nantwich, in the County of Chester, Printer and
Stationer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means for printing in different coloured
nks and with one form or frame of type. Hitherto this has usually been done by
setting up the matter for each colour in separate frames of type, placed in one machine,
each frame of type requiring separate inking apparatus.
It consists essentially in distributing the inks of different colours in rings around
the inking rollers and thence transferring it to a width of surface of type corresponding
to the ring, and of a series of ink distributing rollers which receive and deposit the
inks in a series of rings on a cylinder, and a carrying roller to transfer the several inks
as arranged on the cylinder to the type inking rollers.
In carrying out the invention 1 dispense with the ordinary inking apparatus and
substitute therefor a series of rollers to receive and distribute the several inks which
are disposed in stripes or bands preferably round a cylinder. This cylinder is mounted
in a suitable frame or bearing and is preferably made of composition. Above it are
placed bearings to carry two, three, or more rollers which convey the inks to the
cylinder. The rollers above the composition cylinder are preferably all of the same
diameter so as to be interchangeable and are of brass or other suitable material They
are each fitted on a spindle equal in length to the composition cylinder and may be
secured in any position thereon by a setscrew key or other equivalent device The
function of these rollers is to receive each a different coloured ink and deliver it onto
the composition cylinder. As each of these rollers is narrower or shorter than the
cylinder and each touch a different surface the several inks as they are transferred to
the cylinder form rings around it each equal in width to the width of the roller from
which it is transferred. The width of roller employed is equal to the width of type to
be printed in any particular colour. The small rollers may be inked either automati-
cally or by hand, if the latter a small composition roller of ordinary construction may
be used. Where the inks are to be applied automatically as the machine works they
are in the first place placed on a slab or roller the different colours separately. A
small composition roller of somewhat the same construction as the hand inking roller
alternately rolls over the ink and then over the surface of the small roller, by which
the ink is transferred in a ring to the cylinder.
The ink is transferred from the composition cylinder to the rollers which ink the
type by means of a reciprocating carrier roller which as the table of the machine
moves to and fro alternately revolves against the composition cylinder and the type
inking rollers delivering the ink in rings around the latter. The carrier roller is
pivoted to a lever extending from a crank or eccentric moved up and down by means
of an incline or other device on the reciprocating table of the machine.
The invention may be applied either to hand printing presses or to printing machines
of different construction, the several rollers being arranged or disposed as required by
the particular type of machine. In some instances the colours may be transferred by
the small rollers in stripes or bands to a flat surface or slab instead of to a cylinder
the ink being transferred from such surface or slab to the type inking rollers on being
traversed beneath them.
The ink thus being set out in bands or rings on the type inking rollers the type in
the form or frame to the width of one, two, or more letters as required is inked a

page_text: separate colour for each band, thus any number of colours can be printed side by
side from one form of type or stone on 'the same sheet at one operation and
impression.
Dated tho 7th day of Mox 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to Printing Machines for Printing in
Two or More Colours at One Impression or Operation.
I THOMAS JOHNSON, of Nantwich, in the County of Chester, Printer and
Stationer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide means or apparatus for printing in two or
more colours at the same operation from one forme of type or from one stone, block,
or cylinder.
Hitherto the printing of two or more colours has usually been carried out by setting
up the matter for each colour in separate formes of type or by using a separate stone,
block, or cylinder, for each colour.
This invention consists essentially in applying two or more different coloured inks
at the same time to a forme of type or other printing surface by means of a number
of adjustable rollers which take the ink from the rollers upon which it is distributed
and apply it in stripes to one or more inking or carrying rollers (or other device)
which transfers it to the type (or printing surface).
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying draw-
ings in which as an example it is shown as applied to an ordinary type printing
machine with reciprocating type carrying bed, but I wish it to be understood that it
may be applied to machines which print from a cylinder of which carry lithographic
stones, wood blocks, or other printing surfaces.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my invention showing sufficient of a printing
machine to illustrate the relative position therewith.
Fig. 2 elevation of my invention from back end of printing machine.
Fig. 3 end elevation to the right of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 end elevation to left of Fig.-2.
A, is the framing of the printing machine, B the reciprocating type carriage, C, the
ink slab on the reciprocating carriage, D the impression cylinder and E the type inking
rollers all of ordinary construction.
On the framing A, of the printing machine is mounted a framing F, which carries
a series of ink distributing rollers, whereby the inks of different colours are deposited
in stripes or bands on the ink slab C, of the reciprocating carriage. In the framing F,
above the ink slab C, is mounted a composition cylinder or roller G. Above the
cylinder G, are two, three, or more sets of rollers the lowest ones H, I, and J, of each
set being in contact with the cylinder G, but neither set nor any roller in either set
is in contact with another set or with any roller in another set. The rollers H, I J
are of varying lengths mounted each on a spindle along whose length they may be
secured in any position, and may be replaced by others of any desired length one, two,
or more being placed on each spindle as may be required. They should be so arranged
on their several spindles that no two will traverse or come in contact with the same
part of the periphery of the cylinder G. These rollers are preferably all of the same
diameter so as to be interchangeable and are of brass or other suitable material.
rolling contact with each of the short rollers H, I, J, is a roller hi which extends
across the machine so as to be in contact with the short rollers in whatever position on
In

page_text: their respective spindles they may be placed. In contact with each of the rollers h, i, j,
is a third roller H, I, J, which completes the series. The rollers H', I', J', have
in addition to a rotary movement a short longitudinal movement (of say three to four
inches) to distribute the ink evenly over the other rollers and prevent it accumulating
in patches or becoming thicker in one place than another.
g
The cylinder G, is driven by a chain passing over the wheel 9 and the several rollers
are driven from a pinion g' on the cylinder shaft by the wheels f. The longitudinal
reciprocating movement is imparted to the rollers H', I', J', by the worm and worm
wheel K, K¹, through the connecting rod k and levers k³.
The printing ink or colour is appled to the rollers H, I, J, a different colour
to each roller-by a spatula, hand roller, ink trough, or other ordinary device and
evenly transferred therefrom and evenly distributed thereby on to the rollers h
which in turn deliver it to the short or narrow 1ollers H, I, J. The function of these
rollers is to receive, those on each shaft a different coloured ink and deliver it onto
the composition roller or cylinder G As each of the rollers is narrower or shorter
than the cylinder and each touches a different surface the several inks as they are
transferred to the composition roller or cylinder which eventually receives the whole
of the different colours formn rings around it, each equal in width to the width of the
roller from which it is transferred.
The width of each of the rollers H, I, J, employed, is equal to the width of the line
or column of type or portion of such line or column to be printed in any particular
colour.
Contiguous to the cylinder G, is placed a pair of carrier rollers L, I which alter-
nately cone in contact with the cylinder G, and the ink slab C, transterring the
ink from the former to the latter, depositing it in stripes or bands on the slab. As
the slab moves to and fro the ink is transferred first to the type inking rollers E
forming rings around them and thence to the type or printing surface in the
usual way.
The rollers L, 1 are carried in the bracket L' keyed to the shaft l, which is
alternately raised and depressed at each revoluuon of the machine by the cam M.
The cam M depresses the lever m mounted loosely upon the shaft l' which is connected
to a lever m¹ keyed fast on the same shaft, by a screw so that the relative position of
the rollers L, to the cylinder G, and slab C, may be altered as desired.
Although three sets of rollers are shown in the drawings in combination with the
cylinder G, it is evident that additional sets may be added to increase the number of
colours which may be printed.
Several modifications of the invention have suggested themselves to me.
(a) The carrier rollers I, I, may be arranged in any convenient way or if desired
may be dispensed with and the cylinder G placed to come in direct contact with
the slab Cat each traverso of the table B.
(b) The single roller G, may be replaced by three rollers one in contact with
each of the ink rollers instead of as shown all radiating from one
(c) The distributing rollers H', I, J¹ and hij may be divided up into sections
or divisions corresponding in width with the rolls H, I, and J, and each supplied
with a different colour but I prefer the arrangement shown except in cases where
a great number of different colours are required and one line of each colour.
(d) The roller G may be driven by a band or chain first in one direction
and then in the reverse from a pulley or wheel geared to a rack carried on the under
side or edge of the reciprocating type table B, or
(e) The inking slab C, and the carrier rollers L. 1 may be dispensed with and
the rollers E which ink the type be caused to travel to and fro beneath the roller G,
and take the ink direct therefrom, the rollers being caused to make a dwell
when in contact and then travel back to transfer the ink to the type.
The invention may be applied either to hand printing presses or to other printing
machines of different construction, the several rollers being arranged or disposed as
required by the particular type of machine. The ink being deposited in bands or
rings on the type inking rollers the type in the forme or frame or the printing surface

page_text: +
•
to the width of one, two, or more letters (or part of a letter) as required, is inked a
separate colour for each band, thus any number of colours can be printed side by
side from one forme of type or stone on the same sheet at one operation and
impression, without the type having to be moved from its bed or the forme altered
in any way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim 18:
1. Apparatus for applying two or more inks of different colours at the same time,
to a forme of type (or other printing surface) having two or more sets of rollers
upon which the inks are distributed and two or more sets of adjustable divided rollers
by which the ink is taken from the distributing rollers, and applied in stripes or bands
to one or more inking or carrying rollers or to the printing surface substantially as
described.
2. In a printing machine the combination of two or more sets of ink distributing
rollers (such as Hh) two or more sets of adjustable 1ollers (such as H) with a single
ink transfer roller G, upon which the several inks are deposited in stripes or bands
and from which they are transferred by a carrier roller, slab, or otherwise, to the
printing surface substantially as described
3. An inking apparatus for printing machines constructed and arranged substantially
as described and shown.
n
1000
Dated this 1st day
n
1000
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.