704,066. Printing processes. TIMSONS, Ltd. Jan. 12, 1951 [Jan. 24, 1950], No. 1833/50. Classes 100 (1) and 100 (2) Rotary machines.-A test printing machine is constructed so that printing can be effected, at will, by one of at least two methods, viz. the letterpress and the offset lithographic methods, and so that a sheet to be printed is fed automatically to the printing zone and the selected printing and impression surfaces are automatically brought together at this printing zone for a predetermined period in timed relative with the feed of the sheet. The apparatus comprises an impression cylinder 4 (Fig. 1) a plate cylinder 5, a pair of forme rolls 6, an inking train 7-11, a removable offset cylinder 12, and water applying rollers 13-16. The machine is adapted to print by letterpress, in which case the offset cylinder 12 is removed and the water group 13 to 17 moved aside, by the offset lithographic process the water group then being brought in and the offset cylinder 12 mounted in position, and by the gravure process, in which case the forme rolls 6 are removed and replaced by an ink trough, the cylinder 5 being replaced by a gravure cylinder, and the ink trough being provided with a scraper blade. Tripping &c. arrangements.-The shaft 28 of the impression cylinder 4 is mounted in eccentric bearings 29 supported in the side frame 2 and carrying a bracket arm 30 on which is mounted a roller 32 engaging an impression cam 33 in turn mounted on a cam shaft 35. Also mounted on the shaft 35 are a feed cam 38, an inker cam 39 and a lithographic cam 40. The shaft 28 is power driven and through gearing drives a wheel 45 loose on the shaft 35. The wheel 45 is clutched to the shaft 35 by a pawl 48 and cooperating notch 46' formed in the inner edge of a ring 46 formed on the wheel 45. The pawl 48 is rockable by a lever 51 against the action of a spring pressed plunger 50 out of operative position. The lithographic cam 40 can co-operate with a roller 74 carried on a pivotable arm 75 carrying an eccentric bearing 76 for the shaft 77 of the offset cylinder 12. Depending on the setting of the cam 40 the arm 75 is pivoted and the cylinder 12 lifted for a predetermined period into contact with the impression cylinder to print a sheet passing between them. The roller 74, arm 75, eccentrics 76 and cylinder 12 are all removable when not required. Sheet forwarders; feed tables.-Sheets to be fed and subsequently delivered are fed from a table 22 between tapes 23, 24 and after printing delivered on a table 25. The feed cam 38 controls a roller 52 which is rotatable on an arm 53 secured to a shaft 56. The shaft 56 carries levers 57 connected to a rod 58 extending across the whole width of the machine and serving to support the lower end of the feed table 22 which is pivotally connected to the side plates at its upper end. Thus there is an advance of paper each time the roller 52 runs over the recess in the cam 38. To allow this movement of the table 22 the tapes 23 are arranged to run through grooves 60 in the upper face of the table. Inking apparatus.-The inker cam 39 cooperates with a roller 61 which is carried by a double armed lever 62 rotatable on the shaft 56. The lever 62 is connected to a link 64 which is articulated to a lever 65 carrying a rod 59 to which is secured an eccentric 66 entering a frame 67 between the rolls 6. The frame 67 serves to guide blocks 68 carrying side cheeks 69 pivoted at 70 to a block 71. The cheeks 69 hold the shafts of the forme rolls 6 so that when the eccentric is rotated by the action of the cam 39 the rolls 6 are pushed outwards and downwards so far as permitted by set screws 72. The forme rolls 6 are detachably mounted, the holders 71 therefor being secured in position by pins 82. The rolls 6 are removed when gravure printing is to be effected in which case an adjustment of the bearings 29 is necessary to compensate for the differing angular movement into working position of the impression cylinder 4 which is involved. Damping apparatus.-The water group 13-17 is mounted in a framework 79 movable on a slideway into and out of working position, Fig. 5 (not shown).