US1763679A - Printing press - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1930. B. c. STICKNEY 1,763,679

PRINTING PRESS Filed March 27. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 PRINTING PRESS B. c. STICKNEY Filed March 27,

June 17, 1930.

B. C. STICKNEY PRINTING PRESS June 17, 1930.

Filed March 27, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 17, 1930. a. c. STICKNEY PRINTING PRESS Filed March 27. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 i/n/y i l if I 290 \NVENTDR W June 17, 1930. B. c. STICKNEY PRINTING PRESS Filed March 27. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR mum 3N Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES 3mm 0. STICUEY, OI HILLSIDE, NEW JERSEY 'ranrrnmmss Application filed 1mm :7, me. man Io. 07,046.

This invention relates mainly to web-perfecting rotary printing presses, especially those in which stereotypes or electrotypes curve around a revolving cylinder.

For printing forms in repetition along a web, especially where there are several forms side by side, as, for example, in printing fanfold webs or other continuous stationary, it is usual to emplo a printin cylinder of such diameter that it can be use to advantage for a certain limited assortment of sizes of forms. The length of the a e often equals the circumference of the cylin er; sometlmes it is half the circumference, sometimes a third, or a fourth. Accordingly one, two, three or four similar forms are printed repetitiously at each revolution of the cylinder.

This 'ves an enormous output in a short time; ut there is the drawback that it becomes necessary to duplicate, triplicate or quadruplicate the electrotype page several times. This is obvious, since the travel of the web at each revolution must exactly equal the circumference of the cylinder, and hence it is necessary to fill u the web with printed matter for substantially its entire travel. There is incurred expense and delay in preparing the duplicate electrotypes or stereotypes, and in adjusting and making read the duplicates upon the type cylinders. oreover, it is usual for the web to pass through a second printing couple to perfect the same,

and registry must be secured of the rinting on one side of the web with that on t e other side. This is especially true where the work is intended for use in typewriti machines, inasmuch as a web is usually fol ed longitudinally into many plies, all of which are manifolded by the tyfiewriting machine, and hence the lines or blan s thereon must be in register throughout the width of the web, on both its sides. Usually the time during which the press is revolving is very small in comparison with the length of time required to get the press ready.

One of the main ob'ects of the invention is to overcome these dificulties, and make it practicable to print forms of any size on a web and rfect the web, while securin accurate register, and even using only one rm without duplication, thereby reducing the cost of electrotyping or stereotyping, and shortenin the time required for gettin the press rea y. While in thus printing om single forms the press may lack the great pro- 5 ductive capacity of the presses which use duplicate forms, still the improved presswill operate at sufiiclently high speed for practicable purposes, and it can be made read in much less time than usually required. oreover, in some cases it is feasible to use duplicate forms on theimproved press, if so desired.

In order to avoid the necessity of using a form which is equal to the entire cylinder cir- 66 cumference, or else to an ali uot fraction thereof, the expedient is devise of stopping the web at the conclusion of each impression, and permitting the cylinders of the printing couples, etc., to revolve idly, each cylinder 70 completing its revolution and arriving at the point where the impression of the next t form on the web is to be 'n, whereupon t 0 web starts up again, an travels in unison with the printing couples, until the conclusion of the rinting thereon of a second transverse row of the same forms, whereupon the web is again snubbed, and so on. Thus a form of any dimension may be employed, whether an aliquot or aliquant portion of the circumference of the printin cylinder.

In order to cut own the time in which the web intermittently stands idle, the diameter of the cylinders in the printing couples is reduced below the point usual in web-perfecting presses, say to 'a diameter of 6 or 8 inches, thus permitting a maximum form length of say 15 to 20 inches, and also permitting the use of duplicate forms, if desired, in some cases. But the forms may be used singly of 50 any circumferential extent with the capacity of the cylinder.

The power device for intermittently advancing the web is located at the delive side ofthe perfecting printin couple, an is in the form of f -rolls, w eh are constantly revolving at the same speed as the printing couples, and which are separated automatically at intervals by means of a cam. Both feed-rolls constantly revolve, even while they are separated, so that they act accurately on the web. It will be understood that one cam may be substituted for another, both for arresting and startin the sheet, so as to accommodate forms 0 different lengths.

The web is stopped after the im ression of each form, and held still until t e completion of the revolution of the printing couple, whereupon the web advances to print the next form. The stopping device may be controlled by a single circular cam connected to the driving gear of the press. At the delivery end of the press the power feed-roll device alternately grips the web to advance it synchronously with the revolutions of the printing couples, and then releases the web at the completion of the printing of each form. This clamping and releasing of the web-feeding rolls may be timed properly with reference to the closing and opening of the webstopping device at the introductory end of the machine.

Power rolls feed the web steadily into the press from the sup ly-spool, and a take-up roll distends a we Hoop that forms between said in-feeding rolls and the devices which control the intermittent feeding movements of the web. Similar power rolls deliver the web from the press. Both the in-feed and the out-feed rolls run uniformly and equally, but at lower speed than the printing cylinder. The s eed of said slow rolls is regulatable to accor with the rate at which the web is filled up by the printing forms.

The printed web may loop idly before it reaches said delivery rolls. One of the delivery rolls may be provided with serrated knives for producing longitudinal lines of perforation in the web, or otherwise longitudinally cutting or weakening the same.

The delivery rolls may be connected b gearing to the intake rolls, so that the we may be delivered from the press for rewinding or other purposes at the same s eed as it is taken into the press. This spee needs to be varied to accommodate forms of different lengths, as the speed will be less where the form is short. For this purpose there may be used a speed-regulating device, as, for instance, a pair of cones and a belt, one of the cones being driven from the driving train of the press.

In order to provide for proper registry when perfecting the web, so as to accommodate variations in the lengths of the type forms, there is provided between the two type cylinders a compensator, which is not simply the usual corrective device, but has an extraordinary range of sweep or adjustment,

the length of idle web between the printing cylinders being made thereby to equal a multiple of the form length, whatever the latter may be. While this idle length of web, for example, may consist of four lon forms. in one position of the compensator, it may consist of a dozen short forms in another position of the compensator. Or the compensator may be set to increase or decrease the length of idle web to five forms of another length, or six forms of still another length, or a greater number of forms of other lengths. In other words, thedistance from the printing point of one couple to the printing point of another printing couple is fixed, and the length of each form is nsuall aliquant to said distance, but the length 0 the idle web between said printing polnts may be varied by said com ensator, so that the length of each form s all be an aliquot part of said length of idle web.

Another aliquot compensator,in the form of a power-driven roll, is provided in a loop or web between the second printing couple and the transverse perforating couple. It is preferred to permit'adjustment and also keep this compensator constantly revolving, and hence it is carried upon arms mounted upon a rock-shaft, and upon the rock-shaft is a gear which drives a gear upon the compensator-shaft; said driving gear being connected in the driving train of the press, so that at all positions the compensator is powerdriven.

Io insure proper registration of the forms on the same cylinder, and also to rovide for simple and quick placing of the orms upon the cylinder, it is a feature of the invention that the entire set of forms for each cylinder is stereotyped or clectrotyped in one piece, the casting curving considerably more than half way around the cylinder. If an electrotype, it may be cast flat and then converted into a tubular shape by rollers. The type tube is slipped endwise upon the cylinder, the slot in the tube being of suflicient width to enable it to pass over a neck or arm on the framework, in the end of which the printing cylinder is journaled. After the form is thrust upon the cylinder, it is rotated independently thereof to bring it to right rinting position thereon, and then it may be lield on by means of straps or otherwise. All of the type forms being originally placed in a single chase and so stereotyped or electrotyped, it is evident that the forms on each cylinder may be made in perfect register with one another as a preliminary to stereotyping or electrotyping, and that the same registration will persist at the printing operation, thus reducing the cost of making the press ready, and reducing its idle periods.

The stereotype or electrotype forms are preferably held on the cylinders by means of straps, which are tightened around the forms by means of nuts, to which the two ends of each strap are attached. The nuts are threaded upon screws, which are rotated so as to tighten the strap. Each strap with its connections is bodily adjustable along the cylinder, and as many straps being employed as may be required. Since all of the forms in each tube are a single unit, they maintain their relative arrangement, so that one adjustment of a single tube suffices for all the forms. Auxiliary tube-fastening devices may be employed if desired.

To solve the problem of accommodating fan-fold webs, which in some cases may be nine feet in width, while using a printing cylinder of small diameter and a cylinderaxle which is weak in proportion to its length, there is devised a midway stiffening journal for each of the cylinders in each printing couple. That is, each of the four cylinder-shafts has a rigid support about midway between its ends, this support being fixed upon the framework of the press, whereby the lengthy shaft is prevented from springing at its middle from the pressure of the printin operation. This central support is ma e possible, notwithstanding that the press is capable of printing a fan-fold web filling the entire width of the press, by taking advantage of the fact that in the fan-fold weberfecting operation, the impressions of the orms fall alternately upon opposite faces of the web, considered transversely thereof; or in other words, each fold of the fan-folded web is usually printed on only one face. The midway supports for the cylinders in one couple are therefore placed where they will occupy one of the unprinted columns about midway of the web. The midway supporting arms for the cylinders in the other printing couple are placed at a point where no printing is done upon the opposite face of the fanfold web. One set of cylinder-supports is therefore oifset relatively to the other set of midway supports, but nevertheless the entire fan-fold web can be printed. If it is desired to print upon all parts of a web, then the width of the web should not exceed four or five feet; a single sheet being capable of passing by the midway su ports or arms. Any width of fan-fold web between four feet and nine feet may be printed by arranging the midway typed forms first with proper reference to said supporting arms, and then proceeding to add the forms to the left and right for the full width of the web, whatever it may be.

There may be run through the press either a web of a width to fill the entire press, or two single-width webs side by side, or one single-width web upon either side of the ress. For said wide web the two sections of the aliquot compensator between the printing couples may be brought into exact register, so as to serve as a single compensator while each may be adjusted independently of the other for narrow webs. Each side of the press has its own iii-feeding and out-feeding slow rolls, aliquot compensators, intermittent web-feeding devices, etc., permitting such adjustment that long forms may be printed upon one web, while short forms are being printed upon another web, the adjustment at each side of the press being independent of that at the other side. For example, a thousand feet of web may be delivered by the press at one side, while five hundred feet are being delivered by the other side, notwithstanding that the printing couples move in unison throughout the press.

It will be understood that at each side of the press there may be printed either one web or a series of narrow webs or ribbons side by side upon unlike webs, for the purpose of assembling them all into a single multiple-ply web after delivery thereof from the printing press; or entirely unrelated jobs may be taken printed on one side of the press, while other unrelated jobs are being printed on the other side of the press, the forms on each side being all of one length.

In providing for the printing of two webs side by side, one at each side of the midway supports, provision is made for independent aliquotcompensation of the web at one side from that of the web at the other side of the press. Therefore, the aliquot compensator arranged between the printing couples is divided into left-hand and right-hand sections, each adjustable independently for the printing of forms of different lengths; and the same is true of the aliquot compensator between the second printing couple and the transverse perforating couple; whereby one web may be printed with long forms and fed rapidly through the press, while another web may be printed with short forms and fed more slowly through the press, all of the aliquot compensators on each side of the press being independent of those on the other side. The compensating device between the second printing couple and the transverse perforator couple may be in the form of a cylinder or roll, which is power-driven and therefore constantly revolving; but the paper remains stationary at the required intervals. inasmuch as it rests but lightly upon this revolving compensator, and is not unduly tensioned or dragged thereby.

In preparing the impression cylinder for printing, a sheet or wrapping of strong hard paper may be cemented upon the cylinder for its entire length. Upon this may be cemented a vulcanized pure-rubber blanket which is highly tensioned and therefore extremely hard. Upon this rubber blanket may be cemented another sheet of tough hard paper, and upon this second sheet may be cemented a second layer of highly tensioned soft vulcanized pure rubber; the ends of all being secured in a depression in one side of the cylinder. This blanket may be encased smoothly in a layer or layers of lead, which may be thin, as, for instance, tea lead, or it may be thicker and more substantial, and may form a self-sustaining segment of a tube.

Over this lead layer may be wrapped a layer of thin highly tensioned rubber, and over this rubber may be placed one or two la ers of strong, smooth tympan paper. The e ect is to bring out the lines of the types, making the printing very clear, without liability of smearing or smudging, and to compensate in large measure for unevennesses in the heights of the types, and for wear or slight injury to the t pes; and in man cases overlaying and unzferlaying will be ound unnecessary, and in an case the time required therefor may be substantially reduced.

A press is also adapted for economical book-printing, even for runs of moderate length, inasmuch as the make-ready operation is shortened by the use of the lead, which is hard so as to insure the proper degree of pressure between the type and the paper, which is also sufliciently plastic to accommodate itself to inaccuracies in the height and surface of the types, whereby clear type-impressions are secured. The rubber cushion under the lead conduces to bringing up the type-impressions clearl and also to reducing or avoiding the indllnting or peening of the lead b the type-im ressions, whereby the same lead can be used for long runs, and even can be used for a succession of runs of different kinds of work, so that a new lead layer or tube is not necessary for each new job on the press. The outer layer of rubber also tends to brin up the type clearly, both la ers of rubber ein very hard, because 0 their tensioned con ition, so as to secure the proper ressure of the type upon the work-web, w ile said rubber layers, notwithstanding their hardness, are yielding and elastic. These two layers of rubber and intervening layer of lead, combined with the outer layer of hard smooth tympan paper, make an excellent impression surface for a printing press, because it adapts itself to different conditions of types in the same form, and permits various depths of impressions u on the work-sheet, without the fault of b urring the type-impressions.

It is the usual practice to employ inking rollers capable of inking the printing cylinders for the entire length of the latter, and these rollers on account of their great length are heavily built, and it is the practice to make them of greater diameter, all of which is objectionable; and further objection arises because of the difliculty of printing some of the forms in diiferent colors from others on the same side of the web. The rollers are expensive, and a slight defect at any point usually makes it necessary to replace an expensive roller.

To overcome these and other objections, and to expedite the operationof getting the press ready, there are provided sets of inking rollers, and usually one set is provided for each of the forms which are printed side by side 11 n the web.- If the fan-fold web, for examp e, is to be folded up into eight plies, four of which lies are printed on one side with a succession of forms, and four plies printed on the other side with a succession of forms, then there will be employed preferably eight sets of inkin rollers, each with its own ink fountain. T ese inking sets, however, are made adjustable longitudinally of the printin cylinders, so as to accommodate forms of di erentwidths, and also to permit locating the forms in any desired points on the cylinders. While inithe illustrations each of the inking rollers is shown of the length for one form, it is obvious that the inkin rollers may be made each of a len h of two orms, thereby bridging the space tween the two forms, or even three forms in some cases. There are used light rollers of small diameter, which are cheap and not liable to fatal injury. In- Jury to one roller is not serious, because it can be cheaply replaced, without replacing other inkin rollers in the same or other sets. Each set 0 rollers is mounted upon a carriage or frame which is adjustable along guideways provided upon the framework of the press, and wherever adjusted the carriage may be clamped. Each fountain may carry the same colors as the other ink fountains, or a different color, thus givin a wide range of differences in colors to he simultaneously printed. A single distributing roll may be made to answer for the entire length of each printin cou 1e, and may be driven by power, and eac of t e ink-roller carriages may have one or more rolls to run upon this common distributing roll. The ink is taken from the fountain in the individual carria e and transferred by an individual roll to t e main distributing roll at any point where the roll carriage is adjusted, and other rolls on each carriage may also run upon the power distribut- 1n roll. The surface speed of the power distri uting roll may be higher, for example twice the surface s d of the printing 0 linder, thereb doubling the extent to whic the ink is distributed; and an individual transfer roll running at hi h speed upon a distributing roll is shifte over to one of comparatively low speed upon the form rolls.

Said power distributing roll is common to all the carria s, and the same is true of a cam-shaft WlllCll extends the length of the press and controls the individual transfer of nk from any fountain to the power distributmg roll, and also the transfer from the powerdnven high-speed distributing rolls to the form rolls.

In using the press for book-printing, the original type forms may be made usually with two pa s extending around each type c linder, t e lines readm longitudinally of t e cylinder, and the widt of the webs depending upon the number and the width of the page forms. In book-work preferably two webs are used simultaneously, printing, for example, two rows of eight ages each on each of the cylinders, thus printing thirty-two pages on each side of the web or sixty-four pages in all, said sixty-four pages occupying the length of only two pages on the web. The longitudinal perforatin of the web may be employed as an aid in oldin the same longitudinally into fan-fold orm, and the transverse erforations on the web may be used in ai ing to cross-fold the fan-folded web back and forth as it emerges from the longitudinal folding mechanism, thus forming a pack with th1rty-two pages in'each of the cross-folds. The transverse perforations aid not only in cross-folding the web, but also in severing each sixty-four page signature from the end of the folded'web, preparatory to bindin the same into book form.

Prefera ly there is provided means for transversely perforating the web at the top of each form, or for providing a weakened line at such points for convenience in tearing the web into its ultimate forms, and for other purposes. This transverse portion or weakening is effected automatically by means of a pair of rollers, .which are power-driven and properly timed, about the same as if it formed a third printing couple, so that the perforating or weakening line will appear at the proper point near the first line of printing on each form. An aliquot compensating device is also provided between the second or perfecting printing couple and the transverse perforating couple, and is adjustable to divide the distance between the contacting point of the second rinting couple and the contacting point or line of the perforating couple into aliquot parts, each equal to the desired length of form.

In order to provide for the relative adjustment of certain single-width com ensators, it is necessary that each be mounte for swing ing movement independently of the other, and this makes it convenient to place each compensator upon a pair of rock-arms. These rock-arms, some of which project between the ends of the compensatin rolls, which are arranged end to end upon t e press, make an obstacle where it is desired to print a wide fanfold web. To avoid this obstacle, there is mounted between said pair of compensators and said transversely-perforating couple an independent compensator, which is the full width of the press and equal to the width of the widest fan-fold web. This wide compensator, of course, is mounted upon rock-arms and is power-driven in the same manner, and a wide web is assed over this long compensator, leaving t e other compensators to work idly. When narrow webs are used, they may be passed over said short com ensators and the long compensator runs id y. The long compensator may be adjusted to get the required aliquot length of web between the second printing couple and the transverse perforator couple,

Itis desired in many cases to punch holes in each printed form for registering the same in the typewriting machine and elsewhere; and to secure this result the transverse perforating couple is also provided with a holepunching cylinder, this cylinder being the companion to the transverse perforating cylinder. The holes are punched by the set of radial punches mounted at any desired intervals along the punchin cylinder. This set of punches is unadjusta le circumferentially of the cylinder and punches always in the same position; but an adjustment of the transverse perforating knife relatively to the hole-punching cylinder may be effected by circumferentially adjusting the perforating knife. This circumferential adjustment may be adjusted for each knife-section, one section being used at one side of the press and the other at the other side of the press, the two sections being brought into line when it is desired to perforate a full-width line, but the sections being independently adjustable when dissimilarly printed webs are being run through the two sides of the press.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter a pear.

In t e accompanying which are diagrammatic Figure 1 is a sectional fragment of the impression-cylinder, illustrating the composite lanket and the manner of securing the same.

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the remainder of the cylinder on a smaller scale.

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the press, showing mainly the right-hand sections of the printing and impression c linders etc.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan ta on at about the line 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan of a double length takeup and tension roll and its detachable bracket.

Figure 6 is a sectional front elevation of the press taken at about the line 6 of Figure 3; showing right and left hand sections of the lower type cylinder and also of the upper impression cylinder.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 6, but showing the gear and of the press on a larger scale.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the aring.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation o the upper type cylinder at Figure 3, together with one of the detachable and ad ustable inking frames therefor.

Figure 10 is a sectional front elevation showing the manner of adjusting the multiple compensators between the printing couples.

Figure 11 is a front elevation of one of the individually adjustable ink-roller frames.

Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of the upper part of the press, illustrating the punc mg and perforating devices, the intermittent drawings, all ,of

feeding device and themultiple compensatordevicesbetween the upper printing couple and the perforating devices.

Figure 13 is alongitudinal sectional view of a troughdike bracket carrying the blanketattaching devices seen at Figure 1 for the impression cylinder.

Figure 14 illustrates a thin rubber compound layer for use as a part of the impression blanket.

Figure 15 is a plan of the upper portion of the press seen at Figure 3.

Figure 16 is a sectional view of a tubular slotted stereotype or electrotype embodying several forms in one casting or piece.

Figure 17 is similar to Figure 5 but shows two independently operable take-up or tension rolls.

Figure 18 illustrates a stage in the operation of attaching or removing a stereotype or electrotype tube.

Figure 19 is a sectional'plan of the press taken at about the line 19 of Figure 3.

Figure 20 shows book-paging diagram of front and back of a single-width web-section.

Figure 21 shows the printed web in fanfolded and partly open condition, and shows how the perfected web is composed of a repetition of the section seen at Figure 20.

Figure 22 is a sectional bottom view taken at about the line 22 of Figure 3.

Figure 23 is a diagram or development of the screw mechanism connecting the ends of one of the straps which hold the stereotype upon a type cylinder.

Figure 24 is a view of the strap.

Figure 25 shows a crosssection. longitudinal section and plan of one of the detachable punchers which are individually adjustable longitudinally of the punching cylinder.

A sin le-width web 21, of about half the width 0 the press seen at Figure 6, is led up at the right-hand side of the press between type and in'ipression cylinders 22, 23 of the first printing couple, Figure 3, and then up between the type and impression cylinders 24, 25 of the second or upper printing couple, whereby the web is per fectcd. From thence it is led up around a compensating roll 54 and down to a pair of punching and perforating; raylinders 2T, 28, from which it passes to ee -rolls :39, 30 at the rear 0" delivery end of the mess. These fed-rolls co operate with a we -sxu1bbing jaw or clip 31. at the intake side of the press, to control the stopping and starting of the web, while the printing cylinders and the feeders 29 and 30 constantly revolve at uniform speed, as well as the cylinders of the perforating couple 27, 28. At Figure 3 the jaw 31 is shown open, permitting the web to advance through the press. The intermittent advance of the web is caused by the rolls 29, 30, the latter of which is held firmly against the former at intervals by means of a cam 32 at the right-hand side of the press. Upon the cam rides a roll 33 which is provided upon an arm 34 that is fixed to a rock-shaft 35, from which depend bail arms 36 carrying said roll 30. The cam 32 is detachably mounted upon the right-hand end of power shaft 37 of the constantly revolving cylinder 27, and for its greater part is concentric with said shaft, and so maintains the feed-rolls 29, 30 temporarily in contact, and thus determines the length of each printed section of web. The cam has a depressed portion 38, and it will be seen that when the roll 33 falls into said depressed portion, the web-feeding roll 30 separates from the feed-roll 29, thus releasing the web. At the same time the clip 31 is caused by a spring 39 to snap against a stationary aw 40, the web being thus gripped in a vise, so that the web is suddenly and effectively arrested or snubbed, and accuracy of form-register and equality of length of the web-sections are secured. The clip 31 is connected to the feed-roll 30 for simultaneous movement, so that at the release of the web when either opens, the other closes upon the web. The spring 39 operates on an arm 41 fixed upon a rockshaft 42, which carries arms 43, between which the clip 31 extends; and extending oppositely from the rock-shaft 42 is an arm 44, to which is pivoted the lower end of a right-hand pull link 45, whose upper end is pivoted at 46 to the arm 34. After traversing the depressed portion 38 of the cam, in which it is held by spring 39, roll 33 rides again upon the elevated portion 32 of the cam. The movement of the roller out of the depressed portion of the cam is accompauied by an opening movement of the clip 31 and a closing movement of the feed-roll 1 which is forced by cam 32 against the power-driven feed-roll 29,.whereby the web :ulvanred at a speed which equals the surfa e speed of the printing couples. whose diameter equals that of feed-roll 29. The cam 32 may be removed and other cams of different lengths substituted therefor, to lengthen or shorten the step-by-step feed of the web, and hence alter the length of the printed web-sections, or accommodate different kinds of work. The length of the elevated part 32 of the cam corresponds with the length or circumferential extent of the form, which, of course, may be made of any desired dimension within the capacity of the printing cylinder. It is therefore necessary to use only one printing form, regardless of its circumferential extent. since, after said form prints, the web remains motionless until the printing couples, etc, complete their revolutions. whereupon the web again advances between the printing couples to receive perfecting impressions on its opposite side, while receiving a fresh impression upon its first side. There is thus a saving in the cost of setting up and duplicating the forms, and

length of we a saving in the cost of getting the press ready, since only a single form has to be made ready for each page. The press ,is capable, however, of printing a duplication of short forms at each revolution of the cylinders.

The link or rod may be lengthened or shortened by means of a turn-buckle 45", so as to secure accuracy and co-operation of the web-releasing and biting devices at the intake and delivery ends of the press.

Inasmuch as the forms may vary in length (circumferentially) the longest one being four or five times as long as the shortest one, a multiple-form or ali uot compensating device is provided between t e printing couples, said compensating device, for example comprising a bar or apron which extends the width of the web between the printing couples, and may be adjusted sufliciently to compensate to the required extent for the difference in the length of the forms, the compensator-bar or section at the right side of the press being numbered 47, Figures 3 and 6. This difference is not necessarily equal to the difference in length between the shortest form and the longest form, inasmuch as two, three or four successive sma forms printed on the web may be taken as a unit in considering the extent ofad'ustment of the aliquot compensator 47. T erefore the difi erence between the shortest reach of web at this point and the longest reach would need to equal only a little in excess of the circumferential printing field of the type c linder 22 or 24. The greatest 5 between the printing couples may equal about twice the circumference of the printin cylinder, or less. The adjustment may be effected by means of a hand wheel 48, secured upon a shaft 49, having at its inner end a pinion 50, meshing with rack teeth 51 formed upon horizontal rods 52 that are suitably guided in brackets 53 and carry the compensator-bar 47 at their outer ends, Fi ures3, 6, 10.

n aliquot or multiple-form compensator is also provided between the perfecting printing couple and the punching and perforating cylinders 27, 28. This compensator may be in the form of a roll 54, Figures 3, 6. t is prcferabl a power roll, having a shaft 55, whereby it is mounted in swing arms 56 extending from a hollow shaft 57, upon which is also secured a worm-wheel or segement 58, with which meshes a worm 59 operated by a j hand-wheel 60 supported upon a fixed bracket 61 on the right-hand portion of the framework. By turning the wheel 60, the arms 56 may he swung up and down in unison, thereby extending or reducing the length of web between the perfecting printing couple and the perforating cylinders, until each form or transverse web-section equals an aliquot part of said length; the range of adjustment being as great as that of the compensator-bar At the intake or bottom end'of the press, the paper is led in from a roll (not shown) and passes first between slow power-driven feed-rolls 62', 63,.Figures 3, 6, rotating at uniform speed; and the paper-supply roll may be provided with the usual brake, to keep proper tension upon the web advancing to said feed- rolls 62, 63. From said slow feedrolls the web is led over a vibratory take-up and tension roll 64, Figures 3 and 17, which is carried upon arms that are fixed upon a transverse rock-shaft 66, from which extends an arm 67, to which is attached a tension spring 68. It will be perceived that since the web in the press advances intermittently, while the feed- rolls 62, 63 revolve slowly at uniform speed, the tension roll 64 operates as a take-up, and vibrates to and fro while the printing proceeds. The s ring 68 maintains a constant tension on t e web, in cooperation with a take-up and tension roll 69 at the delivery side of the feed-rolls 29, 30. Said roll 69 may be carried upon arms 70 that project from a rock-shaft 71, and the web tension may be maintained by a spring 72, which pulls on an arm 73 also secured upon said rock-shaft 71. The web 21 passes from the high-speed feed-rolls 29, 30 over said tension roll 69, and thence to the bite of a pair of power-driven delivery feed-rolls 7 4, 75, Figures 3, 15. These delivery rolls move at uniform speed at the same rate as the roll 63, being connected thereto by a gear-train including top pinions 76, 77, a vertical shaft 78 and bottom pinions 79, 80, Figure 6. Feed-rolls at its inner end may be carried upon a midway rear bracket 80 rising behind the web from one of the flanges 115. Roll 62 at its inner end may be journaled in a midway arm 80 on transverse bar 80 of the framework, the bar and arm being within the first loop of double-width web, Figure 3.

The speed of the feed- roll couples 62, 63 and 74, 75 may be jointly and selectively determined by the use of any suitable variable speed device, as, for example, a pair of cone-pulleys 81, 82, connected by an adjustable belt 83, Figure 6. The means of adjusting the belt is not shown, as the adjustment of the belt of a cone-pulley is known. The cone 81 may be fast upon a shaft 84, Figures 3, 6, 15, upon which is fixed a beveled gear 85, driven by a beveled pinion 86 at the top of a general drive shaft 87 (Figures 6, 7, 8) at the gear (left hand) side of the press; said drive shaft having a driving pulley 88. The speed of the cone 81 is uniform. The cone 82 is fixed upon a shaft. 89, Which carries said pinion 76 and said roll 75. The belt 83 may be adjusted along the cone-pulleys to increase or diminish the speed of the introductory feed- rolls 62, 63 sutliciently to feed the web into the press exactly as fast as it is used up by the co-opcration of feed-rolls 29 and 30, cam 32 and web-arrester 31; and

under tension, both when trave ing and when stationary, and conducing to perfection of the intermittent feed of the web, so that the forms are printed thereon at equal intervals, and consequently assuring registry of the forms upon one side with those upon the other side of the web.

After passing over the introductory tension roll 64, the web is led over an apron or bar 90 to pass u between the web-arresting jaws 31, 40, this bar 90 being placed between the tension roll 64 and the introductor feedroll 63, so as to permit the forming o a tensioning'loop in the web at 91, Figure 3.

As the web rises through the first printing couple, it may pass around a deflector 92, Figure 3, on its way to the compensator 47 and from thence it may pass over a deflector 93 on its way to the perfecting couple 94, 95. The deflector or apron 92 may also serve to strip the web from the type cylinder 22; and a corresponding stripper 96 may be placed at the delivery side of the type cylinder 24.

There are illustrated stereotypes adapted to print fan-fold webs for typewriting use; but the press is not limited to this class of work. In printing fan-fold webs, alternate forms are printed upon op osite sides of the web, so that when the we is fan-folded longitudinally the forms printed thereon *face all the same way. Accordingly, Figures 6, 7, the type forms 97 on the lower cylinder 22 alternate with the t pe forms 97 on the upper cylinder 24; where y columns or forms are printed alternately on op osite faces of the web. As man forms as esired may be cast in the form 0 a tubular stereotype 97', Figure 16, the type forms being indicated as 97 and the intervening tubular blank or webportions as 98, the tube fitting upon an of the t-zype cylinders as 22, 24, 97" or 100, 1gure It is desired, as conducive to rigidity, accuracy and simplicity, that the cylinder should have bearings directly in the framework of the press, and yet of such a nature as to admit of the use of a tubular form of stereotype. To this end the right-hand side of the press at Figure 6, which is the side 0 posite to the gear side, comprises a frame which has an integral bearing 99 for the main shaft 100 of the lower type cylinder sections 22, 100, this hearing in the form of a boss which may be cast directl upon the side 101 of the frame, and connecte to the body of the side frame 101 by means of a relatlvely narrow neckportion 102. The longitudinal o en-ended slot 103 in the tubular stereotype, igure 15,

is of suflicient width to enable the tube to be slidden over the boss 99 and over said neck 102 (Fi re 18) onto the cylinder 22, where it may 0 secured by means of straps 104 (Figures 6, 9, 23) passed around the webportions 98 of the stereotype. When it is desired to remove or replace a stereotype, Figure 18, the press is turned to such position that the longitudinal clearances or cutaways on the cylinders are together in each couple. Then the stereotype is slipped over the boss 99 and the neck 102, Figures 6, 18, and onto the cylinder 22. The stereotype does not contact with the blanket on the impression cylinder, which, at this time, has its cutaway portion nearest to the type cylinder. The stereot pe, having been shoved along the type cylin er to the desired extent, is now revolved upon the stationary cylinder until it reaches the desired rotative adjustment thereon, whereupon the stereotype is fastened by any suitable means, which may include the straps 104. The internal cylindrical diameter of the stereotype may be a shade over the diameter of the type cylinder, so as to give clearance and freedom in thrusting the stereotype onto the cylinder and adjustin it around the same. It will be understood from Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, that the type forms 97 on lower rear cylinder 22 have a staggered or echelon relation with those on upper front cylinder 24.

The framework of the press may comprise table-portions 105 having legs 106, 107. Upon the table-portions may be adjustably secured, by bplts 108, the bases 109, 110 of frames, each comprising opposite sides 101, 111. The forward frame has a front wall 112, and the rear frame has a vertical wall 113. The impression cylinders may be journaled in bosses 114, Fi res 4 and 18, similar to 99 and level therewit and cast directly u on the side frames. To conduce to stiffness o the framework upper and lower flanges 115 and 116 may be cast therein at the level of the cylinders in each printing couple. The neckortions or webs 102 are cast directly upon 1: ese stifl'ening flanges, so that the cylinders are properly supported for making the impressions on the paper-web.

Inasmuch as it is desired to print webs of great width by means of impression c linders and type cylinders of relatively smal diameter (say from 6 to 10 inches) and therefore relatively weak, the press is preferably so organized as to provide a midway support for each of the four hea main shafts 100, 176, 121 and 122 in the printing couples, without making the press unavailable for printing webs of greatwidth. Such a web of course must pass by said midway supports, and it must receive impressions from the type cylinders in the region of said supports. In order to overcome the difficulty of supporting the clyinders under such conditions, advantag: is taken of the fact that the fan-fold we has on each face alternate printed and blank columns. The printed column on each face of the web is in re ister with the blank column on the opposite face thereof. At Figure 6, which represents the rear portion of the press seen at Figure 3, and therefore shows the lower type cylinder 22, it will be seen that there are employed two stereotype tubes 97, of which the left-hand one has two type forms, and the right-hand one three type forms. It will be noted that the longitudinal spacing of all type forms may be equal. In the space between the second and third type forms, there is a bearing 117 for main shaft 100, which extends unbroken from one side to the other of the press. This bearing 117 corresponds to 99, and is in theform of a suitable nec cast upon a midway ledge 119 projecting forwardly from the rear wall 113 of the framework. Inasmuch as the bearing 117 occupies a s ace between adjacent forms 97, it will be un erstood that no impression is to be made at this point by means of the lower printing couple 22 23; and hence it is permissible to use a fixed bearing 117 in this place. The double-width web may extend the entire distance from side to side of the press, and may be rinted by all of the five type forms seen at t e lower part of Figure 6, as well as by the five type forms of the up er printing couple seen in Figure 4; the we advancing up past the midway bearing 117.

When the web reaches the upper printing couple, it must receive tvpe impressions upon its op site face, inclu ing an impression in the coumn or zone which is left blank between the second and third forms 97 in Figure 5. A hearing 120, Figures 4 and 9, for shaft 121 of the upper printing cylinder, which shaft extends the entire width of the press, is therefore provided upon the front midway wall or partition 120, at a point directly above the third printing form 97 at Figure 6. This bearing 120 is substantially level with a rear bearing 122, which forms a midway support for the shaft 123 of the two upper impression cylinder sections 25, which taken together extend the entire distance from one side of the press to the other. The imression cylinder 25, it will be understood, is divided into two similar sections mounted and fixed on the same shaft 123. The fixed bearing 122 separates said parts, and is in a zone which is left blank on one face by the printing couple 24, 25,.said zone having been filled on the opposite face of .the web by the printing couple 22, 23; the web advancing up past both bearings 117 and 122, the staggered relationship of which thus permits the midwaysupporting of the shafts. Each bearing occupies a zone which is left unprinted on both sides by its associated printing cou le, and said bearings 117 and 122 are there ore out, of line with each other at Figure 6.

Hence a web may be used which is longer than either of the impression cylinder sections 25, and may extend the full width from one to the other extreme side of the press. The midway bearing 122 of the lower impression cylinder 23 is in line with 117 but separated therefrom.

When arranging the type pages or forms on the imposing stone, the rinter will first arrange suitably the mid le type pages with reference to the midway bearings in the press. Then he will arrange all the remaining type pages with reference to these midway pages or forms.

These opposed midway bearings for each printing couple fall short of meeting each other, so that a narrow space is left between them for the upward passage of the web. Moreover, the diameter of each bearing 117, etc., is the same as that of bearing 99, so that a tubular stereotype 97, Figures 6, 16, 18, may be slidden over the bearin 99 along the first section of the type cylinder, and then right on over the midway bearing 117 and onto the second or left-hand section of printing cylinder at Figure 6, and there secured. Then another tubular stereotype may be passed over the same bearing 99 and over the first or right-hand section of type cylinder and there secured, the stereotypes extending end to end and working in co-operation to print a single longitudinal row of forms upon the web; the forms on one stereotype being properly aligned with those u on the other, the same as if it were all a sing e cylinder.instead of two sections. The midway support permits the printing of a web up to say eight feet in width, while making it unnecessary to employ printing cylinders of great diameter, as heretofore found necessary in printing wide fan-fold webs.

The foregoing detailed description of intaking and delivery rolls, take-up and tensioning devices, and compensators, has been more appropriate for a narrow or singlewidth web not reaching to the midway partitions 119, 120", then for a double-width web which extends the full width of the press. Two single-width webs may be run side by side simultaneously through the press, one at one side of the partitions 119, 120, and the other at the other side thereof, and on either web there may be printed either long or short forms independently of the other; each of the single webs having its own intake, tensioning, intermittent feeding, compensating and delivering devices.

At Figure 6 it will be seen that the intake rolls 62, 63 have counterparts forming extension rolls 125, 126 co-axial therewith, respectively. For each pair of these intake rolls there is provided a separate tensioning device 126' similar to 64, Figure 17, each tensioning device in the same zone with its associated intake rolls. These rolls are journaled in swingarms 65 hinged upon arms 126" of a bracket 126, Figure 17. The bracket is fastened to the framework by thumb screws 126 or other devices permitting withdrawal of the bracket and its rolls as a unit, and the substitution of the bracket 126, Figure 5, having only one roll, which is double length. The delivery roll bracket 126, Figure 3, is similar to 126, carrying two rolls end to end, and substitutable by a bracket similar to 126 and carrying a single double-length roll 69, as will be apparent.

At each side of the ress there is also a webarresting clip or snu her. One of them has already been described as comprising jaws 31, 40. The fixed jaw 46 extends the full width of the press, and the right-hand movable jaw 31 has a left-hand counterpart 127.

The left drive roll 126 at Figure 6 is fixed upon a double-length shaft 128, which is connected with a gear train through pinions 129, 130, vertical shaft 131 and pinions 132, 133, (a counterpart of train 7 6-80) to speed-regulating cones 134, 135, the latter being a power cone, and the same being connected manually by an adjustable belt 136, which is a counterpart of belt 83 at the right-hand side of Figure 6. The left-hand roll shaft 128 therefore revolves at uniform speed at a rate of adjustment determined by the belt 136. The intake drive roll 63 is fixed upon a sleeve 138, to which is fixed said pinion 80, the sleeve 138 being loose, so that the roll 63 may be revolved independently of the roll 126, thereby accommodating two single-width webs passing through the press at different speeds, one at the left-hand side of the press and one at the right-hand side.

The intermittent feeding mechanism for the left-hand web at Figure 6 includes a webarrester or snubber 127, which is a counterpart of 31 and is mounted on a air of arms 139 similar to 43, which extend rom a rockshaft 140, similar to 42, carrying an arm 141, from which rises a rod 142, which has a length-adjusting turn-buckle 143 and is connected at its upper end to an arm 144 corresponding with 34 and fixed to a rock shaft 145. The arm 144 has a. roll 146 corresponding to 33 and riding upon a removable cam 147. This cam is similar to 32, but it may have a different length of deression 38, according to the length of the am being printed. As the rock-shaft 145 is vibrated by means of said cam. against the power of a spring (not shown, but similar to 39), arms 148 are vibrated, carrying a shaft 148' and feed-roll 149 (counterpart of 30) against a power-driven feed-roll 150 (counterpart of 29), Figure 12, on power shaft 185, which extends unbroken for the entire width of the ress.

At lgure 6 there is also shown at the lefthand side a compensator 151 forming a counterpart of 47 and adjusted by means of a wheel 152, shaft 153, pinions 154, 155 and rods 156, which carry the compensator, and have rack-teeth 156, Figure 8. The compensator 151 may be set to a different position from 47 as may be needed, if forms of difierent lengths are being rinted upon the difl'erent we s There is also provided at the left side of Figure 6 a compensator roll 158 (counterpart of 54), which may be set to a different position from 54, or to a similar position, as required. At the delivery end of the press, on the left-hand side, a tensiom'ng roll (similar to 126 at Figure 17) is provided, which is similar to 69 and is similarly mounted and operated, the tension rolls being, of course, independent of each other. The uniformly revolving slow delivery rolls 74, 75 have a counterpart at the left-hand side of Figure in rolls 159 and 160. Either roll ma be connected to a shaft 161, on which is fixe the cone 134, which is connected to gear-train 129 to 133 with the intake feedrolls 125, 126 to revolve at the same speed; it being understood that both intake and deliver rolls are controlled by the same speedre u ating cones 134, 135.

en a double-width web is to be printed, or a web which is too wide to run between the midway partition 119, 124 and either side of the press at Figure 5, the above-described intake, tensionin intermittent feeding, compensating an delivering devices may be harmonized or set up or reset to form double-length devices for employment with the double-width web.

The intake roll 63 may be fixed by a setscrew 162 to the drive shaft 128, Figures 3, 4, 6, so that the rolls 63 and 126 revolve as one piece, together with the idle companion rolls 62, 125; the pinion 80 being cast oil by loosening a set-screw 163 at the lower right-hand part of Figure 6. The speed of the intake and delivery rolls is controlled by the cones 134, 135, while the cones 81, 82 may revolve idly. The intermittent web-feeding cams 32, 147 may be similar,.so that the action of the two web-snubbing clips 31 and 127 may be simultaneous, and the same may be true of the two feed-rolls 30, 149. The two compensators 47, 151 for the printing couples may be brought into line so as to operate jointly for the wide web, as if made in a single piece.

Inasmuch as the web cannot pass the arms 56, which are pivoted directly u on the midway partition 124, there may employed the special double lcngth compensator-roll 26 extending the full width of the press at Figure 6, over which the full-width web is run; the compensator- rolls 54 and 158 being idle at this time. The two feed-rolls and 149 act in unison to feed the double-width we It will thus be seen that either a doublewidth web or a singie-width web may be passed through the press alone and printed upon both sides, and that two single-width webs may be passed through the press together and printed upon both sides, each indeendently of the other as to length of form. t will also be understood that several very narrow webs may be run side by side through the press at either or both sides of the midway artition, and each web printed upon one side, the length of the forms being the same for all the narrow webs on each side of the midway partition, but independent of the length of the forms of the webs being printed on the other side'of the artition.

The foregoing description of e compensator-roll 54 and its appurtenances is applicable also to the companion compensating roll 158, which, together with its shaft 158", is adjusted independently up and down by means of a hand-wheel 164 and roll 165 operating a worm-*wheel 166 mounted upon a top portion 167 of the side frame of the press, igures 3, 6, 7, 12, 15. The worm-wheel is on one of a pair of arms 168, upon which the roll 158 is swung up and down until the length of the web between the top printing couple and. the perforating couple 27, 28 equals a multiple of the length of each form. In other words, each form is an aliquot portion of said length of web. The doublelength roll 26 may be similarly adjusted by means of a hand-lever 169, a roll 170, and worm-wheel or se ment 171, which is fixed to one of a air of arms 172, supporting the shaft 173 o the roll.

At the gear side of the press, Figures 7, 12, may be mounted the vertical drive shaft 87 with its drive pulley 88 and having a helical gear 174 meshing with a helical gear 175 fixed upon the end of the shaft 100 which carries the sections 22 and 100 of the type cylinder in the lower couple. This shaft 100 is geared to shaft 176, which carries sections 23, 176 of the lower impression cylinder, by means of a pair of gears 177, 178. Also fixed on the drive shaft is a helical pinion 179 meshing with a helical gear 180 on shaft 123 of the impression cylinder in the upper rint-' ing couple, the cylinder in this couple ing connected by gears 181, 182. There is also mounted on the general drive shaft 87 .a helical pinion 183 in mesh with a helical ear 184 mounted on shaft 185 of the power eedroll sections 29, 150 which constantly revolve at uniform speed at the same rate as the printing rolls. The shaft 185 of said sectional roll 29, 150 has a gear 186 meshing with a pinion 187 of the small vibrating feed-roll 149. The shaft 185 may extend the entire width of the press, and carry upon its opposite end a gear 186" similar to 186 and meshing with pinion 187 on the shaft of vibrating feed-roll 30 and similar to 187.

Also on said drive shaft 87 is a helical pinion 188 meshing with a helical gear 189 on shaft 37 of punching cylinders 27, 305;

this shaft 37 also havinga gear 190 meshing with a gear 191 upon t e perforating cylinder 28; said shaft 37 being also used for driving the timing cams 32, 147 of the intermittent web-feeding mechanism, and the cams being individually removable from said shaft for substituting other cams to suit the work in hand.

At the upper part of said drive shaft is a beveled pinion 192 meshing with a beveled gear 193, which is fixed to a pinion 196,1oosely journaled on the rock-shaft 195, which carries the arms 172 carrying the shaft 173 of double-length compensator roll 26; said inion 196 meshing with a pinion 194, which is fixed upon said shaft 173 of said roll 26, whereby the latter may be power-driven at all up-and-down adjustments of the roll about the axis 195.

The framework includes a midway ledge 195 at the top of the rear wall 113, this ledge including bearings for members 57, 195, 74, 35 and 28 at Figure 3. Said ledge may be in line with the lower midwaiy partition 119, but is discontinuous or space t erefrom, the ledge occupying a position within the loop of double-width work-web descending from compensator 26 to and around take-up roll 69 and leading up over feed-roll 75. Roll- shafts 37 and 185 may have a midway support 195" in line with 195' and rising from a cross-bar 195 of the framing. This support 195" rises within the uppermost loop of the doublewidth web, and is in front of ledge 195 and separated therefrom to afford a passage for said web.

At the top of the drive shaft pinion 86, similar to 192, uniformly drives the gear 85 upon the shaft 84, so, that the latter is constantly revolving, together with the two cone- pulleys 81, 135 thereon, and, at all adjustments of either roll 54, 158, the arms which carry said rolls bein fixed to sleeves 199, through which said s aft 84 extends, and there being also fixed upon said shaft 84 a pinion 200 meshing with a pinion 201 and corresponding, respectively, to 196, 194, so that the roll 158 is constantly revolved on all up-and-down adjustments thereof; there being also provided upon the right-hand end of said shaft 84 a similar pinion 202 meshing with a pinion 203 on the shaft 55 of the roll 54.

The web in entering the ress is advanced at uniform speed from the rake-su ply roll by means of the slow introductory eed-rolls 62, 63, and then passes around the take-up and tension roll 64 and around the guide 90 a loop forming between said guide 90 and said take-up roll, which vibrates during the operation of the press, as the loop shortens and lengthens always maintains tension upon the web. The web ascends between the snubbing jaws 31, .40, and thence between the cylinders 22, 23 which form the first printing couple. and then around the aliquot take-up 4 7. and thence up between the cylinders 24, 25 of the second perfecting printing couple, and thence up around the aliquot compensator 26 or 54. dropping between the punching and perforating rolls 27, 28 to the bite of intermittent feeding rolls 29, 30. From said intermittent feed-rolls the web loops down and up around takeup and tension roll 69, being passed out of the press by the slow uniform power feedrolls 74, 75. There is illustrated only one form on each printing cylinder considered circumferentially, and this form may be, for example, from four to fifteen inches in depth, the latter extending around the cylinder to its full capacity; but in any case the cams 32 and 147 are proportioned to such depth of the form. If the form extends a great distance around the printing cylinder, then a cam is used whichhas a long dwell portion 32, holding the power feed-roll 30 against the power feed-roll 29 to feed the Web (at printing cylinder speed) while it is being printed by the forms, and a relatively short depression 38 is releasing the feed-roll 30 after the completion of the printing of one form and before the printing of the succeeding form begins. The web remains stationary during this interval, beingheld by the clamp 31 against the jaw 40 under the control of the same de pressed portion 38 of the cam. The feed-roll 30 releases the web at the delivery end of the press as the snubber 31 closes u on the web at the intake end of the press. lt will be understood that while the web is in stationary condition it is kept under tension by the roll 69, and that while the web is traveling it is kept under tension by the roll 64; said rolls sufiicing to put the desired tension upon the web, which at the printing operation does not travel at very high speed, say at the rate of six thousand impressions per hour, although not limited to that speed. It will be understood therefore that a succession of forms 97 of similar dimensions extends along each printing cylinder, said forms making up two stereotypes, the stereotypes in the form of tubes. and that the web remains stationary during a predetermined portion of the revo lution of the printing cylinder, which portion may be very small or very large, according tothe depth of the form. Hence it is unnecessary to prepare more than one line of forms, so that duplication thereof, as heretofore practiced in order to fill up the printing cylinder, is rendered unnecessary. The labor of getting the press ready is reduced by using only one row of forms, even though each form extends only a small fraction of the circumference of the printing cylinder, and great saving is effected in getting the press ready, so that a run of five thousand or even less may be performed economically by reason of the saving in the preparation of the forms and in getting the press ready.

A further advantage is that the original type forms may be all made up in one chase and stereotyped as a unit, whereby each form is brought into exact relation or register with the remaining forms while they are in the condition of types, and no realignment is rendered necessary after the forms are on the press, whereby a further saving is effected in the time and cost of making ready; the usual loss of time in making ready 9. press of this character being serious, inasmuch as the press is capable of a large output while running; and its output is cut ofi while it is being made ready. Moreover, when the storeotype is cast, it fits directly upon the cylinder, and may be moved to a stop thereon and there secured, without the need of adjusting the same either longitudinally or circumfercntially. thereby effecting a further reduction in the time in' which the press must stand idle. The forms maybe arranged in the type chases in their final relation to one another, and the four tubular stereotypes may be cast therefrom and placed directly upon the press, with little or no attention to making the forms ready after they have been slipped into place. When the length of the form is I very small, it results that the web stands still during a large proportion of the operation of the press, but the time saved in gettin ready is very great, and the time required for finishing an order of an ordinary number of copies would be only an hour or two, with resultin economy, as the loss of time in passing t e work through the press is more than made up b the saving of time in making the press rea y.

Any suitable method may be employed for fastening the tubular stereotypes upon the cylinders, and one of the fastening means may be in the form of the straps 104, Figures 6, 9, 23 and 24, which, in a variety of ways, may be used to clamp the form, the straps encircling the de ressed web-portions 98 of the stereotypes. Sue method of tightening the straps may be described. The strap has at each end a keyhole-slot 204, and these slots may catch over buttons 205 on nuts 206, which may travel along screws 207, Figures 9 and 23, mounted in ends 208 and rising from a base 209, the latter having midway of its ends a transverse rib 210, which has bearings at 211 for the inner ends of the screws 207. Fixed upon said screws are beveled pinions 212 facing each other and also in proximity to each other, so as to be capable of simultaneous rotation by means of a. pinion 213. This pinion may be formed 11 on a removable key shown at Figure 9, said ey comprising a stem 214, carrying said pinion 213, and a cross-bar or handle 215. The end of the stem extends through the pinion 213 and fits in a shallow bearing 216 in the rib 210, so that by setting the key down, with its point tubular stereotype may be made, thin, as the straps bind it' securely to-the cylinder, and the-stereotype may be accurately and cheaply finished uponitslnterior cylindrical surface, inasmuch as'it is in the form of an open-ended 5 tube. It willfbeunderstood that the. stereotype or electrotypemay be' cast .without the slot 10.3.. The.. .web ma continue throughout the circumferencelof t e stereotype; this extra' web-portion 217, Figure 14:, being ref moved and j-.t he:s',lot formed; as; a final' step after the stereotype is otherwise finished.

The bases 209'may be set down into a conver en't-sided groove or depression 218' exten ing the le h of each printing cylinder, said bases eing held in place by the ti htening of the stra s." j

or savingtime'a'nf improving the quality of the type impressions,there is employed an improved blanket upon each impression cylinder 23 and 25, Figures-1 and 2. {It includes a highly--tensioned soft rubber wrap.- ping 219, overlaidby a sheet or tube'oflead 220, the, latter covered by. another highly tension soft rubber layer- 221, which is covered by a protecting wear-resisting sheet or superposed sheets of 'suitable'tympan pa er 222. The thickness of the-composite bla et may be only {50f an inch,-or as much-as a quarter of an. inch kand some latitude is permissible in the. thic nesses ofthe various layers. The leadconduces'to" sharpness of impression, and also has a further characteristie that c ompensates.to.-a-icertain extent for unevenness in heights 'ofthi'atypes or forms on the printing'cylinder. qItftends to make the printing very sharp andclear, even if the types are worn. If new types and-old types are used sideQby aside,theflead tends to compensate for the inequality. The "lead is sufliciently resisting to pressure to form; a support for thefpaper as "it'is being squeezed by the inked t pesso that-ink is transferred to the-paper. But wherever the pressure is excessive, the.leadxyieldsylocally, owing to its plasticity, thus; permitting the neighboring to; printclearly; j'lhe' lead layer or tube may bein'sonie case'sas thick as ei an inch, "and in other cases maybe quite thin; and in some cases-it'may'made up of two or more layers or wrappingsfof lead. However, .it 'sh(mld-.be smooth "and of uniform thickness" throughout. it will bemostusedneanits advance edge, it may be removed and reversed from time to time, so

'duces to the desire quality as to present relatively fresh portions to the types.

The underlying blanket 219 of soft rubber may be highly tensioned, so as to be both extremely hard and highly elastic. This also .aids in making the type-impressions sharp,

punishment, by the types. The overlying Y layer or layers 222 of suitable tympan paper protect the rubber andlother layers framinury, and may be more frequently renewedthan the underlyin layers, and it also con of type-impressions upon the work-web- 'One method of producing a tensioned under layer 219 is to wrap a-web of thin vulcanized .pure rubber 223 to form a skein, as at Figure 14, around bars 224. This rub- .ber may be of a high quality similar to that used for dental purposes, and upon wrapping the same around said bars, its layers may be cemented together. Then the projecting ends of one bar 224 may be caught atthe' other side of the box, Figure 2.fIn* I pulling this blanket around the cylinder, the rubber should be ver much' distended and packedtightly upont e cylinder, to which-it may in some cases be cemented or attached by shellac, to conduce to stability and durability.

In place of the multiple-ply seen at Figure 14, the rubber blanket may 'be made ofya single tube of high-grade rubber, and the bars 224 inserted within thetube, and the same may be stretched and caught in'the same manner around the impression cylinder.

If desired, the im ression cylinder may be first-covered by a s eetof hard, toughp'aper held theretoby shellac; and the rubber may 1 be attached to the paper by shellac or oement. Similarlayers of tough paper may be 1 interleaved with the various rub er layers and cemented thereto, thus conducing to stability and durability. The-layer of eadmay be secured in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by'provlding it with pro ecting bars 230 to catch under the same-hooks 225, Figure 1. This lead blanket should fit tightly and smoothly upon the rubber blanket and should have a true and smooth cylindrical-outer face.

The outer thin la er of rubber may be provided with similar ars catching in the same manner under the books 225, Figure 1. The outer aper layers may be wound upon revolu le tightenin rods 232 pivoted in the arcuate ends 233 0 box 227 and rotated to tighten the paper by means not shown; rotating devices for tightening tympan paper being known, The entire-composite blanket, including the paper, the rubber and the lead, is very hard, and tends to 'pack under the repeated impressions of the t pes, and hence to compensate for wear an other unevennesses of the types; so that the usual special making read in the nature of providing overlays or the blanket and un erlays for the stereot s, is reduced or eliminated. This compositz h lanket may be considerably varied within the scope of'the invention, and it is not necessar in all cases to use all ortions thereof. oreover, this feature 0 the invention is useful on other printing cylinders and in various kinds of presses, includin the flat'platen variety.

otwithstanding the opening left in the impression cylinder for the'blanket-securing box frame 227, the periphery of the cylinder may be made substantially continuous by the use of a segmental filler plate 233, Figure 2, extendin the length of each linder or section, an curved in conform ty therewith,

' and substantially. bridging the space in the inder is shown extending through a havin the form of a boss 235, of somewhat less diameter than the type cylinder 24, and

cylinder which isflleft open by the inturned blanket ends. This plate may be attached after the blankets are in lace, by means of studs 233 at theends o the plate, having reduced ends 233 which are secured in holes in the box and'oylindefr casting. This con: duces to uniform tautnessand smooth runninlgland accurate feedinglof the web.

e great length 0ft 0 'rinting couple shafts may render it desirab e in some cases to provide for i pression. adjustment at the midwa sup ortmg walls or gartitions throu whic the shafts pas. no form of suc ad'ustment is illustrated at Figure 9, in which t e shaft 234 of the upper type cylbearing formed upon the inner end of a stem or shank 236,.which fits tightly in a bore 237 in the partition 120. -'1 e outerend of this stem 13 indicated at 238. Into the end of the stem is threaded a screw 239, having formed thereon, near its outer end, a flange 240. A cap 241 is fixed upon the framing an confines the screw against endwise movement. By turning the screw in one direction, the stem 236 and bearing 235 are thrust rearwardly or to the right at Figure 9, thereby increasing the impression. By'turning the screw in the o posite direction, the impression may be ecreased at this point. The screw maybe provided with a lock-nut 242. It will be understood that each of the four printing couple shafts may be thus adjusted about midway of its length.

The outer ends of the shafts may also be ad'usted toward and from each other in each printing couple, by loosenin the bolts 108 which hold the two standing rames onto the table, and then turning side bolts 244, Figure 7, to draw the cylinders toward each other or separate them, at either end of the press, Figures 4 and 7, the same being secured by lock-nuts 245. Fine adjustment may be secured by the use of 00-0 rating stops 246 in the form of rods, Figure which may be threaded into one of the lugs 247,

Figure4, extending from the sides of the framework, and bearing at its end against so that the front and rear the other lug);

e forced apart, together with frames may.

the cylinders; the bolts 244 then-being used to draw the lugs 246.

The plan is discarded, which is common in web presses, ofusing ink-rollers of about the same length'a's the type cylinders, because of the objectionably great diameter andweight of said rolls and their inadapb ability to small forms and liability to' small tightly against the stops injuries which renderthe whole roll useless;

, and also because of the difficulty in using more than one color of ink throughout the length of the roll. To overcome these objections and gain further advantages, there is employed a series .of ink-roll 'sets,the rolls in each set being ailittle longer than the length of a type orm 97, and each series of rolls being mounted in a frame and forming therewith a unit, which is settable or adjustable to any desired point or zone .along he type cylinder," Sets of units of assorted sizes may be kept in reserve,--'for use with forms of different len hs, While there is illustrated a. unit .whic is about coextensive in length with one of the form's, it will be understood that the length of any unit'may be doubled, or tripled, so asto 1 ink two or more of said forms if desired.

An assortment of sizes of units may be kept in reserve, some of fractional size as compared with those illustrated, and some double size, and so on. Each unit may comprise a pair of dide plates 248, Figures 3, 6, 9, 11, be-

tween which extend inking rollers, several of which may be journaled in the side plates.

257 journaled at its ends in the side plates 248. This roll 255 transfers the ink to a distributing roll 258 having a shaft 259 journaled at its ends in the side plates 248. The arms 256 are swung in one direction b means of a sprin 260, and in the other direction by a means 0 a power-driven cam-shaft 261,-which extends the full width of the press and is common to all the sets of ink rolls at the front of the press. The distributin roll 258 runs upon a power-driven distri uting cylinder 262 extending the full width of the press, and

I also common to all of the inking sets at the front of the press, wherever-they are adjusted. Upon this distributing cylinder also run distributing rolls 263 and 264, similar'to 258.

In contact with the last roll 264 runs a transfer inking roll 265 which may be of relatively great diameter, and mounted upon arms 266 integral with the vibrating arms 256, and

swinging up intermittently away from the roll 264 and into-contact with a-form roll 267. There is also provided another form roll 268, and a third roll 269 rides upon the form rolls. The form and rider rolls may be mounted upon a swiveled frame 270, pivoted between the ends of arms 271 that are fast upon a rock-shaft 272, the end of which are journaled in the side plates 248; a spring 273 keepin the form rolls in contact with the form. Pre erably a stop 274 is engaged by an arm 275 into ral with 271 and prevents over-swinging of t e form rolls. A't Figui'e 9, which shows one of the inking units at the front of the press, the power for driving the'inking devices issupplied b a short vertical counter shaft 276, whose ower end has a beveled pinion 277 meshing with a beveled gear 278 fixed upon the shaft176 of the im ression cylinder 23 of the lower couple. worm 279 on said shaft meshes with a worm-wheel 280, which, revolves the cam-shaft 261, at low speed, the shaft 261 being engageable by the rolls 281 on the lower ends of the vibrating arms 256 of the various inkin units, so that,

ink is transferred from all t e doctor rolls 252 toall of the distributing rolls 258 in'the sets of the inking units, and so thatthe trans fer rolls 255 and 265 are also operated, the cam 261 driving the arms256 in one direction, and the springs 260 returning the arms towards the right at Figure 9. Also mounted on said shaft 276 is a beveled-gear 282,.mesh ing with a beveled pinion 283 upon a shaft 284 of the distributing cylinder 262, which accordin ly is effective upon. all the distributing rolls 258, 263, 264 in all of the sets, which may be arranged side by side along this part of the press. The distributing cylinder 262 may revolve at twice the surface speed of the type cylinder 24, or at a higher rate, so as to accelerate and promote the distribution of ink; the transfer roll 265 revolving at high speed when riding upon the distributing roll 264, and revolving at low speed when riding upon the form roll 267. It will be seen that owing partly to the large circumference of the roll 265, which is equal to more than half of the height (circumference) of the highest type form, and partly to the speed of distribution secured by the rapid cylinder 262,

an even distribution may be secured.

The inking unit frame 248, 249, 250 is adjustable along guide rails 285, 286 formed in the front and rear of the press, extending from the midway walls or partitions to the sides of the press and integral therewith. A sufficient space is left between the upper and lower tracks 285, 286 to permit the inking unit to be inserted between them to its working position, and to be withdrawn from the press. Each unit may be clamped in place by linger-nuts 287 threaded upon studs 288 projecting outwardly from bars 249, 250, said nuts having flanges 289 which catch on the rear sides of ledges 290 that frame the openings in the front and rear walls of the press. The rails 285, 286 lie at some distance inwardly from said ledges 290, to give room for the studs 288 and flanges 289. Each flange 289 is cut away at 291; and, when said cutaway is rotated to horizontal osition, the flange clears ledges 290, permitt1ng the withdraw'al of the inking unit from the press.

It will be understood that the inking units may employ all the same color of ink, or each may employ a different color independently of the other units, and that the distributing cylinder-262 can accordingly accommodate a succession of different colors received from the different units, without bleeding of color from any unit upon the succeedin type form.

It will be seen that the distri uting rolls 258, 263, 264 are all at the left or upper side of the distributing cylinder 262, which remains in the press when, the inkin unit is detached, so that said rolls are easil with drawn from the cylinder. In detac ing, it is preferable to draw the bottom of the inking unit forwardl until the top roll 264 is forward of the istributing cylinder 262, andv then to let the inking unit descend as it is being withdrawn forwardly from the press,

The inking rolls in each unit are all o'f-the which is an advantage, particularly where eniy onenarrow web is being printed, which

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