US357927A - Perfecting printing-machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. T. HAWKINS. PERFEGTING PRINTING MACHINE.

N PLTERS. PhDXvUlhognpheI, Wum mn. D. c.

(No Mod'eL) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. T. HAWKINS.

'PERFEGTING PRINTING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

N. PETERS. PhnkrLilhogr-wher, Washington, 0.0.

. 7 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. T. HAWKINS. I PERFBGTING PRINTING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

r .l a r .8 M a 8 e d e -/WU t I N. PETERS. Pholnruthognphar. Wmhinpon. n. c.

(No Model.) 7 SheetsSheet 4t.-

J. T. HAWKINS.

. PEBPEGTING PRINTING MACHINE. r No.'35'7,927. Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

J. T. HAWKINS. PERFEGTING PRINTING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 15. 1887.

N. PETERS. Phmvmlw n her. Wnhin ion, D. c.

(No Model.) 7 Sheefis-Sheet 6. J. T. HAWKINS.

PEBPEGTING PRINTING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

N. PETERS. Phnloljlhognphen Waihinglon. D. c.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

J. T. HAWKINS.

PERFEGTING PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 357,927. Patented Feb. 15 1887.

N. PETERS, PhuwLimn m hur. wamm ton, 0,6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. HAJVKINS, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PERFECTING PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIPICJATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,927, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed July 1856. Serial F0. 207,119. (No modrl.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that J, JOHN T. Hnwnnvs, of Taunton, in the countyof Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Perfecting Printing- Maehines, which invention or improvements are fully set forth and illustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide a rotary machine to print both sides ofsheets cut from a co ntinnous web or webs before printing either from type or plate forms, which machine shall admit of variations in the size of the sheets as may be required between a fixed maximum and minimum by the adjustment of certain parts for severing larger or smaller sheets from the web and timing them with the printing mechanism.

In rotary printingmachines which print upon a continuous web, separating the sheets therefrom after printing, the size of the sheet to be printed can only vary in some multiple of the form, and the form must remain as offixed is caused to print from both forms, and the sheets are so timed through a pathway from one to the other of the impressioncylinders,

after reversal, as to be perfected, each sheet at the last cylinder, by alternate sides, thus printing double the number of perfected sheets to each revolution of the plate or form cylinder.

The invention also consists in improvements in the sheetreverser, all as hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a diagram matic longitudinal vertical secti on. Fig. 3 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the sheet severing, feeding, and reversing mechanism, the latter being in position as receiving the sheet from the imprcssioncylinder, and in section only, and having the main frame toward observer removed. Fig. 4, is an elevation of the sheet-reverser on the same scale as Fig. 3, in position when deliver" ng the reversed sheet. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the line 00 00, Fig. 3', viewed from the left of Fig. 8. Fig. 6 is an end elevation from the left of Fig. 3, showing web feeding and severing mechanism only. Fig. 7 is, on a still more enlarged scale, an elevation of the sheetreversing mechanism in position when receiv ing the sheet from the firstimpression cylinder. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the same, as seen from the right of Fig. 7, the cylinder 7, shaft 31, and pulleys 33 being removed. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the shoet-reverser, on the same enlarged scale, in position when delivering the reversed sheet. Figs. 10, 11, 12,and 13are diagrams showing by the dotted curves the respective paths described by the sheet-severing knife and the notch therefor corresponding to the two different positions of their adjustable fulcrums. show the arrangement of the variable fulcrums corresponding to the other drawings, and as the preferable form of it; and Figs. 10 and 11, a modification of said arrangement,which may be used in some cases.

In said figures the several parts are indicated by numbers, as follows: The numbers 2 and 3 indicate the main frames, and at the type or form cylinderprovidcd with the forms 5 and 6. The first and second impression cylinders 7 and 8 arejournalcd in boxes 9, which slide and are ad 3' ustabl y secu red in jaws on the frames 2 and 8, and the shaft of the type or form cylinder a is similarly journaled in boxes 10. Said iinpressioncylinders are geared to the type or form cylinder 4. by gears 12 and 13 on their respective axes. The ink-rollers 11 are operated to drop upon the ink-distributing surfaces in theusual way. (Not shown.) The ink-distributing surfaces 14: on the form-cylinder are slightly below the circle described by the type or form in order to clear the inr pression-cylinders. Near the ink-fountain 15 are the doctor-rollers 16, operated in the usual way, (not shown,) to convey the ink from the Figs. 12 and 13 ICO first from the impression-cylinder 7. Two series of tape-pulleys, 21, are carried on suitable shafts, 28, journaledjn the main frames, and a series of tapes, 22, envelop said pulleys and pass between the fingers of the sheet-reverser 19. These tapes are driven in unison withthe surface Velocity of the impression-cylinder 7 by means of a gear, 23, on one of the tapepulley shafts and an intermediate gear, 24, meshing with gear 12 on the axis of the impressioncylinder 7.

Two series of tape-pulleys, 25, are secured on suitable shafts, 26 26, journaled in one series of fingers of the sheet-reverser l9 and carrying tapes 27. The pulleys 25 run loosely on the shaft 26, which serves as a rock-shaft, as hereinafter explained. The tapes 27 are driven by frictional contact with tapes 22 while receiving the sheet between them.

The impression-cylinder 7 carries a series of grippers,29,and sheet-lit'terfingers 30, mounted on the usual rock-shafts, and operated to close and open at the proper times by any of the.

well-known methods. shown.)

Secured upon a shaft, 31, journaled in the frames 2 and 3, is a gear-wheel, 32, meshing with gear 12. Upon shaft 31 are secured a series of pulleys, 33, adjusted to press upon the sheet andinsuresufficient frictional contact between the impression-cylinder 7 and sheet to pull it from contact with the form after the grippers 29 have opened to release the head of the sheet. Upon a rod, 34, are secured a series of guides, On a shalt, 36, journaled in the frames 2 and 3, is secured a gear-wheel, 37, meshing with gear-wheel 32. Upon shaft 36 is also mounted a series of pulleys, 38.

Journaled in pulleys 38 is a rock-shaft, 39, carrying grippers 40, operated in a customary manner (not shown) to open and close at the proper times. One of the pulleys 38 at the end carries a cam, 41. Secured to rock-shaft 26 is an arm, 42, carrying a roller, 43. Secured to shaft 26 is also a series of fingers, 44. The hub of the arm 42 has formed upon it a single ratchet-notch, 45. On a stud, 46,

(Not necessary to be in one of the reverser-fingers 19 is pivoted a two-armed lever, 47, operated to force its shorter arm in the notch 45 by a spring, 48, Upon rock-shaft 26 is a spring, 49, Fi 8, which operates to close the fingers 44 upon the sheet. A roller, 50, adj ustably secured to the cylinder 7, engages the long arm of lever 47 at the proper time to throw its short arm out of the notch 45, permitting the spring 49 to close the fingers 44 upon the sheet, and thus prevent its further progress into the reverser 19. The cam 41 at the proper time engages the roller 43, releasing the fingers 44 from the sheet simultaneouly with the closing of'the grippers 40 upon it, and allowing the short arm of lever 47 to again enter the notch 45, so that fingers 44 may be again held open for the reception of the succeeding sheet.

Upon a rock-shaft, 51, are secured two arms, 52. To the free ends of arms 52, at one end,

and to the ends of a shaft, 53, extending through the reverser-fingers 19, at the other end, are articulated two links, 53. Swinging upon a stud, 57, secured in frame 2, is a lever, 56. Articulated to the free end of lever 56 is a link, 55. The free end of link 55 carries a roller, 58, which engages a suitably-formed box-cam, 59, secured to the impressioircylinder 7. Thelother end of link 55 is articulated to the short lever 54, the mechanism 51 to 59, inclusive, serving to oscillate the reverser l9 and its mechanism alternately and at the proper times into position to receive the sheet head first from the grippers 29 of the impression-oylinder 7 and deliver it tail first to the grippers 40 of the pulleys 38. The grippers 29 and sheet-lifter fingers 30 of cylinder 7 are caused to open just after passing the point of contact of pulleys 33 with impression-cylinder 7, and to close to receive the sheets be fore printing in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Geared directly to impression cylinder 8 by a gear-wheel, 69, is a second series of pulleys, 60, similar to 38, carried upon a shaft, 64, and similarly carrying grippers 61, and impressioneylinder 8 carries a series of grippers, 62, and sheet-lifter fingers 63, similar to 29 and 30 of cylinder 7, these grippers and fingers being operated to open and close at the proper times by any of the well-known means. (Not necessary to show.) Over each series of leading tape-pulleys to 83, inclusive, in conjunction with pulleys 38 and 60, two series of tapes, 84 and 85, are run, pulleys 78 and 81 being arranged to provide for tight eninglthe tapes, and pulleys 72 arranged to vary the length of pathway for the sheet in its passage from pulleys 38 to pulleys 60, to provide for accurate register.

Commencing at the top of pulleys 38, Fig. 2, tapes 85 pass around and under 38 over 71, thence in contact with tapes .84 under 72 and 73, over 74, under75, over 76, partially around ISO 60, where they part contact with tapes 84, to

and over 79,down to and under 80 and 81, up to and over 82, under 83, thence to place of starting. Tapes 84, commencing at pulleys 70, pass under 38, thence in contact with tapes 85, over pulleys 71, under 72 and 73, over 74, under 75, upward and over 76, thence around 60, leaving contact with tapes 85, downward under 77 and 78, upward and over 70 to place of starting. The grippers 40 of pulleys 38 are caused to release the sheet after passing the points of contact of tapes 84 and 85, and the grippers 61 of pulleys 60 close upon it during its passage from pulleys 7.6 to 79. In this way a continuous pathway for the sheet is formed between two series of tapes, 84 and 85, from the time it is released by the grippers 40 of pulleys 38 until seized by the grippers 61 of the pulleys 60. The grippers 62 of cylinder 8 take the sheet from the'grippers 61 of pulleys 60, and hold it until they reach the place of contact with another series of tapes, 86, when they release it. Two other series of tapes, 87 88, are provided, and 89 to 98, inclusive, are a series of tape-pulleys carried upon suitable shafts journaled in the frames 2 and 3. Tapes 86, commencing at the top of cylinder 8, pass over 97 in contact with tapes 88, under 96, over 95, thence in contact with tapes 87, under 94, over 92, thence leaving contact with tapes 87, under and around 91, over 90, around and under 89 to place of starting. Tapes 87, commencing at top of 95, pass in contact with tapes 86, under 94, up and over 92, down and over 93, and under to place of starting. Tapes 88, commencing at top of 97, are in contact wit-h tapes 86, thence leaving contact pass downward under and around 98, up to and over 97 to place of starting. The grippers 62 and lifterfingers 63 of cylinder 8 release the sheet after passing the point pf contact of tapes 86 with cylinder 8. A series of strippers or guide-fingers, 99, lead the sheets into the short pathway between tapes 86 and 8S, and a series of switch-fingers, 100, lead alternate sheets into the pathway between tapes 86 and 87. The switchfingers are attached toa rock-shaft, 101,which, through the instrumentality of the lever 102, secured to it, the link 103, carrying roller 104, engaging cam 105, is caused to deflect each alternate sheet, asaboveexplained. Thelink103issuspended near one end from a swinging arm, 106, pivoted on a stud, 107, secured to the frame, and the cam 105 is driven by a pinion, 108, secured to the axis of cylinder 7and engaging aproperly-proportioned gear, 109, secured to the axis of the cam. The ordinary oscillating sheet-fliers, 111, are carried upon rockshafts 112 113, and 114 115 are two receiving tables.

The method employed to oscillate the sheet fliers is not shown, as not essential to this invention.

In the above construction, it will be seen that the sheets will be delivered from the cylinder 8 with alternate printed sides uppermost; and if all were delivered on one receiving-board all would be deposited thereon in the same way. To avoid this, and at the same time give the fliers more time to operate} the switch 100 is used to deflect the sheets alternately into different paths, one-half the number of sheets being laid upon the board 114, and the other halfupon board 115, and on each board all with the same face upward.

The shaft 116, journaled in the frames 2and 3, carries a pinion, 117, meshing with the corresponding wheel on the axis of the form-cylinder 4, and also carries driving pulleys 118, to which the belt-power is applied for imparting motion to the whole.

The roll 119, from which the web is fed to the machine, has its axis carried in suitable journals, 120, in the frames 2 and 3. Journaled also in frames 2 and 3, is a leading-roll, 121, and a pair of biting or feeding rolls, 122, driven by toothed piuions 123. Upon a stud, 124, adjustably secured in the frame 3, runs freely anintermediate gear, 125,which meshes with another intermediate gear, 126, similarly running upon a fixed stud, 127. Upon the adjustable stud 124, but secured to the gear so as to rotate with it, is a pinion, 128, meshing with one of the pinions 123. The pinion 128 is arranged to be changed, alarger or smaller one being substituted for it, for imparting to the web a slower or faster speed, as may be required for various sizes of sheet, in a manner similar to the change-gears on an engine-lathe, the stud 124 being placed to suit the particular-sized pinionused, the velocity of rotation of the rolls 122 determining the length of sheet which shall be fed in before being severed by the cutting knives.

Another intermediate gear, 129, runs upon a fixed stud, 130, in the frame 3,which in turn meshes with 126. Upon three fixed studs, 131, 132, and 133, secured in the frame 3, run three intermediate gears, 134, 1.35, and 136. Intermediate gear, 134, meshes with gear 12 of the impression-cylinder 7, and then in train to a larger wheel, 137, secured to a short shaft, 138, journaled in the frame 3 and in one arm of bracket 174. Upon shaft 138 is also secured a gear, 139, which meshes with intermediate gear, 129, and thus motion is conveyed from the impression-cylinder 7 to the feed-roll 122 in train by the gears numbered in the following order: 12 134 135 136 137, and 139 129 126 125 and 128 123. Upon astud, 140, fixed in the frame 3, runs an intermediate gear, 141, meshing with gear 139, and with a pinion, 142, mounted on a. shaft, 143, journaled in the frames 2 and 3. Shaft 143 carries a series of tapepulleys, 144. On shaft 143 is also mounted a bevelgear, 145. Journaled in brackets 146, attached to frame 3, is a shaft, 147, having mounted on one end a bevel-gear, 148. Arranged to slide freely on shaft 147, but made to rotate with it by means of a sliding feather or key, is a bevelgear, 149.

Journaled in a pair of sliding brackets, 150, is a shaft, 151, on which is secured a bevelgear, 152, and a spurgear, 153. J ournaled in sliding brackets is a shaft, 154, and secured to it is a spur-gear, 155, meshing with gear 153. Shaft 151 carries a series of tape pulleys, 156, and shaft 154 a similar series of tape-pulleys, 157. The two sliding brackets 150 are arranged to be moved together, and the shafts 151 and 154 are kept at right angles to the frames 2 and 3 by means of two racks, 158, secured to the frames 2 and 3. The shaft 159 is journaled in the sliding brackets 150, and carries two pinions, 160, seen red to its ends, which mesh into the racks 158. Shaft 159 is operated by means of a crank-handle, 161. The shafts 162, 163,164, and 168 arejournaled in the frames 2 and 3, and carry, respectively, each a series of tape-pulleys, 165, 166, 167, and 169. On a fixed shaft, 170, secured in frames 2 and 3, are secured a series of guidefingers, 171.

Two series of tapes, 172 and 173, run over tape-pulleys, as follows: Commencing on top,

around 169, to place of starting.

of tape-pulleys 165, tapes 172 run horizontally to the left over and around 167, then horizontally to the right over 156, when they come in contact with tapes 173, and, remaining in contact with tapes 173, pass under 157 to and over 169, where they part contact with tapes 173, thence under 166, thence over and in contact with a portion of the periphery of impression-cylinder 7, under and around to place of starting. Tapes 173, commencing at bottom of pulleys 169, pass to the left horizontally to and around 144, thence horizontally, or nearly so, to the right to the top of 156, where they come in contact with tapes 172, thence, in contact with 172, under 157, to and The shafts 143 and 164 are so situated that their respective pulleys 144 and 167 and the tapes 172 and 173 do not touch, but slightly converge to their points of contact, where they pass over pulleys 156. The tapes 172 and 173 are given a velocity equal to the peripheral velocity of the impression-cylinder 7. It is obvious from this construction that the shafts 151 and 154, with their pulleys, may be placed, by means of the sliding brackets 150, at any desired position from the. impression-cylinder 7 withoutchanging the length of that series of tapes.

Secured to the inside of frame 3 are two brackets, 174. In one arm of brackets 174 and in the frame 3 are journaled short shafts 138 and 175. Secured to shaft 138 isa gear-wheel, 1'76. and to shaft 175 a similar wheel, 177. On shaft 175 is secured a gear-wheel, 178, corresponding to wheel 137 on shaft 138,.and the two are connected by the two intermediate gear-wheels, 179 and 180, running upon studs 181 and 182, secured in the frame 3. Attached to the inside of frame 2 are brackets 183. J ournaled in brackets 174 and 183 are two shafts, 184 and 185. Secured to shafts 184 and 185 are two gears, 186 and 187, meshing, respectively, with gear-wheels 176 and 17 7. Secured to each end of shafts 184 and 185 are crank-disks 188, carrying crank-pins 189.

Journaled in lugs 190, projecting from frames 2 and 3, are two vertical shafts, 191, having secured to each extremity miter-gears 192, and journaled in the frames 2 and 3 are two horizontal shafts, 193 and 194, each similarly carrying at their ends miter-gears 195, meshing with gears 192, shaft 193 being prolonged for attachmentofthecrank-handle196. The shafts 191 are each threaded at two parts, upon which run sliding nuts 197. The nuts 197 slide in slots in the frames 2 and 3, as shown, and to their inner ends are secured two shafts, 198 and 199. Upon shafts 198 and 199 oscillate four boxes, 200. Sliding upon the boxes 200 are two slotted carriers 201 and 202, the vertical arms of which are articulated to the crankpins 189. To the horizontal partof carrier 202, Sheet 7, is secured ashort serrated sheet-separating knife, 203, and the corresponding part of carrier 201 is a groove or notch, 204, into which the knife 203 passes in separating the sheets from the web.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the sheet-separating knife 203 and its notch 204 occupy positions the reverse of those shown on Sheet 7 just described, containing Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13. The knife 203 is mutilated at several points, so as to leave several small parts ofthe web unsevered. The shafts 198 and 199 serve as fulcrums upon which the slotted vertical arms of the carriers 201 and 202 oscillate as actuated by the cranks 188, and these fulcrums are varied in position relative to the cranks 188 by screwing the nuts 197 together or apart by means of the crankhandle 196, the miter- gears 192 and 195, and

the shafts 191, 193, and 194.

It is obvious that by bringing the nuts 197 nearer to the cranks the horizontal velocities of the knife 203 and groove 204 at the time of separating or perforating the web will be greater, and vice versa; but the vertical motion of the knife 203 and slot or groove 204 will not be changed. In this Way the horizontal velocities of the sheet-cutting knife and groove may be varied to correspond to the velocity of feed given to the web by the changegear 128. The web, not being completely sepa rated by the action of the knife 203 and groove 204, is led by the preceding sheet into or between the tapes 172 and 173, and, as the tapes 172 and 173 will always travel faster than the uncut web, the leading edge of a sheet is first grasped at the points of contact of tapes 172 and 173 where they mount the pulleys 156, and is by them torn from the web at the small uncut portion left unsevered by the knife; and it is obvious that the position of the bite of the tapes 172 and 173 may be placed, by means of the sliding brackets 150, at the proper position to meet the advancing edge of any given length of sheet, as may be determined on. The shifting of the sliding brackets 150, and with them the bite of the tapes 172 and 173 to or from the impression-cylinder 7, will vary the time at which the head of the sheet will reach the grippers of the impression-cylinder 7, and in order to bring these elements into unison one of the intermediate wheels 134, 135, or 136 is made to be handily removed and the sheetsevering device of the impression-cylinder 7 brought into proper juxtaposition to bring the head of the sheet to meet the grippers 29 of the impression-cylinder 7 for a given length of sheet decided upon.

The diagrams, Figs. 12 and 13, represent the sheetcutting carriers and their movable fulcrums and their cranks corresponding with the other figures, and the dotted closed curves 205 show the paths of the knives 203 and grooves 204 for the corresponding two positions of the fulcrums 198 and 199.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a'modification of this device, in which the fulcrums 198 and 199 are placed outside of the cranks, and the dotted lines similarly show the paths of knife and groove for the corresponding two positions of the fulcrums.

The operation, in brief, is as follows: The web is fed by the rolls 122, and, partially sev ered by the knife 203, passes between the converging tapes 172 173. Upon reaching the biteof tapes 172 and 173, at the top of pulleys 156, the sheet is torn by them from the web 5 just previous to the operation of the knife 203 the impression-cylinder 7,the roller 50 releases the clamping-fingers 44, and they clamp the sheet against the fingers of the reverser 19, and simultaneously with this the cam 59 de presses the reverser 19 until the tail of the sheet lies upon the tapes 85, surrounding the pulleys 38. At this point the grippers 40 of the pulleys 38 seize the sheet by the tail-edge, and the cam 41 simultaneously releases the clamping-fingers 44, allowing the sheet to be drawn out of the reverser tail first. While the sheet is" being drawn from the reverser the cam 59 returns the reverser into position to receive the succeeding sheet, so that at the moment the last part of the sheet passing out of the reverser is leaving it the head of the next sheet is entering it. From this point the sheet is carried between the tapes 84 and 85 until seized by the grippers 61 of the pulleys 60, and is thence taken by the grippers 62 of impression-cylinder S and printed on the second side, the length of path between tapes 84 and 85 being such as to bring the sheet at the proper time to meet the proper form. The sheet is then switched to the proper flier, as heretofore explained. V

For the printing of ordinary newspapers, when the size ofa sheet does not require to be varied from time to time, of course all that part of the mechanism deslgned to enable the machine to print upon various sizes of sheets may be dispensed with and a simple and wellknown form of cutting-cylinders for severing uniform-sized sheets from the web substituted for said mechanism.

As arranged and shown, the machine prints two perfected sheets for each revolution of the form cylinder4. ltis not, however, intended to be confined to the use of two impressioncylinders only.

lVith a definite and fixed size of sheet to be printed and the ordinary simpleineans of severing the web by means of cutting-cylinders the whole may be arranged and proportioned so as to use four impression-cylinders, and thus print four perfected sheets to each revolution of the form-cylinder; or, if stereotyped duplicates of the forms be used, two papers in the width of the machine may be printed and the web or sheets split longitudinally in their passage through the machine, in such case printing four perfected sheets with two impression-cylinders, or eight perfected sheets with four impression-cylinders, to each revolution of the form-oylinder 4. In the case of adapting the machine for four impression-cylinders of course the sheets will be severed from two separate webs.

Having thus fully described my said improvements as of my invention, I claim-- l. In a perfecting printingmachinain combination therein, a type or form revolving cylinder, as 4, a pair of impression-cylinders, as 7 and 8, arranged to remain at an adjustably-fixed distance from said type or form revolving cylinder, so that each impression-cylinder shall make contactwith all the forms on said type or form revolving cylinder, means, substantially as described, for separating the web into sheets before printing, a suitable sheet reverser and conveyer, as 19, for receiving the printed sheets head first from the first impression-cylinder and delivering the same tail first to the grippers of a series of gripperwheels, as 38, two series of tapes, as S4 85,

forming apathway of adjustable length, and a second series of gripper-carrying wheels, as

60, to receive the sheets from the said tapepath and deliver them tail first and reversed to the grippers of the second impression-cylinder, whereby the sheets are first cut from the web and then alternately printed on both sides by eachimpression-cylinder, substan-- tially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a printing-machine, the combination of a type or form revolving cylinder, as 4, a pair of impression-cylinders, as 7 and 8, each arranged in an adj ustably-fixed position so as to print from all the forms of said type or form revolving cylinder, and a vibrating reverser and conveyer, as 19, for receiving the sheet head first from the first impression-cylinder and delivering the same therefrom tail first, two series of revolving gripper-wheels, as 38 and 60, and two series of tapes forming a pathway for the sheets, delivering the sheets tail first to the second impression-cylinder,whereby the sheets are alternately printed on both sides by each impressioncylinder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a printing-machine, in combination with a type or form revolving cylinder, as 4, and two impression-cylinders, as 7 and 8, an oscillating sheet reverser and conveyer, as 19, consisting of a double set of fingers, one series carrying suitable tapes, as 27, a set of automatically-operated clamping -fingers, as 44, and means, as rollers 43, cam 41, roller 50, and lever 47, for operating said clampingfingers, and a set of fixed tapes, as 22, whereby the sheets are received from the first impression cylinder head first between the said two series of tapes, arrested in their progress at the proper time by said clamping-fingers, and held by said clampingfingers until delivered therefrom tail first by mechanism conveying them reversed to the second impression-cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a printing-machine in which the sheets are cut from a web before printing, a sheet-cutting mechanism for cutting the web into variable lengths of sheet, consisting of a pair of knife and groove carriers, as 201 and 202, sliding and oscillating upon adjustable fulcrums, as 198 and 199, and actuated by cranks, as 189, whereby the velocity and travel of the knife and groove when severing the web may be adjusted by the variation in position of said fulcrums to the velocity given to the moving web to be cut, and sheets of different lengths thereby cut, as may be desired, substantially as set forth. 0

5. In a printing-machine in which the sheets arecut from a web before printing,'in combination with an adjustable web-severing mechanism for cutting the web into variable lengths of sheet, consisting of a pair ofknife and groove carriers, as 201 and 202, sliding and oscillating upon adjustable fulerunis, as 198 and 199, and actuated by cranks, as 189, means, as changegears 128, for varying the velocity of entrance of the web so as to be in conformity with that of said web-severing mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a printing-machine in which the sheets are cut from a web before printing, in combination with an adjustable Web-severing mechanism, as 201 202 198 199 189, and an adjustable web-feeding mechanism, as 128, an adjustable path-limiting mechanism, as sliding brackets 150, carrying leading tape-pulleys, as 156 157, whereby the partially-severed sheets may be finally severed at the proper from the first impression-cylinder and delivering the same tail first to the grippers of a series of gripperwheels, as 38, two series of tapes, as 84 85, forming a pathway of adjustable length, and a second series of grippercarrying wheels, as 60, to receive the sheets from the said tape-path and deliver them tailfirst and reversed to the grippers of the second impressioncylinder, a sheet-severing device for cutting the web into variable lengths of sheet before printing, consisting of a pair of knife and groove carriers, as 201 202, sliding and oscillating upon adjustable fulcrums, as 198 I99, and actuated by cranks, as 189, and change-gears, as 128, for varying the velocity of entrance of the web, whereby sheets of any desired length,between fixed limits, are severed 4 from the web, fed to the first impressioncylinder, reversed, and conveyed tail first to the second impression-cylinder, and there printed upon their second side and delivered therefrom perfected, substantially as set forth.

JOHN T. HAWKINS.

\Vitnesses:

J our: TULLY, FRANors P. REILLY.

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