US2112188A - Apparatus for intaglio or the like printing - Google Patents

Description

March 22, 1938. H. WOODHEAD APPARATUS FOR INTAGLIO OR. THE LIKE PRINTING Filed Dec. 5, 1936 lwuxii i I Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR INTAGLIO OR THE LIKE PRINTING Harper Woodhead,

Blackborough, near Gullompton, England 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for intaglio and other printing which is particularly applicable for example, to bank note printing.

In intaglio printing it is usual to use a separate plate for the making of each colour impression on the paper or the like to be printed, but it has been suggested to use a single plate and apply colour to localized areas of this from inking pads cut'away according to the particular area to be inked by each of them.

In the process of the present invention, however, a single plate is provided throughout its surface with a ground colour and colours are then superimposed on said ground colour on the plate from separate inking pads.

The invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:-

- Figure l is a plan view of one form of machine.

Figure 2 is a section on the line I--I of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a section on the line II--II of Figure 1 and on the lines III-III, and IV-IV of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section on the line V-V, of Figure Figure 5 is a section on the line VI-VI, of Fig. ure 1.

The machine comprises a rotary table I having 3 sockets for the reception of printing plates 2 to be inked, which plate may be in the form of a wood block, a stereo, an intaglio or etched plate or any other type of printing surface.

In the machine shown by way of example, the rotary table I has six sockets, so that six operations can be performed in sequence in one operation on one plate taking place simultaneously with a diiferent operation on another plate.

At the station I radial to the table l is arranged 40 an ink supply hopper 3, from which ink is taken up on to an inking roller 4, and transferred to a rotary inking plate 5. Ink is transferred from the plate 5 to an inking plate 6 by means of a set of rollers l on a reciprocating frame, 8, which 45 frame also carries a second set of inking rollers 9 for transferring ink from the inking plate 6 to the printing plate 2. This frame 8 may also carry a hinged doctor H! for removing superfluous ink from the plate 2. At station I, the

50 ink applied to the plate 2 is preferably in the form of a ground colour, usually a grey, neutral tint, which becomes subservient to tints or colours subsequently to be applied.

A block, pad, or other intaglio surface. H is 55 disposed at the next station II to reciprocate in a plane at right angles to the surface of the printing matrix 2 to be inked, which in its rotation on the table, comes to this station. This pad II is inked by a reciprocating set of rollers l2, taking up a colour from a rotary plate 13 inked from a roller I4 and ink supply l5 similar to the plate 5, roller 4 and ink supply 3 at sta tion I. By this means there is imposed on the matrix or plate 2 completely covered with ground colour, a pattern corresponding to the pattern engraved or otherwise formed on the pad ll. Similar arrangements to Figure 3 are disposed n at stations III and IV, for the application of a second and third coloured imprint upon the background. It is obvious however, that any number of stations may be provided for providing any number of superposed colour layers by simi- 15 lar means. Three colour layers superimposed over a ground colour are shown in the accompanying diagrammatic drawing solely by way of example.

At the station V, of the rotary table I, a sheet 0 or sheets of paper, metal or the like to be printed may be printed from the printing matrix or plate 2 in any desired known manner, and at station VI, the printing plate or matrix 2 may either be interchanged for another or be cleaned in readiness for the commencement of a fresh cycle.

In order to print the sheet of paper or the like at station V, this is fed by grippers H5 at each side which carry it over the rotary table to the exact position over the engraved plate or printing matrix 2, whereupon a platen descends for the impression to be taken. After the platen has receded relatively to the table, the grippers l6 returning from above draw the paper away from the plate commencing at a part nearest the center of the table in order to counteract the pull or adhesion of the inked plate to the paper.

At station VI the plate may either be cleaned by hand, or automatically by brushes or pads I! or both disposed at varying angles.

I declare that what I claim is:-

A printing machine comprising a rotary table,

means to secure a plurality of similar printing plates thereon, inking means operable opposite one point of said rotary table to transfer colour to each plate in turn, doctor means to remove excess colour from the plate, a plurality oi ink pads bearing differential patterns and disposed in spaced relationship angularly around said table, means to apply colour to each of said patterned pads in turn, means to apply each patterned pad in turn to each plate in turn, and means to obtain a printing impression from each plate in turn when it has received the various colour impressions.

HARPER WOODHEAD.

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