Patent GB-189923183-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the Method and Means of Making Printing Surfaces, and particularly Graduated Printing Surfaces, suitable for Planographic, Relief, Intaglio, or other Printing.
Inventor: HADDAN HERBERT JOHN
Filed: 1899-11-21
Granted: 1900-03-03
Abstract: 23,183. Haddan, H. J., [American Lithographic Co.]. Nov. 21. Lithographic and like printing. -In its simplest form, this machine has a primary surface 1, upon which the required permanent printing-surface has been developed, and which is carried by a cylinder 2 on a shaft 3. From this surface the design is transferred by direct contact to a secondary surface 5 placed on a cylinder 6 carried by a shaft 7. Frames 222, 223, centered on shafts 224, 225 respectively, carry the inking- mechanism, and frames 226, 227, centered on the same shafts, carry the damping-m e c h a n i s m . The frame 223 is moved towards or away from the surface 5 by a hand-wheel 228 and gear-wheel 229 fixed on a sleeve surrounding the shaft 225, while the frame 227 is operated by the hand-wheel 230. The frames 222, 226 are similarly operated. The cylinders 2, 6 are raised, when it is desired to remove the surfaces 1, 5 from them, by means of racks 231, 232, and gearing operated by the main shaft. The cylinder 6 is moved towards or away from the cylinder 2 by a hand-wheel 233, which rotates the shaft 7 carrying eccentrics. The cylinder 6 is loose on its shaft, so that, when the eccentrics act, the cylinder is moved but not rotated. To transfer the design from one cylinder to the other, the cylinders are rotated, the motion being carried from the main shaft by gearing 235, 236, shafts 237, 238, and gears 239, 240, 241, 242, 243 A special tooth on the gear 243 meshes with a marked recess in the gear 242, when the cylinders are brought into contact, so as to secure accurate registering. By this arrangement, any number of secondary surfaces can be made, which are exact duplicates of one another, or a series of registering primary surfaces may be used to form a series of registering secondary surfaces. The cylinders and surfaces on them are formed with corresponding ribs and recesses, so as to fit always in predetermined positions. The secondary surface is afterwards developed, as by etching, to form the required printing-surface suitable for planographic, relief, intaglio, and other printing, particularly multi-colour printing. The machine may be driven by an electric motor, as indicated. In a more complicated form, an intermediate or conveying cylinder is employed, to which the design on the primary surface is first transferred, and from which it is subsequently transferred to the secondary surface. In this case the intermediate rotating cylinder moves laterally to contact with the primary and secondary cylinders, and apply as much pressure as desired to them. The conveying-cylinder is provided with a special automatic gripping and releasing appliance for the transfer paper employed. In modifications, the conveying-cylinder may be provided with a conveying-surface of rubber or paper. The printing-surfaces may be flat, curved, or cylindrical, and may be of stone, aluminium, zinc, or other material.