An Improved Inking Mechanism for Printing Presses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Inking Mechanism for Printing Presses.
I, DUGALD CLERK, of 18, Scuthampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
W.C., Consulting Engineer (a communication from abroad by Henry Alex-
ander Wise Wood, of 1, Madison Avenue, in the City, County, and State of New
York, U.S.A., Engineer), do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The aim of this invention is to provide a new and improved inking mechanism
to be used at the end of an ordinary reciprocating bed printing press to supply
ink to the ink table which is secured to one end of the bed of said press.
The inking mechanism ordinarily employed in reciprocating bed printing
presses consists of a fountain at one end of the press, an ink table or slab attached
to the end of the reciprocating bed, a ductor roller operated to take ink from the
fountain and deposit the same on the ink-table when the bed is at or about its
extreme fountainwards position, and of a number of form inking-rollers adjacent
to the impression cylinder, which will take the ink from the ink-table and
deposit the same upon the printing forms.
It is common in connection with this arrangement to provide a number of dis-
tributing-rollers, which are set usually at a slight angle to co-operate with the
ink-table, so that as the ink-table reciprocates, these angle-rollers, as they are
called, will distribute or spread the ink on the surface of the ink-table both longi-
tudinally and laterally.
These angle-rollers in some cases are positively geared to oscillate in harmony
with the reciprocations of the ink-table.
The above described construction while advantageous in certain respects, has
a number of disadvantages, among which may be noted the following:
1st. The angle-rollers while effecting a certain spread of ink on one movement
of the table, will act on the opposite movement to retrace their paths and con-
sequently to retract or diminish their spreading effect, and as the angle-rollers
are in contact with the ink-table during one of the reversing movements thereof,
a blur of ink will be left on the table where each roller reverses its motion.
2nd. The angle-rollers, being geared to harmonize with the bed, must be
driven by the bed driving mechanism. Thus the strain of distributing the ink,
which varies with the tenacity and amount of ink used, the temperature and the
condition of the atmosphere, is put upon the bed driving mechanism.
tends to limit the speed of the press, and to wear out the bed driving mechanism,
by reason of the additional work the latter has to perform.
This
3rd. The ductor-roller is generally arranged to deposit a wad or undigested
portion of ink directly upon the ink-table, which wad or mass of ink is not
properly distributed by the angle-rollers, before it is carried to the form inking
rollers and by them placed on the forms and
4th. The ink taken from the fountain at one stroke of the bed is necessarily
carried to the forms on the return stroke of the bed, and this limits the means

page_text: and time which can be used for properly distributing the ink between its release
from the fountain and its deposition upon the form inking-rollers.
The aim of my invention is to provide an improved ink distributing mechanism,
which can be used at the end of a reciprocating bed press, and one which while
having the advantage of being positively geared, will overcome the above pointed
out disadvantages and objections that exist in prior devices.
To this end my improved inking apparatus consists of a system of co-operating
distributing and table-rollers which occupies the space usually given up to the
angle rollers or wavers at one end of the machine.
This system of rollers or ink digesting apparatus is so arranged and con-
structed that it contacts with the ink-table, which reciprocates beneath it, on but
one motion of the said table, and not upon both, as is the present practice.
By using this arrangement it is possible to urive the apparatus continuously
in one direction, which is contrary to the present method employed with table
rollers (or wavers); and to do so regardless of the fact that the table to which
my apparatus eventually supplies the ink has two directions of horizontal
movement.
The arrangement and operation of the mechanism of my improvement, together
with its advantages are as follows:-
In my apparatus said series of rollers is made of hard and soft material (pre-
ferably of iron and roller composition) and rests above and normally out of con-
tact with the plane of travel of the ink table. One end of this series is in
close proximity to the fountain, which is usually at one extremity of the machine.
Between the fountain and the end referred to of my roller system, a ductor or ink
conveying roller plies; and upon each trip it conveys from the fountain and
delivers to the system, a given quantity of ink.
The ink, instead of being carried to the table in its crude mass by the ductor,
is first delivered to said ink digesting apparatus which is independent of the ink
table.
This independent digesting device, consisting of said series of rollers, is geared
to rotate in harmonious co-operation in one direction; and the crude mass of ink
which is conveyed to it by the ductor is rapidly divided among the various
rollers of the system and is, by their continuous rotation, the many points of
their contact, and the lateral vibration of some of them, brought to a delicate
film of uniform thickness before it is laid down upon the table for conveyance to
the form inking rollers: Furthermore, as my system consists of a plurality of
table rollers co-operating with a plurality of distributing rollers which are inter-
mediate of the table rollers (all of which constitute a chain, back and forth
through which, the ink in process of digestion may pass until delivered), the
digested ink when ready for the table is laid down upon the table in a plurality
of layers, one layer passing out through each table-roller. Thus the imperfec-
tion of any given layer is remedied by either a preceding or succeeding layer.
The principle upon which my system operates, in brief, will be understood as
this:-
Ink is received from the fountain in a crude mass; is passed back and forth
through the continuously rotating series of rollers until it is completely digested,
when it is laid down upon the table for use; the continuously rotating rollers of
the system, may (by reason of the fact that they do not oscillate) be so propor-
tioned that their respective co-acting surfaces will hunt; that is keep bringing
different circumferential lines into contact, one with another; which insures a
more perfect distribution of the ink upon their surfaces; and ink so digested will
be better mixed than is possible with oscillating roller systems, and, whereas,
had it been placed upon the table in its crude mass it would have found its way
to the form but partially digested, on the return stroke of the bed.
On the other hand, with my system, the ink is undergoing digestion for the
time occupied by one complete operation of the machine, in addition, before it is
applied to the form. To accomplish the co-operation of a system composed of

page_text: continuously rotating rollers with a reciprocating ink-plate requires that the
system, or certain rollers thereof, be brought into contact with the said plate
when the surfaces of both are moving in the same direction and at the same
velocity; and that the rollers and the plate be not permitted to contact upon the
return stroke of the ink-plate when the direction of travel is opposite.
A very obvious advantage present in my system, and not found in others, is
that the rollers, never being called upon to reverse their motion, last very much
longer, than is the case in other systems, where at each end of the bed stroke,
the rollers must stop and reverse; and further, in my continuously driven system
of table-rollers, no work is put upon the bed-driving parts to propel and reverse
the table-rollers; for I may drive them from any continuously rotating member
of the machine.
To accomplish the alternate contact and non-contact of the table-rollers and
the ink-table, I may employ devices to raise and lower the table-rollers without
raising and lowering the distributing-rollers; or I may raise and lower all the
rollers of my system, or I may permit my roller system to remain fixed with
respect to the horizontal plane and alternately raise and lower the ink-table.
The specific mechanism which I preferably employ, when I only raise and lower
the table-rollers, consists of a set of table and distributing inking rollers,
arranged in brackets on the side-frames of the press.
An ink-fountain is arranged at the end of the press in the usual manner.
The distributing-rollers are journalled in bearings formed in, or secured to
said brackets, and the table-rollers are journalled in sockets which are fitted so
as to be capable of vertical motion in said brackets.
This is generally accomplished by journalling the ends of the table-rollers in
sockets, which sockets are loosely fitted into hubs secured to said brackets.
The ends of said sockets have screws tapped therein to determine the vertical
position of the table-rollers.
These screws rest for one-half of their faces on the framing of the machine,
to determine the lower adjusted position of the table-rollers, and for the other
half of their faces on levers which are pivoted on the inside of the side-frames.
An oscillating shaft is journalled in the side-frames, and carries arms which
carry a ductor-roller adapted to take ink from the fountain, and deposit the same
on the first one of the distributing-rollers.
Also arranged on this shaft are cams which raise and lower said levers.
Suitable gearing is provided to continuously turn the set of rollers, the gearing
generally being applied only to the distributing rollers.
In cases where I contemplate raising and lowering both the table and dis-
tributing-rollers, I mount the entire set of rollers in supplemental frames, which
are supported upon rods on shafts which pass through bearings formed on the
insides of the brackets.
These shafts have rollers which engage sliding-cam-plates, which are operated
by levers and links from the ductor-shaft, and with this arrangement the entire
set of rollers will be raised and lowered, and the movement is so slight that it
will not effect the mesh of the gearing between the parts.
In cases where I contemplate raising and lowering the ink-table or slab, I
mount the system of table and distributing-rollers in the frame of the machine,
and gear the same to turn or run continuously. I arrange the ink table or slab,
so that the same is capable of vertical movement in its supports which project
from the bed and I provide cams or toggles to raise and lower said table, which
cams or toggles may be operated by contacting with stops on the framework on
the machine.
This mechanism is so arranged that the ink-table will engage the table-rollers,
only when it moves under the same in one direction.
The lateral spreading of the ink is obtained by giving one or more of the dis-
tributing-rollers a lateral motion by any of the ordinary cam-mechanisms.
I have thus provided an inking mechanism, which while having the advan-

page_text: tage of positive gearing for distribution, will not have any roller reverse at any
time, whether on or off the ink-table, which will not have the strain of distri-
bution put on the bed driving mechanism, and which will not apply a wad of ink
to the ink-table; and also in my improved mechanism, the ink is retained for a
long time, and evenly ground up and spread in the system of inking-rollers
before it is applied to the surface of the ink-table.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.
I, DUGALD CLERK, of 18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
W.C., Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent (being a communication from
abroad by Henry Alexander Wise Wood, of 1, Madison Avenue, New York,
United States of America, Manufacturer), do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
. The aim of this invention is to provide a new and improved inking mechanism
to be used at the end of an ordinary reciprocating bed printing press to supply
ink to the ink table which is secured to one end of the bed of said press.
The inking mechanism ordinarily employed in reciprocating bed printing
presses consists of a fountain at one end of the press, an ink table or slab attached
to the end of the reciprocating bed, a ductor roller operated to take ink from the
fountain and deposit the same on the ink-table when the bed is at or about its
extreme fountainwards position, and of a number of form inking-rollers adjacent
to the impression cylinder, which will take the ink from the ink-table and
deposit the same upon the printing forms.
It is common in connection with this arrangement to provide a number of dis-
tributing-rollers, which are set usually at a slight angle to co-operate with the
ink-table, so that as the ink-table reciprocates, these angle-rollers, as they are
called, will distribute or spread the ink on the surface of the ink-table both longi-
tudinally and laterally.
These angle-rollers in some cases are positively geared to oscillate in harmony
with the reciprocations of the ink-table.
The above described construction while advantageous in certain respects, has
a number of disadvantages, among which may be noted the following.
1st. The angle-rollers while effecting a certain spread of ink on one movement
of the table, will act on the opposite movement to retrace their paths and con-
sequently to retract or diminish their spreading effect, and as the angle-rollers
are in contact with the ink-table during one of the reversing movements thereof,
a blur of ink will be left on the table where each roller reverses its motion.
2nd. The angle-rollers, being geared to harmonize with the bed, must be
driven by the bed driving mechanism. Thus the strain of distributing the ink,
which varies with the tenacity and amount of ink used, the temperature and the
condition of the atmosphere, is put upon the bed driving mechanism. This
tends to limit the speed of the press, and to wear out the bed driving mechanism,
by reason of the additional work the latter has to perform.
3rd. The ductor-roller is generally arranged to deposit a wad or undigested

page_text: portion of ink directly upon the ink-table, which wad or mass of ink is not
properly distributed by the angle-rollers, before it is carried to the form inking
rollers and by them placed on the forms, and
4th. The ink taken from the fountain at one stroke of the bed is necessarily
carried to the forms on the return stroke of the bed, and this limits the means
and time which can be used for properly distributing the ink between its release
from the fountain and its disposition upon the form inking-rollers.
The aim of my invention is to provide an improved ink distributing mechanism,
which can be used at the end of a reciprocating bed press, and one which while
having the advantage of being positively geared, will overcome the above pointed
out disadvantages and objections that exist in prior devices.
To this end my improved inking apparatus consists of a system of co-operating
distributing and table-rollers which occupies the space usually given up to the
angle rollers or "wavers " at one end of the machine.
This system of rollers or ink digesting apparatus is so arranged and con-
structed that it contacts with the ink table, which reciprocates beneath it, on but
one motion of the said table, and not upon both, as is the present practice.
By using this arrangement it is possible to drive the apparatus continuously
in one direction, which is contrary to the present method employed with table
rollers (or wavers); and to do so regardless of the fact that the table to which
my apparatus eventually supplies the ink has two directions of horizontal
movement.
The arrangement and operation of the mechanism of my improvements, together
with its advantages are as follows:-
In my apparatus said series of rollers is made of hard and soft material (pre-
ferably of iron and roller composition) and rests above and normally out of con-
tact with the plane of the travel of the ink table. One end of this series is in
close proximity to the fountain, which is usually at one extremity of the machine.
Between the fountain and the end referred to of my roller system, a ductor or ink
conveying roller plies; and upon each trip it conveys from the fountains and
delivers to the system, a given quantity of ink.
The ink, instead of being carried to the table in its crude mass by the ductor,
is first delivered to said ink digesting apparatus which is independent of the ink
table.
This independent digesting device, consisting of said series of rollers, is geared
to rotate in harmonious co-operation in one direction; and the crude mass of ink
which is conveyed to it by the ductor is rapidly divided among the various
rollers of the system and is, by their continuous rotation the many points of
their contact, and the lateral vibration of some of them, brought to a delicate
film of uniform thickness before it is laid down upon the table for conveyance to
the form inking rollers; Furthermore, as my system consists of a plurality of
table rollers co-operating with a plurality of distributing rollers which are inter-
mediate of the table rollers (all of which constitute a chain, back and forth,
through which the ink in process of digestion may pass until delivered), the
digested ink when ready for the table is laid down upon the table in a plurality
of layers, one layer passing out through each table-roller. Thus the imperfec-
tion of any given layer is remedied by either a preceding or succeeding layer.
The principle upon which my system operates, in brief, will be understood as
this:-
Ink is received from the fountain in a crude mass; is passed back and forth
through the continuously rotating series of rollers until it is completely digested,
when it is laid down upon the table for use; the continuously rotating rollers of
the system, may (by reason of the fact that they do not oscillate) be so propor-
tioned that their respective co-acting surfaces will hunt; that is keep bringing
different circumferential lines into contact, one with another; which insures a
more perfect distribution of the ink upon their surfaces; and ink so digested will
be better mixed than is possible with oscillating roller systems, and, whereas,

page_text: had it been placed upon the table in its crude mass it would have found its way
to the form but partially digested, on the return stroke of the bed.
On the other hand, with my system, the ink is undergoing digestion for the
time occupied by one complete operation of the machine, in addition, before it is
applied to the form. To accomplish this co-operation of a system composed of
continuously rotating rollers with a reciprocating ink-plate requires that the
system, or certain rollers thereof, be brought into contact with said plate
when the surfaces of both are moving in the same direction and at the same
velocity; and that the rollers and the plate be not permitted to contact upon the
return stroke of the ink-plate when the direction of travel is opposite.
A very obvious advantage present in my system, and not found in others, is
that the rollers never being called upon to reverse their motion, last very much
longer, than is the case in other systems, where at each end of the bed stroke,
the rollers must stop and reverse; and further in my continuously driven system
of table-rollers, no work is put upon the bed-driving parts to propel and reverse
the table-rollers; for I may drive them from any continuously rotating member
of the machine.
To accomplish the alternate contact and non-contact of the table-rollers and
the ink-table, I may employ devices to raise and lower the table-rollers without
raising and lowering the distributing-rollers; or I may raise and lower all the
rollers of my system, or I may permit my roller system to remain fixed with
respect to the horizontal plane and alternately raise and lower the ink-table.
In the accompanying five sheets of drawings I have shown various ways for
practicing my invention.
Referring to said drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved inking apparatus when I raise and lower
the table-rollers only,
Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the mounting of the ink-rollers,
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the construction when I raise and
lower both the table and distributing rollers,
Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the construction when I raise and lower
the ink-table, and
Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the ink-table of this arrangement in its raised
position.
press,
common,
I have only shown in the drawings the inking mechanism at the end of the
the other parts of the printing press being arranged as is
and
being so well understood that a detail description thereof is not necessary for an
understanding of my invention.
I will first describe the device shown in the first three sheets of drawings.
A and B designate the usual side frames of the press. C-C designate brackets
which are arranged on the top of said side frames, which brackets carry the set
of inking rollers as hereinafter described, which brackets may be extended up-
ward to carry the delivery table of the press in the ordinary way.
F designates an ink-fountain which may be arranged at the end of the press
in any of the usual ways, and which ink-fountain has a roller 7 which may be
turned by any of the usual ratchet and pawl mechanisms.
8 designates a shaft which is journalled in the side-frames, which shaft carries
arms 9-9, in the ends of which the ductor-roller D is journalled.
The ductor-roller is arranged to take ink from the fountain-roller 7 and deposit
the same upon a distributing roller 10.
Beyond the distributing roller 10, I arrange a number of table-rollers and dis-
tributing rollers, 11 designating the first table-roller, 12 the second distributing-
roller, 13 the second table-roller. 14 the third distributing-roller, 15 the third
table-roller, 16 the fourth distributing-roller, and 17 the fourth table-roller.
The distributing rollers 10-12-14 and 16 are preferably made of metal, and

page_text: the ductor-roller D, and table-rollers 11-13-15 and 17 are preferably made of
composition.
The distributing-rollers 10-12-14 and 16 are journalled in sockets 18 which
are fitted in or formed on the brackets C-C.
The table-rollers 11-13-15 and 17 are journalled in sockets 19, which sockets
are loosely fitted in hubs 190 secured to brackets C-C by means of bolts 191, as
shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
Tapped into the ends of the sockets 19 are screws 20 which have check-nuts 21
by which the vertical position of the table-rollers can be adjusted.
These screws 20 rest on levers 22 which are pivoted inside the side frames A
and B at 23, whereby the vertical position of the table-rollers will be determined
by the position of these levers 22.
Fitted into the ends of the levers 22 are studs 24 which carry rollers 25.
nese rollers 25 bear on cams 26 formed on the arms 9-9.
Extending from the shaft 8 is an arm 27 which is connected to any suitable
part of the machine, so that said shaft will be oscillated, and the ductor-roller D
thereby carried from the fountain-roller to the first distributing-roller 10.
This will also operate the levers 22, and the table-rollers thereby will be raised
and lowered.
It will be noted by referring to Fig. 3 that the heads of the screws 20 are so
positioned as to bear for about one-half of their surfaces upon the levers 22, and
for their other half on the projecting upper edge of the side-frames.
In this way, by adjusting the screws 20, the lowermost position of the table-
rollers can be accurately determined.
This permits of an accurate adjustment of each table-roller to the ink-table 1.
28 designates a gear which is continuously turned from any suitable part of
the mechanism. The same meshes with an intermediate 29 journalled on a stud 30
secured in one of the brackets C.
This intermediate 29 meshes with an intermediate 31 journalled on a stud 32,
and this intermediate 31 meshes with a gear 33 secured on the shaft of the fourth
distributing roller 16.
The intermediate 29 also meshes with an intermediate 34 journalled on a
stud 35, which intermediate 34 meshes with a gear 36 secured on the shaft of the
second distributing roller 12.
The intermediate 34 meshes with an intermediate 37 mounted on a stud 38,
which intermediate 37 meshes with an intermediate 39 journalled on a stud 40,
which intermediate 39 meshes with a gear 41 on the first distributing-roller 10.
By this gearing the distributing-rollers 10-12 and 16 will be positively and
continuously turned in the same direction.
ine gears 33 and 36 on the shafts of the distributing rollers 12 and 16 are
preferably made wide-faced, as shown in Fig. 2, so that said distributing-rollers 12
and 16 may be positively vibrated by means of a cam-actuated arm 42, which
may be arranged in the customary way to accomplish this purpose, the socket-
pieces 18 for the rollers 12 and 16 being set out so as to permit this vibration.
In some cases, I contemplate gearing the table-rollers to the distributing-
rollers, but I find that it is generally sufficient to only positively drive the dis-
tributing rollers.
This mechanism constitutes a very simple and perfect inking apparatus.
The ink is taken from the fountain roller by the ductor, and is applied to the
first distributing-roller 10, and from this roller it is very finely spread and evened
out by the system distributing and table rollers which are positively turned in
the
proper direction.
When the bed makes its backward stroke the ductor roller will be in its
depressed position, and the table rollers in their raised position, so that they
will not contact with said ink table, but so soon as the bed is well on its forward
stroke the ductor roller will be raised, and the table rollers thereby lowered to

page_text: contact with the ink-table, and the ink will thereby be very evenly and nicely
applied to the surface of said ink-table.
When the table rollers 11-13-15 and 17 are in their lowermost position to
contact with the ink-table, the chain of the inking-mechanism, or the contact
between the table-rollers and the distributing-rollers preferably is not broken,
so that all the ink from the rollers will be applied to the ink-table 1.
This is accomplished by making the movement of the table-rollers very slight,
and just enough to clear the ink-table on its retrograde stroke, but not enough
to break contact between any of the rollers when the table-rollers are lowered.
the spring of the composition rollers and the arrangement of the rollers in line
allowing this action.
The lateral reciprocation of the distributing-rollers 12 and 16 will provide for
the lateral spreading of the ink. I may use any desired number of rollers.
I do not generally find it necessary to positively gear the distributing-roller 14,
although this may be done if desired.
In some cases, I contemplate raising and lowering both the table and distri-
buting rollers, and I have shown this construction in Fig. 5.
In this arrangement, the table and distributing rollers are mounted in sup-
plemental frames C-C which are supported upon rods or shafts 50 which pass
through bearings formed on the insides of the brackets C-C.
The rods 50 have rollers 51 on the ends thereof which engage sliding cam-
plates 52 which have slight inclines 53.
The sliding cam-plates 52 are connected by links 54 to arms 55 secured on the
shaft 8.
With this construction the entire set of rollers will be raised and lowered.
This movement is so slight that it will not effect the mesh between gears 29-31
and 34, and 37-34 and 39.
In some cases, I contemplate raising and lowering the ink-table, and this
arrangement is shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
In this arrangement, the ink-table I is mounted so as to be capable of a slight
vertical movement relatively to the bed.
The raising and lowering movement of the table is accomplished by providing
toggles 60-61 which are connected at 62 to the ink-table 1, and at 63 to the bed.
The joints of the toggles are connected by a link 64. The link 64 is connected
at its front end to a lever 65 which is mounted on a shaft 650, and at its opposite
end to a lever 66 which is mounted on a shaft G60.
The shafts 650 and 660 are preferably carried through the bed, and the toggle
mechanism is preferably made double, so as to lift the table at each of its two
sides.
The lever 65 is adapted to co-operate with a pivoted pawl 67, and the lever 66
is adapted to co-operate with a pivoted pawl 68.
The two levers 65 and 66 are arranged in different horizontal planes, and the
pawls 67 and 68 are also arranged in different horizontal planes, the lever 65
and pawl 67 being further away from the bed than the lever 66 and the pawl 68,
so that the lever 65 cannot engage pawl 68.
By this arrangement the lever 65 cannot engage the pawl 68.
The lever 66 is made shorter than the lever 65, and the pawl 68 is set some-
what above the pawl 67, so that the lever 66 cannot engage the pawl 67.
A screw 69 is used to limit the left-hand movement of the link 64, so that
when the table is in its raised position, the centers of the toggles will be slightly
to the left, whereby the table will be substantially locked in its raised position.
In operation, as the table gets well on its movement to the left, the lever 65
will contact with pawl 67, and the table will thereby be raised into engagement
with the table rollers.
As the bed makes its retrograde stroke, and just before the edge of the ink-
table 1 reaches the roller 17, the lever 66 will contact with the pawl 68, and the
ink-table will thereby be lowered.

page_text: With this arrangement the apparatus will work substantially as before
described.
Other mechanical arrangements for raising and lowering the ink-table at the
proper time will suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic.
In all the preceding devices I have described the mechanisms as so arranged,
as to have the ink-table contact with the table-rollers on the forward stroke of
the bed, but it is, of course, obvious that this arrangement may be reversed, and
that the ink-table may contact with the table-rollers only on the retrograde
stroke of the bed, the only change that is necessary to accomplish this being to
arrange the cams or pawls to work in this manner, and to drive the ink-digest-
ing apparatus in the opposite direction.
I have thus provided an inking mechanism, which while having the advan-
tage of positive gearing for distribution, will not have any roller reverse at any
time, whether on or off the ink-table, which will not have the strain of distri-
bution put on the bed driving mechanism, and which will not apply a wad of ink
to the ink-table; and also in my improved mechanism, the ink is retained for a
long time, and evenly ground up and spread in the system of inking rollers
before it is applied to the surface of the ink-table.
The details and arrangements herein described may be greatly varied by a
skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed
in the claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An inking mechanism comprising a number of inking rollers, gearing for
driving the same, an ink table attached to the reciprocating bed, and means for
causing the ink-table to contact with the inking rollers on its movement in one
direction, and to pass under said rollers without contact therewith on its move-
ment in the other direction the whole constructed arranged and operating sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
2. An inking apparatus comprising a set of table and distributing inking-
rollers, gearing for causing the distributing rollers to turn continuously in one
direction, and the table-rollers continuously in the other direction, an ink-table
attached to the reciprocating bed, and means for causing the ink-table to engage
the table-rollers on its movement in one direction, and to move under the table
rollers in the other direction out of contact therewith the whole constructed
arranged and operating, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. An inking apparatus comprising a set of table and distributing inking
rollers, gearing for driving the same, an ink-table attached to the reciprocating
bed, and means for causing the inktable to engage the table rollers only on the
forward stroke of the bed, the whole constructed and operating substantially as
and for the purposes described.
4. An inking apparatus consisting of a reciprocating ink table, a set of table
and distributing inking rollers, supports for said table rollers, levers on which
said supports rest, adjustable means between said supports and levers and means
for raising and lowering said levers to raise and lower said table rollers, so that
the same will co-operate with the reciprocating ink table in the manner and for
the purpose substantially as described.
5. An improved inking mechanism for printing presses operating in the man-
ner and for the purposes herein before described.
6. An improved inking mechanism for printing presses constructed and opera-
ting as and for the purposes herein before described with reference to Figures 1
to 4.
7. An improved inking mechanism for printing presses constructed and opera-
ting as and for the purposes described with reference to Figure 5 of the accom-
panying drawings.

page_text: 8. An improved inking mechanism for printing presses constructed and opera-
ting as and for the purposes described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this our day of February
DUGALD CLERK.
By Edward Evans & Co.,
Consulting Engineers, and Chartered Patent Agents,
Lonsdale Chambers, 27, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
and 105, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agents.