IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION AND WORKING OF LITHOGRAPHIC AND LETTER-PRESS PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Walker, of Leeds, in the County of
York, Engincer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND WORKING OF LITHOGRAPHIC AND LETTER-PRESS PRINTING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 3rd April 1872, and dated the 9th October 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Walker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th October 1871.
:
I, THOMAS WALKER, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer,
5 do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF LITHOGRAPHIC AND LETTER-PRESS
PRINTING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
13

page_text: The arrangement in use for damping lithographic stones in printing
machines has long been considered very defective, and it is for the
purpose of remedying such defect that I have designed the following
arrangement of machinery and the working thereof :-
Under or at the end of the "taking-off" board I place a small
cistern, closed at the top, and provided at the bottom with two
perforated plates and with numerous nipples formed therein. The
upper one of these plates is made capable of sliding and is operated
as herein-after described, in order to admit water to a shallow traversing
trough only when the same comes under and when required. This
trough at its bottom is padded with flannel or other similar or suitable
absorbent material, and is fired at one end of the stone carriage,
and traverses backwards and forwards with it, passing under the
water or 'damping rollers," which are placed on the opposite side
of the cylinder to the ink rollers in the usual way in this class of
machine. As the trough passes under these rollers they dip down
and come in contact with the saturated pad in the trough, which thus
imparts the requisite amount of moisture to the damping rollers, so that
the latter may sufficiently damp the stone. The superfluous, water
in the trough is let off by means of a tap fixed in the bottom or other
part thereof.
At one side of the trough is a convenient contrivance, such as a
lever, or similar device, which actuates the sliding perforated plate in
the cistern, and causes the cistern to traverse transversely backwards
and forwards, so that the whole surface of the pad in the trough may
be equally wet. This contrivance opens the orifices in the cistern
as the pad passes under them and closes them as it returns, so
that, as herein-before mentioned, the water is not allowed to run
when the travelling trough is not under the cistern to receive it. It
is also so arranged that the man attending to the machine can stop
its action if requisite, and so prevent too much water from passing into
the trough.
The small cistern may be supplied from a larger one placed in
any suitable position and connected with the smaller one by a flexible
tube, which arrangement obviates the necessity of having a large
cistern under the receiving or taking-off board. Should more force be
required in the distribution of the water than its own gravity, a

page_text: small force pump may be applied, driven from the main shaft of the
machine.
-
It
here be remarked that in letter-press printing machines this
may
damping apparatus is not necessary.
The second part of the Invention relates to stopping the cylinder
(both in lithographic and letter-press printing machines) at the proper
place for the reception of the paper, as hercin-after described. For
this purpose I place a brake wheel (composed of a disc and rim)
on one end of the cylinder shaft, the rim being provided to give greater
surface for the action of a brake. On the side of the disc next the
machine is fixed a block and also a radial bar, at one end of which latter
is a steel plate, the two together being so arranged as to be capable of
being set nearer to or farther from the block, as required. Under
the brake wheel there is a vertical stop rod, kept in its place by an
iron cap, in which it freely works. The lower part of such rod is
round and encirled by a spiral spring, the tension of which can be
regulated by means of lock nuts, on the rod. The upper part of
the rod is flat and is there provided with a lever, at the top of which
is a small steel friction bowl. A spring presses the lever. against
a stop fixed on the iron cap through which the flat part of the stop
rod works. Through the lever and stop rod passes a stuḍ which
also passes through and works in a slot in the iron frame of the
machine and carries a friction bowl inside the machine. The pressure
of a small inclined piece fixed under the end of one of the side racks,
working the stone or letter-press carriage, depresses the stop rod and
thereby draws the bowl from between the block and steel plate at
the back of the brake wheel; this wheel being held in its place by
means of a brake which is released by means of a cam fixed on the
main shaft.
In consequence of the "back-lash" in the racks, and the wheels
in gear therewith giving motion to the cylinder, there is a slight
variation in the position of the connected working parts of the machine;
in working, for instance, at various speeds, if the machine is working
slow, the table and cylinder are thrust along; but if the machine is
working fast, the table and cylinder attain a momentum which tends
to carry faster than the wheels driving them, and thus the cylinder
comes to its stop sooner than when the machine is running slow. To
obviate this irregularity of motion the stop-rod, when depressed by

page_text: the inclined piece above mentioned, is held down by a catch, which
is liberated by a pin on the other end of the rack, and in such a
position as to allow the bowl on the end of the stop rod to spring
The
up between the steel plate and block on the brake wheel.
steel plate and block are adjusted in distance apart by means of a
set screw to the exact size of the bowl, which when it has sprung
up between the steel plate and the block prevents the cylinder from
moving either backwards or forwards. If, however, the cylinder stops
a little short of its place, it is pressed forward and into its right
position by the bowl on the stop rod; and if the cylinder goes a
little past its place it is brought back by the spring above mentioned
acting on the stop rod lever, which latter must at every revolution of
the cylinder bring it to the exact and same position to receive the next
sheet of paper.
The third part of the Invention relates to tripping the cylinder and
to a double-inking motion. This is an arrangement by which the
stone or letter-press can be twice run over by the inking rollers for
onc printing; it is also available when it is advisable to prevent
the cylinder from going round at such times, for instance, as when
two sheets of paper may have been fed at once, or in case of anything
getting into the cylinder. This is accomplished by turning a plate
provided with projections, which latter come in contact with a lever
on the end of the tripping lover shaft, and raise the tripping levers, so as
to keep a T lever inside the cylinder from dropping in front of a pawl
on the cylinder, and thus allow the cylinder wheels to return without
carrying the cylinder. For the double inking it is only requisite to
trip the cylinder cach alternate stroke, which is accomplished by means
of a pin near the end of one of the side racks, which comes in contact
with a lover carrying a catch or pawl working in a ratchet wheel, fast
to which is the cam plate with projections. The ratchet wheel has
double the number of teeth to the projections on the cam plate, so that
at each stroke of the machine one tooth in the ratchet wheel is moved,
and at every second stroke one projection of the cam plate takes up the
position requisite to trip the cylinder while the stone or letter-1
-press
is inked a second time.
When it is not requisite to use the double inking motion, the end of

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Walker in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 9th April 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WALKER, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Walker, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas Walker, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Walker,"
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agreo
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF LITHOGRAPHIC AND
LETTER-PRESS PRINTING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others)'
that I, the said Thomas Walker, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same was;
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Walker, do hereby.
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement in writing, reference being had to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings (that is to say) :—
1. This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction
and working of lithographic and letter-press printing machines, which
will be readily understood on reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings and to the following explanation or description

page_text: thereof. The parts composing the improvements are distinguished from
those hitherto in use by being marked with figures, whereas the latter
are marked with letters.
2. The first part of the Invention (which is illustrated in Figures 1,
2, and 3 on the accompanying Drawings) consists of improved means for
damping the stone in lithographic printing machines.
3. The arrangement hitherto in use for this purpose has long been
considered very imperfect, and it is for the purpose of remedying such
defect that the following means have been designed:
-
4. Under or at the end of the "taking-off" board is placed a small
cistern provided with two perforated plates, one of which is capable of
sliding, and is operated by a lever or other suitable contrivance attached
to the side of the trough 3 (and which also causes the cistern to
traverse backwards and forwards across the trough when it comes
under) in such a manner as to admit water to the trough only whilst it
is under and when required, whereby the whole surface of a damping
pad in the trough may be equally wetted.
5. According to a second modification (that illustrated on the
accompanying Drawings) the cistern 2 is stationary, and is provided
at its bottom with numerous nipples or perforated paps 2* (sec
Figures 1 and 3).
6. In this case the cistern 2 receives its supply from a pipe 13 with
an orifice at each end opening thereinto, and which is provided with a
tap 1 in communication with a supply cistern (placed in any convenient
position) by means of a flexible or other pipe or tube.
"
7. The water on entering the cistern 2 flows over a tongue 14, with
which it is provided, and through the paps on to the damping pad 14*
in the trough.
8. This pad is composed of flannel or other similar or suitable absorbent
material, and is placed in or at the bottom of the traversing trough 3,
which is fixed to the side racks d of the stone carriage, and traverses
backwards and forwards with them, passing under the "damping
rollers" e, e (which are placed on the opposite side of the cylinder to
the inking rollers as usual), and which as the trough passes dip down
and come in contact with the saturated pad, which thus imparts the

page_text: desired amount of moisture to the same, so that they may sufficiently
damp the stone & when it arrives under them.
8
9. 4 represents a flat rod or plate provided with two "dogs" 5, 5, in
the middle, which actuate or turn the plug of the tap 1 and let the
5 water on or shut it off at the will of the operator. Under the rod or
plate 4 is a short plate 15, one end 16 of which is turned down (sec
Figure 3), and which slides on the under side of the plate 4, and is
regulated in position by an eccentric 8 secured to the same, the pin 17
of which passes through a transverse slot in the plate 15, and thus places
the projecting end 16 in such a position that when pressed forward by
a cam, plate, or incline piece 6 secured to the side rack d, it opens the
plug of the tap which is automatically closed by a spiral spring 12 (see
Figure 2). A small ratchet wheel 7 and catch spring 11 are placed
above and on the axle of the eccentric 8, for the purpose of allowing the
5 latter to be set or adjusted so as to supply the requisito and proper
quantity of water. The superfluous water in the trough is or may be
let off by means of a tap fixed in the bottom thereof, but in practice it
is found that the tap is seldom required.
10. It may here be remarked that should more force be required
o in the distribution of the water from the cistern 2 than its own gravity,
a small force pump is (or may be applied and driven from the main
shaft of the machine.
11. The second part of the Invention (which is illustrated in
Figures 4 and 5 on the accompanying Drawings) consists of improved.
means of stopping the cylinder at the proper time and place for
the reception of the paper, both in lithographic and letter-press
printing machines.
12. For this purpose the brake wheel a (which is composed of a disc
and rim, the latter being provided to give greater surface for the action
0 of a brake b) is placed on one end of the cylinder shaft h, and on the
back thereof is adjusted and fixed a radial arm 13 (by means of the
bolts 1 and 2) provided with a steel facing plate 3 having its lower
edge rounded, and which is secured to it by screws. A block 4 is also
bolted on to the back of the brake wheel, and is set in such a position
5 as to allow of a steel friction bowl 11 rising freely between itself and
the facing plate of the arm 13.

page_text: 13. This friction bowl is carried or supported by a lever 5 which is
secured to the upper and flat part of a stop rod K by a stop or stud 10,
which passes through and works in a slot in the side of the iron frame of
the machine, and carries a friction bowl J inside the machine, so as to
allow the bowl 11 to be pressed up and between the plates 3 and 4 by
the action of a spiral spring d. It is brought down by the pressure of
a small inclined plano i fixed under the end of one of the side racks P
(working the stone or letter-press carriage) which bears upon the bowl J
and thereby draws the bowl 11 from between the plates 3 and 4, the
brake wheel a being held in its place by the brake b, which is released 1
by a cam fixed on the main shaft.
14. The stop rod K is kept in a vertical position by an iron cap as
shown, and in which it freely works; the lower part of the rod is round
and encircled by the spring d, the tension of which can be regulated by
lock nuts c on the rod.
15. 7 is the fulcrum of a spring 6 which is attached to the flat part
of the stop rod by the screw 8, and which presses the lever 5 against
a stop 13* fixed on the iron cap and acts otherwise, as hercin-after
described.
16. A catch 9 placed on a stud fixed inside the frame of the machine 2
is provided for the purpose of holding the stop rod down during the time
the cylinder is revolving, but at the end of each revolution it is liberated
by the projection or "dog" 12 (on the opposite end of the rack to the
inclined plane i) forcing the catch back; but the sudden action of the
spring d on the stop rod and its bowl 11 is prevented by the inclined 2
planc 14, which allows it to rise gradually into its place. O is a spiral
spring, one end of which is attached to the catch 9, so that when the
bowl J is pressed down the catch is drawn thereby on to the stud 10,
and keeps it down until released, as above described.
17. In consequence of the “back lash" in the racks and the wheels 3
in gear therewith giving motion to the cylinder, there is a slight
variation in the position of the connected working parts of the machine;
in working, for instance, at varying speeds, if the machino is working
slowly, the table and cylinder are thrust along, but if the machine is
working fast, the table and cylinder attain a momentum which tends to 3
carry faster than the wheels driving them, and thus the cylinder comes
to its stop sooner in comparison than when the machine is working
1

page_text: letter-press printing machines.
And thirdly. The improved arrangements by which the stone or letter-
press can be twice run over by the inking rollers for one printing, and 30
for tripping the cylinder, or preventing or stopping its rotation, all

page_text: substantially as above described and as illustrated on the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification in the construction or arrangement
of the details thereof.
24. In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Walker, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and' seventy-
•
two.
•
THOMAS WALKER. (L.S.)