IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED WHEN PRINTING SEVERAL COLORS IN SUCCESSION ON THE SAME SURFACE
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Dolby and Edwin Thomas Dolby, of 56,
Regent Street, Quadrant, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED WHEN PRINTING SEVERAL COLORS IN
SUCCESSION ON THE SAME SURFACE."
Sealed the 4th August 1857, and dated the 21st March 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Dolby and Edwin
Thomas Dolby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 21st March 1857.
We, HENRY DOLBY and EDWIN THOMAS DOLBY, of 56, Regent Street,
Quadrant, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED WHEN PRINTING SEVERAL
COLORS IN SUCCESSION ON THE SAME SURFACE," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery used when
printing several colors in succession on the same surface.
The following is the arrangement of machinery which we prefer :-The
several blocks or surfaces from which the series of impressions are to be taken
are fixed to a suitable table or frame, the blocks or printing surfaces having
on their sides rails for guiding a carriage in its movement from end to end
of the machine. The paper or material to be printed is placed around a
roller, and is attached thereto by points or suitable instruments. The roller
is carried by a frame or carriage, which is moved to and fro on the rails by
means of an endless band or chain, or other suitable means, in such manner
that the roller may roll correctly without slipping over the succeeding block or

page_text: printing surfaces, and so as to receive an impression from each of the blocks
or printing surfaces, on which are respectively engraved or produced a portion
of the whole subject which is to be printed on to the paper or material around
the roller. It will be evident that, in place of the roller being moved from
end to end of the table or machine on which the blocks or printing surfaces
are affixed, the bearings of the roller may be stationary, and the table or
machine may be caused to move past the roller, and thus to cause the several
blocks in succession to give off their impressions to the paper or material
around the roller. The arrangement of the apparatus, at the ends of the table
and on the roller, is such that the paper or material is, after receiving the
several impressions, delivered from the roller, and a fresh piece of paper or
material is then placed thereon. In order to supply color to the several
blocks or printing surfaces on the table, as many color apparatus are used as
there are blocks or printing surfaces; and each color apparatus consists of a
trough containing the color, in which a roller revolves having a suitable
doctor or scraper. This roller at its upper surface delivers color to an endless
apron of vulcanized india-rubber, or other suitable material, carried by two
rollers. The endless apron passes over a table, on which there is an inking
roller, which at suitable intervals is moved over the apron on the table, and
then over its block or printing surface. In place of applying the several
blocks or printing surfaces on a horizontal table, as above explained, they may
be fixed on a cylinder, and in place of having only one piece of paper or
material on the roller or cylinder, a cylinder of larger diameter than the one
on which the blocks or printing surfaces are affixed may be used, on which
several sheets of paper or material may be attached by suitable instruments,
one more sheet than there are blocks or printing surfaces, by which means
each sheet of paper or material, after having received all the impressions, will
in succession be removed, and replaced by another sheet.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Dolby and Edwin Thomas Dolby in the Great Seal 3
Patent Office on the 21st September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
DOLBY and EDWIN THOMAS DOLBY, of 56, Regent Street, Quadrant, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 35
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Henry Dolby and Edwin Thomas Dolby, Her special licence
that we, the said Henry Dolby and Edwin. Thomas Dolby, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Henry Dolby
and Edwin Thomas Dolby, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree 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 MACHINERY USED WHEN PRINTING SEVERAL COLORS IN
SUCCESSION ON THE SAME SURFACE," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we; the said Henry Dolby and Edwin Thomas Dolby, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and.
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Henry Dolby and Edwin Thomas
Dolby, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery used when:
printing several colors in succession on the same surface, and the Invention
consists of peculiar means of combining machinery for these purposes.
The following is the arrangement of machinery which we prefer :-The
several blocks or surfaces from which the series of impressions are to be taken
are fixed to a suitable table or frame, having on the sides rails for guiding a
carriage in its movement from end to end of the machine. The paper or
material to be printed is placed around a roller, and is attached thereto by
points or suitable instruments. The roller is carried by a frame.or carriage,
which is moved to and fro on the rails by means of an endless band or chain, or
other suitable means, in such manner that the roller may roll correctly without
slipping over the succeeding blocks or printing surfaces, and so as to receive
an impression from each of the blocks or printing surfaces, on which are
respectively engraved or produced a portion of the whole subject which is to
be printed on to the paper or material around the roller. It will be evident
that, in place of the roller being moved from end to end of the table or machine

page_text: on which the blocks or printing surfaces are affixed, the bearings of the roller
may be stationary, and the table or machine may be caused to move past tho
roller, and thus to cause the several blocks in succession to give off their im-
pressions to the paper or material around the roller. The arrangement of the
apparatus, at the ends of the table and on the roller, is such that the paper or
material is, after receiving the several impressions, delivered from the roller,
and a fresh piece of paper or material is then placed thereon. In order to
supply color to the several blocks or printing surfaces on the table, as many
color apparatus are used as there are blocks or printing surfaces; and each
color apparatus consists of a trough, containing the color in which a roller
revolves, having a suitable doctor or scraper. This roller at its upper surface
delivers color to an endless apron of vulcanized india-rubber, or other suitablo
material, carried by two rollers. The endless apron passes over a table, on
which there is an inking roller, which at suitable intervals is moved over the
apron on the table, and then over its block or printing surface.
In place of applying the several blocks or printing surfaces on a horizontal
table, as above explained, they may be fixed on a cylinder.
Having thus stated the nature of our said Invention, we will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the illustrative Drawings, marked Figure 1 and Figure 2, in Sheet 1,
are shewn an elevation and plan of our Invention for printing in two or more
colors. Figure 3, Sheet 2, shews an elevation of the machine. Sheet 3
shows a transverse section of the machine on a larger scale, taken across the
inking or color apparatus; and Sheet 4 shows a perspective view of the means
of placing the paper on the printing roller. A represents the paper or printing
roller upon which the paper to be printed is attached, and which travels with
its carriage B from end to end of the bed or table C, the roller passing in
succession over the various forms of type, or blocks, or other printing surfaces,
shewn at D1, D2, D3, D', which are secured to the bed or table in any con-
venient way. Motion is given to the carriage B by the means of a rope or
chain, or belt E; as shown passing over suitable pulleys at either end of the
bed or table at F, which may be driven cither by hand or other power. The
machine shewn is intended to be worked band. When steam is used, suit-
able reversing gear will have to be applied. F', F', are small buffers, firmly
secured to either end of the bed or table, which check the carriage B at the
end of the operation, and also assist to return it for the next printing. G is
a well and correctly made rack, bolted the entire length of the movement

page_text: of the carriage. Into this rack a pinion G', keyed on the printing roller
shaft A, gears. The diameter of the pitch of this pinion corresponds exactly
with the diameter of the printing roller, and serves as a regulator to ensure
exact registration. H, H, H, are rings of india-rubber, secured between iron
plates, and bolted up to the carriage B in such a way that they can be tightened
up by the set screws on either side, giving pressure to the roller A. The
points of the resistance are where the rail he touches the wheels H', along
which they move with the carriage. On the upper surface of the bed C are
two planed surfaces C2, C3, one at each side the whole length of the machine.
They serve as treads or rails for the two ends of the printing roller, and they
keep it in its proper relation with respect to the forms or surfaces D to be
printed from. The roller A can have any required pressure given to it by
means of the springs already described, or by other convenient means. The
bed or table of the machine is at each end constructed of such a length as
will allow the paper or printing roller A to make two revolutions after the
roller has left the forms or printing surfaces D, which have given to the paper
the impressions.
The Drawing shews the machine arranged for printing from four printing
surfaces in succession. The spaces I, K, and I, K, at the ends of the table
are for taking the paper on and off the roller A. The spaces I, I, are
those where the paper is caused to be taken off the roller, and the spaces
K, K, are those where the roller A is caused to take up the paper to be
printed. The means of attaching the paper to the cylinder or paper
roller A may be varied to suit circumstances; the arrangement shown
consists of steel bars L, L, of the length of the paper to be printed. In
each of these bars are two small holes 1, 1, 1, 1, having slots to them.
Upon the paper or printing roller A are spring buttons m', m', whose heads
fit the holes 1, 1. Under the head of each button is a neck or stem, the size
of which corresponds with the slot, so that as the roller passes over the heads
m', m', such heads enter the holes 1, 11, the bars having been laid in proper
recesses for this purpose, and a latch trigger motion (passing under the table
or bed) immediately strikes the bar L by means of the hammer a, thus moving
it sideways the length of the slot, and at once securing the bar and the end of
the paper (laid on the bar) to the paper or printing roller A. The roller
passes on, performing the same operation over the second bar L, the button
heads of which enter the holes before described; this completes the operation
of placing the paper on the roller A, which travelling over the succeeding
forms or blocks, or printing surfaces at D1, D2, D3, D', causes the paper to
receive the different colors or impressions of the succeeding printing surfaces.

page_text: On the roller arriving over the space I at the other end of the table or bed, the
bars L are moved in succession by reverse trigger actions, by which they with
the paper are left on the table on the space I, ready to be removed by the
attendant. The carriage then travels over the space K, where a fresh sheet
of paper is placed with bars L ready to be taken up by the roller A, as above
described. By thus forming the table or bed with spaces I, K, at each end
thereof, and the roller A with apparatus suitable for fixing the paper thereto,
a very advantageous arrangement or combination is obtained for applying
paper to and for removing it from a roller when printing from a succession of
printing surfaces fixed to a table or bed; and such arrangement or combination
is peculiarly applicable when the several printing surfaces are fixed to a
stationary table, as shewn in the Drawings. This part of our Invention is,.
however, also applicable when combined with the use of a moveable table or
bed and a stationary printing roller A, whether such moving table be horizontal
or on a cylinder made to reciprocate. We, however, prefer the use of such
spaces and combined apparatus with a fixed and stationary table or bed, as above
described. And we wish it to be understood that we make no claim to the
combined use, for printing, of a moveable table and a stationary printing roller,
whether printing from one or several printing surfaces.
The inking apparatus used with our Invention may be greatly varied ;. in
Sheet 1, Figure 1, a back view is shewn; in Figure 2 a plan, and in Sheet 2,
Figure 3, a side view, together with an end view of the bed or table, but
without the carriage and printing roller. M, M, are two wrought-iron canti-
levers, which act as rails for the inking carriage N to travel upon; n² are the
wheels, which carry the inking carriages and run upon the rails M, M.
m2, m, m2, m³, are the inking rollers for inking the forms; 0, 0, are the two
slides, to which the rails are bolted; P, P, the two racks, which are acted
upon by the pinions Q, Q, and carry the rails over the bed when the surfaces
require ink; R, R, R, R, are the ink boxes; s, s, s, s, the first ink rollers;
s', s¹, s, s¹, four dandies for, carrying the ink to the distributing rollers
T, T, T, T; from them the ink is again taken by dandies t, which transfer
it to a moveable bed U, having as many slabs upon it as there are color blocks
in the press. This bed has a motion to and fro at the saine time as the inking
carriage, but in an opposite direction, so that when the inking apparatus N
has applied its color on the forms or printing surfaces, it meets it as it returns
with a fresh supply of ink.
In the Drawing, Figure 3, the inking apparatus is shewn at the extreme
end of the forms ready to return, consequently the bed U is at its extreme
travel obtaining a fresh supply of ink. The motion for the bed U is obtained

page_text: from shaft v passing its power through the transmitting pinions X, X, to the
pinion X', which acts directly upon the rack s", which is fixed to the under side
of bed U. Motion is given to the various inking rollers by means of lines
or gut bands over the pullies Z, Z, Z, from the first shaft V, and to the
dandies by means of catches placed upon the face of bed U between the color
slabs, which are arranged for shifting, so as to regulate the supply given off*
from the first rollers s, s, s, 8. A stationary cord passing over the pullies p, p,
and secured at either end of its length to the fixed brackets e, e, gives motion
to the top carriage. The rollers f. f. f, f, are merely distributors, and move
by the friction caused by the slab passing to and fro.
pre-
In place of the above we can use another form of inking apparatus, in
which a roller (having a suitable doctor) revolves in a trough, and delivers
color to an endless apron, which passes over a table on which there is an
inking roller, which at intervals is moved over the apron on the table, and
then over the block or printing surface. But we would state that whatever
form of inking apparatus be used, whether the one shewn or the one mentioned,
we make no claim thereto, and other forms of inking apparatus may, if
ferred, be used. The process of working the machine is as follows:-The
paper is placed on the space K and on the bars L, covering the extreme edges
of those bars (about three-sixteenths of an inch); the carriage in its movement
towards the end of the table passes over the paper, which causes it to lay quite
even. The roller A in rolling towards the end of the table or bed does not
take up the paper by reason of the upper end of the trigger being bevilled off,
so that the roller moves the trigger on one side; but on its return the roller A
treads on and depresses the trigger, which, giving motion to the apparatus
shown in Sheet 4, moves and fixes the bar L. It should be stated that there
is a similar apparatus for fixing each of the bars L, and a reverse apparatus at
each place where the bars L are released. The roller A having arrived at
about one inch over the last bar L returns, picking up the bars L, L, in suc-
cession, and with them the paper, as above described. The roller then travels
over all the printing surfaces, and deposits the paper on the space I. The
roller next passes over the other space K at the other end of the table, and it
takes up another sheet of paper as it is returning over the space K. Directly
the carriage has passed over D1, D2, D3, D4, the inking apparatus is moved
out, during which operation the bed V replenishes itself with a fresh supply
of ink.
The inking rollers m³ have a rocking motion to enable them more evenly
to distribute the ink or color over the form, so that as the carriage N advances
the first roller is supplying the ink; but directly it returns, the second roller is

page_text: thrown down, and supplies during its passage back to the bed. In like manner
also the ink is fed from the slab. The rollers lie in pairs in a small rocking
frame d, so that at no time can they be touching either the form or slab
together.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we make no claim to
the mechanical parts separately, nor do we confine ourselves to the details;
but what we claim is,-
First, the combination, herein described, of a stationary table or bed with a
traversing and rotating printing roller and apparatus for applying paper to and
removing paper from the printing roller at the ends of the table.
And, secondly, we claim the application of spaces I, K, and apparatus for
supplying paper to and removing paper from a stationary rotating printing
roller, working in combination with a reciprocating table or bed.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Dolby and Edwin Thomas
Dolby, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven.
HENRY DOLBY.
(L.S.)
EDWIN THOMAS DOLBY. (L.S.)
Witness,
B. GOBEY,
24, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane.