CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES OR MACHINES USED FOR PRINTING
Year: 1818

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
COWPER, of Nelson Square, in the County of Surrey, Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Seventh day of January, in the fifty-eighth year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Cowper, His especial licence that I, the said Edward Cowper, my
exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Cowper,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England and
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my invented or found out
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES OR MACHINES USED FOR PRINTING ;”
in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the
said Edward Cowper, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that my Invention and improvements are described in
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the descriptions thereof hereunder
written, and in manner following, that is to say:-

page_text: My Invention or improvements consists or two parts, viz:-
1. In certain improved modes of distributing and applying the ink or
colour to the surface of the types, stereotype plates, or wood or metal blocks
used in the printing (commonly called letter-press printing), at or by a machine
or the ordinary press.
from
2. In an improved manner of conveying the sheet or sheets of paper
one printing cylinder to another printing cylinder, either of the same machine
or of another machine.
And first, as to the improved modes of distributing and applying the ink or
colour to the surface of the types, stereotype plates, or wood or metal blocks
used in printing. I distribute or spread the ink or colour upon the an
extended flat surface, which I call the "distributing table," by means of rollers
arranged upon and in contact with the "distributing table," in the manner
hercin-after shewn, which rollers are covered either with leather or with pelt,
or with the composition of treacle and glue frequently used for printers' balls,
or with any other substance capable of receiving and imparting the ink or
colour. These rollers may be either made to pass over the distributing table
or the distributing table may be caused to move under them, whereby a
circular or rotary motion is given to such rollers by the friction of their
surfaces against the surface of the distributing table, without making use
of toothed wheels or any other contrivance whatever. When the aforesaid
distributing table and rollers are attached to a printing machine some or all
of the rollers receive another motion in the direction of their spindles or
endwise, which is termed an end motion, and the means whereby this end
motion is produced are herein-after more particularly set forth and described.
Such end motion tends to the better distribution of the ink or colour, and
prevents the ink or colour from accumulating in rings and lines upon the
rollers and upon the distributing table. It is to be observed, that while the
rollers are distributing or spreading the ink or colour upon the surface of the
distributing table, the ink or colour is by that same operation spread or
distributed upon the surfaces of the rollers which are, as before stated, in
contact with the distributing table. The ink or colour being spread or dis-
tributed upon the rollers, the form of types, stereotype plates, or blocks is
inked or coloured by being brought into contact with the rollers, which is
done either by causing the rollers to roll over the form of types, stereotype
plates, or blocks, or by causing the form of types, stereotype plates, or blocks, to
pass under and in contact with the rollers. But for the better explaining the
manner of performing these operations, I have given or annexed descriptive
Drawings, and a Plan and elevation of a printing machine, having both parts of

page_text: my improvements, attached thereto, which Drawings and Plans tend to the
more clear elucidation of my Specification; and I have also,- for the better
describing the several varieties of my improved apparatus, arranged the same
into four divisions or parts, which I distinguish by the letters a, b, c, & d.
"
(a.). The following is a plan of that part of my Invention which relates to
the inking apparatus to be attached to a printing machine, from which it will
appear that the rollers are not in contact with each other (which they are in
printing machines now in use), but that they are in contact with and arranged
upon the "distributing table," and by which it will further appear that the
end motion of the rollers is produced by a more simple contrivance than in
printing machines now in use. Note, the description refers to both the plan
and elevation, and the letters are the same in each. F, F, part of the frame
of a printing machine. D, T, the distributing table, the, sides of which are
indented; their indentation or deflection from a right line I prefer to make
about one inch and an half in a foot. R, R, R, rollers, the spindles of which
lie in notches in a fixed carriage F, C. R*, R*, rollers, the spindles of which
lie in notches in a moveable carriage M, C. L, L, lifts, that is, two slips of
wood or metal which raise or lift the rollers when the form passes under them,
and the height of which regulates the pressure of the rollers upon the form;
they also prevent the rollers from dropping into the gutters or intervals
between the pages of the form. When the rollers are covered with the com-
position of treacle and glue, I prefer to make that part of them which rolls
upon the lifts of wood or metal. I, T, is a section of the ink or colour trough,
which is composed of a metal roller and a straight-edge ground to fit the
roller. The pressure of the straight-edge against the roller is regulated by
levers and weights; when the metal roller revolves it becomes covered with
a film of ink. V, R, is a roller, which, as occasion requires, is raised up from
the "distributing table" and made to touch the metal roller of the ink trough,
and thus communicates the ink from the ink trough to the "distributing
table." I call this roller, marked V, R, the vibrating roller. It is to be
observed that I do not claim the Invention of this ink or colour trough, or
the mode in which the colour is communicated from the ink trough to the
distributing table. The, distributing table D, T, is made with indented sides,
as in the Drawing. The moveable carriage M, C,, lies loose. on the four
bearings B, B, B, B, and has affixed to it two small friction pulleys or
rollers f,.p, in contact with the indented sides of the distributing table D, T.
The operations of distributing and applying the ink or colour are performed
as follows:-The distributing table D, T,' is moved backwards and forwards
lengthwise in the direction of the dotted lines, and the friction of the surface
$

page_text: of the distributing tablo against the rollers gives to them a rotary motion,
and by the action of the indented sides of the distributing table against the
friction pullies f, p, attached to the moveable carriage M, C, that carriage,
and the rollers upon it, are caused to move in the direction of the spindles
of the rollers, and thus the end motion is produced, by both of which motions,
namely, by the rotary and by the end motion, the ink or color which is
supplied from the trough I, T, by means of the vibrating roller V, R, is
spread or distributed upon the distributing table D, T, and upon the rollers
R*, R, and R, R, R. The rollers R, R, R, being thus covered with a
thin layer or film of ink or color, they apply it to the form of types, stereo-
type plates or blocks by the contact of their surfaces with the said form, when
it is caused by tho motion of the distributing table to pass beneath the rollers
R, R, R. In the plan and elevation above shewn, the rollers R, R, R, do
not receive an end motion, and the form does not pass under the rollers
R, R, which do receive an end motion, but sometimes all the rollers are
caused to receive an end motion in the manner and by the means herein-
before described, and the form is caused to pass under them all; but in this
case I prefer making that part of tho distributing table which is nearest
the form of type, &c., with parallel and not indented sides, in order that an
end motion may not be produced while the rollers are in contact with the
type.
(b.) I will now subjoin a description of that part of my Invention or im-
provement in the manner of distributing and applying the ink or color to the
form of types, stereotype plates or blocks, when such form is to be worked at
an ordinary press; and for the more clear elucidation of this part of my
Invention or improvement I will contrast it with inking apparatus of the
ordinary press. This operation is now performed with two balls (as re-
presented in the margin) stuffed with wool or some elastic-substance, and
covered with leather, pelt, or the composition of treacle and glue, and which are
used as follows:-A small quantity of ink being placed or taken upon one of
these balls, they are taken one in each hand, and dabbed or beat together till
the ink is thoroughly spread or distributed upon their surfaces; they are then
dabbed or beat beat upon the form of types, plates, or blocks, which are thereby
inked; whereas I perform these operations of distributing and applying the ink
or colour to the form of types, stereotypes, plates, or blocks at the ordinary press
by means of the apparatus shewn in Figure 1, in the margin, of which the
following is a description. D, T, is the distributing table, which is furnished
with an ink trough I, T, formed of a roller R, and straight-edge a little
elevated above the distributing table, so that the roller R and distributing

page_text: table may not be in contact. To one end of the roller R is affixed a winch or
handle W, for the purpose of turning the roller occasionally. L, R, is a
loose or moveable roller covered with any substance proper for receiving and
imparting the ink or colour. I use the apparatus in the following manner:-
I turn the winch W till the roller R is covered with a film of ink; I then
take the loose roller L, R, (which is made with projecting spindles or handles
H, H,) and apply it to the roller R, from which it receives a small portion
of ink; I then roll the roller L, R, backwards and forwards in every direction
upon the distributing table till the ink or colour is throughly spread over
the surface both of the roller L, R, and of the distributing table; I then roll
the roller L, R, one or oftener over and upon the form of types, stereotype
plates, or blocks, which receive from it a fine equablo layer of ink or colour.
Fig. 2 shows a variation in the mode of constructing the ink trough, which
is hero formed by two rollers laying in contact with each other, between
which the ink is laid. The mode of working with it is the samo as described
in Fig. 1. The form, as in the marginal Figure, is provided with a slip of
metal or wood at each end, which I call lifts, which lifts are useful for the
same purposes as stated before in that part of this Specification marked (a).
Two or more rollers may be fixed in a frame, which may be used in the samo
manner as a single roller.
(c). I also perform the operations of distributing and applying the ink or
colour to the form of types, stereotype plates, or blocks, when worked at tho
ordinary printing press, by means of the apparatus shewn in the margin, and
marked Figure 3, and which apparatus is to be placed on the off side of the
press, or opposite to the workman, of which apparatus the following is a
description:-F, the frame of the apparatus; D, T, the distributing table
which slides in grooves in the inner sides of the frame F, after the manner of
a window in its frame. Its front part projects beyond the frame F in the
manner represented in the Drawing, and its sides are indented. To produce
the end motion a cord or chain is attached to the lower part of the distri-
buting table which passes over the pulley T, P. To the end of the cord a
weight W is hung, which weight serves to counterbalance the table. R*, R*,
are rollers hanging or laying in the notches in the moveable carriage M, C.
V, R, the vibrating roller. B, o, a boss to move the vibrating roller from the
table to the roller of the ink trough. I, T, the ink trough formed with a
roller, and a straight-edge; the roller has a winch W, i, fixed at the end of
its spindle, by which it may be turned as occasion requires. C, a carriage to
hold the band roller II, R. The carriage is furnished with small grooved or
plain wheels g, w, which run on ribs attached to the frame of the apparatus.

page_text: Corresponding ribs are placed at each end of the form on the table of the
press, and when the table of the press is run out the ribs in the table aro
opposite to or correspond with the ribs in the frame. A cord, having a small
weight attached to it, is hung over the pulley x, and the end is fixed to the
carriage, which serves to draw back the carriage and the hand roller. A
similar cord and weight is attached to the other side of the carriage. H, R,
the hand roller. The sides of the carriage C, in which this roller lies, are
connected by a rod at H, which serves as a handle. S, the spit or spindle of
the ordinary press produced or lengthened. It has on its end a barrel S, B,
called the spit barrel. This barrel must be equal in circumference to the
motion required in the distributing table. A cord is fixed to and passed once
round this barrel, which cord is then carried over the upper pulley. P, a
similar cord, is fixed to and passes once round the barrel, and is carried under
the lower pulley L, P. The ends of the cords are then fixed to the distri-
buting table. When the table of the press is run out and the tympan up,
the pressman lays hold of the rod or handle H of the carriage C, and draws
the carriage, with its roller, over the ribs and form of types, &c. When it has
reached the near side of the table he either returns it by his hand, or suffers
it to be drawn back by the weights attached to the carriage. The operation
of running the table of the press in and out sets the distributing table, with
its rollers, in motion, which distributes the ink upon the hand roller.
(d). The following is another improved mode of distributing and applying
the ink or colour to the form of type, stereotype plates, or blocks, when
worked at the ordinary printing press. It differs from those herein-before
described, and in its construction I have availed myself of an arrangement of
rollers round a large roller described in a Patent heretofore granted, to
Mr. Nicholson, but which is now expired. F, the frame of the apparatus;
L, D, R, large distributing roller. The rollers R°, R, lie on its surface.
Their spindles are in the notches in the moveable carriage M, C. The legs
of the carriage M, C, are attached to the frame by joints or hinges H. The
moveable carriage is connected by a rod at r, and is furnished with friction
pulleys F, P. The sides of the large distributing roller are indented in the
same manner as the distributing tables before described. V, R, the vibrating
roller, which is moved against the roller of the ink trough I, T, by a wiper
W, i, on the axis of the large distributing roller. I, T, the ink trough, which
is formed with a roller and straight-edge, as herein-before described. C, tho
carriage and hand roller, similar to those above described in Fig. 3. The form
is also furnished with ribs in the same manner, and the mode of using the
carriage and haud roller is the same as that above described in Fig. S. This

page_text: apparatus is also put in motion by the running in and out of the table of the
press by means of the bevelled wheels b, w, as shewn in Fig. 4 in the Drawing
in the margin.
The particular form of the whole of my herein-before described apparatus
for distributing and applying the ink or colour, and producing an end motion,
is capable of many variations, which renders it necessary for me to declare
that I do not mean to confine myself to the particular form or shape of the
several component parts thereof above described. The roller carriage or car
riages may contain any number of rollers that may be required. The rollers
themselves may be made oval instead of circular, though I do not' recom-
mend it.
1
And now as to the materials of which the aforesaid apparatus may be made.
The distributing table may be made of wood, or of metal, or of glass, or of
slate, or of marble, or of leather, or of the composition of treacle and glue, or
of any other substance capable of being made smooth and flat, or it may be
faced with any one of these substances, while the under part is made of
another. The rollers may be made of wood, or of metal, or of any other
substance, and they may be either hollow or solid. They may be covered
with leather, with pelt, with the composition of treacle and glue, or with any
other substance capable of receiving and imparting the ink or colour. The
roller carriages may be made of wood or any metal, though I consider iron or
brass as the best.
It is to be observed that I do not claim an exclusive right
an end
motion, but to the combination of the particular means or method herein-
before described, whereby the end motion is produced with rollers arranged
upon or against a distributing table, as shewn in those parts of this my Speci-
fication marked (a) and (c); and that I also claim as my Invention and right
the combination of a stand roller or rollers with the distributing table and ink
trough, as described in that part of this Specification 'marked (6): It is also
to be observed that I do not claim the arrangement of rollers round a large
roller, but I do claim the combination of the particular means or method
herein-before described, whereby the end motion is produced with rollers so
arranged around a large roller, when also combined with the stand roller,
vibrating roller, and ink trough, as shewn in that part of this 'my Specification
marked (d); that is to say, I claim as my exclusive right the combination
in Figure 4.
Now as to the second branch of my improvements, viz, 2, the improved
manner of conveying a sheet or sheets of paper from one printing cylinder to
another printing cylinder either of the same machine or of another machine.
This operation is in both cases performed by means of cylinders or drums

page_text: which I call "conveying drums," upon which the sheet of paper is held and
carried by endless strings or wires in the manner shewn below. The following
is a plan or scheme of the mode of conveying the sheet of paper from one
printing cylinder to another printing cylinder of the same machine, but it is
to be noted that this plan or scheme is merely intended to represent the prin-
ciple or method whereby the operation of conveying the sheet of paper is
performed. P, C, are the printing cylinders; C, D, are the conveying drums;
G, R, are guide rollers over which the endless strings pass; there are two
sets of endless strings. Each set is composed of two or more strings, which
should be kept tight by weights or springs, or flexible wires may be used and
kept tight by means of pullies pressing against them. Between these strings
the sheet or sheets of paper is or are caused to enter at A, and by which it is
embraced. The strings are so arranged as to fall upon the margins of the
form. The printing cylinders P, C, and the conveying drums C, D, aro con-
nected by toothed wheels, but such wheels are not shewn in the Drawing,
and when they are put in motion the sets of strings, with the sheets between
them, are carried over and under the conveying drums in the course or direc-
tion indicated in the Drawings by the harrows >. The sets of strings
"are separated at B by means of the guido rollers G, R*, where the sheet or
sheets of paper is or are taken out.
Another mode of conveying the endless strings is shewn in Figure 5 in the
Drawings annexed to this Specification. The mode of conveying the sheet of
paper from one machine to another is also by conveying drums and endless
strings and guide rollers in the manner described above, only observing that
the situation and number of the drums must depend upon the situation and
distance of the machine to which the sheet is to be conveyed. It is, however,
to be noticed that I do not claim an exclusive right to endless strings and guide
rollers for the purposes aforesaid; but I do claim as my Invention or improve-
ment the combination of such strings and rollers, with the conveying drums,
in the manner above described.
And forasmuch as the modes of connecting my aforesaid Inventions or
improvements with printing machines or presses are various, and must neces-
sarily depend upon the previous construction of the machines or presses to
which these Inventions or improvements are to be attached, I have not set
forth any particular mode of connecting them, but have subjoined Drawings
and a description of a printing machine to which both my Inventions or
improvements are united or attached. But I do not claim the machine itself,
but such parts of it only as are herein-before by me described to be my Inven-
tions or improvements; that is to say,―
I do not claim any exclusive right to an end motion, but to the combination

page_text: or nearest printing cylinder P, C. A small roller z lies loosely upon the
drum S, D, to prevent the paper from creasing. This roller is not shewn in
the Plan.
S, shelf to hold the white paper.
R, rollers, under which the form of type T passes, and from which it receives
the ink.
R*, rollers, with an end motion, under which the form of type does not
pass.
D, T, the distributing tables. The two tables on which the forms aro placed
are connected with each other by the two side bars of iron B, which leave
sufficient space between them to permit the sheet of paper to pass between
them.
E, S, endless strings, of which there are two sets (one being on one side of
the sheet, and the other on the other side); the sheet of white paper enters
between them at A; the two sets of strings, with the sheet between them, pass
round the printing cylinders and drums in the direction of the arrows, then over
the small web S, W, between the iron side bars B, and over the long web l, w;
the two sets of strings separate at G, where the sheet (now printed on both
sides) is taken out; but in order to explain the course of the strings and
sheet of paper more distinctly I have subjoined Fig. 4.
r, r, r, small guide rollers, over which the endless strings run.
9. p, guide pullies; these pullies are arranged upon a spindle s, p, as shewn
in the Plan. A similar spindle with guide pullies is placed at I.
P, pullies and weights to keep the endless strings tight.
R, a, is a double rack, placed horizontally under one of the distributing
tables, and motion is communicated to the rack from the large wheel by means
of the pinion and bevel gear below it. The pinion which works in the rack
does not change its position, but the rack itself does, so as to permit tho pinion
to work alternately on both sides of the rack, whereby a backward and forward
motion is produced in the rack and distributing tables thereto attached.
The printing cylinders and conveying drums have toothed wheels of the
same size on their spindles, which work into each other in the manner repre-
sented in the Plan. The small drum S, D, has also a toothed wheel on its
axis which works into the wheel of the printing cylinder, and also into the
large wheel which has the brass segment on it. The large wheels L, W, are
twice the diameter of the printing cylinders, and the rack moves backward
and forward once during one revolution of the large wheels. That part of the
surface of the printing cylinder which does not give the impression is turned
down about ½ inch below the printing part, in order to clear the type. The

page_text: distributing tables (upon part of which the forms lie) and which are connected
by the side bars B, ran on friction rollers on a rib of iron attached to the sides
of the frame; the-form is furnished with lifts i
3 do 2 co
The mode in which the ink is conveyed from the ink trough I, T, to the
5 distributing table D, T, is not shewn in the elevation, and only one of the ink
troughs is shown in the Plan, but exhibits that part of thorinking apparatus
more distinctly than could be shewn in either.
Fig. 3. DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 8.
F, part of the frame of the machiné.
4. '
1..
IT.. the ink trough, formed by a straight-edge pressing against the metal
roller on the axis of the large wheel L., W.
I, R, intermediate roller, which gently presses against the metal roller of the
ink trough above it by means of levers and weights.
V, R, the vibrating roller; the centres c, c, of the jointed rods are fixed.
On the axis of the large wheel are two brass wipers 6 (these wipers are shewn
in the Plan). When the large wheel revolves the brass wipers lift up the rods
above them, which being connected with the under rods (as shewn in the
Drawing), raise the vibrating roller till it touches the intermediate roller, and
receives from it a small quantity of ink. As the wipers leave the upper rods
the vibrating roller descends to the distributing table, upon which it deposits
the ink which it received from the intermediate roller. A similar apparatus is
affixed to the other end of the machine.
-- *
-
THE ACTION OF THE MACHINE.
The machine is put in motion by the handle H, which, by means of the
train of wheels, gives to the printing cylinders, conveying drums, guide rollers,
guide pullies, endless strings, long and, short webs, a continued motion in the
direction of the arrows, while the rack causes the distributing table and forms
to move regularly backwards and forwards. The web W only moves during
the action of the toothed segment t, s, against the brass wheel 6, w, on the web
roller W, R. While the web W is at rest a sheet of white paper is taken from
the shelf S and laid on the web, which, when put in motion (as before stated,
by the toothed segment), carries the sheet of paper forward or towards A, where
it enters between the upper and under sets of strings, whence it is carried
between them over the small drum S, D, and under the first printing cylinder,
where it comes in contact with the type (which has received its ink by passing
under the rollers R), and thus is printed on one side; it continues it course
between the sets of strings, and over the drums, to the other printing cylinder,

page_text: where it comes in contact with the other form of type (which is inked in tho
same manner as the first), and is thus printed on the other side. It con-
tinues to move forward in the direction of the arrows till it is taken out
at G.
Fig. 5 shews another mode of returning the strings, by which the circuitous
rout of Fig. 1 may be avoided. In this and in all the Figures, to shew the
track of the strings, the different parts are placed at a little distance from each
other to render them more obvious, and the strings are of different colours for
the same purpose.
Inrolled the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighteen.