Improvements in Printing Machines
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Printing Machines,
I, NICHOLAS KOPP, of Corapolis, County of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in printing machines, and more particu-
larly to a printing machine especially adapted for printing on a continuous
piece of material, such as paper, cloth and other similar materials
This invention 18 primarily designed for use in connection with the process of
decorating glass, earthenware, porcelain and metallic ware, but may be employed
for other purposes.
In the process of ornamenting wares, such as above referred to, as heretoforo
practised, designs are cut by hand or etched in substantially the same manner
as for lithographic work on a flat surface of copper or stone. The ink or coloring
matter is applied to the copper or stone plate, and the surplus ink removed with
a knife or buffer" Its surface 18 wiped clean, and paper or cloth laid on it,
after which the material, to which the design is to be transferred, together with
the plate is subjected to pressure and the set designs transferred to the paper
Having obtained the desired impression upon the paper, the latter, in a damp state,
is placed on the article to be ornamented, and rubbed until the coloring matter is
well fastened to the article This "printing process" of decorating wares while
costing much less than "hand work" decorating, 18 still expensive owing to the
time and labor now necessarily employed in printing the transfers." By the
employment of my invention much time, labor and expense are saved in preparing
the transfers, and with this end in view, my invention consists of a new and
improved printing apparatus, and in certain new combinations of parts and
features of construction, all as more fully hereinafter set forth
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an application of my invention,
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a printing machine constructed in accordance
with my invention, Figure 2, a plan view, Figure 3, a central vertical sectional
view taken on line - of Fig. 2; Figure 4, a vertical sectional view of line y-y
of Fig. 2, and Figure 5, a detailed end view showing means for throwing driving
belt into and out of operation.
In the construction shown by the drawings the printing apparatus is supported by
the frame-work 1, in the sides of which are bearings for the shafts, carrying the
rollers 2 and 3 An endless belt 4, preferably provided on its outer surface with
a suitable coating 5, of some soft yielding material such as felt or rubber, 19
stretched over the roller 2 and 3, and is driven thereby A roll of material which
18 to receive the impression is located at some convenient place In the drawings
I have shown this roll supported on a shaft having its bearings in hangers 6, cast
integral with the legs of the framework; but it is evident that the material may
be carried at some other convenient point & is a weight similar to the usual
means employed in printing machines or devices for carrying a roll of papeı.

page_text: The sheet or strip of material 9, 18 fed to the printing cylinder 10, by means of the
belt 4, roller 11, and a series of short rollers 12, which latter are adapted to come
in contact with the edges only, of the travelling material, in the manner par-
ticularly shown by Figure 2. A series of delivering rollers 13, similar to the
feed rollers 12, are located on the other side of the printing cylinder and deliver
the printed strip, after its passage between the printing cylinder and the belt,
to the shelf 14 In the construction shown, the belt 4, acts as an impression belt
and takes the place of an impression cylinder now so generally employed in
printing machines.
Motion is transmitted to the printing cylinder 10, by means of the hollow
shaft 15, on which is rigidly mounted the main driving pulley 16 The shaft 15
at its inner end is enlarged and is provided with a screw-threaded sliding collar 17
which is adapted to be keyed to the shaft and to revolve therewith The printing
cylinder is screw-threaded as shown, at both ends; one end screws on to the collar 17
and the other end 18 connected by screw threads to a collar 18, slidable on a
hollow shaft 19 A thin character bearing shell or plate 20, surrounds the print-
ing cylinder 10, and is so constructed that it may be securely attached thereto
and readily removed therefrom when it is desired to substitute a new shell bear-
ing of a different design The shell or plate is preferably composed of some
suitable metal as steel or copper, and the design is either engraved or etched on
its surface The construction shown permits the printing cylinder and its shell
to be conveniently removed from the machine.
In the process of preparing "transfers" for use in the decorating of wares anch
as heretofore mentioned, the coloring matter employed 18 of such a nature that
it must be applied to the engraved or etched portion of the printing evlinder or
its shell, in a heated state, and for the purpose of heating the coloring matter
and keeping it at the desired temperature, I have provided means for heating the
pinting cylinder, the character bearing shell and the coloring matter reservoir 21.
One or another of a number of different methods may be employed for heating
these parts. Steam may be utilized for this purpose.
In the construction illustrated, steam is used and is passed to and from the
printing cylinder through the hollow shafts, 15 and 19 The reservoir 21, is pro-
vided with an outer casing 22, between which and the reservoir wall, steam is
passed, thus providing a jacketed reservoir
Directly over the travelling impression belt 4, and the material designed to
receive the imprint, a moistening device 23, is hung pivotally, between upright
Aupports, 24
This moistening device or liquid-containing receptacle is adapted
to wet the paper as it passes under it In practice water containing a certain
amount of soap is used for moistening the paper. If it is not desired to wet the
paper, the moistener may be easily removed from the machine
For the purpose
of preventing the paper and the surface of the travelling belt from becoming too
wet, I employ absorbing rollers 25 and 26.
The reservoir 21, loosely mounted on shaft 27, is in open communication with
the printing cylinder while the machine is in operation. For the purpose of
applying and spreading the coloring matter in the reservoir, to and on the surface
of the printing cylinder, curved revolving blades 28, rigidly mounted on shaft 29,
are employed When the machine is not in use, the reservoir may be easily
revolved a slight distance on its shaft and communication between the reservoir
and the cylinder cut off. A locking device 29, attached to the reservoir casing
ns employed for turning the same. A rod 30 connects the reservoir with the
moistener 23, and when the reservoir is turned the moistener is also moved.
Means for putting the main driving belt in and out of operation by the move-
ment of the reservoir are particularly shown by Fig. 5, and comprise a 1oller 32,
mounted on the end of a pin attached to the reservoir casing. A sliding door 33,
18 shown. for closing the reservoir opening A device 34 for pressing or squeezing
the thick coloring matter into the engraved or etched portion of the plate is
attached to the reservou A further function of this presser 34, 18 to clean the

page_text: plate of any surplus coloring matter
Further cleaning means, comprising a
knife 35 adapted to bear against the printing cylinder and to catch any surplus
coloring matter escaping the device 34, is conveniently located below the combined
presser and cleaner 34
It 18 sometimes preferable to employ a cloth or felt
cleaner in place of the knife 35, and such means may be readily substituted for
the knife
In the mechanism shown for driving the machine, gear wheels 36 and 37,
respectively carried on and rotatable with hollow shafts 15 and 19 mesh with the
same sized gear wheel. 39 cared on both ends of the shaft 39. Idlers 40 are
interposed between the gear wheels 36 and 37 and small gear wheels 41 and 42.
The small gear wheels 41 and 42, are carried on short shafts 43, said shafts 43
all having a small chain wheel 44 also mounted thereon Small chain belts 45,
four in number being shown, extend over and drive the wheels 46 and 47, and the
several small feed rollers 12, and the delivering rollers 13. A belt 48, running
on pulley wheel 49, carried on and rotatable with hollow shaft 15, connects said
pulley wheel with pulley 50, mounted on shaft 27; by these means the shaft 27
together with the blades 28, within the reservoir, are rotated
In the practice of the art of decorating wares by what is known as the printing
process, the most suitable material and the one almost universally used 18
exceedingly thin paper Heretofore, so far as I am aware, there has been no
machine that could be advantageously employed for domg this class of work
The design to be placed on the articles must be transferred from the engraved
or etched plate on to very thin moistened paper; and the coloring material neces-
sarily employed 18 of such a composition that it must be in a heated state when
applied to the engraved portion of the plate, and the "transfers" must be quite
moist when applied to the engraved portion of the plate, and the transfers must
be quite moist when applied to the article which is to be decorated By the
employment of my machine I am enabled to accomplish these results in a very
satisfactory manner and with a saving of much labor and expense
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincolns Inn Fields, London, W C.,
Agent for the Applicant
I, NICHOLAS KOPP, of Corapolis, County of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same 18 to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement.-
This invention relates to improvements in printing machines, and more particu-
larly to a printing machine especially adapted for printing on a continuous
piece of material, such as paper, cloth and other similar materials
This invention 18 primarily designed for use in connection with the process of
decorating glass, earthenware, porcelain and metallic ware, but may be employed
for other purposes
In the process of ornamenting wares, such as above referred to, as heretofore
practised, designs are cut by hand on etched in substantially the same manner
as for lithographic work on a flat surface of copper or stone
The ink or coloring
matter is applied to the copper or stone plate, and the surplus ink removed with
a knife or buffer"
Its surface 18 wiped clean, and paper or cloth laid on it
after which the material, to which the design is to be transferred, together with
the plate is subjected to pressure and the set designs transferred to the paper.

page_text: 16
.
"
Having obtained the desired impression upon the paper, the latter, in a damp state,
is placed on the article to be ornamented, and rubbed until the coloring matter is
well fastened to the article This "punting process" of decorating wares while
costing much less than hand work" decorating, is still expensive owing to the
time and labor now necessarily employed in printing the tiansfels By the
employment of my invention much time, labor and expense are saved in preparing
the transfers, and with this end in view, my invention consists of a new and
improved printing apparatus, and in certain new combinations of parts and
features of construction, all as more fully hereinafter set forth
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification which illustrate an
application of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a printing
machine constructed in accordance with my invention, Figure 2, a plan view,
Figure 3, a central vertical sectional view taken on line of Fig 2;
Figure 4, a vertical sectional view of line y-y of Fig 2, and Figure 5, a detailed
end view showing means for throwing diving belt into and out of operation
In the construction shown by the drawings the printing apparatus 18 supported by
the frame-work 1, in the sides of which are bearings for the shafts, carrying the
1ollers 2 and 3 An endless belt 4, preferably provided on its outer surface with
a suitable coating 5, of some soft yielding material such as felt or rubber, 18
stretched over the rollers 2 and 3, and is duiven thereby. A roll of material which
18 to receive the impression is located at some convenient place. In the drawings
I have shown this roll supported on a shaft having its bearings in hangers 6, cast
integral with the legs of the framework, but it 18 evident that the material may
be carried at some other convenient point 7 is a weight similar to the usual
means employed in printing machines or devices for carrying a roll of paper.
The sheet or strip of material 9, 18 fed to the printing cylinder 10, by means of the
belt 4, roller 11, and a series of short rollers 12, which latter are adapted to come
in contact with the edges only, of the travelling material, in the manner par-
ticularly shown in Fig 2 A series of delivering olleis 13, similar to the
feed 1olleis 12, are located on the other side of the printing cylinder and deliver
the punted strip, after its passage between the printing cylinder and the belt,
to the shelf 14 In the construction shown, the belt 4, is the primary means for
conveying the material to the printing cylinder and also acts as an impression
belt and takes the place of an impression cylinder now so generally employed in
printing machines The travelling belt uns on or slides over a flat smooth
sui face, as 4, which aids in supporting the belt and prevents the belt from
sagging.
Motion 18 tiansmitted to the printing cylinder 10, by means of the hollow
shaft 15, on which is rigidly mounted the main driving pulley 16 The shaft 15
at its inner end is enlarged and is provided with a screw-threaded sliding collar 17
which is adapted to be keyed to the shaft and to revolve therewith The printing
cylinder 18 screw-threaded as shown, at both ends, one end screws on to the collar 17
and the other end is connected by screw threads to a collar 18, slidable on a
hollow shaft 19 A thin character bearing shell or plate 20, surrounds the print-
ing cylinder 10, and is so constructed that it may be securely attached thereto
and readily removed therefrom when it is deaned to substitute a new shell bear-
ing of a different design The shell or plate is preferably composed of some
suitable metal as steel or copper, and the design 18 either engraved or etched on
its surface. The construction shown permits the printing cylinder and its shell
to be conveniently removed from the machine.
In the process of preparing "tiansters" for use in the decorating of wares such
as heretofore mentioned, the coloring matter employed 18 of such a nature that
it must be applied to the engraved or etched portion of the printing cylinder or
its shell, in a heated state, and for the purpose of heating the coloring matter
and keeping it at the desired temperature, I have provided means for heating the
printing cylinder, the character bearing shell and the coloring matter reservoir 21
One or another of a number of different methods may be employed for heating
these parts. Steam may be utilized for this purpose.

page_text: In the construction illustrated, ateam is used and is passed to and from the
printing cylinder through the hollow shafts, 15 and 19 The resei von 21, 18 pro-
vided with an outer casing 22, between which and the reservoir wall, steam is
passed, thus providing a jacketed reservoir
Directly over the travelling impression belt 4, and the material designed to
receive the imprint, a moistening device 23, 18 hung pivotally, between upright
supports, 24. This moistening device or liquid-containing receptacle is adapted
to wet the paper as it passes under it. In practice water containing a certain
amount of soap 18 used for moistening the paper If it is not desired to wet the
paper, the moistener may be easily removed from the machine. For the purpose
of preventing the paper and the surface of the travelling belt from becoming too
wet, I employ absorbing rollers 25 and 26.
The resei voir or receptacle 21, loosely mounted on shaft 27, is in open com-
munication with the printing cylinder or its shell, while the machine is in
operation, and the coloring matter continuously applied to the cylinder through
a transverse opening in the, receptacle A thin flexible strip 21º, attached to the
resei voir directly above the transverse opening 18 for the purpose of spreading
the coloring matter over the printing cylinder, pressing the same into the engraved
lines and turning the surplus back into the reservoir.
For the purpose of
thoroughly mixing the coloring matter within the reservoir 21, and keeping it
in the desired condition for application to the printing cylinder, I employ a sturer
or mixer, in this instance comprising blades 28, mounted on and adapted to rotate
with the shaft 27. The coloring matter used 18 of such a nature that it must be
continually agitated in order to prevent the heavy substances settling at the
bottom and the oil and other light substances coming to the surface. The means
illustrated accomplish this important function very satisfactorily and entirely
automatically When the machine is not in use, the reservou may be easily
levolved a short distance on its shaft and communication between the reservoir
and the cylinder out off. A locking device 29, attached to the reservoir casing
18 employed for turning the same. The locking device shown comprises a handle
and a shank, the lower end of the latter being adapted to engage with a slotted
lug 29. A rod 30 connects the reservoir with the moistener 23, and when the
reservoir is turned the moistener is also moved.
Means for putting the main driving belt in and out of operation by the move-
ment of the reservoir are particularly shown in Fig 5, and comprise a roller 32,
mounted on the end of a pin attached to the reservoir casing A sliding door 33,
18 shown, for closing the reservoir opening A device 34 for pressing or squeezing
the thick coloring matter into the engraved or etched portion of the plate is
attached to the reservoir A further function of this presser 34 is to clean the
plate of any surplus coloring matter. Further cleaning means, comprising a
knife 35 adapted to bear against the printing cylinder and to catch any surplus
coloring matter escaping the device 34, 18 conveniently located below the combined
presser and cleaner 34°
It is sometimes preferable to employ a cloth or felt
cleaner in place of the knife 35, and such means may be readily substituted før
the knife
In the mechanism shown for driving the machine, gear wheels 36 and 37,
respectively carried on and rotatable with hollow shafts 15 and 19, mesh with the
same sized gear wheels 38 carried on both ends of the shaft 39
Idlers 40 are
interposed between the gear wheels 36 and 37 and small gear wheels 41 and 42
The small gear wheels 41 and 42, are carried on short shafts 43, each having
a small chain wheel 44. Small chain belts 45, four in number are shown,
extend over and drive the wheels 46 and 47, and the several small feed rollers 12,
and the delivering rollers 13 A belt 48, running on pulley wheel 49, carried
on and 1otatable with hollow shaft 15, connects said pulley wheel with pulley 50,
mounted on shaft 27, by these means the shaft 27 together with the blades 28,
within the reservoir, are rotated.
In the practice of the art of decorating wares by what is known as the printing

page_text: process, the most suitable material and the one almost universally used is
exceedingly thin paper
The design to be placed on the articles must be transferred from the engraved
on etched plate onto very thin moistened paper; and the coloung material
necessarily employed is of such a composition that it must be in a heated state
when applied to the engraved portion of the plate, and the "transfeis" must be
quite moist when applied to the engraved portion of the plate, and the "transfers"
must be quite moist when applied to the article which is to be decorated By
the employment of my machine I am enabled to accomplish these results in a
very satisfactory manner and with a saving of much laboi and expense
Among the characteristic features of the present invention, all of which are
very important in a machine designed to perform the class of work above referred
to,' are the following. The exceedingly thin paper, usually tissue paper,
employed in making the transfers, is subjected to the least possible strain or pull
and to almost no strain whatever after it has become wet, hence the liability of
the paper to be torn or destroyed is reduced to a minimum.
The machine may be readily started and stopped and when stopped, the supply
of coloring matter to the printing cylinder and the liquid for dampening the
paper are instantly cut off The coloing matter is thoroughly mixed and main-
tained in the desired condition by mechanical means
In operating the machine, the material, usually a roll of tissue paper, sup
ported at some convenient place, 18 conveyed to the pinting cylinder by the
travelling belt 4, aided by the 1olleis 12 After its passage to and beyond the
punting cylinder, it is led, as heretofore mentioned, by means of the delivery
rollers 13, to a shelf 14, from whence it is taken and cut into suitable sizes for
application to the ware to be decorated The several parts of the apparatus are
driven by the main driving wheel 16, and the intermediate mechanism, com-
prising the gearing and belts already described. Attention is particularly called
to the fact that practically the only pull or strain the paper is subjected to 18
that occasioned before the paper reaches the belt 4. The paper during this time
18 in a dry condition and 18 many times stronger than after it has been dampened,
and very little difficulty is encountered in conveying the paper in the diy state
After the paper has been moistened, however, the greatest care must be exercised
in order to prevent its being toin during its passage to and beyond the printing
cylinder. The paper after leaching the belt 4, 18 carried under roller 11,
moistene 23 and absorbing roller 25 The moistening device 23 extends only
partly across the width of the paper and 1B adapted to moisten the paper for a
portion of its width only, leaving comparatively dry marginal spaces. These
dry spaces along the edges of the paper come in contact with the rollers 12,
while the wet portion adheres to the felt covered surface of the travelling belt and
18 carried by it with no strain or pull to the painting cylinder. After passing
the punting cylinder the rollers 13 come in contact and engage only the dry
edges and feed the now printed and dampened strip to the shelf 14 The
apparatus may be readily shifted into and out of operation and the means shown
for accomplishing these ends comprise the locking device 29, and the roller 32
located on a rod extending from the reservoir casing. The roller 32 is so situated
that it will tighten and loosen the main driving belt 31, which drives the main
wheel 15 Assuming that the machine is in operation, and it is desired to stop
st, this may be readily done by turning the reservoir 21, a slight distance on its
shaft 27, by means of the looking device 29 This movement of the reservoir or
receptacle 21, moves the roller 32 away from the diving belt 31, loosens the belt
and stops the evolution of wheel 16 The intermediate diving mechanism
is also stopped. When the reservoir is tuined, as set forth, the supply of
coloring matter to the printing cylinder 18 cut off The moistening device which
is connected with the reservoir 21, by rod 30, 18 swung upward and the supply
of liquid to the paper stopped. With this construction both the supply of coloring
matter and the liquid for moistening the paper are instantly stopped. The

page_text: material to receive the imprint is left on the machine and the operation of print-
ing may be resumed at any time by simply turning the reservoir 21, thus bring-
ing the roller 32, in contact with the main driving belt and the moistening
device back into position for feeding the liquid to the material
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
-
1
1 In a printing machine, the combination with a printing cylinder, of a
travelling belt, a receptacle for coloring matter having an outlet in communica-
tion with the printing cylinder while the machine is in operation, means to
rotate said receptacle and thereby carry the outlet out of communication with
the printing cylinder and a stirrer or mixer within the receptacle substantially
Bs described.
2. In a printing machine, the combination, with a printing cylinder of a
travelling belt, a moistening device, a receptacle for coloring matter loosely
mounted on a shaft and means connecting the moistening device with the said
receptacle, substantially as set forth
3 In a printing machine, the combination, with a printing cylinder, of a
travelling belt, a moistening device, a reservoir for coloring matter loosely
mounted on a shaft, means for turning the reservoir on its shaft, means connect-
ing the moistening device with the reservoir, and means attached to the reservoir
for starting and stopping the machine, substantially as set forth.
4 In a printing machine, the combination, with a printing cylinder, of a belt
for conveying the material to the printing cylinder, a reservoir for coloring
matter, a moistening device extending partly across the belt and the material
which is to receive the impression and adapted to wet the material for a portion
of its width only, means for removing surplus moisture from the material, and
rollers adapted to come in contact with the edges of the said material, substantially
as set forth.
5. In a printing machine, the combination, with a heatable printing cylinder,
hollow shafts in communication with the cylinder, slidable collars on said shafts
engaging with the printing evlinder, a character bearing shell carried on the
cylinder, a conveyor belt, a moistening device, a heatable receptacle for coloring
matter loosely mounted on a shaft and provided with a stirrer, means for turning
the receptacle on its shaft, means connecting the moistening device with the
1eceptacle and means attached to the receptacle for starting and stopping the
machine, substantially as described
6 In a machine of the class described, a belt adapted to convey a strip of
material to be printed on, a printing cylinder, a moistening device for seid strip
ntermediate the printing cylinder and the point of feed of the strip on the
belt, substantially as described
7 In a machine of the class described, the combination, with means for con-
veying a continuous strip of material, of a moistening device adapted to moisten
only part of the transverse surface of the material, feeding and delivering means
engaging the dry portions of the material, and printing means for said strip,
substantially as set forth
T
00
F WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC,
Agent for the Applicant.