IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDPLATES FOR SECURING STEREOTYPE PLATES FOR PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: Printing Machines.
I, ARTHUR McCARDLE, of. 90 Grove Street, Edinburgh, in the county of
Midlothian, Letterpress Printer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDPLATES FOR SECURING STEREOTYPE PLATES FOR
PRINTING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
ม
This Invention has reference to a new or improved mode and means or special
appliances for securing and accurately setting or adjusting each and all of the set of
page stereotype plates which make up the complete "forme or set of pages to be
printed on one sheet of paper at a time, so that when printed on both sides and
folded all the pages will be "imposed" properly opposite each other. The invention
consists all as follows:-in the use of a rectangular metal bedplate or frame, which
may be made in one piece, or built of several plates screwed together by under bars,
and made rather larger than the sheet of paper to be printed over it. This bed
plate would be accurately made or planed to a uniform parallel thickness (of about
a quarter of an inch or strong enough to sustain the pressure of printing and to
carry the grippers as hereinafter described) flat on the upper surface to receive and
carry the under surface of the page stereotyped plates planed to a uniform thick-
ness. This upper bed plate would preferably be mounted and bedded on a corre-
spondingly sized parallel under board or plate, and portably secured to the latter
by edge catches or clips both fitted with bevelled edges or other equivalent, so that
one or more underlay sheets of paper could be quickly and easily placed between
the upper and lower plate to make up the proper depth or thickness (as of the
ordinary type or wood blocks) to receive the proper or regular pressure in printing;
and screws in the under plate, with sunk screw nuts in the upper plate might be
used to secure these plates together at convenient parts in the spaces between the
page stereotype plates. The page stereotypes are made much the same as at present,
and dressed or planed to a nearly uniform size at the edges which would preferably
be bevelled inwards a little towards the top, and which would project so much
beyond and be so much lower than the upper or printing face of the plate, that the
new broad faced shallow grippers or clips with their gripping face under cut would
catch or hold down the edges of the stereotype plates to the metal bedplate.
One mode of fitting and mounting these new broad faced grippers to catch
and hold down the stereotypes by their edges to their metal bedplate and also set
or impose them accurately to each other, consists in mounting each gripper by a

page_text: downward projecting screw nut or guide with V cut edges, on a small screw spindle
with enlarged boss or head at its outer end with holes in it for turning it by a pin
in either direction to tighten or loosen the stereotype. Each gripper and screw is
securely mounted in A-guide slots corresponding to the gripper slide cut or formed
for them at right angles to the edge of the stereotype in the said metal bedplate,
small journals on the extreme ends of the screw spindles working in corresponding
bearings or bushes at the end of the slots, all so that the grippers face each other
and grip the opposite edges of each stereotype plate at points opposite each other;
and when the gripper on one side is slackened by turning its actuating screw on one
side, and the one opposite is tightened up by its screw the stereotype can be shifted
to one side or the other and fixed at the same time. Thus if one gripper and screw
are fitted opposite each other at the centre of the top and bottom edges of each
page plate, the plate can be raised or lowered as described to bring it into proper
And if a
line with all the other plates of the same parallel longitudinal row.
gripper and its actuating screw be, fitted on the opposite side edges at each page
plate near the top and also near the bottom, then in like manner by slackening the
two grippers on one side by their screws and tightening up those on the other side
this page plate can be brought in line with the other plates of its transverse row,
and to further turn and adjust each plate to be in exact rectangular position with
all the other plates of the set (as well as being in parallel distance position as
before described) an upper or a lower side gripper can be slackened or the diagonal
opposite gripper can be slackened and the grippers opposite those slackened be then
tightened up and thus turn and fix the plate in true rectangular position as well as
lineal and distance position with the other plates. One way of fitting in the
actuating screws of the grippers, so as to be easily removed and inserted, is by
making the outer end bush of the spindle removable and secured by countersunk
screws to the bed plate where there is room round the outer edges of the bedplate,
or in the marginal spaces between the page plates. But where there is less room,
(as between the grippers at the adjacent upper and lower side edges of some of the
page plates) and the turning heads of the screw spindles come very close together,
the four screws of these may be mounted in a single brass or other small metal
frame inserted into the bedplate, with sliding blocks working in guide slots at
right angles to the screws, and which when pushed out between the heads of the
screws form a bearing and, abutting block for them, and these blocks could be held
in position by the outer rim of the revolving sunk nut placed centrally there for
this purpose and for securing, the upper bedplate to its lower board or plate, small
noteles or recesses being formed on opposite sides of the rim of these nuts when
turned in one position to allow of the slide blocks being drawn back in their
V guides to remove one or more of the four screws and their gripper when
required.
These, improvements enable sets or forms with numerous stereotype plates, to be
more easily and accurately set for printing than by the modes and means hereto-.
fore used, and enable any page plate to be removed for alteration and inserted
again without loosening or dislocating the other plates as is the case by the
ordinary means of securing stereotype plates in the frame forms heretofore used.
A Camanbanwith day of Dacomber 1884

page_text: Improvements in Bedplates for Securing Stereotype Plates for
Printing Machines.
I, ARTHUR M°CARDLE of 90 Grove Street, Edinburgh, in the county of
Mid Lothian, Letterpress Printer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Inven-
tion for " IMPROVEMENTS IN BEDPLATES FOR SECURING STEREOTYPE PLATES FOR
PRINTING MACHINES," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement;
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the reference
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
..
This invention has reference to a new or improved mode and means or special
appliances for securing and accurately setting or adjusting each and all of the set
of page stereotype plates which make up the complete "form" or set of pages to
be printed on one sheet of paper at a time, so that when printed on both sides and
folded all the pages will be "imposed" properly opposite each other.
.
And in order that the full and clear nature and novelty of the invention or.
improvements, and the mode and means of putting the same into effect or practice,
may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several figures on
the Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for that purpose, the same
reference letters indicating the same parts in the several figures.*
Figures 1 and 2 are a cross section and a plan, the former taken on the dotted
line 1-1 in the latter, both to a scale of half the natural size, of one modification
or construction of my new or improved bedplate or frame A, B, for properly.
securing or gripping and setting the stereotype page plates of a
"form" for
printing machines, in the improved manner, all in accordance with and illustrative
of the improvements of my said invention; only a part of the metal bedplate A;
with its screw grippers a, b, for securing one page stereotype plate, as dotted at P.
being shown, sufficient to make clear the construction of the whole, to save
unnecessary repitition and drawing.
Figures 3 and 4 are a full sized section and corresponding plan of a slightly
different modification or construction of my said improved bed plate A, B, from
that shown in Figures 1 and 2; the section Figure 3 being taken on the irregular,
line 2 2 in Figure 4.
Referring to these Figures 1 to 4 the invention consists all as follows: In the
use of a rectangular metal bedplate or frame A, which may either be made in one
piece or plate of brass or other metal as indicated in Figures 3 and 4, or be built
of several plates jointed and screwed together by under bars at A' by screws A'
as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and is made rather larger over all than the sheet
of paper to be printed over it. This bedplate A would be accurately made or
planed to an uniform parallel thickness (of about a quarter of an inch, or strong
enough to sustain the pressure of printing and to carry the grippers of the.
stereotype plates, as hereinafter described) flat on the upper surface as a bed to
receive and carry the under surface of the set of page stereotype plates P planed to
a uniform thickness shown in dotted lines in the figures. This upper bed plate A,
would preferably be mounted and bedded on a correspondingly-sized parallel under,
f
名

page_text: board or plate B.; and portably secured to the latter by edge catches or clip
plates C, C¹, secured to one side or edge of the under plate B, and removable at
the other or by other equivalent fastenings, both preferably fitted with bevelled
edges at top, so that the plates A could be released by the movable catches C¹ and
raised at this side to have one or more sheets of paper p easily and quickly placed
on the under plate B, or (between the upper and lower plate A and B, as an
"under-lay" to make up the proper depth or thickness (as of the ordinary type or
wood blocks) to receive the proper or regular pressure in printing. The page
stereotype plates P are made much the same as at present, and dressed or planed
to a nearly uniform size at the edges, which would preferably be bevelled inwards
a little towards the top, and which would project so much beyond and be so much
lower than the upper or printing face of the plate, that the new broad faced
shallow grippers or clips a with their bevelled or under-cut gripping faces would
catch the stereotype plate P by their bevelled edges and hold them firmly down to
the metal bedplate A.
One mode of fitting and mounting these new broad faced grippers a, to so catch
and hold down the stereotypes P. by their bevelled edges to their metal bedplate A,
and also space and set or impose them accurately to each other, consists, as shown
detached in side and face view Figure 5, in mounting each gripper a by its
downward projecting screw nut or guide stem a', with V-cut edges on each side on
a small screw spindle 6 formed with an enlarged boss or head 61 at its outer end
baving holes in it or teeth round its perimeter, as shown respectively in figures 2
and 4, for turning the screw by a pin h, or segmental toothed rack h' of a hand
tool H shown in Figure 6, in either direction to tighten or loosen the stereotypes
and shift them individually as desired. A small hand key or spanner /² such as
shown in Figure 7; might also be used to so turn the screws b by their notched
heads b. Each gripper and screw ȧ, b, is securely mounted to slide in A-guide
slots a, corresponding to those in the gripper nut stem a', and cut or formed for
them in the bedplate A parallel to the screws b, or at right angles to the edge
of the stereotype plate P to be secured by each gripper a. Small journals 62
are formed on the extreme ends of the screw spindles 6 to work in corresponding
bearing holes or bushes D or D₁ at the end of the slots a², all so that the
grippers a face each other and grip the opposite bevelled edges of each stereotype
plate P at points opposite each other; and when the gripper a on one side is
slackened by turning its actuating screw b on one side, and the oné opposite
is tightened up by its screw b, the stereotype can be shifted to one side or the
other and fixed at the same time in the desired registered position the pages
have to be printed on the paper to be imposed and folded.
Thus as indicated
in Figures 2 and 4, if one gripper a and its screw b are fitted opposite each
other at the centre of the top and bottom edges of each page plate as seen
at P¹, the plate can be raised or lowered as described to bring it into proper
line with all the other plates of the same parallel longitudinal row. And
if a gripper and its actuating screw a, b, be titted on the opposite side edges
of each page stereotype plate near the top at P2 P3 and also near the bottom 'as
Been at P, P, then in like manner by slackening the two grippers on one side
as at P, P, by their screws, and tightening up those at P³ Ps on the other side of
the stereotype plate, this page plate can thus be brought in line with the other page
plates of its transverse row; and to further turn and adjust each page stereotype
plate to be in exact rectangular position with all the other. plates of the set (as well
as being in parallel distance position as before described) an upper or a lower side
gripper as at P2 or P' can be slackened, or the diagonal opposite grippers can be
slackened as at P² or Ps and the grippers respectively opposite those slackened, as
at P³ or P³, and P³, P', be then tightened up, and thus turn and fix the plate in
true rectangular position with the other page plates, as well as in true lineal and
distance position, as before described. One way of fitting in the actuating screws b
of the grippers α, so as to be easily removed and inserted is by fitting each outer
end bush D¹, D³, or D³ of the spindle into corresponding recesses in the plate A,

page_text: and making it either in one piece or in two parts split up the centre and removable,
shown detached respectively in Figures D1, D2, and in either case secured by
a V notch dat the one end and by a countersunk screw d' at the other to the bed-
-plate A, where there is room for this, as at D¹, D at the outer edges of the bed-
plate A, or in the marginal spaces as at D¹¹ between the page plates; and as at D 3
in the edges of the plate A, and shown detached at Fig. D 3. But where there is
less room as between the grippers (at the adjacent upper and lower side edges of
some of the page plates) and the turning heads b₁ of the opposite screw spindles b
in a line come very close together as at A³ where the slots a² are formed into one
long groove, the four screws b of these, may either be mounted with two sliding
bearing blocks e (one being shown detached in edge and side views Figure 8)
working in guide slots E, at right angles to the adjacent screws bb, and with
locking and releasing disc or nut F between them, all so that when these blocks e
are pushed out between the journals 62 at the heads of the screws, they would form
a bearing and an abutting block for the screws. These blocks e could be held in
this position by the outer rim of the revolving sunk disc or nut F mounted centrally
in a circular A-edged recess F¹ in the bedplate A, for this purpose, one of which
retaining discs or nuts F-being shown detached in edge and side view at Figure 9.
Small notches or recesses fare formed on opposite sides of the rim of each holding
disc nut F, which when turned in one position allows the two slide blocks e e to be
drawn back in their V-guides E to remove one or more of the four screws b and
their gripper a when required. Each locking disc or nut F would be formed with
two small holes f¹, through it, so as to be turned by the pins f' in one end of the
hand screw key or tool T, shown in Figure 10. A hole g through the centre of
these locking discs F is preferably screwed to take on to small screw bolts gl passed
up through holes G or cases formed or fitted in the wood bedplate B, with small
spiral or other springs g³ under them, which press them automatically up, so that
their upper ends which are pointed enter the central screw hole g of their nut F,
when this is turned by the screw key T, and as seen at Fin figure 3, so as to
secure the upper metal bedplate A to its lower thick plate B at each circular nut F.
These central holes also serve for sharp pointed pins projecting up through them,
from the under plate B, above the upper plate A, to answer, as guides for this, or
the under-lays and overlays; and these pins can be removed when not required!
Other screws in the under plate B, with sunk screw nuts in the upper plate A, or
vice versa, may be used to further secure these plates A and B together at
convenient parts in the spaces between the page stereotype plates P. When the
upper bedplate A is made of type metal in pieces as shown at A" in Figures 1
and 2, and when so made of soft metal, brass or iron case pieces may be slotted and"
fitted to receive and carry the screws b and the locking blocks e and securing
turning nuts F when preferred, as shown dotted at E¹ in Figure 2.
These improved modes and means of securing the numerous stereotype plates, or
sets, or "forms" of these, enable thein to be much more easily and accurately set
for printing, than by the modes and means heretofore used, and also enable any
page plate to be removed for alteration and inserted again without loosening or
dislocating the other plates, as is the case by the ordinary means of securing
stereotype plates in the frame forms heretofore used.
The modifications described in reference to and shown in the drawings are only
applicable to flat or platin printing machines, but it is to be understood that these
improvements are also applicable to cylindrical or revolving printing machines, in
which case the metal plate A carrying the screw grippers and other fittings would
be curved to fit the circumference of the printing cylinder and secured thereto by
the screws F, and g¹, instead of to the under flat bed plate B, as hereinbefore
described.
These improved frame forms or plates,-for accurately securing stereotype plates
for printing, as shown in Figures 2 and 4,-are only fitted for securing eight page
plates, but it will be evident that they could be made of other sizes and fitted to
secure a fewer or a greater number of the page stereotypes or plates, in like manner

page_text: 1
to that herein before described and as shown in the drawings; and when made
larger the upper plates A would preferably be made proportionally thicker, and
have a greater number of nuts and screws F and g, g', for.securing it to the bod
plate B; and although this lower plate B is shown made of a board of wood it
might be made of a light metal plate on top and hollow or panelled out on the
under side with light, longitudinal and transverse edge bars or feathers to give
strength with lightness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
•
First. The new or improved construction of bedplates or frames for securing
stereotype plates for printing machines substantially as herein described in reference
to or shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The new or improved mode and means of securing stereotype plates to
their bed plate or frame for printing machines by grippers at their edges, so that
each stereotype plate can be set and secured portably and removably independent
of the others, substantially as hereinbefore described in reference to or shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
.
Third. The new or improved construction, or combination of a bedplate or frame
with shifting screw grippers fitted therein for securing stereotype plates thereto in
printing machines, substantially as herein described in reference to or shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The new or improved construction of an upper and a lower bedplate
or frame for carrying the stereotype plates in printing machines, for the insertion of
under-lays of sheets of paper between said plates, substantially as herein described
in reference to or shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The new or improved mode and means of securing an upper bedplate or
frame, carrying the stereotype plates in printing machines, to its lower bedplate or
frame, by sunk revolving, screw discs or nuts on non-turning screw pins with
pressing up springs, or vice versa by sunk turning screw pin with non-turning
screw nuts and pressing springs below them, substantially as herein described in
reference to or shown in the accompanying Drawings.