A MACHINE OR PRESS FOR PRINTING FROM TYPES, BLOCKS, OR OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1813

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENT SHALL COME, I, JOHN.
RUTHVEN, of Edinburgh, Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the First day of November, in the fifty-fourth year of His reign,.
did give and grant unto me, the said John Ruthven, my exors, adññors, and
assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said John Ruthven, my exors, adñors, and assigns, during the term of years
herein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "A MACHINE OR PRESS FOR PRINTING FROM TYPES, BLOCKS, OR OTHER
SURFACES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that if
I, the said John Ruthven, shall not particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same
to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within four calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as by
the said Letters Patent (relation being thereunto had) may more fully appear..

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Ruthven, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, are particularly described and
ascertained in manner following; that is to say:
My printing press differs from those heretofore used in the following parti-
culars:
1st. The types, plates, blocks, or other surface from which the impression
is to be taken, instead of being situated upon a running carriage, as heretofore
practised in printing presses, are placed upon a stationary platform or tablet,
which is provided with the usual apparatus, known to printers by the
names of tympan and frisket, with points, &c.,. to receive the sheet of paper
and convey it to its proper situation on the face of the types after they have
been inked.
2nd. The machinery by which the power for the pressure is produced is
situated immediately beneath this platform or tablet and the platten or surface
which is opposed to the face of the types, to press the sheet of paper against
them, can be brought over the types and connected at two opposite sides or
ends with the machinery beneath the table. By this machinery it is so forcibly
pressed or drawn down upon the paper which lays upon the types as to give
the impression, which, being thus made, the platten can be disunited from the
machinery, and removed from off the types by the foot or otherwise, to take
out the paper and introduce a fresh sheet.
3d. The said machinery for producing the pressure is a combination of
levers actuated by a crank or short lever, turned by a winch or handle to which
the pressman applies his hand, or the pressure may be produced by the tread
of the foot.
These particulars of my Invention admit of various forms or mode of
construction, but those which I have found by experience to be most applicable
and convenient for practice are described by the Drawings hereunto annexed;
in which Fig. 1 is a horizontal plan of a printing press; Fig. 2, a vertical
section, taken through the middle; and Fig. 3, an end view; the same letter
of reference being used in every one. A, A, represents the tablet or surface
upon which the types, &c., are laid, its surface truly flat, and may be made
either of wood, stone, or metal, or any other substance used for the carriage of
printing presses, but I commonly have it made of cast iron. This tablet is
mounted upon a frame of wood or metal, consisting of legs B, B, and cross
braces C, C, or any other kind of support may be used, which will firmly
sustain the table at a proper height from the ground. The table has the
tympan 8, 9, jointed to it at the end 9, in the usual manner, and opens into the

page_text: position of the dotted lines 10, to take off or put on the sheet of paper which is
confined by the frisket 11, in the usual manner. The dotted lines 12, represent
the gallows, or support for the tympan and frisket when opened. For
fastening the types upon the table, or what the printers call making register,
quoins or wedges may be introduced at the angles in the usual manner; but
a method which I prefer is to have screws 13, 13, fitted through pieces which
are made fast to the sides of the table, and between the points of these screws
the chase or frame of types is held steady upon the table and may be adjusted.
Beneath the tables are the levers marked D, E, D, E, their fulcrums or fixed
centre pins being at D, and they act upon double hooks or clutches F, F,
when the ends E are depressed by means of a third lever I, G, situated beneath
and common to both, the connection being made by the link a. The fulcrum
of the lever is at G, and H is a third point, to which the power to actuate it
is applied by a connecting rod K, the opposite end of which is jointed to a
crank or short lever L, M, situated upon an axis or spindle L, which extends
to the front of the machine, and has a winch or handle N, Fig. 1, upon it,
for the pressman to turn it by. The platten of the press is shewn at o, o.
It may be made of wood or iron, as usual, but must be exactly true on the
lower surface, which applies to the face of the types b, situated at b, b, upon
the table A, A. On the top of the platten is a strong metal bar P, which
may be either cast in one piece with it, or united to it by screws at 1, ; at
its extremities it has bolts d, d, fixed to it by screws or otherwise, and at
their lower ends they have heads which are exactly fitted to the clutches or
double hooks F, F, before described; by means of these the platten is
connected with the lever D, E, D, E, so that a pressure may be produced when
the handle N is turned in the direction shewn by the arrow in Fig. 2; this,
by turning the lever M about upon its center L, pushes the rod K, which
acting upon the point H of the lever G, H, I, moves it upon its centre G,
and depresses the point I, which being connected with extremities E of the
levers D, E, by the link a, they are made to partake of its motion, and draw
down the platten upon the types by the clutches F, and hooks d, d; by
returning the winch N to its original position the pressure is relieved, and
the platten may be removed from the type; thus, at the two ends of the
bar P, two springs e, e, Figs. 1 and 3, are fixed, and in the ends of these
rollers or wheels marked f, are fitted to revolve freely upon their centre pins;
these wheels having grooves in their edges, run upon sharp angles formed
upon the upper edges of two rails R, R, which are extended across the frame
of the press and project sufficiently behind, as shewn in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, being
supported by brackets g, Fig. 3, if necessary. Upon these bars and wheels (or

page_text: sliders may be used in lieu of wheels) the platten will run freely to remove it
-backwards off the types, but when brought over them the bolts d, d, will
'enter the clutches F, F, ready to receive the action of the levers and give the
pressure upon the tympan. The springs c are so adjusted that when the platten
runs backwards or forwards upon the rails R, the under surface of it will be
-sufficiently raised above the tympan to run clear of it, but when the hooks d
and F are united, and the pressure given by turning the handle N, these springs
yield, though they have sufficient strength to raise up the platten clear of the
tympan the instant the pressure is relieved. To draw the platten forward over
the types, a handle h is fixed upon it for the pressman to take hold by, but it
may be brought forward by the foot in the following manner :-The two fore-
most wheels ff, have links k, l, jointed to their centre pins to connect them with
the upper ends of two long levers m, m, which are affixed to one common axis n,
Fig. 2, extending across the whole machine near the ground. Upon the axis
a short lever O, Fig. 3, is fixed, and a rod g unites it to the end of a bent
lever r, i, the arm i of which is made broad to serve as a paddle to place the
foot upon; by depressing this the armr draws the short lever a, and the long
lever m, m, causes the platten to advance truly parallel and come up to the
clutches F, F. To make all the work compact the centres D, D, of the great
levers and of the lower lever G, as well as pivots L of the winch N, are all
supported in one frame composed of two metal cheeks S, S, which are situated
beneath the table and united thereto by screws or otherwise, as is shewn by
'the dotted lines in the plan Fig. 1. The power of the press will depend upon
the proportions of the different levers and the relation between the space
described by the motion of the handle N and the descent of the platten o; but
it should be observed that the power of this press increases as the handle
descends to the horizontal position shewn in Fig. 2, first, because the handle
is then in the most favourable situation to receive the weight of the work-
man's body; second, the lever L, M, comes to a position which gives it great
power to force the rod K, viz., as is shewn by the dotted lines L 2, for when
the lever and rod come to one straight line, its power to force the rod K may
be considered as infinitely great; third, the lever G, H, is in the most favour-
able position, marked G 2, to receive the action of the rod K, viz., perpen-
dicular to it; fourth, the lever G, I, is in a position to have greater power on
the links a and levers D, E, than when it is in a horizontal position. All
these sources combined have the best effect in saving time, and at the same
time producing an immense pressure; for when the pressman first takes the
handle N, it acts but with little advantage in respect to power upon the levers,
and therefore brings the platten down very quickly upon the tympan with

page_text: little loss of time or motion, till they have assumed positions in which they exert
more powerful action upon each other, as above stated; and this action con-
tinues to increase until the lever L, M, and rod K come nearly into a line, when
the power is immensely great and capable of producing any required pressure
which the parts of the press will withstand without yielding. The handle N is
made to come to rest upon a stop, which prevents its moving farther than the
position of the dotted lines, and therefore regulates the degree of pressure
given upon the work; but to give the means of increasing or diminishing the
pressure at pleasure for different kinds of work, the centre hole for the pin II
is made in a piece, which is fitted in a groove in the rod K; therefore, by
sliding it in the groove, and fitting packing in the groove, it has the same
effect as lengthening the rod, which produces a greater descent of the platten
when the handle is brought to its stop. A screws is fitted into the end of
the groove, to screw the packing tight in the groove and prevent its getting
loose in the working. Another method of producing the same effect is to
adjust the nuts which are fitted on the screws at the top of the bolts d, d, or it
may be done by loosening the screws at r, and fitting packings between the
fitting of the platten and the bar P; the same may be done to adjust the
platten parrallel if it prints more at one part than another. Springs may be
applied to take off shake or looseness in the joints; it may be done in different
ways. A strong spring may be fixed beneath the table, and act upon the
clutch F to lift it up and keep the joint tight; or one small spring may
be fixed on the lever D, E, as shewn at the opposite side, to lift up the
clutch F, and another being fixed to the lever beneath, and resting at the end
upon a pin in the frame, will lift up the lever and link a. to keep them all
tight for working. If it is thought objectionable for the rod K to push end-
ways on the levers, it may be contrived to draw or pull, by placing the lever
M above the spindle L instead of beneath it, and also reversing the form of
the lever G, H, I, the points G and H to remain as they are, but the
point I to be on the opposite side of the centre, viz., above it; and with this
alteration the drawing of the rod K will produce the pressure, instead of
pushing it as in the Figures.
Fig. 4 shews another arrangement of the levers for a press; in this
Figure the same letters are used to denote the same parts: thus, A is the table;
D, E, the levers; F, the clutches; O, the platten; P, the cross bar. The
ends E of the levers are connected by links a with a third lever T, W, whose
centre or fulcrum is at V; the power is applied to the long end by a chain t,
which is conducted over a pulley or roller v and wound upon a wheel w, which

page_text: is fixed upon the axis of the handle to work the press. To give a greater
power the wheel may be formed like a spiral instead of circular, that the
chain may lay upon a shorter radius when the pressure is produced.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ruthven, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Fourtenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
Sealed and delivered by John Ruthven,
party hereto, at Edinburgh, as afore-
said, this Fourteenth day of February,
1814. before us.
JOHN RUTHVEN. (L.S.)
D. LEES,
Writer in Edinburgh.
Alexander Callender, of the City of Edinburgh, in North Britain, Depute
Clerk, maketh oath that he, this Deponent, was present and did see John
Ruthven, of Edinburgh, Printer, duly sign, seal, and deliver the Deed Poll or
Specification hereunto annexed of his Patent, bearing date at Westminster,
the First day of November, One thousand eight hundred and thirteen, for a
Machine or Press for Printing from Types, Blocks, or other Surfaces, and
that David Lees, Writer, in said City, and this Deponent, did subscribe
their names as witnesses to the said Deed Poll or Specification, and of the
due execution of the same; and the name John Ruthven, subscribed against
the seal of the said Deed Poll or Specification is the proper handwriting of
the said John Ruthven, and that the names Alex. Callender & D. Lees,
subscribed as witnesses to the said Deed Poll or Specification are of the
proper handswriting of the said David Lees and this Deponent.
Sworn at Edinburgh, in North Britain,
this Twenty-second day of February,
1814, before me,
ALEX CALLENDER.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the oath of Alexander Callender, the
Specification aforesaid was inrolled word for word as above written.
And
also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of the Statute
made for that purpose.
Specification aforesaid was inrolled word for word as above written.
And
also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of the Statute
made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fourteen.