IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING AND CUTTING INTO SHEETS ROLLS OF PAPER, AND IN TYPE CHASES FOR LOCKING UP PAGES OF TYPE FROM WHICH TO FORM STEREOTYPE PRINTING SURFACES FOR SUCH ROLL OR OTHER CYLIN- DRICAL PRINTING MACHINES.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cameron Mac Donald, of Waddon, in
the County of Surrey, and Joseph Calverley, of the Albany Road,
Camberwell, in the same County, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING AND CUTTING INTO SHEETS ROLLS OF
PAPER, AND IN TYPE CHASES FOR LOCKING UP PAGES OF TYPE FROM WHICH
TO FORM STEREOTYPE PRINTING SURFACES FOR SUCH ROLL OR OTHER CYLIN-
DRICAL PRINTING MACHINES.'
"
Sealed the 14th November 1871, and dated the 22nd June 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cameron Mac
Donald and Joseph Calverley at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 22nd June 1871.
We, JOHN CAMERON MAC DONALD, of Waddon, in the County of
Surrey, and JOSEPH CALVERLEY, of the Albany Road, Camberwell, in
the same County, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING AND CUTTING INTO SHEETS ROLLS
OF PAPER, AND IN TYPE CHASES FOR LOCKING UP PAGES OF TYPE FROM WHICH TO
FORM STEREOTYPE PRINTING SURFACES FOR SUCH ROLL OR OTHER CYLINDRICAL
PRINTING MACHINES,” to be as follows :—
•
Our improvements relate to machines such as are described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to us on the 6th day of December 1866

page_text: (No. 3222) for printing and cutting into sheets rolls of paper, and have
for their object both to improve the printing and also to enable them
to be used for printing and cutting into sheets rolls of paper of different
widths.
In order to construct such machines in a manner to enable rolls of 5
paper of different widths to be printed in them, in place of holding the
stereotype printing surfaces on to the printing cylinders by moveable
end plates or collars at the ends of the cylinders, as described in the
above-mentioned Specification, we employ a number of sliding dogs
which can slide to and fro in slots formed longitudinally at the ends 1
of each cylinder. The dogs or holders are, like the end plates or collars
before employed made to overlap the edges of the plates, and as they
can be set inwards along the cylinder to any required extent, stereotype
plates of any required width can be fixed upon the cylinder.
The cutting cylinders between which the sheet of paper passes to be 1
cut into sheets after it has been printed on both sides, wo also form in
such a way that sheets of paper of different widths may be cut by them.
For the proper working of these cutting cylinders it is requisite that
the two edges of the paper should be securely held between them. To
enable this to be effected whatever the width of sheet may be that is
being passed through the machine we form the two ends of the cylinders
moveable and so that they may be slid to and from the fixed central
portion of the cylinders and be fixed in a proper position for nipping
the two edges of the sheet of paper whatever may be its width. The
cutting knife which is carried by one of the cylinders is of a length
sufficient to cut the broadest sheet of paper that is to be passed through
the machine and together with the nipping plates which are on each
side of it projects beyond the fixed central portion of the cylinder and
passes through slots in the peripheries of the moveable collars before
mentioned. The recess in the other cylinder into which the knife is a
to enter is formed along a bar which is let into the periphery of the
'fixed central portion of the cylinder and made to project from both
its ends and similarly to pass through slots formed in the peripheries
of the moveable collars. The action of the cutting knife is thus not
interfered with at whatever distance apart the moveable ends may be
fixed from one another. In order that the thickness of the film of ink
which is supplied by the inking rollers to the printing surfaces may
be readily and quickly adjusted so that the printing may be either

page_text: lighter or darker, the uptake roller (which continuously takes a film of
ink from the feeding roller) and the first distributing roller are mounted
in one bracket capable of swinging on a centre concentric with the
axis of the next inking surface and so enables the uptake roller to
be set nearer to or further from the feeding roller without involving a
separate corresponding adjustment of the distributing roller.
In order to damp the upper surface of the paper as it enters the
printing machine we employ a hollow metal roller the periphery of
which is perforated with numerous small holes ranged around it in
spiral lines, and which is covered on its exterior with printer's blanket
or like soft porous material, the roller is mounted on hollow axes and
a perforated tube is passed through the centre of the roller from one
axis to the other. The space between this perforated tube and the
inner circumference of the roller is packed with sponge or other
absorbent material, and water is supplied to this absorbent material
by a syringe applied at the open ends of the hollow axes. The hollow
axes are placed in bearings which allow the roller to rest on the upper
surface of the sheet of paper where it passes over another damping
cylinder as described in the Specification of a Patent granted to us on
the 14th November 1868 (No. 3470). As the paper travels through
the machine the roller resting upon it is caused to revolve rapidly
and the water contained in the porous material within the roller is
caused by centrifugal action to pass outwards to the porous covering
on its exterior, and is thereby transmitted to the surface of the paper.
In cylinder printing machines such as are described in the Specifi-
cations of the before-mentioned Patents it is of great importance that
the surface of the stereotype printing plates should form parts of a
perfect cylinder so as to give an uniform impression. In manufacturing
sterotype plates for such machines in the way now usually adopted
each page of type is set up in a flat chase and from the type so set up an
impression in papier maché is taken which forms the matrix of the mould
in which the stereotype plate is cast. Apparatus for casting such plates
in a cylindrical form is described in the Specification before-mentioned
(No. 8222). In thus forming cylindrical printing surfaces, the surface
of the type set up in the chase must be perfectly level before forming
the paper matrix from it; otherwise the imperfection is repeated in the
stereotype surface obtained and imperfect printing is the result. In
locking up large pages of type in the manner now usual great difficulty

page_text: is experienced in obtaining a perfectly level type surface, as some part
or other of the type in the chase frequently rises or brickles up and an
uneven surface is produced. To remedy this we employ as heretofore
wedges to press against one side and end respectively of the page of
type in the chase; the wedges which are against the type we form as
usual of sufficient length to extend along the side and end respectively
of the page, but in place of interposing several short wedges, as is
frequently the case between the chase and the wedges which are
against the type, we employ but one long wedge to act along the
whole side or end of the page and we actuate this wedge by means
of a screw the stem of which is passed through the frame of the chase
whilst the screw screws into a nut which fits into a slot or recess
in the rear end of the wedge. The rear end of the wedge is also
slotted longitudinally for the screw to pass to the nut. The inclined
surface of one wedge of each pair has also a feather formed along it
to enter a corresponding slot formed along the inclined surface of the
other wedge. The stems of the screws where they pass through the
frame of the chase are free to turn but are prevented from moving
endwise, and their projecting ends are suitably formed to receive a key
by which they may be turned. When either one or other of the wedges
is forced forwards by its screw the wedge acting with it is forced
against the whole length of the side or end of the page of type and
by simultaneously turning both screws to act simultaneously upon the
wedges at the side and end of the page the type may simultaneously
be pressed up in both directions and the tendency of the type to rise
is thereby greatly diminished. The locking up and unlocking of the
type can also be quickly effected as the moving wedges can readily be
moved either backwards or forwards by turning the screws, and great
facility is afforded for adjusting the columns of type in the page by
means of filling leads to the correct length' in order that a uniform
pressure may be exerted on each column. A page of type can thus
quickly be locked up in a chase and at the same time a flat type surface
be obtained. The wedges which bear against the type are prevented
from moving endwise either by bearing at their end against the side
of the chase or against a suitable stop projecting from or formed in it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Cameron Mac Donald and Joseph Calverley
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st December 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
CAMERON MAC DONALD, of Waddon, in the County of Surrey, and
JOSEPH CALVERLEY, of the Albany Road, Camberwell, in the same
County, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the
year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said John Cameron Mac Donald
and Joseph Calverloy, Her special license that we, the said John
Cameron Mac Donald and Joseph Calverley, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as wo, the said John Cameron
Mac Donald and Joseph Calverley, 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 FOR
PRINTING AND CUTTING INTO SHEETS ROLLS OF PAPER, AND IN TYPE CHASES FOR
LOCKING UP PAGES. OF TYPE FROM WHICH TO FORM STEREOTYPE PRINTING SURFACES
FOR SUCH ROLL OR OTHER CYLINDRICAL PRINTING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said John Cameron Mac Donald and
Joseph Calverley, 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 John Cameron Mac Donald and
Joseph Calverley, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention.
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to, be particularly

page_text: described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
that is to say:-
Our improvements relate to machines such as are described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to us on the 6th day of December
1866 (No. 3222) for printing and cutting into sheets rolls of paper, and
have for their object both to improve the printing and also to enable
them to be used for printing and cutting into sheets rolls of paper of
different widtlis.
In order to construct such machines in a manner to enable rolls of
paper of different widths to be printed in them in place of holding the
stereotype printing surfaces on to the printing cylinders by moveable
end plates or collars at the ends of the cylinders, as described in the
above-mentioned Specification, we employ a number of sliding dogs
which can slide to and fro in slots formed longitudinally at the ends of
such cylinders, as shewn at Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed, in which a is a portion of the cylinder; b, one of the sliding
dogs; c, a screw for moving the sliding dogs to and fro. The. dogs or
holders are (like the end plates or collars before employed) made to
overlap the edges of the plates, and as they can be set inwards along
the cylinder to any required extent stereotype plates of any required
width can be fixed upon the cylinder.
We would state that we desire to make no claim to the employment
of sliding dogs as above described for holding stereotype plates on to the
printing cylinders, but have simply described it in order to explain how
stereotype plates of different widths may be fixed upon the printing
cylinders of an endless web perfecting press.
То
The cutting cylinders between which the sheet of paper passes to be
cut into sheets after it has been printed on both sides we also form in
such a way that sheets of paper of different widths may be cut by them.
For the proper working of these cutting cylinders it is requisite that the
two edges of the paper should be securely held between them.
enable this to be effected whatever the width of sheet may be that
is being passed through the machine, we form the two ends of the
cylinders moveable and so that they may be slid to and from the fixed
central portion of the cylinders and be fixed in a proper position for
nipping the two edges of the sheet of paper whatever may be its width.
The cutting knife which is carried by one of the cylinders is of a length
sufficient to cut the broadest sheet of paper that is to be passed through.

page_text: the machine, and together with the nipping plates which are on each
side of it projects beyond the fixed central portion of the cylinder and
passes through slots in the peripheries of the movable collars before
mentioned. The recess in the other cylinder into which the knife is to
enter is formed along a bar which is let into the periphery of the fixed
central portion of the cylinder and made to project from both its ends
and to pass through slots formed in the peripheries of the moveable
collars. The action of the cutting knife is thus not interfered with
at whatever distance apart the moveable ends may be fixed from one
another.
A portion of one of the pair of cutting cylinders constructed with
moveable ends as above described is shewn at Figure 3. In this Figure
wo have not thought it necessary to shew the knife with its nipping
plates or the grooved bar carried by the other cylinder, as the action of
theso is fully described in the before-mentioned Specification and in the
Specification of a Patent granted to us on the 14th November -1868
(No. 3470).
In Figure 3 d is a portion of one of the cylinders; e is the moveable
collar at the end of the cylinder. This collar, as above stated, has a slot
in its periphery for the end of the knife or grooved bar to pass through,
and can be slid to and fro along the axis of the cylinder; f is a long
boss formed upon the end of the cylinder d; g is a boss formed on the
moveable collar e carrying a locking screw g¹ by which it can be fixed..
The moveable collar may be set at any desired distance from the end of
the cylinder d by sliding it along the long boss fand locking it in the
required position by the locking screw g¹.
In order that the thickness of the film of ink which is supplied by
the inking rollers to the printing surfaces may be readily and quickly
adjusted so that the printing may be either lighter or darker, the uptake
roller (which continuously takes a film of ink from the feeding roller)
and the first distributing roller are mounted in one bracket capable of
swinging on a centre concentric with the axis of the next inking surfaco,
and so enables the uptake roller to be set nearer to or further from the
feeding roller without involving a separate corresponding adjustment of
the distributing roller.
At Figure 4 is shewn a portion of a train of inking rollers such as is
described and shewn in the Specification before mentioned, and in which
the uptake roller and first distributing roller arc_shewn to be carried
·

page_text: in the manner above described. 7 is the feeding roller revolving slowly
in a trough containing the ink supply; is the uptake roller which
⚫ takes continuously a film of ink therefrom, and m is the first distributing
roller. The axes at the ends of the rollers and m drop into bearings
in brackets o, one at each side of the machine, each bracket is formed to
partly embrace the axis of the roller m³, as shewn, and in the bracket is
a slot through which passes a stud p carried by the framing of the
machine. The slot through the bracket is concentric with the cylinder m²
so that the bracket can swing in the arc of a circle concentric with the
cylinder. The stud p has a lock nut screwing upon it; by screwing
up this lock nut the bracket can be fixed firmly in the position desired.
In order that the position of the uptake roller with regard to the feeding
roller may be adjusted with great nicety, the bracket has a screw q
standing out from it, this passes through a hole in an arm r standing
out from the framing of the machine and has a nut screwing on to it,
as shewn, so that by turning this nut the uptake roller together with the
distributing roller can be raised or lowered.
In order to damp the upper surface of the paper as it enters the
printing machine we employ a hollow metal roller the periphery of
which is perforated with numerous small holes ranged around it in.
spiral lines, and which is covered on its exterior with printer's blanket,
or like soft porous material. The roller is mounted on hollow axes and
a perforated tube is passed through the centre of the roller from one
axis to the other. The space between this perforated tube and the inner
circumference of the roller is packed with sponge or other absorbent
material, and water is supplied to this absorbent material by a syringe
applied at the open ends of the hollow axes. The hollow axes are placed
in bearings which allow the roller to rest on the upper surface of the
sheet of paper where it passes over another damping cylinder as described
in the Specification of a Patent granted to us on the 14th November
1868 (No. 3470). As the paper travels through the machine, the roller
resting upon it is caused to revolve rapidly and the water contained in
the porous material within the roller is caused by centrifugal action to
pass outwards to the porous covering on its exterior and is thereby
transmitted to the surface of the paper.
At Figures 5 and 6 are shewn the arrangements above described for
damping the upper surface of the paper as it enters the machino;
Figure 5 shews a longitudinal section of one end of the damping roller,

page_text: and. Figuro 6 shews the damping roller bearing upon the upper surface.
of the paper; the arrangement of apparatus for supplying a thin film of
water to the under side of the paper is similar to that described and
shown in the Specification of the before mentioned Patent granted to
us, so that it is unnecessary to give here any explanation of it. The
damping roller is constructed as above described and its axes drop into
slots in the side frames of the machine as shewn, when the roller is not
required to be used it is lifted out of these slots and its axes placed in '
•
of the paper; the arrangement of apparatus for supplying a thin film of
water to the under side of the paper is similar to that described and
shewn in the Specification of the before mentioned Patent granted to
us, so that it is unnecessary to give here any explanation of it. The
damping roller is constructed as above described and its axes drop into
slots in the side frames of the machine as shewn, when the roller is not
required to be used it is lifted out of these slots and its axes placed in
the slots 8.
In cylinder printing machines such as are described in the Specifica-
tions of the before-mentioned Patents, it is of great importance that
the surface of the stereotype printing plates should form parts of a
perfect cylinder so as to give a uniform impression. In manufacturing
stereotype plates for such machines in the way now usually adopted each
page of type is set up in a flat chase and from the type so set up an
impression in paper machie is taken which forms the matrix of the
mould in which the stereotype plate is cast, apparatus for casting sucli
plates in a cylindrical form is described in the Specification before
mentioned (No. 3222). In thus forming cylindrical printing surfaces
the surface of the type set up in the chase must be perfectly level
before forming the paper matrix from it, otherwise the imperfection is
repeated in the stereotype surface obtained, and imperfect printing is the
result. In locking up large pages of type in the manner now usual
great difficulty is experienced in obtaining a perfectly level type surface
as some part or other of the typo in the chase frequently rises or buckles
up and an uneven surface is produced. To remedy this we employ as
heretofore wedges to press against one side and end respectively of the
page of type in the chase, the wedges which are against the type wo
form as usual of sufficient length to extend along the side and end
respectively of the pago, but in place of interposing several short wedges
as is frequently the case between the chase and the wedges which are
against the type we employ but one long wedge to act along the whole
sido or end of the page, and we actuate this wedge by means of a screw
the stem of which is passed through the frame of the chase whilst the
screw screws into a nut which fits into a slot or recess in the rear end
of the wedge. The rear end of the wedge is also slotted longitudinally
for the screw to pass to the nut. A type chase provided with wedges
as above described is shewn at Figures 7. In these Figures t, t, are

page_text: the wedges which come against the side and end of the page of type,
u, u, are the long wedges acting therewith and which are moved to and
fro by screws v, v, screwing into nuts w, w, which are received in recesses
in the wedges as above explained. The inclined surface of one wedge
of each pair has also a feather formed along it as shewn to enter into a
corresponding slot formed along the inclined surface of the other wedge.
The stems of the screws where they pass through the frame of the
chase are free to turn but are prevented from moving endwise and their
projecting ends are suitably formed to receive a key by which they may
be turned as is clearly shewn. When either one or other of the wedges 1
is forced forwards by its screw the wedge acting with it is forced against
the whole length of the side or end of the page of type, and by simul-
taneously turning both screws to act simultaneously upon the wedges
at the side and end of the page, the type may simultaneously be pressed
up in both directions and the tendency of the type to rise is thereby 1
greatly diminished. The locking up and unlocking of the type can
also be quickly effected as the moving wedges can readily be moved
either backwards or forwards by turning the screws, and great facility
is afforded for adjusting the columns of type in the page by means of
filling leads to the correct length in order that a uniform pressure may
be exerted on each column. A page of type can thus quickly be locked
up in a chase and at the same time a flat type surface be obtained.
One of the wedges t which bears against the type is prevented from
moving endwise by bearing at its end against the end of the frame of
the chase; the other wedge tis prevented from moving endwise by a
pin which screws through the frame of the chase and enters the hole
in the wedge.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, we would have it understood that what we
claim as our improvements in machinery for printing and cutting into a
sheets rolls of paper, and in type chases for locking up pages of type
from which to form stereotype printing surfaces for such roll and other
cylindrical printing machines are,-
1. The combined arrangement of apparatus substantially as herein
described for outting into sheets rolls of paper of different widths.
2. The mounting the uptake roller and first distributing roller of the
71
L

page_text: capable of swinging upon a centre concentric with the axis of the next
inking roller.
3. The combined arrangement of damping apparatus for damping the
surface of a continuous sheet of paper as it passes into a cylinder printing
machine substantially as herein described.
4. The combined arrangement of type chase substantially as herein
described for locking up large pages of type from which to form stereo-
typo printing surfaces.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Cameron Mac Donald and
Joseph Calverley, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight.hundred and seventy-one.