IMPROVE- MENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
JAMES, CHIDLEY, of Aldersgate Street, in the City of London, Publisher, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Nineteenth day of July, in the eleventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John James Chidley, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said John James Chidley, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said John James Chidley,
my executors, administrators, 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 mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands
of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso obliging me, the said John James Chidley, 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 per-
formed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
17

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John James Chidley, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly de-
scribed and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):-
My improvements being particularly applicable to most printing presses,
instead of describing altogether a new machine or printing press, I intend
showing in the present Specification how I consider my improvements can be
best adapted to one of the presses most in use amongst printers, and by them
generally considered one of the best in existence; and, for the purpose of
illustration, I will accordingly take as my model a demy-folio Columbian
printing press. I first remove the table from the carriage upon which it
moves, and reduce its thickness to the extent of about one inch, and also
replace the bar or staple of the platten by one about one inch shorter, by
which means I obtain about ten inches space between the bed of the press
and the under surface of the piston. I then cut away that portion of the two
front corner irons of the table which is above its upper or smooth surface.
On the left-hand corner iron of the said table I fix a bolt A, Fig. 1, about two
inches long. This being done, the table just mentioned is then firmly screwed
to the bed of the press. I now make a second table of sheet zinc, sheet iron,
or other suitable metal, of about one eighth of an inch in thickness, and about
one inch longer than that portion of the first table which is enclosed in the
corner irons. Upon the four corners of this second table I rivet a corner
iron of about three eighths of an inch thick. On the left-hand corner of this
second table I make a hole to receive the head of the bolt A, Fig. 1. To the
piston of the new staple of the platten of which I have spoken above I adapt
a circular plate B, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, of cast iron, of eight inches diameter,
having a flat rim C, Fig. 4, of one inch broad, and a square space of four
inches sunk in its upper surface to the depth of one half an inch, in the centre
part of which a pin D, Fig. 3, protrudes; also through the body of this plate B,
Fig. 4, two holes E, E', Fig. 4, are bored or left in the casting thereof to
receive two bolts F, F1, Fig. 3. At a point of this circular plate B, Figures
1, 4, and on the upper surface thereof, two bent bars of iron Q, Q', Fig. 1, 4,
having a hole at the lower end, are attached, the purpose of which will be
shown presently. By means of the bolts F, F1, Fig. 3, the circular plate B,
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, is attached to the piston. I likewise procure a circular
ring G, Figures 1, 2, 5, of cast iron, eight inches in diameter, one inch thick,
and two inches and three quarters deep, having four inclined notches at equal

page_text: distances. The upper and under surfaces of this ring are turned smooth, and
the notches are also filed smooth and even. On a certain point of the circum-
ference of the said ring a forked piece of iron E, Figures 2, 5, is screwed,
and in the centre of the said ring a hole I, Fig. 5, is bored. Having thus
5 made the circular ring G just described; I suspend it on the pin D of the
circular plate B, Fig. 3, by means of a nut and washer. I further procure
four pieces of cast iron J, Fig. 1, 2, of a form corresponding to and fitting the
slanting notches of the circular ring G, and file smooth and even their upper
surface. I then remove and altogether take away the platten of the said
Columbian press, and replace it by a plate of cast iron, eighteen inches long,
twelve inches broad, and about one inch thick, K, Fig. 1, 2, the under surface
of which is engine-turned or planed. Upon the upper or rough surface of
the said cast-iron plate the four inclined pieces of iron J before mentioned
are firmly rivetted, at a distence corresponding to the notches of the circular
ring G, Fig. 1, 2, 5. At a point on the iron plate or platten K, Figures 1, 2,
an upright round pin L, Fig. 1, 2, of about four inches long and three
quarters of an inch in diameter, is rivetted, which passes through the holes of
the two bent bars of iron Q, Fig. 1, 2, attached to the circular plate B,
Fig. 1, 2. About the middle of each side of the plate or platten K, Fig. 1,
a piece of iron M, Fig. 1, turned in the form of a horseshoe, ten inches long;
is fixed. It embraces each cheek of the press, but so as to move freely up
and down. The ends of these horseshoe-formed pieces are firmly screwed to
the upper or rough surface of the platten K, Fig. 1. This platten is also
provided with four brackets N, Fig. 1, (two being on each side of the said
platten), firmly screwed thereon, and of a length corresponding or equal to
the thickness of the platten; the brackets serve to press down the frisket.
and its frame in the descent of the platten. A rod, which I conceive best
to be of half-inch square iron, fifteen inches long, O, Fig. 1, 2, is bent to
form a segment of a circle of about twenty inches diameter. Two inches of
one end of this rod is turned downwards into a hook, and filed round; two
inches of its other end is tapped, and fits into a box or nut which is bolted to
the elbow of the bar handle of the press. This rod passes through a T-piece
or guide P, Fig. 2, which is bolted to the two guides of the staple of the
platten. This T-piece or guide P, Fig. 2, is for the purpose of maintaining
the hooked rod O, Fig. 1, 2, in such position that it may infallably come into
the forked piece H, attached to the circular ring G, Fig. 2. On the outside
of each cheek of the press a pulley r, Fig. 1, is fixed, over which a line of
catgut, gutta percha, or other suitable material passes, one end of which is
attached to the outward or curved portion of the horse-shoe piece M, Fig. 1,

page_text: and the other end of which line is fastened to a weight sufficient to cause an
ascending motion to the platten on returning the bar handle. The platten is
kept in a parallel position by the round pins L, Figs. 1, 2, passing through
the holes at the ends of the bent bars Q, Q, Fig. 1, 2. At the further
end of the first' or fixed table a wrought-iron frame R, Fig. 1, is placed,
formed of two uprights S, Fig. 1, and six horizontal pieces of iron T,
Fig. 1.
The two upper horizontal pieces T', Fig. 1, are screwed to two
brackets U, Fig. 1, attached to the under surface of the first or fixed
table. The two lower horizontal pieces T are screwed to the upper part of
the feet of the press V, Fig. 1. On the middle of the two horizontal end
pieces T, Fig. 1, which are fixed to the two uprights S, Fig. 1, are placed
the two pullies W, W, Fig. 1. On the upper horizontal pieces T is placed
the wooden roller X, Figures 1, 6, of about eight inches diameter, and twelve
inches long, the spindle of which carries the ratchet wheel and pinion Y,
Fig. 1. Over the ratchet wheel a line Z, Fig. 1, is passed, to one end of
which line a weight a, Fig. 1, is attached, for the purpose of raising the
treadle b, Fig. 1, after it has been pressed down by the foot of the press-
man. The spindle of the wooden roller X, Fig. 1, carries-also the wheel c,
Fig. 1, over which passes an endless line D, Fig. 1, giving motion to the
wheel e, Fig. 1, fixed on the spindle of the iron ink roller f, Fig. 6, and
shewn by dots in Fig. 1. The iron ink roller f, with its frame and well of ink
g, Fig. 1, 6, is attached to two brackets h, Figs. 1, 6, suspended to the under
surface of the first or fixed table. To the upper and lower horizontal pieces
T-T, Fig. 1, are fixed the two upright pieces i, i, Fig. 1, on each side of
the frame R, Fig. 1. These pieces i, i, are connected together by two rails
j, j, of about one quarter of an inch thick, and of the same length as the
breadth of the frame R, Fig. 1. Upon these rails moves the concave
composition roller k, Fig. 6, in contact with the wooden roller X, Fig. 1, 6.
Two pullies-land.m, Fig. 1, are fixed on the upright n, Fig. 1, attached to the
lower horizontal piece T, Fig. 1, on each side of the frame R, Fig. 1. On the
inside of each of the upper horizontal pieces T', Fig. 1, of the frame R, Fig. 1,
is placed a round pin o, Fig 1, 6, about two inches long. On each of these
pins is a lever p, Fig. 1, 6. Near the lower end of these levers a composition
roller q, Fig. 6, is suspended in contact with the wooden roller X, Fig. 6.
Upon each side of the two cheeks of the press a bracket s, Fig. 1, is bolted,
the upper surface of which is even with the upper or smooth surface of
the first or fixed table; on each of these brackets s, Fig. 1, two grooved
pieces t, Fig. 1, about two inches long, are fixed. In these grooved pieces t,
Fig. 1, moves a light frame of wrought iron, Fig. 7, formed of two straight

page_text: pieces of iron three foot long, one inch broad, and one: half inch thick, (the
outside thinner edge of these is formed with a V.edge, to correspond to the
grooves t, Fig. 1.) and three cross-pieces v, v, v, Fig. 7. The further cross-
piece v, Fig. 1, 7, is bent upwards so as to clear the wooden.roller X, Fig..1,
in its motion in and out. The near cross-piece v, Fig. 7, is carried two
inches beyond the further straight piece of the frame. Fig. 7. This frame
Fig. 7, carries the two composition rollers 1, 1, Fig. 1,.7, also the vibrating
rods 2, Fig. 1, 7, suspended on pins fixed in the inner surface of the uprights
3, Fig. 1, 7. There is also another pin fixed to the lower part of the
inner surface of the upright 3, Fig. 1, to serve as a stop for the vibrating
rod 2, Fig..1, 7. At the near end of this frame, Fig. 7, is also attached the
frisket 4, Fig. 7, and its frame, by means of a spring 5,.Fig. 1, 7, fixed at
each corner, the other end of the spring being screwed to the ends of the two
cross-pieces v¹, v, Fig. 7. The frisket is attached by two hinges 6, Fig. 7,
upon which it turns to its frame. Near the first hinge on the frisket is placed
the balance weight 7, Fig. 1, 7, also the bent rod 8, Fig. 1, 7, about ten
inches long. About one foot is cut off the further end of the carriage of the
Columbian press 9, Fig. 1, another leg. 10, Fig. 1, is fixed to it. A
wooden "rounce or roller 11, Fig. 1, of about three inches diameter, is
placed on each side of the larger "rounce "12, Fig. 1, usually employed.
The carriage 9, Fig. 1, is then attached to the under surface of the first or
fixed table by two bands of iron. About the middle of this carriage is fixed on
each side a bracket 18, Fig. 1, on which is fixed a grooved piece 14, Fig. 1,
corresponding to the grooved pieces t, Fig. 1. Across the two ends of the
carriage furthest from the table is fixed the cross-piece 15, Fig. 8, about two
inches broad, and twelve inches long. In its centre is fixed the pulley 16,
Fig. 1, 8. At its further end the upright 17, Fig: 8, is fixed upon a pin 18,
Fig. 8: near the top of this upright 17, the semicircular and horizontal
piece 19, Fig. 8, turns. The two-pullies 20 and 21, Fig. 8, are also fixed on
the cross-piece 15, Fig. 8. On the further side of the carriage 9, Fig. 1, is
placed the wooden table 22, Fig. 1, which is fixed by brackets to the floor.
On the pin 23, Fig. 1, 8, fixed at about six inches from the top of this wooden
table, is suspended the lever 24, Fig. 1, 8, which is about twenty-two inches
long. Near the bottom of the leg, at the right-hand side of this table, is fixed
the pulley 25, Fig. 1, 8. The tympans- are the same as are usually used, but
on the near end of the outer tympan are fixed two hinges. By two screws
passing through these hinges the tympans are attached to the frame of the
frisket, to facilitate the making ready the form to be printed. On the outer
tympan is also fixed three buttons, one at the near end and one on each side,
to attach the tympans to the platten, when the form is ready for printing.

page_text: The mode of working my improved press, and the action of its several parts,
is as follows: A supply of ink is placed in the well g, Fig. 6, at the back of
the iron ink roller f, Fig. 6. The second table of sheet zinc or iron is placed
on the ribs of the carriage. The chase containing the form to be printed is
then made tight on it by means of quoins, in the usual way. It is then moved
on to the first or fixed table, where it is made fast by pushing up the bolt A,
Fig. 1, on the left-hand corner iron. The tympans, prepared in the usual way,
are then buttoned to the platten. The frame of iron Fig. 7 is drawn out by
turning the handle of the "rounce" 12, Fig. 1, fixed in the carriage. The
two composition rollers 1, 1, Fig. 1, 7, pass over the type. A sheet of paper
is laid on the frisket, prepared as usual. The frame is then returned under
the platten by reversing the motion of the handle of the rounce.
The two
composition rollers 1, 1, Fig. 1, 7, again pass over the type, until they rest on
the wooden roller X, Fig. 1. The lower end of the two vibrating rods 2,
Fig. 1, 7, being prevented from turning by the stop pins fixed in the lower
ends of the uprights 3, Fig. 1, 7, come into contact with the upper part of the
levers p, Fig. 1, 6, carrying the composition roller q, Fig. 6, which is pressed
against the iron ink roller f, Fig. 6, receiving from it a supply of ink. The
vibrating rods 2, Fig. 1, 7, having passed over the levers p, Fig. 1, 6, the com-
position roller q, Fig. 6, returns to the wooden roller X, Fig. 1, 6. The lines
26, 27, Fig. 1, passing over the pullies 16, and W, W, Fig. 1, move the frame
Fig. 7, as above described. The foot of the pressman is then placed on the
near end of the treadle b, Fig. 1, which turns the wooden roller X, Fig. 1, 6,
by the line Z, Fig. 1, passing over the ratchet wheel Y, Fig. 1. The press-
man pulls at the same time the bar handle towards him, until it meets the
stop, when it is returned by him to its former position. The foot is taken off
the treadle, which is raised by the balance weight a, Fig. 1, at the other end
of the line Z. The handle of the rounce 12, Fig. 1, is again turned, which
brings out the frame Fig. 17. The further end of the cross-piece " comes
into contact with the upper end of the lever 24, Fig. 1, 8, of the wooden
table 22, Fig. 1, at the same time the curved rod 8, Fig. 1, 7, of the frisket
enters the square hole 28, Fig. 8, of the horizontal and semicircular piece
19, Fig. 8, on the cross-piece 15, Fig. 1, 8, fixed to the end of the carriage;
the motion of the lever 24, Fig. 1, 8, by means of the line 29, Fig. 1, 8,
passing over the pulley 20, Fig. 8, and round the pins fixed in the semicircular
piece, to the further one of which it is attached, pulls over the semicircular
piece and the frisket, until the frisket is about four inches from the wooden
table. When the lever 24, Fig. 1, 8, is passed, the weight 30, Fig. 1, 8, sus-
pended to the line passing over the pulley 21, Fig. 8, and attached to the first
pin of the semicircular piece 19, Fig. 8, then brings back the frisket and

page_text: semicircular piece to their former position, leaving the printed sheet of paper'
on the wooden table 22, Fig. 1, the printed side upwards. The motion of the
handle of the rounce causes also the concave composition roller k, Fig. 1, 6,
to move up and down on the rails j, j, (across the frame R,) by the lines 31,
Fig. 1, to which it is attached, passing over the pullics and m, Fig. 1, the
other ends of these lines being fixed to the smaller rounce 11, Fig. 1, on each
side of the larger rounce. The concave roller leaves the wooden roller X,
Fig. 1, 6, on its return, so that a fresh surface of the wooden roller is
presented to its action on its next motion.
Having thus described my said improvements, I should remark, that I do
not confine myself to their application to the Columbian press, or other
presses generally used, and that I do not claim any part or portion of the
Columbian or other presses now known; but that which I claim as my
Invention is,
First, the mode herein described of working the platten and mounting the
inking rollers only on the same frame which carries the frisket.
Second, the contrivance or arrangement of machinery above shewn, or any
modification thereof, by which I am enabled to deliver the printed sheets of
paper without being obliged to lift up the frisket by hand, as is usually done,
the paper being delivered by the motion which withdraws the frame and frisket
from under the platten.
In witness whereof, I, the said John James Chidley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.