Improvements in Printing Presses.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
Improvements in Printing Presses.
I, WILLIAM HUGHSON GOLDING, of 177-199 Fort Hill Square, Boston, County
of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to certain improvements in printing presses of the class
employing an oscillatory platen in conjunction with a type-supporting bed and an
intermittently moving distributing disk and consists in the novel construction and
arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.
Reference is had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and numerals
marked thereon, forming a part of this Specification, the same letters designating
the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the press.
Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation of a portion of the press with part of the frame
represented as broken away.
Figs. 3 and 4 show the throw-off device and gripper mechanism in side
elevation.
Fig. 5 shows a detail perspective view of the throw-off device.
Fig. 6 shows a sectional detail illustrative of bed-supporting and adjusting
means.
Figs. 7 and 8 show the counting devices in plan and both operative and
inoperative adjustments.
Fig. 9 shows a detail of part of the counting means.
Fig. 10 shows in side elevation the means for actuating the distributing disk.
Fig. 11 shows an inverted plan of the same parts taken on line 11-11 of
Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 shows an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10.
Fig. 13 shows a section on line 13-13 of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 shows a part sectional view and part side elevation of the devices
illustrated in Fig. 10 as they appear in their different adjustment.
Fig. 15 shows an inverted plan of the parts in this latter adjustment.
Fig. 16 shows a detail sectional view on line 16-16 of Fig. 6.
Fig. 17 shows a detail sectional view on line 17-17 of Fig. 6.
The stationary supporting frame a, of the machine is formed with a centrally
located and vertically extending web a' and a crank-shaft a³ is supported in a
bearing on one side of the frame and a bearing on said web, the crank a³ of said
shaft being connected with the platen operating motion. A large gear a is
mounted on the shaft a beside the crank as and is rigidly connected with the latter
by bolts a introduced through the web of the gear and tapped into the crank. By
thus connecting the gear and crank near the periphery of the gear torsional strain
between the gear and crank-shaft is obviated, and by connecting the gear directly
to the crank in this manner the gear is brought as nearly as possible to a direct
connection with the platen-motion and a true action of the said motion insured.
The driving shaft b, is supported in a bearing on the web a' and a bearing on the
side of the frame opposite that where the crank is located and said driving shaft

page_text: carries a spur-wheel in mesh with the large gear at and a fly-wheel & outside the
frame and also a fast and a loose pulley b³ 6.
A rock-shaft 3 is supported in stationary bearings and a shipper e' is affixed to it
at one end and projects therefrom for engagement with the belt which embraces
the pulleys. A treadle 2 is also affixed to the said rock-shaft and projects
laterally and upwardly therefrom so that by depressing the said treadle the pulley
is thrown over onto the fast pulley and the machine thereby set in operation.
The rock-shaft has another lateral arm affixed to it and a lever c is arranged
to coact with said arm to shift the belt onto the loose pulley and stop the
machine. The lever has a shipper c for contact with the periphery of the fly-
wheel 62 so that said lever serves the double purpose of shipping the belt and
putting a part on the fly-wheel. This brake lever is designed to be operated as a
treadle by the attendant's foot. By this arrangement the attendant may control
the operation of the machine conveniently with one foot. The platen d, is pivoted
to the frame e, at d', and is oscillated by means composing a link d² connecting the
crank a with radius-bars d³ pivoted to the frame a, a toggle composed of
members and d connecting the said radius-bars with the platen and radius-
bars de connecting the toggle with the frame a, and extending across the ends of
the platen.
My invention contemplates an improved throw-off device by which the platen
may be quickly changed from operative to inoperative adjustments and vice versa
with relation to the bed or in other words pressure of the platen against the type,
applied and removed the construction being as follows:
The member of the toggle is connected with the platen by a shaft e, which
where it engages the toggle member is eccentric as indicated at el whereby upon
turning the shaft the relation of the platen to the toggle member d is changed."
The arm is affixed to the shaft e, and a handle e³ is jointed to said arm and is
normally held in alignment therewith by the engagement of the double-tapered and
spring-pressed latch et on the handle with a V-shaped notch in the arm.
The handle has a lateral extension which is formed on the inner side with the
substantially diamond-shaped lug e adapted for engagement with a curved flange
or rib formed on the end of the platen.
When the platen is in operative adjustment so that pressure is bad against the
type (see Fig. 3) the large side of the eccentric e¹ is rearward and the lug e abuts
the front end of the flange es. When it is desired to throw off the pressure, a
rearward pull is exerted on the handle e³ which first causes the latter to turn on its'
pivot and throws the lug e up past the end of the flange e the latch e' permitting
this movement of the handle by riding up on one side of the notch. Then the
continued pull on the handle carries the arm e² back on its pivot, the lug e riding
on the upper side of the flange e and the platen is shifted to its inoperative
position shown in Fig. 4 the lug e dropping above the rear end of the flange e by
reason of the action of the tapered spring pressed latch against the side of the
V-shaped notch.
To restore the parts to their first adjustment the handle is pushed from the
operator and first turned on its pivot carrying its lug e downward past the end of
the flange e and then the arm e² is moved forward on its pivot, the lug e riding on
the under side of the flange and when it reaches the rear end of the same springing
behind this end by reason of the action of the latch and V-notch.
This construction provides very convenient and casily operated means for
throwing the pressure off and on and locking the platen in each adjustment, the
operator having simply to move the handle back and forth without having to
operate any other devices.
The movement of the handle on its own pivot is limited by its lateral extension e
abutting portions of the arm e³ and the movements of the latter are limited by its
projections e abutting the ends of the flange eº.
d I employ novel counting devices (see Figs. 7 and 8) comprising a registering
mechanism F of suitable construction attached to the upper side of one of the

page_text: radius-bars and having a projecting actuating arm f1 extending in the direction
of length of the bar d and having a lateral projecting finger f. An arm f
pivoted to a bar f' affixed to one end of the platen has a lateral finger f³
extending transversely of the finger f' and adapted to stand in the path of the
same-see Fig. 7. In the operation of the press the bar d' has a movement
crosswise of the end of the platen and when the latter is in operative position or in
other words when the pressure is on, each time the bar rises the finger f² on the
arm of the registering mechanism encounters the finger f" of the arm of the
platen and is caused thereby to actuate the registering mechanism. When,
however, the platen is moved back to its inoperative position or when the pressure
is off, the finger f of the arm f³ is carried back out of the path of the finger f³ of
the arm f¹ see Fig. 8, and hence the registering mechanism will not be operated.
By this arrangement the counting devices operate only while printing is in progress
and reciprocations of the platen when the pressure is off do not affect the counting
devices.
When the arm of the registering mechanism acts against the arm f³, the latter is
rigidly held by abutment of a stud f' carried by it against the bearing f. The
arm may be moved out of operative position altogether when it is not desired to
use the counting devices by turning said arm over on its pivot as indicated in
broken lines in Fig. 9. A spring f' holds the arm in these two positions,
said spring passing the center when the arm is moved from one position to
another.
A number of advantages result from mounting the register on the draw bar
rather than on the bracket fastened to the side of the press as has heretofore been
done, viz., greater simplicity by not requiring an extra part for support, reduction
in cost for the same reason, and greater convenience and less liability to derange-
ment by reason of the fact that it is carried down with the draw bar and out of the
way when the attendant is feeding or making ready and it does not project laterally
so as to be in danger of receiving a blow.
A rock shaft g, supported in the bearings on the platen above the pivot of the latter
has affixed to it, gripping fingers g² extending over the face of the platen to act
upon the work thereon; a spring g² tends to turn the rock shaft in a direction to
move the grippers away from the platen and pressure of said grippers against the
platen is effected by the engagement of a curved arm affixed to the rock shaft with
a stop arm g³ on the frame a. When the platen is pressing against the type, the
upwardly curved front end g' of the arm is behind an anti-friction roller on the end
of the arm g³ and by its engagement therewith causes the grippers to press against
the work. Upon the retraction of the platen the engagement of the said roll with
the curved end of the arm g³ causes the pressure of the grippers to be maintained
momentarily.
Then the receding portion or incline of the curved arm receives the said roll
and the spring g' holds the grippers back so that as the platen moves forward away
from the bed its face is separated from the grippers. Upon the return of the
platen the grippers are pressed against its face by the front curve 9' of the arm
encountering the anti-friction roll. Pressure may be regulated by adjusting the
arm g³ which is mounted on a bolt 98 and carries a set screw 9' bearing against a lug
on the frame.
One object of the present invention is to provide improved means for imparting
a progressive step-by-step movement to the distributing disk and for converting the
same into a step-by-step vibratory motion of the disk to secure a blending of
different colors when: desired. The means employed to accomplish the above
objects are as follows:
The distributing disk h is rotatably supported on the frame and formed with
annular flange h¹ on the under side of an arm h³ pivoted to a support on the frame
extending under said flange and is formed with a wedge-shaped lug h³ pro-
jecting over the inner end of the flange and having a channel h² containing
a ball which bears against the flange. It will be seen that under one direction

page_text: of movement of the arm this ball will be caused to bind against the flange and the
disk will be carried around with the arm, whereas under the reverse direction of
movement the ball will roll freely on the flange and no movement of the disk will
ensue. This is due to the taper of the ball channel with respect to the flange.
The arm is intermittently vibrated through the following connections with the
rocker i, which carries the distributing rolls i. A striker affixed to said rocker
encounters the toothed segment 3 pivoted to the frame and limited in its
movement by a pin on the frame engaging a slot in the segment and said segment
meshes with teeth on the under side of an arm pivoted on the same support
as the arm 2 and rigidly but detachably connected with the latter by a screw i
passing through the arm and through a lateral extension of the arm 12. The
parts are restored to their initial position by gravity after having been actuated
by the striker.
This ball and wedge device for effecting the progressive step-by-step movement
of the disk has the advantage of noiseless action and moreover of causing
irregularity in the length of the step which insures a more even distribution of
ink over the surface of the disk.
When different colors are to be blended on the disk it is desirable to impart to
the latter a step-by-step vibratory motion and this is effected by the following
arrangement: The arm ³ is clamped to the flange h¹ by means of a set screw
entered through a lug and engaging a notch and the said arm h² is dis-
connected from the arm by withdrawing the screw 2 and step-by-step vibration
of the arm and consequently of the disk is effected through the following
means:
A ratchet wheel j, is rotatably supported on the frame and carries a crank-pin j,
and the arm is formed with a slot at its outer end adapted to be engaged by
the said crank-pin. When the blending of colors is to be done the arm 2 is
swung around over the ratchet and the crank pin is engaged with the slot in
said arm-see Figs. 14 and 15.
An arm k, pivoted concentric with the ratchet wheel carries a pivotal pawl k¹
for engagement therewith and said arm is connected by a rod k² with the arm i³.
When the blending is not in progress the pawl k is thrown back on its pivot as
shown in Fig. 11 so as to be inoperative and the vibration of the arm does not
affect the ratchet wheel. With the parts adjusted for blending, however, the
pawl is thrown into engagement with the ratchet wheel (see Fig. 15) and the
vibration of the arm then causes the ratchet wheel to be turned step-by-step
and the arm consequently to be moved step-by-step first in one direction and
then in the opposite direction by reason of the engagement of the crank-pin of
said ratchet wheel with the said arm and thus the desired step-by-step vibration of
the disk is obtained.
The crank-pin engages a radial slide way j on the ratchet and is controlled
by a screw so that by turning the latter the throw of the pin can be regulated.
In order to engage the pin with the slot in arm it is moved back to the end of the
slide-way and then moved into the slot when the latter is brought in line with it
by swinging the arm around on its pivot. In order to prevent the ink from con-
gealing on the disk or on the auxiliary distributing surface n, below the bed, these
parts are subjected to heat through the following agency: A gas pipe o, enters
the rear of the machine and has two branches o' o one leading to a point below
the disk and the other to a point below the auxiliary distributing surface and each
having burners o³. Baffle plates of are fastened above said burner and cause a
proper distribution of the heat and valves o in the branches o¹ o regulating the
flow of gas to the burner.
Another improvement contemplated by my invention relates to adjustment of
the type-supporting bed and is illustrated in Fig. 6. The letter p, designates the
stationary support for the bed, the rear wall of said support being formed with
sockets which are engaged by the rounded ends of universal adjustable
blocks p. Wedges p³ are interposed between the said blocks and feet p² on the

page_text: bed p, the straight sides of the wedges engaging the bed and the inclined sides.
engaging the block. The wedges are adjustably connected together by means of a
screw loosely engaging one of the edges at one end and screwed into a threaded
clamp p' on the other, the latter being drilled to admit an implement for turning
the screw and adjusting the wedges with relation to each other. Such an
implement may be inserted through an opening p³ in one end of the support. Two
wedges are adjusted together by means of a screw q, loosely engaging one of them
and passing through a threaded clamp g' on the bed, said screw being in line with
the opening 2 in the support so as to be accessible for adjustment.
A set of these adjusting devices is located at the upper and at the lower end of
the bed. By adjusting the wedges of each pair with respect to each other lateral
adjustment of the bed is established. By adjusting the wedges together in pairs.
vertical adjustment of the bed is established."
By means of these adjusting devices the bed can be made absolutely true with
respect to the platen.
The screws are engaged with the right hand wedge p³ by means of T-shaped
slots S in said wedge (see Fig. 16) which are occupied by suitably formed heads.
on the screw.
The nut p and nut q' are split and clamped around their respective screws by
means of bolts as shown at t, and in Fig. 17.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is :-
1. A printing press comprising in its construction, the oscillatory platen having
curved flange, means for actuating said platen, a rotatably adjustable shaft con-
necting the platen with said means that part of said shaft which engages the
latter being eccentric with respect to that part which engages the platen,
an arm affixed to said shaft, a handle pivotally connected with the said arm
and having a projection arranged to traverse the upper and under sides of the
curved flange on the platen, under reverse movement of the arm and to establish
operative and inoperative adjustments of the platen by abutting the ends of said
flange, substantially as specified.
2. In a printing press, the combination of an oscillating platen having a curved
flange on one side, a pivoted arm controlling the adjustment of said platen, a
handle pivoted on said arm and having a lug arranged to traverse both the upper
and under sides of the curved flange and to abut the ends of the same and means for
yieldingly holding said handle in an intermediate position in alignment with the arm.
3. A printing press comprising in its construction the oscillatory platen having
a curved flange, means for actuating said platen, a rotatably adjustable shaft
connecting the platen with said means that part of said shaft which engages the
latter being eccentric with respect to that part which engages the platen,
an arm affixed to said shaft, a handle pivotally connected with the said arm
and having a projection adapted to abut the ends of the curved flange on the
platen and to traverse the upper and under sides of said flange, under reverse
movement of the arm and a spring-pressed latch which resists movement of the
handle on its pivot.
4. In a printing press, the combination of oscillating platen, a draw-bar for
actuating the same and arranged to move transversely on one end thereof, a
throw-off device which establishes an inoperative adjustment of the platen, a
register on the said draw-bar having a projecting actuating arm, extending
longitudinally of the draw-bar and provided with a lateral finger and an arm.
standing out from the end of the platen and having a lateral finger extending
transversely of the lateral finger of the registering arm and adapted to coact with
the same in operating the register and to be moved out of operative relation
therewith by the action of the throw-off device.
5. A printing press comprising in its construction, an oscillatory platen, an

page_text: .
.
•
"
actuating mechanism connected therewith and including a bar moving crosswise of
one end of the platen, a register on said bar and a spring-pressed pivotal arm on
the platen and capable of assuming an adjustment for co-operation with the register
and an inoperative adjustment.
6. In a printing press, bed or platen-adjusting means comprising universally-
adjustable blocks engaging sockets in the bed support, wedges interposed between
said blocks and the bed, one of said wedges being formed with T-shaped slots and
screws having heads engaging said slots one of said screws threaded into the other
wedge and the other screw engaging a nut on the bed.
7. In a printing press, bed or platen-adjusting means comprising universally-
adjustable blocks engaging sockets in the bed support, wedges interposed between
said blocks and the bed, one of said wedges having a split clamping nut, a screw
connecting the wedges and engaging said nut and a screw connecting the wedges
with the bed and engaging a split nut on the latter.
8. In a printing press, bed or platen adjusting means comprising universally.
movable blocks engaging sockets in the bed support, wedges interposed between
the said blocks and the bed, adjustable connections between said wedges and
adjustable connections between the wedges and the bed.
9. In a printing press, means for imparting to the distributing plate or disk
either a step-by-step progressive movement or a step-by-step vibratory movement,
said means comprising a member pivotally supported concentric with the disk and
. adapted to driving engagement therewith, a vibrating member, a fastening for
connecting said two members so that they move together and devices for
connecting the said members so that the vibrating member imparts a step-by-step
movement to the disk-engaging member.
10. A printing press comprising in its construction a rotatably supported
distributing disk, a slotted arm pivoted concentrically with said disk and adapted
to be locked thereto, a ratchet wheel having a crank pin adapted for engagement
with the slot in said arm and means for turning said ratchet step by step.
it
may
be
11. A printing press comprising in its construction a distributing disk, a pivotal
arm having means coacting with the said disk to progressively turn the same step-
by-step under vibration of said arm and also having means whereby
locked to the disk a ratchet wheel having a crank-pin for engagement with said
arm, an arm pivoted concentric with said ratchet wheel and carrying a pawl for
engagement with the latter and actuating devices adapted for operative connection
with either the first named or the last named arm.
12. A printing press comprising in its construction a rotatably supported dis-
tributing disk, a pivotal arm having means for coacting with said disk to
intermittently turn the same, and means for locking it to the disk, a second arm
pivoted concentric with the first-named arm, fastenings for rigidly connecting
the two arms, means applied to the second arm for vibrating the same, a ratchet
wheel having a crank pin for engagement with the first named arm, an arm
pivoted concentric with said ratchet wheel and carrying a pawl for engagement
therewith and a link connecting said last named arm with the second named arm.:
13. In a printing press, bed or platen adjusting means comprising universally-
adjustable blocks engaging sockets, in the bed supports and wedges interposed
between said blocks and the bed.
14. In a printing press, bed or platen adjusting means comprising adjustable
wedges inserted between the bed and its support and having T-shaped slots and
adjusting screws having similarly-shaped heads engaging said slots.
15. In a printing press, bed or platen adjusting means comprising adjustable
wedges having split clamping nuts and adjusting screws engaging said nuts.
Dated this 20th day of November 1804
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.