Improvements in Platen Printing-machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug.,
1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Platen Printing-machines.
I, JAMES WINTERTON, of 83 Wellhead Lane, Perry Barr, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My present invention relates to machines of that class or kind wherein there
is a series of platens arranged to rotate around a shaft in combination with two
or more type beds and the said invention is chiefly designed to increase the
efficiency of machines such as that described in the Specification of my former
Letters Patent dated 19th January 1891 No. 913.
In the said Specification I have particularly described and illustrated a printing
machine provided with two type beds arranged in combination with a series of
platens arranged to rotate about a shaft on which they are supported. According
to my present invention I now provide improved means for moving the platens to
bring them successively in front of the different type beds and improved means for
locking the said platens and holding them securely and rigidly while the impression
is being taken from the forme on each type-bed and then releasing them to permit
them to be moved onward to the next type bed.
For this purpose I operate the platens from the oscillating type bed frames in
such a manner that the platens will be moved forward intermittently and between
the forward movements will pause in front of the type-beds to permit the printing
to be performed. The type-bed frames are constructed and arranged as described
in my said former Specification, and one operated from the platen shaft by a
connecting rod or link at one or both sides of the machine. For actuating the.
platens I use a hooked rod. That is to say a rod which at one end is jointed or
pivoted to one of the aforesaid connecting rods and at the other end has a hook
formed and arranged to engage with a pin or tooth on the platen block in such a
manner that it pulls the same around on the said shaft.
Although the machine is provided with a series of platens as above set forth it is
sometimes desirable to use only one platen. I therefore provide at the end of the
aforesaid hooked rod, in combination with its hook, a device which can be so
adjusted that the rod, instead of moving the platens always in one direction will
impart to the same a reciprocating or to-and-fro motion.
For locking the platens to hold them immovably during the operation of printing
I provide at the end of the platen-block a locking device consisting of a bar or
pair of bars hinged to the frame and extending across the end of the block and
arranged to be adjusted on the hinge, to and away from the said block, I form
across the end of the block grooves or recesses for the reception of the locking bars
and they are so arranged relatively to the type beds that as each platen arrives
in front of a type bed, the said locking device will enter the grooves and thereby
hold the platen firmly in its position. I may employ a spring for forcing the
locking bars into the grooves at the proper moment, or I provide on the inner sides
of the disc projections which by coming in contact with studs or bolts force the
locking bars into the grooves at the proper moment. On the end of the block I
provide a cam which, when the printing has been performed by the action' of the
type bed, will force the locking bars from the said grooves and thereby release
the platens. In some instances I modify this device as follows viz. I form in the
shaft a series of longitudinal grooves and on one of the locking arms I mount a
roller. A sliding disc provided with a key or bolt is fitted on the shaft. These
parts are so arranged that the roller acts on the disc to cause the bolt.to enter each

page_text: groove as it comes into the position for stopping the platens the said bolt being
withdrawn by a spring to release the platens at the proper moment.
دو
To provide for accurate register in the use of the series of type beds I fit the
same with screws at the ends and sides so, arranged that by means of the said
screws, the "forme can be adjusted on the bed and securely held in any required
position. Each platen is a separately formed piece attached to the platen block
and adjustable thereon by means of screws or other suitable means relatively to
the type beds.
Moreover for making ready or regulating the strength of the impression I
provide one or more of the type beds with a false bottom or plate and.arranged in
combination therewith screws passed through the back of the type bed; by means
of these screws the said false bottom, which carries the "forme can be adjusted
to raise or depress any part of the "forme".so as to ensure the uniform action.of
the same upon the printed sheet.
Throwing off apparatus is provided in combination with each of the type beds in
my said machine. This throwing-off gear is preferably the same, or substantially
the same as that described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 13188 of
A:D. 1886 with such modifications as are necessary or desirable in consequence of
the particular position of either or any of the type beds relatively to the framing
of the machine.
Dated this 15th day of October 1801
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
.COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Platen Printing-machines.
I, JAMES WINTERTON, of 83 Wellhead Lane, Perry Barr, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Mechanic, 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:-
My present invention relates to machines of that class or kind wherein there is
a series of platens arranged to rotate around a shaft, in combination with two.or
more type-beds and the said invention is chiefly designed to increase the efficiency
of machines such as that described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent
dated 19th. January 1891, No. 913.
In the said.Specification I bave particularly described and illustrated a printing
machine provided with two type beds in combination with a series of platens
arranged to rotate about a shaft on which they are supported. Accordingito.my
present invention I now provide an improved method and improved means for
moving the platens to bring them successively in front of the different type-beds,
and improved means for locking the said platens and holding them-securely and
rigidly while the impression is being taken from the forme on each type-bed, and
then releasing them to permit them.to be moved onward to the next type-bed.
1:also provide improved means for securing accurate register in the use of
the series of type-beds, and for making ready or regulating the strength of the
impression.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1.is a side elevation of a machine provided with a series of rotative
platens, and two type-beds and their accessories,
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine illustrated in Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of Figure 1, through
the platens,
Figure 4 is a plan of the parts:shewn in Figure 3,

page_text: Figure 5 is a transverse sectional elevation of a platen block and part of the
frame of a machine, showing my improved means for rotating the platens;
Figure 6 is a vertical end elevation of the parts shewn in Figure 5 with the
frame of the machine removed,
Figure 7 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of Figure 6,
Figure 8 is a section on the line xx of Figure 7,
Figure 9 is a section on the line y y of Figure 8,
Figure 94 is an end elevation of the platen-block shown in Figures 5 and 6,
Figure 10 is an elevation of part of the frame of a machine and illustrates a
device for locking the platens, which is' supplementary to the device employed for
a like purpose in the machine illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,
Figure 11 is a plan of Figure 10,
Figure 12 is an elevation of a type-bed and of the frame which supports the
same, and shows the means whereby the type-bed is adjusted on the frame, and the
forme adjusted on the type-bed, and
Figure 13 is a vertical section on the line z z of Figure 12.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is a frame of suitable construction for carrying the parts of the machine, bis
the crank or driving shaft which is supported in bearings in the said frame; cc are
the platens and e¹ is a block to which the said platens are secured and on which
they are adjustable by means of screws c*. I prefer to provide each platen with
four of these screws. The said platens are provided with blanket-irons and grippers
in the usual manner. By making the platens separately and mounting them
adjustably on the block, I provide for very readily adapting the surface of the
platens to that of the "formes " on the type-beds. d is a shaft which carries the
platens in such a manner that they can turn independently about the said shaft.
On one end of the shaft d is fixed a wheel or disc e and on the other end is a gear
wheel e driven by a pinion f on the driving shaft b. gg are the type-beds which
are carried by oscillating frames g¹ mounted on shafts 93 extending across the
framing. The type-bed frames are oscillated about their shafts by the gear
wheel e and the disc e, through the medium of connecting rods h. ii are the ink
ducts or fountains. jj are the inking rollers. k k are the roller-carriers or arms
pivotted to the type bed frames at k¹ and provided with springs in the usual manner;
for keeping the inking rollers properly in contact with the type.
The platens as above specified rotate around the shaft d. They are moved
successively from one type-bed to another to take the different colours. For this
purpose I sometimes employ a hooked rod which is connected to one of the
connecting rods at 1, and has the hook at the free end of the rod formed and
arranged to engage with pins or studs ³ on the platen-block c¹ as shewn in Figures 1
and 2. I prefer, however, to use the improved means hereinafter described, for
rotating the platens.
For locking the platens while the impression is being taken from either of the
type-beds, I hinge at m² to the frame of the machine, opposite each end of the
platen-block, arms m connected by a bar m', the said arms being arranged to enter
grooves which extend across the ends of the platen blocks c. Springs n secured
to the frame bear against the arms m so that the arms will be caused to engage
with the platen-block as soon as the grooves c¹ come opposite the said arms.
On each bar m¹ and midway between the two arms, is an anti-friction roller m³,
and upon the shaft d is a segmental cam o, the leading and following ends of which
are bevelled as shown. In the present example, there are two sets of parallel
grooves con each end of the platen block c', the said sets being arranged at right
angles with each other, so that in every 90° of rotation of the said platen block,
that is to say, as each platen arrives in front of a type-bed, a pair of the grooves c*
will come opposite to the ends of the twin arms m.
To the roller-carriers kat I connect links p which are also jointed or pivotted
at pl to the frame of the machine. The said links hold the arms k so that in the

page_text: :
movements of the type-beds the said roller-carriers are caused to vibrate about the
pivots k¹.
999' are the parts forming the usual throwing-off mechanism of the upper
type-bed.
are the parts forming the throwing-off mechanism of the lower type-bed.
This throwing-off mechanism, is in respect of the details of its construction, the
same or substantially the same as that in the single type-bed machine described in
the Specification of Letters Patent No. 13188 of A.D. 1886 with such modifica-
tions as are necessary or desirable in consequence of the particular position of
either or any of the type-beds relatively to the framing of the machine.
In the operation of the said improved machine the driving shaft 6 is rotated by
means of the treadle b¹ in the usual manner, or by any convenient power, and rotates
the pinion, which by means of the gear wheel e rotates the shaft d. The disc e and
gear wheel e¹ on the ends of the said shaft vibrate the two type-bed frames g
about their shafts g by means of the connecting-rods / so as to bring the two type-
beds g alternately towards the platens on the platen block c. As the shaft d
rotates, the cams o thereon, engage with the anti-friction rollers m³, and pass
between the bars m¹ and the ends of the platen-block so as to force the arms m out
• of the grooves c against the resistance of the springs n, and as the connecting-rod
to which the hooked rod is attached, recedes from the platen block, the hook at the
end of the rod engages with one of the pins c³ upon the platen block and turns the
said block through an angle of 90°. Before the platen-block completes this
angular movement the cams o will have passed clear of the anti-friction rollers on
the bars m¹ and the arms m will bear upon the end of the platen block and will be
forced by the springs n into engagement with another set of the grooves c* as soon
as the angular movement is completed.
In the return movement of the connecting-rod with the hooked rod the said
rod will ride over the pin with which it has just previously been engaged and will
engage with the pin next in order upon the platen-block and assume a position in
readiness to give the said platen-block another quarter of a revolution and so on.
Thus the platen-block receives intermittent movements which take place while one
type-bed recedes from the platen-block and the other one approaches it.
With reference now to Figures 10 and 11, projections & of suitable form are
provided on the inside of the disc e and of the gear wheel el, and a stud or bolt s' is
fixed upon each pair of locking arms m as shown. The said projections are so
situated on the disc and the gear wheel that at the proper times they will engage
with the studs &¹ and keep the arms m in engagement with the platen block to lock
the same at the moment of impression. This is an additional or supplementary
arrangement adapted for use with the locking apparatus hereinbefore explained.
The improved method which I employ for rotating the platen block consists
essentially in the combination therewith of a sliding bolt or similar device for
alternately connecting and disconnecting the block and shaft. The means which I
employ for this purpose are illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, the arrangement and
operation of which will now be described :-I form in the platen block can annular
channel with a series of slots or recesses c extending thereinto from the end of
the platen-block as shown. On one of the locking arms m I mount two rollers m*.
A sliding rings provided with a key or bolt t the head of which projects
upward as shown, is fitted on the shaft d. The said bolt is arranged to slide in a
groove in the shaft d so that it can move with the ring in a direction parallel to
the axis of the shaft. Thus the ring will turn with the said shaft but cannot turn
independently thereon. Whenever the locking arms m are withdrawn from engage
ment with the platen-block and thus release or unlock it, they carry with them the
rollers m so that the inner roller moves the ring 3 endwise and causes the head to
of the bolt t* to enter one or other of the slots c³, whereupon the platen block will
be carried round with the shaft d. In like manner when the locking arms again
approach the platen block the outer of the two rollers m² moves the ring back along the

page_text: shaft until the head of the bolt is clear of the slot c in which it has been engaged,
this movement being completed by the time that the platen block comes to a state
of rest in a suitable position to be locked by the arms m.
I will now proceed to describe Figures 12 and 13:-
To provide for accurate register in the use of the series of type-beds I fit the same
with screws u at the sides, so arranged that they will beare upon the forme, which
may be adjusted laterally on the bed and securely held in any position to which it
may be adjusted, by turning the screws so as to move them in or out.
"
Moreover for "making ready or regulating the strength of the impression I
provide one or more of the type beds with a false bottom or plate g and arrange
in combination therewith, screws secured to the said plate and passed through the
back of the type-bed which is made up of deep ribs ; are nuts upon the said
screws by means of which the said false bottom 9 which carries the "forme can
be adjusted to raise or depress any part of the "forme so as to ensure the uniform
action of the same upon the printed sheet.
»
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a printing machine, wherein there is a rotative series of platens carried by a
platen-block provided with locking devices such as are herein described, the com-
bination with the same of the means for releasing the said platen-block from the
locking devices and effecting its engagement with the hooked rods or equivalent
mechanism substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. The improved method of producing the intermittent rotative action of the
platen-block and platens by the employment of a device such as the sliding bolt
operating as and for the purpose herein described.
3. The improved means for locking or holding fast the platen-block and platens
at the moment when the impression is being taken, and then releasing them to
permit their rotation, substantially as herein described.
4. The combination of the locking and releasing devices with my improved
means for rotating the platen-block substantially as and for the purposes specified.
5. In combination with the said rotative block and platens the apparatus substan-
tially as described with reference to Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 9 of the accom-
panying drawings, for the purposes specified.
6. The combination with the said block and platens of the apparatus substantially
as described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings for
the purpose specified.
7. The combination with oscillating supports or frames for the type-beds, of
false bottoms adjustable on the said frames by screws, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
8. The combination with the type-beds, of the screws u, arranged in the sides
of the type-beds to bear upon the sides of the formes, as and for the purpose set
forth.
9. The printing machine, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, for the purposes specified.
Doted this 22nd day of Jul, 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.