CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON PRINTING MACHINES (WHICH IMPROVEMENTS DO NOT EXTEND TO THE INKING APPARATUS
Year: 1819

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
RUTT, of Shacklewell, in the County of Middlesex, Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the
fifty-ninth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said William Rutt,
my exors, admors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said William Rutt, my exors, adiñors, and assigns,
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, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON PRINTING MACHINES"
(WHICH IMPROVEMENTS DO NOT EXTEND TO THE INKING APPARATUS); in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that if I, the said William
Rutt, 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 & 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, that then the said
Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted,
shall utterly cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the same,
relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Rutt, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly
described and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the
following description thereof (that is to say):-
In the Drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the printing machine; Fig. 2
an end view taken at the left hand of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, another end view taken
opposite to Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 a plan of the machine, all these Figures
being drawn to one scale. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, represent different
parts of the machine, drawn to a scale of double the size of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
In all the Figures the same letters and figures refer to the same parts of the
machine. A, A, &c. is the frame of the machine of cast iron. B, the axle of
the pinion, by which motion is communicated to the machine, and which is
here shewn as having a winch or handle upon it, to be turned by manual
labour, but which may have instead thereof a band wheel, toothed wheel &c.,
by which it may be driven by any other first mover. C is the pinion which
works into the intermediate spur wheel D, and this wheel into the pinion E, to
the axis of which is affixed a clutch F having a hole in its centre, into which
is received one end of the axis of the pinion G, and two clefts, into which two
horns or branches of the axis are received; and the pinion G turned thereby,
at the same time that a kind of universal joint is formed at their junction,
which permits the neck or pivot at the other end of the axis to play up and
down in the guide slit made in the piece H, affixed to the frame of the machine
for that purpose, and the pinion G can traverse from the outside of the ring' of
teeth on the face of the wheel I to the inside thereof, in the manner already
known and in¹ use for working mangles, pumps, &e., and is therefore not
claimed by me herein as of my Invention, but only the application thereof to
this particular purpose. In this way the wheel I is turned backwards and for-
wards alternately, and-by means of the spur wheel J affixed to it worked into
the toothed rack K, fixed in the middle of the under side of the moveable
carriage or table L. This table is also moved backwards and forwards alter-
nately in a straight line: The backward and forward motion may also be
obtained by a crank or rod affixed to the table L, or by other means not
necessary to be described herein. The table L moves backwards and forwards
upon friction rollers M;-M, &c., shewn on a larger scale at Fig: 7, which is a
longitudinal section of part of one of the ribs, and Fig: 8 a cross section
thereof, fixed in two frames or carriages N, N, so as to keep the rollers at
proper distances apart in each carriage whilst the rollers run in grooves or
shallow troughs cast in the upper surfaces of the ribs O, O, affixed to the frame

page_text: of the machine, and are kept parallel in the grooves by the sides of the
carriages N, N, being confined by acting against the insides of the troughs,
and by means of two iron bars P, P, affixed to the under side of the table [,
and which slide in the insides of the carriages N, N, and roll upon the
friction rollers M, M; &c. On each side of the table L are affixed two
racks Q, Q, with teeth on their upper surfaces, which work occasionally into
two toothed spur wheels R, R, affixed upon the ends of the.pressing cylinder
T, T, of the machine; the teeth are removed from three parts of each wheel
at equal distances as under, as at U, U, U, &c., to permit the racks Q, Q, to
pass under them without turning the cylinder.. Opposite to the middle of each
space, where the teeth are removed, is fixed a stud or tooth U, U, &c., the use
of which will be described hereafter, and between each stud is also affixed a
spring V, V, V, &c., for retarding the momentum of the cylinder by acting
against inclined planes W, W, affixed to the inside of the frame A, A, of the
machine, as shewn in Fig. 4. The surface of the cylinder itself is also removed
and made flat in three spaces, corresponding with the vacancies in the teeth of
the wheels R, R, to permit the types to pass 'underneath them without touching
them. The three cylindrical parts of the cylinder T, T, are covered with three
pieces of printers' blanketting X, X, &c., of an equal thickness and texture,
each of, which is stretched tight by one end of it being stitched to a thin bar
of iron Y, Y; Fig. 2, having loops or holes; which hook on to pins or studs fixed
in the cylinder T, T; and to the other end of it a similar bar is also stitched,
but instead of being hooked upon studs fixed in the cylinder, as in the one-just
described, it is here laced by lines or threads passed alternately through the
holes in the bar and round studs fixed in the cylinder for that purpose. Each
blanket is also kept stretched in a contrary direction by three screws at each
end of it screwed into the cylinder, as shewn in Fig. 4. Besides the three
blankets the cylinder is also clothed with; a, cambric web stretched over
the blankets; and, which is retained in its place, by two thin iron..bars
being screwed over its ends into the cylinders T, T,, one of which is
shewn at Z, Z, Fig. 2. In the middle of each blanket two register points
a, a,, Figs. 3 and 4, are also, fixed, by means of the stems of two of the
screws, which stretch: the blankets passing between clefts or slits made in
the shanks of the register points, and the heads of which screws bind, upon them
and retain them in their required positions... The pivots or necks of the axis
of the cylinder. T, T, are supported by, and turn in two pairs of, metal bearings
6,6, Fig. 1, which are, screwed together by four screws, and slide, perpendicular
between the angular cheeks of the frame, A, A. The lower bearing has a
Screw formed in the middle of the under side of it which has a screw nut upon

page_text: it, with adjusting holes round it, and is passed through a hole made in the
frame A', A', when another screw nut is put upon it, and by means of the two
nuts the bearings and necks of the cylinder may be adjusted and retained at
the required height from the surface of the types.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the table and racks are shewn as carried to the greatest
extent their motion admits of towards the right-hand side of Figs. 1 and 4, or
that end of the machine on which is fixed the inking apparatus, to be described
hereafter.
Figure 5 represents the position. of the table and cylinder when the upper
racks Q, Q, are in the act of giving motion to the cylinder by their teeth being
brought into contact with those of the wheels R, R, on the cylinder by means
of the catch i, herein-after described, when moving in the direction represented
by the arrows.
Figs. 6 shews the cylinder and the table carried to its greatest extent
towards the left-hand side of Figs. 1 and 4, or at the instant when the cylinder
is stopped by the apparatus hereafter described. c, d, e, and f, are one of
two sets of three levers, and a spring moveable upon studs fixed into a plate h
screwed to the inside of the frame A, A, which plate is represented by dotted
lines in Figs. 5 and 6, and both plates are shown in their proper places
at h, h, in Figs. 2 and 3. In Figs. 5 and 6, the frame and plates are supposed
to be taken away, with the parts c, d, e, and f, shewn in section by cross
hatchings to remain in their situations, and though represented here as placed
before the racks, yet they are independent thereof, and allow the racks and
catches affixed thereto to pass by them. c is a hooked lever or catch for
stopping the cylinder, turning upon an axis or stud, and having a spring d
acting upon its shorter arm so as to throw the catch at the other end of it
downwards to clear the tooth or stud U, when its support e is removed, as
shewn in Fig. 5. In Fig. 6 it is shewn in contact with the tooth U. This
is effected by means of the arm or "piece of iron g, g, screwed to the side of
the rack Q, Q. When the table is moved in the direction shewn in Fig. 5,
the projecting end of the arm g, 9, strikes against the tail of the lever f, and
carries it into the position shewn by the dotted line f in Fig. 6, the other
end of it acting at the same time in the forked end of the supporting lever e,
which it raises to the perpendicular position there shewn. The actions of
the levers e and fare limited by studs fixed in the plates h, h, for that purpose.
If the friction of the leverf on its stud was so great as to retain that lever
in the situation shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, the arm g on its returning
back along with the racks and table would not act upon it, but when properly
adjusted its own gravity will bring it into the situation shewn in the hatched

page_text: Drawing, and the end of the arm 9 will act upon it and push it into the
situation represented by the dotted lines f in Fig. 5; the lever e will be
pushed to the other extremity of its movement, and by the action of the
spring d the catch c will be thrown down, and the cylinder T, T, be at liberty
to be turned, as described hereafter, and the lever f will, by the action of its
own gravity, be brought into its first position, as shewn by the hatched Drawing
in Fig. 5, and ready for the arm g to again act upon it. i, i, is a lever or
catch moving upon a stud as a fulcrum fixed into the side of the rack Q, Q
and having a spring j acting against the under side of it near to its fulcrum,"
and keeping the short arm of it in contact with the stud k fixed in the rack.
The use of this catch i, i, is to cause the teeth of the wheels R, R, to take
into the teeth of the racks Q, Q, by acting against the projecting tooth U,
and thereby to turn the cylinder until the said teeth are engaged with each
other. When, however, the table and racks are returning, the upper side of
the catch i, i, forms an inclined plane, and is depressed by passing underneath
the tooth U, without giving motion to the cylinder, and is again brought to its
former situation by the action of the spring jupon it. is a projecting tooth
affixed to the side of the rack Q, Q, the use of which is to act against the
tooth U, and to continue the motion of the cylinder T, T, after the teeth of
the rack Q, Q, have quitted contact with those of the wheel R, R, and until
the tooth U is brought into contact with the hooked lever c, which stops the
cylinder in the required position to allow the racks and types to return under-
neath without touching them. m, m, &c., Figs. 1, 5, and 6, are four helical
springs affixed to the under side of the table L, which act against-four studs
n, n, &c. with adjusting screws, shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the use of which is
to lessen the shock arising from the momentum of the table at each extremity
of its motion. On the table is laid the chase o, o, containing the types or
stereotype plates p, p, &c., and which is retained in its place by wedges, as
shewn in Fig. 4. The ink is applied to the surfaces of the types by means
of the apparatus now to be described. On one end of the axis of the wheel J;
Figs. 2, 3, and 4, is fixed a bevil wheel 2, 7, &c., and which of course partakes
of the alternating motion of that wheel J, and which works into a bevil
pinion r, having at the other end of its diagonal axis another bevil pinions,
which acts in one t upon the end of the axis of the iron roller u, u, the velocity
of the surface of which is so regulated as to correspond exactly with that of
the form and table L. This roller u, u, by contact gives motion to two other
rollers v, w, lying beneath it, and which are covered with the elastic composi
tion, composed chiefly of glue and treacle, and which is now usually employed
in-letter-press, printing, 'in place of the sheepskin covers formerly used, and

page_text: and at a proper
One side of this
which distribute the ink over the surfaces of the types passing to and fro
beneath them, and likewise to a third roller x, also covered with the said elastic
composition. This roller x has also a longitudinal alternating motion commu-
nicated to it by means of a male screw y on one end of its..axis, working in
the female screw, answering also the purpose of a pivot hole to that end of
the axis, the other end being elongated, so as to move backwards and forwards
in its pivot hole.. The intent of this motion endways is to distribute the
printing ink more uniformly over the surface of the inking rollers. The
roller receives its motion from the rollera, and has vacant spaces opposite
to the margins in the printed sheets left uncoated with the elastic composition,
the intention of which is that it may not receive ink in those spaces from the
feeding roller 1, 1. The rollers u, v, w, x, and are supported in a separate
frame made in brass, the sides of which are kept parallel
distance apart by means of three cross barrs 2, 2, 2, Fig. 1.
frame is shewn separately at Fig. 9, where 2, 2, 2, shew the holes for the
cross bars to pass through;. v, w, x, and 2, the pivot holes for the pivots of the
rollers to turn in. The pivot holes v, w, x, and z, are made in adjusting
pieces screwed to the brass frame to bring the rollers into contact with each
other, as may be required, in consequence of the shrinking of the elastic
material with which they are covered. The brass frame for the rollers is fixed
upon the rails of the frame A, A, of the machine by the adjusting screws 3, 3, &c.,
and the springs 4 which counteract the weight of the brass frame and rollers.
The use of this adjustment is to bring the two lower rollers and w into proper
contact with the faces of the types when the form passes. under them. The
frame 5, 5, 5, which contains the feeding rollers 1, 1, and the ink trough 8, 8,
is suspended upon two studs 6, 6, fixed in the brass frame 7, 7, which is secured
upon the rails of the frame A, A, by screws; and the frame 5, 5, the trough,
and roller are at liberty to turn upon the studs 6, 6, and the roller can be
brought into contact with the roller when required. The trough 8, 8, consists
of an iron or steel plate fixed to the inside of the frame 5, 5, the lower edge of
it being bent at a right angle and made perfectly straight, so as to come in
contact with the metal roller 1, 1, its whole length and breadth, and prevent
the escape of the ink between them beyond a certain limited quantity. The
ends of the trough are formed of pieces of plate iron or steel, closely united to
the bottom and side of the trough, and fitted into grooves 9, 9, turned near the
ends of the cylinder 1, 1, to receive them, and thereby prevent the escape of
the ink endways. The feeding roller 1, 1, is maile to pass more or less against
the edge of the plate or ductor forming the bottom of the trough by means of
the screws 10, 10, which pass through holes made in the ends of springing

page_text: plates 11, 11, and the other ends of which plates are secured to the cast-iron
frame 5, 5. These plates 11, 11, press against the necks of the axis of the
roller 1, 1, and urge it towards the edge of the ductor or bottom of the trough
5, 5, the necks being further supported by lying in half holes or semicircular
gaps made in the ends of the frame 5, 5, for that purpose. 12, 12, is a'bent
plate or guard affixed to the frame 7, 7, by a stud at one end of it, and having
an adjusting screw at the other to regulate the motion of the frame 5, 5, and
feeding roller 1, 1, within it towards the roller z; it has also a spring 13 within
it to throw, back the feeding roller 1, 1, when it has come into contact with
and given a sufficient supply of ink to the roller z, which communicates it to
the rollers x, u, v, and w. 14, 14, is a catch moveable on its stud-affixed to
the side of the rack Q, Q, as shewn in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6; on the side of
the catch is fixed a projecting stud 15. 16, 16, is an inclined plane, moveable
on a stud fixed in the inside of the rail A, A, of the machine. "In Fig. 5 this
rail is omitted in order that it may not hide the view, of the parts behind it,
the inclined plane, 16, 16, being shewn in section by hatched lines.
Fig. 10 is a view, of the upper side of the catch and spring 14, 14, and the
inclined plane 16, 16. The catch 14 has a circular slit in it, through which a
stud screwed into the side of the rack. Q, Q, passes to limit its action, the catch
having also a spring 17 pressing downwards upon it. When, the table and
racks are moving in the direction shewn by the arrows in Fig. 5 the stud 15 in
the side of the catch 14 passes up the inclined plane 16, 16, and raises the end
of the catch in its passage, as represented by the dotted line.18, 18, so as to
bring it into contact with a tooth of the pinion 19. fixed near the end of the
axis of the feeding roller. 1, 1, and to carry the roller and trough forwards a
little until it, touches the roller z, and then turns the pinion one tooth, and at
the same time the feeding roller, 1,.1, deposits ink upon the roller. z. After the
stud 15 has passed over the inclined plane 16, 16, the spring 17 depresses it
to the situation represented in Fig. 5; and when the table and racks are in the
contrary direction the stud 15 passes under the inclined plane 16, 16, which is
thereby elevated a little, and without touching the pinion 19. 20, 20, is a
frame affixed to the frame A, A, of the machine which supports the, shelf, or
table, 21, 21, on which the paper to be printed is laid for the better convenience
of applying it upon the cylinder, and to which is also affixed a curved plate of
iron 22 to prevent any dust, &c. from falling off the shelf upon the cylinder.
The cylinder, when in motion, constantly turns in the direction shewn by.
the arrow in Fig. 1. 23, 23, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is a brass frame affixed to
the rails A, A, of the machine, the sides of which frame, are kept at a proper
distance apart by the cylindrical bar 24, 24.. This frame supports the

page_text: cylindrical axis 25, 25, on which seven brass pulleys, with sockets and binding
screws to fix them in any required position, are fixed; and also another cylin-
drical axis 26, 26, with five small brass pulleys also fixed upon it by set
screws. 27, 27, are two brass brackets or arms affixed to the frame A, A, of the
machine, which support the axis of the two woodden rollers 28, 28, and 29, 29,
and which have also two brass pullies fixed by set screws upon each of them.
30, 30, are two iron arms affixed to the ends of the ribs O, O, of the machine
which support the cylindrical axis 31, 31, and the five brass pulleys with set
screws upon it. Endless catgut bands 32, 32, pass round the cylinder T, T, at
each end of it, and also surround the brass pulleys 33, 33, and 34; 34, and
pass under the brass pulleys 35, 35, to tlie surfaces of all of which they com-
municate a similar motion to that of the surface of the cylinder T, T. Around
the cylinder two other endless bands of silk ribband 36, 36, also pass, and
underneath the wooden roller 28, 28, four other endless bands of silk
ribband 37, 37, &c. pass over the pulleys fixed on the axis 25, 25,
when they come into contact with the surface of the cylinder T, T, and
accompany it in its motion until they quit it to pass over the wooden roller
29, 29, and from thence round the brass pulleys upon the axis 31, 31, &c.,
from whence they pass under the brass rollers on the axis 26, 26, clear of the
cylinder, then over the tightening pullies 38, 38, which turn in brass sheaves.
with sockets, and set screws to fix them upon the bar 24, 24, at any place or
angle requisite to give thé bands a sufficient degree of tightness, and to the
pulleys 37, 37, as before described. The sheet of paper to be printed being
laid upon the top of the cylinder T, T, whilst it remains at rest, is, when the
cylinder moves, carried along with it between the two sets of silk bands just s
described, and is supported upon the four lower ends 37, 37, &c., which also
keep it in contact with the under side of the cylinder whilst the operation of
printing it goes forwards, after which the two other bands 36, 36, operate to
separate it from the cylinder and deliver it printed upon the four bands 37, 37,
&c. between the wooden roller 29, 29, and the brass pullies on the axis 31, 31,
ready to be taken away.
-
Before the machine is set to work a winch or handle 39 must be put
upon the end of the axis of the iron roller u; the set screw in the socket of the
bevil pinion s at the upper end of the diagonal axis being on screwed, and
the pinion slipped down out of geer with the pinion t, and the roller u put 3
into motion. The frame 5, 5, together with the inking trough and feeding roller
1, 1, is kept in contact with the elastic roller z until it has received a sufficient
quantity of ink, when the feeding roller 1, 1, is set at liberty, and the ink
uniformly distributed over the five rollers a, u, v, w, and z, by turning the

page_text: winch 39 backwards and forwards, as required by the action of the screw upon
the end of the axis of the elastic roller 6 in its female screw or pivot hole.
I do not mean hereby to claim as my Invention the individual parts of which
this machine is composed which may or may not have been in use before; but
I do hereby claim the manner of communicating motion to the cylinder
immediately from the table, and the manner of stopping it. The various parts
of the machine may be made of any fit and proper materials, although not
particularly specified herein, and of any size suitable for the work the machine
is required to perform.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Rutt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and nineteen.