Improvements in Inking Disks for Job Printing Presses.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Inking Disks for Job Printing Presses.
I, GRANVILLE NATHANIEL BUZBY, residing at No. 607 Sixty-second Street, in
the City of Chicago, County of Cook and State of Illinois, one of the 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 improvements in inking disks for job printing presses,
whereby they can be made to distribute two original colors over the impression
surface of the press, or two original colors and a third color made by blending the
said original colors, or just one solid color; substantially as hereinafter fully
described and as illustrated in the drawings, in which :
Figure 1, is a side elevation of the outer structure only of a job printing press,
showing the improvements hereinafter more fully described applied to the ink
distributing disk thereof.
Figure 2, is a plan view of the ink distributing disk shown by itself.
Figure 3, is a transverse vertical central section through the ink distributing
disk, taken on the plane intersecting the center of the supplemental disks.
Figure 4, is a perspective view of the ink distributing disk, showing the supple-
mental color disks removed, and placed along side of the main disk, so that the rear
surface of one and the inking surface of the other is exposed.
Figure 5, is a plan view of the underside of the main ink distributing disk.
Figure 6, is a transverse central vertical section through a modified form of the
improvements under consideration, taken on the plane intersecting the centers of
the supplemental disks, similar to Figure 3, aud,
Figure 7, is a detail view of the ratchet plate detached and shown in perspective.
In the drawings A represents the main ink distributing disk, and B and C the
supplemental color disks used in conjunction therewith. The main disk A is
provided with two circular openings a, a, the centers of which are, preferably,
located diametrically opposite each other, and at equal distances from the center
of the main disk. The openings a are of a diameter corresponding to that of
the supplemental disks, with reference to which they are made, and so that
when seated therein the inking surface of the said supplemental disks will,
preferably, be on the same plane as the inking surface of the main disk, so that
the ink will be properly distributed over all.
Connecting these circular openings a is a diametrically elongated chamber b,
the rounded ends of which may be struck from the said openings a, and which
passes under the septum separating these openings. Made integral with the
under surface of these supplemental disks are gears cc, the diameters of which
are such that when the disks are seated in the said openings a they enter the
chambers b. Extending centrally down from each of these gears is a pivotal
stud d, (as fully shown in Figures 3 and 4) which are journalled in bearings e e,
made with reference thereto in the floor of the chamber b.
The gears cc, are engaged by an intermediate gear D, which is concentric
with the center of the main disk A, and which has its pivotal stud E extending
down through a central opening in the main disk in the floor of the chamber b.
The heel of this pivotal stud E is journalled in the bearings F located in the
center of length of a transverse bridge secured to the frame work of the press,
and it is of such length that there is a short stretch of it intervening between
the top of the bearings F and the under surface of the main disk. Surrounding
and secured to this portion of the pivotal stud E, by means of a key or otherwise
CD.

page_text: is the detachable crown ratchet plate G, the teeth g of which are arranged in a
circle concentric with the center of said plate and are engaged by the pawl h,
as will hereinafter be more fully explained.
This ratchet plate may be rigidly secured to the main disk by means of the
set screws i, i, that are tapped through suitable openings made with reference
thereto in the ratchet plate and extend into suitable screw holes in the main
disk. In this event when the pawl h engages the ratchet the entire main disk
is revolved, so that only one color can be distributed thereon. Should it be
desired, however, to print two colors, the main disk is prevented from revolving
by means of the tie strap, or bar K, one end of which is removably secured to the
bridge for main frame of the printing press, and the other end of which is
removably secured by means of a set screw k entering a tapped hole in the
underside of the main disk, outside of the circumference of the ratchet plate.
When the set screws ii, which secure the ratchet plate to the underside of the
main disk, are removed, the said ratchet is revolved independently of the main
disk, and thus revolves the intermediate gear D, so that the latter actuates and
revolves the supplemental disks independently of the main-disk.
I do not care what the actuating mechanism may be that is adopted to operate
the pawl h, for this mechanism is slightly different in the different makes of job
presses, but the use of the ratchet plate, which may be permanently secured to
the underside of the main disk, or made independent thereof by simply removing
the screws i, enables me to utilize the various kinds of pawl actuating mechanism
employed by the different makes of job presses which it would be inconvenient
and expensive to dispense with.
In Figure 6, I show an ink distributing disk constructed in every respect like
that herein before described, with the exception of the device used for actuating
the supplemental disks independently of the main disk. In this the pivotal stud 10
of the intermediate gear D extends down through the tubular boss projecting
centrally downwards from and made integral with the main disk. The lower end
of this pivotal stud extends beyond said boss 8 through suitable bearings 9, which
are supported by the main frame of the printing press; and it has on its lower
end, below said bearings, either a ratchet wheel or gear 7, according as the con-
struction of the printing press may require. When it is desired to revolve the
supplemental disks independently of the main disk, the main disk is secured by
a tie strap or bar 6, which is similar to the tie strap or bar K hereinbefore
referred to, and the transverse pin 5, which passes diametrically through the
pivotal stud or gear D, is removed, whereupon the intermediate gear can revolve
independently of the main disk. By removing the tie bar 6 and inserting the
bolt or pin 5, through the said boss 8 and pivotal stud of the intermediate gear
again, the whole disk is made to revolve in the same manner as a solid ink
distributing disk.
I do not desire to be confined to an ink distributing disk having only two
supplemental disks, because it is possible that more than two might be used if
desired; neither do I wish to be restricted to the use of the tie bar, hereinbefore
described, for holding the main disk stationary, as it is obvious other mechanical
expedients might be resorted to for this purpose if desired.
If desired the crown ratchet plate, herein before described, may be made or
cast integral with the main disk. This would be desirable when the construction
shown in Figure 6, was adopted. But for all other known makes of job printing
presses, I prefer to make the said ratchet plate independent of the main disk,
substantially as shown in Figure 7.
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 I
claim, is
:-
First In a printing press, a main revolvable ink-distributing disk or plate
provided with normally stationary supplemental disks, in combination with holding

page_text: means for retaining said plate or disk stationary, and revolving devices for
imparting motion to said supplemental disks, substantially as described.
Second: In a printing press, a main circumferentially adjustable and normally-
stationary ink-distributing plate or disk provided with revolvable supplemental
disks for printing blended colors, substantially as described.
Third: In a printing-press, a main normally-stationary ink-distributing plate
provided with an elongated chamber having rounded ends and with supplemental
disks having gear-wheels on their under surfaces, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Fourth: In a printing-press, a main normally stationary ink-distributing plate or
disk provided with an elongated chamber having rounded ends and circular
depressions or recesses near its upper surface, in combination with supplemental
disks having revolvable gear-wheels on their under surfaces, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
:
Fifth In a printing-press, a main normally-stationary ink-distributing plate or
disk provided with an elongated chamber having rounded ends and circular
depressions or recesses near its upper surface, in combination with supplemental
disks having revolvable gear-wheels on their under surfaces, and means for adjusting
said main plate or disk circumferentially, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
:
Sixth In a printing-press, a main normally-stationary ink-distributing plate or
disk having short journal-boxes on its under surface and an elongated chamber, in
combination with supplemental disks having revolvable gear-wheels on their under
surfaces, and also short journals mounted in said boxes, substantially as described.
Seventh In a printing-press, a main ink-distributing plate or disk provided with
short journal-boxes on its under surface, with an elongated chamber, and with a
central tubular depending journal, in combination with supplemental disks having
short journals and gear-wheels on their under surfaces, and the short vertical shaft
provided with gear-wheels at its upper and lower ends, substantially as described.
Eighth In a printing-press, a inain adjustable ink-distributing plate or disk
provided with short journal boxes on its under surface, with an elongated chamber,
and with a central tubular depending journal, in combination with supplemental
disks having short journals and gear-wheels on their under surfaces, and the short
vertical shaft provided with gear-wheels at its upper and lower ends, substantially as
described.
Ninth In a printing-press, a main ink-distributing plate or disk provided with
revolvable supplemental disks and formed with a screw-threaded aperture in its
under surface and near its outer edge or rim, in combination with an adjustable bar
formed with a slotted upper end, and a thumb-screw passing through said slotted
end and into said screw-threaded aperture, substantially as described.
Tenth In a printing-press, a main ink-distributing plate or disk provided with
revolvable supplemental disks and a central tubular depending journal, in com-
bination with a short vertical shaft provided with gear-wheels at its upper and
lower ends, and means for connecting and disconnecting said tubular journal and
shaft, substantially as described.
:
Eleventh In a printing-press, a main ink-distributing plate or disk provided
with revolvable supplemental disks and a central tubular depending journal, in com-
bination with a short vertical shaft provided with gear-wheels at its upper and
lower ends, and means for connecting and disconnecting said tubular journal and
shaft, said means consisting of holes formed in said journal and shaft and the
removable bolt or pin, substantially as described.
:
Twelfth In a printing-press, a main ink-distributing plate or disk provided with
an elongated chamber, with circular recesses near its upper surface, with short
depending journal-boxes, and with a screw-threaded aperture in its under surface
Dear its edge or rim, in combination with the supplemental disks having gear-wheels
and journals on their under surfaces, a central gear-wheel meshing with the gear-
wheel just named, a short vertical shaft provided with said gear-wheel and having

page_text: on its lower end another gear-wheel which is suitably operated, an adjustable bar
formed with a slotted upper end, and a thumb-screw passing through said slotted
end and into said screw-threaded aperture, substantially as described.
Thirteenth In a printing-press the combination with a normally revolvable ink-
distributing plate or disk, of an independent plate secured concentrically to the
underside of said disk and provided with a crown ratchet, a pawl, and mechanism
for imparting motion thereto.
Fourteenth In a printing-press, the combination with a normally revolvable ink-
distributing plate or disk, of an independent plate provided with a ratchet, for
retaining said disk stationary, a pawl engaging said ratchet, and mechanism for
imparting motion thereto.
:
Fifteenth In a printing-press, a main revolvable ink-distributing disk, provided
with normally stationary supplemental disks, in combination with an independent
plate provided with a ratchet, normally secured to said main disk, holding devices
for retaining said main disk stationary, a pawl, and mechanism for actuating the
same, as set forth.
Sixteenth In a printing press, a main revolvable ink-distributing disk, which
is adjustable circumferentially, and provided with normally stationary supplemental
disks, in combination with an independent plate provided with a ratchet and
normally secured to said main plate, holding devices for retaining said main disk
stationary, a pawl, and mechanism for actuating the same, as set forth.
Seventeenth In a printing-press, a main circumferentially adjustable and
normally stationary ink-distributing disk provided with revolvable supplemental
disks for printing blended colors, in combination with an independent plate
revolvable concentrically next the underside of said disk, a pawl, and mechanism
for actuating the same.
:
Eighteenth In a printing-press, a main circumferentially adjustable and
normally stationary ink-distributing disk, in combination with an independent
plate provided with ratchet teeth, a pawl, and mechanism for actuating the same.
Nineteenth: In a printing-press, a main normally stationary ink-distributing disk
and supplemental color disks, provided with gear-wheels below their under surfaces,
in combination with an independent plate provided with ratchet teeth and actuating
said gear-wheels, a pawl, and mechanism for actuating the same.
Twentieth In a printing-press, a main normally stationary ink-distributing disk
provided with an elongated chamber having circular openings in its upper surface
at the ends of said chamber, supplemental color disks seated in said openings
having gear-wheels in their under surfaces, and an intermediate gear, the pivotal
stud of which extends down through a suitable central opening in the floor of said
chamber concentric with said main disk, in combination with an independent plate
secured to the pivotal stud of said intermediate gear and having ratchet teeth, a
pawl, and mechanism for actuating the same.
Dated this 21st day of September 1892.
GRANVILLE NATI ANIEL BUZBY,
607, 62nd Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.