IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH TYPE PRINTING PRESSES ">
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Miller of Springburn in the County of Lanark
North Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH
TYPE PRINTING PRESSES
">
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Miller at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th June 1882.
JOHN MILLER, of Springburn, in the County of Lanark, North-Britain,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH TYPE PRINTING PRESSES,"
This Invention relates to a new or improved construction or arrangement of the
parts of a type printing press, with special arrangements of fittings connected
therewith, for automatically feeding the paper thereto from the web to be printed,
and in mechanism for cutting the same into lengths to suit any desired size of
sheets, as they are printed. The machine being mainly designed for printing and
cutting off small circulars and such like, by hand power; but is also applicable for
being actuated or worked by motive-power, and for larger classes of machines
and work, and for printing from the sheets fed in by hand in the usual manner, by
simply putting the web feeding apparatus and cutting mechanism out of action for
the time being.
According to one modification of the improvements adapted for a hand printing
press with paper feeding-in and cutting-off apparatus from the web, the machine
comprises a table-like framing, on which is carried the "forme" of printing type, with
their printing face upwards and horizontal, near the middle of the machine and
framing. Near to one end of this frame, in advance of the "forme" of type, upwardly
projecting brackets are fixed, to which is jointed or pivoted a lever-frame with hand
lever or levers extending to the opposite or front end of the table or frame, with a
suitable handle or handles at their extreme end. On this lever or frame, which may
be termed the platen lever, oscillated on its said pivots or centres as stated by hand,
from the vertical to the horizontal position and vice versa, is fitted the platen which
presses the paper on to the upper surface of the type; the platen being connected to
the lever by means of a ball and socket or other joint, and by adjustable springs, to

page_text: allow the under flat surface of the platen when brought down to the horizontal
position to press evenly and equally over the surface of the "forme" of type.
The ink is fed from time to time in small quantities, on to a horizontal plate or
disc, nearly level with the surface of the type at the front end of the machine,.
rotated on a vertical stud or spindle intermittently by a ratchet wheel and pawl
lever arrangement or other equivalent. The distributing and inking rollers are
carried horizontally and transversely by their end journals in bearing slide blocks,
working on long guides secured to the sides of the table frame. These bearing
slide blocks are connected by links or connecting rods above, to lateral studs, secured
and projecting from the sides of the upper central part of the oscillating lever
frame carrying the platen; so as to be traversed to and fro each time the lever framo
is raised and lowered; and so cause the rollers to pass over and ink the surface of
the type, as the lever frame and platen are raised after each printing, and bring
them back over the distributing inking plate as the lever frame and platen are
brought down.
As a means of applying extra pressure of the platen on the sheet over the
"forne" of type, when the power of the long platen lever may be insufficient, a
lever provided with a handle is jointed or centred on the cross bar connecting the
outer ends of the framework of the oscillating platen lever, and the end of this
extra lever is brought to bear under a snug or projection on the front end of the
machine fraining, while the power of the attendant is applied at the opposite end
of the lever.
The platen lever frame is fitted with bearing blocks to carry a transverse
spindle or roller with a web or roll of printing paper on it above the front end of
the platen, over which the paper is led round guide rollers over the face of the
platen, thence round an adjustable roller (hereinafter described) fitted in movable
bearings on the platen lever frame, and also over the front and upper part of the
surface of an endless blanket or band passed over the said roller, and other
stretching guide rollers, and thence between a pair of gripping and feed rollers, one
below the blanket and the other above it. These rollers are rotated intermittently
to feed forward the paper to the desired length at each action, as it is printed, by a
reciprocating toothed rack and a pinion, or by other equivalent actuating gear,
operated by the movement of the platen lever. When a toothed rack and pinion
arrangement is adopted for the purpose of actuating the feed rollers, the rack is
fitted free to slide horizontally on a special guide rail or rod carried by brackets
over one side of the table framing of the inachine The teeth of the rack are made
to gear with the teeth of its pinion fitted loose on the spindle of one of the
gripping and feeding rolls, preferably the upper one. This pinion has connected
to it a pawl or pawls catching into the teeth of a ratchet wheel, which is keyed to
the same spindle, so that the gripping roll is rotated by the action of the rack
pinion and ratchet in the one direction to feed forward the paper, while on the
return movement of the rack, the rotation of the loose pinion causes the pawl to
glide over the teeth of the ratchet, and the feed roll is not acted on. The rack is
traversed by means of a tappet projecting laterally from one of the sliding blocks.
This sliding block when traversed by the motion of the platen lever as hereinbefore
described, comes in contact with a projecting catch or tappet bracket piece, fitted
adjustably on the rack by a pinching screw, or otherwise, so that by fixing it
nearer or further from the sliding block, a greater or less traverse may be given to
the rack, and a corresponding extent of feed motion given to the feed rollers to
suit the size or length of sheet desired to be printed for the time being. The
return or back movement of the rack is effected by contact of the slide blocks with
the end of the rack, or with a stop fitted thereon, which brings it always to its
normal back position.
In combination with the printing and feeding devices described, a cutting
apparatus is fitted to cut the printed web into uniform sheets corresponding to the
extent of feed given to the feed rollers. This cutting apparatus consists of two
knives or cutting blades placed transversely in suitable frames, at the advance or

page_text: delivery end of the machine. One of the knives, preferably the lower, is stationary,
while the other has a vertical reciprocatory motion given to it, and is formed with
an inclined cutting edge, so that the knives act like shears in cutting the paper
across. A clamp is fitted in combination with the cutting knives or blades, to hold
or grip the web portion of the paper behind the cutters while they are cutting, the
upper jaw of the clamp being brought down to grip the paper automatically, by
the action of a spring or otherwise, just before the knives commence to cut, and is
raised to release it after each cut. The vertical motion of the upper knife is
imparted to it by the action of the platen lever, a projection on which acts on one
arm of a longitudinal beam lever, weighted on the other arm; which through a
connecting link with a second or transverse lever, depresses the knife, when the
platen lever is brought down, and while the feeding rollers are not in action; the
knife blade being raised by the weighted lever, or it might be an equivalent spring,
as the platen lever is raised, ready for the next feeding and cutting action.
It will be observed that in this construction and arrangement of the feeding
rollers with their journal bearings in a stationary frame, and also the cutting blades
at fixed or uniform distances apart respectively in advance of the platen; and that
as the feed rollers have at each action to draw forward the paper to them, and
push the part of it beyond them forward to the cutting blades to the exact desired
different lengths the circulars or sheets have to be printed in the press, and fed
forwards and cut off by its feeding and cutting mechanism, to prevent waste of
paper and cut it in the middle between each printed circular or sheet, a differential
means of adjustment is provided. One means of effecting this (and compensating
for different lengths or sizes of sheets required to be fed forward) is by shifting,
setting, and fixing the adjustable roller, hereinbefore referred to, in its bearings, on
the platen lever frame forward or back to lengthen or shorten the doubled or loop
part of the travelling blanket and paper passing over it, between the platen and
the feed rollers, to form approximately a multiple of longth of sheet or feed of the
rollers at each action. This may be done by fitting the bearings of the roller in
slides, securing them to a cross rail, actuated by a screw spindle which would both
shift the bearings and roller, and retain them in the adjusted position And a like
screw arrangement may be fitted to the bearings of a tightening guide roller at the
opposite or back end of the traversing carrying blanket to ensure its proper working,
A spring, screw, or cain lever arrangement may be fitted beneath the journal
bearings of the under feeding roller, to regulate the gripping pressure required on
the blanket and paper between it and the upper actuating roller.
When desired, ordinary counting mechanism and index pointers with dials, might
be fitted over the moving paper gripper or cutting knife, and be actuated by a link
and pawl from either of these, so as to indicate the number of sheets, circulars, or
labels, printed and cut off, and delivered into a tray or other receiver outside the
cutters.
The distance of upward or back notion of the platen lever frame would be
uniform and fixed by coming up to rest against a fixed stop bar projecting up from
the frame, or by stop blocks on the guides of the slide bearing blocks of the inking
rollers, and against which the latter moving blocks would abutt, when the platen
and its lever frame are up. The platen is or may be fitted with any ordinary fixed
or portable guides, and automatically acting spring or hinged lever grippers or
tyimpan, for also printing on sheets or cards fed in by hand The mechanism for
feeding froin a web of paper, would then be put out of action, by drawing forward
the reciprocating feeding rack and shifting its acting tappet, so that it could not be
actuated by the moving projection on the sliding block of the inking rollers, and
also the cutting mechanisin is taken out of action by raising its actuating weighted
lever out of gear with its depresser on the platen lever through a spring or catch.
This improved printing press might be set with its type table frame and platen
oscillating lever frame at other angles than in the horizontal position described,
when printing; and when driven by motive-power, the platen frame would be made
without the long hand levers, and be actuated by a revolving shaft, with a crank,

page_text: eccentric, or cam motion and connecting rods, links, or levers connected to the
platen lever-frame, so as to reciprocate it, which might actuate the inking feeding,
and cutting mechanism intermittently and sequentially in their proper times, all
otherwise substantially as in the improved arrangement of hand printing press
herein before described.
The improved arrangements of mechanism herein described for feeding forward
the web paper, and for cutting it into sheets as printed, and for operating the
inking devices, may be fitted in combination with other forms of hand platen
presses, or may be applied to the larger size or class of such printing presses
operated by motive-power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Miller in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th December
1882.
JOHN MILLER, of Springburn, in the County of Lanark, North Britain
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH TYPE PRINTING PRESSES."
85,
said Invention relates to a new or improved construction of type printing
with special arrangements of fittings for automatically feeding the paper
chereto from the web to be printed, and in mechanism for cutting the paper into
lengths to suit any desired size of sheets, as they are printed. The machine is
mainly designed for printing and cutting off sinall circulars and sheets by hand
power, but, especially in the larger sizes, may also be actuated or worked by motive-
power. The machine may also be used for printing from sheets fed in by hand in
the usual manner, by putting the web feeding apparatus and cutting mechanism
out of action for the time being.
My said Invention is illustrated by the accompanying sheet of Drawings in
which Figure 1 is a side clevation, and Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of a
modification of my improved printing press as adapted for being operated by hand,
and showing combined with it, improved appliances for feeding in the paper from
the web, and for cutting-off sheets therefrom as they are printed. Figure 3 is an
end elevation of the press showing the arrangement and means of operating the
knives by which the printed sheets are cut from the continuous web. Figure 4
is a side elevation of part of the machine as adapted for feeding in the sheets by
hand.
In the modification herein illustrated, the improved printing press or machine
comprises a low table-like framing A, which may be bolted or secured to a wooden
bed or table below, and on which is carried the "forme " B of printing type with
the printing face upwards and horizontal, near the middle of the machine. Near to
one end of this frame A, in advance of the "forme " B of type upwardly projecting
brackets a are fixed, to which is jointed or pivoted a lever frame C consisting of a
hand lever or pair of levers C. C. connected together by cross bars C', extending to
the opposite or front end of the table or frame A, with a suitable handle or
handles Cat the extreme end. On this lever or frame C, which may be termed
the platen lever (which is oscillated on its pivots or centres c in the brackets a by
hand, from the vertical position represented in Figure 4 to the horizontal position
shown in Figure 1 and vice versa), is fitted the platen or platen frame which
presses the paper on to the upper surface of the types B; the platen D being
connected to the lever C by means of a ball and socket D¹ or other joint and by
adjustable springs D, and regulating screws d passed through such springs into
screwed eyes d' in the lever frame C, to allow the under flat surface of the platen 1)
which is brought down to the horizontal position, to press evenly and equally over
the surface of the "forme" of type B.
The ink is fed from time to time in small quantities, on to a horizontal plate or
dise E, nearly level with the surface of the type B but at the front end of the
machine frame A, which disc E is rotated on a vertical stud or spindle e inter-
mittently by a ratchet wheel E¹ and pawl lever E as hereinafter described, or by
other equivalent means. The distributing and inking rollers F F are carried
horizontally and transversely by their end journals in bearing slide blocks F2
working on long guides or guide bars G secured to the sides of the table frame A.
These bearing slide blocks are connected by links or connecting rods F³ jointed
to them by joint pins f', and to lateral studs, which are secured to and project

page_text: from the sides of the upper central part of the oscillating lever frame C carrying
the platen, or from projecting bracket pieces C³ formed thereon: The slide blocks F
are thus traversed to and fro each time the lever frame C is raised and lowered on
its pivots c, and so cause the rollers F F¹, to pass over and ink the surface of the
type, as the lever frame C and platen D are raised after each printing, and the
rollers F F are brought baek over the distributing inking plate E, as the lever
frame C and platen D are brought down.
As a means of applying extra pressure of the platen D on the sheet over the
"forme" of type B, when the power of the long platen lever C may be insufficient,
a lever C provided with a handle is jointed or centred on the cross bar c
connecting the outer ends of the framework C, C₁ of the oscillating platen lever,
and a projection ct on the end of this extra lever C is brought to bear under a
snug or projection c³ on the front end of the machine framing A while the power
of the attendant is applied at the opposite end or handle C³ of the lever.
The platen lever frame C may be fitted with bearing blocks to carry a
transverse spindle or roller, with a web or roll of printing paper on it above
the front end of the platen; or as is shown the roller EI' with the web of paper
H may be carried by fixed standards or brackets A³ secured to or forming part
of the frame A¹, which is fixed behind the main frame A, and which carries
the knives for cutting off the printed sheets. The paper H is led from the roll or
web H round guide rollers i. i. fitted at the ends of the platen, over the face of the
platen D, thence round an adjustable blanket roller 2 (hereinafter more particularly
referred to) fitted in movable bearings on the platen lever frame CC, and also over
the front and upper part of the surface of an endless blanket or band I, which is
passed over the adjustable roller and round other stretching and guide rollers
³ as i³, With the blanket I the paper H passes between a pair of gripping and
feed rollers 6. 27. one below the blanket I and the other above it. These rollers . i.
are rotated intermittently to feed forward the paper H to the desired length at
ench action as it is printed, by a reciprocating toothed rack J and a pinion J', or by
other equivalent actuating gear, operated by the movement of the platen lever c.
When a toothed rack and pinion arrangement is adopted for the purpose of
actuating the feed rollers, as is shown in the Drawings, the rack J is fitted freo
to slide horizontally on a special guide rail or rod G'.-carried by brackets g. g over
one side of the table framing of the machine. The teeth of the rack J. are made
to gear with the teeth of its pinion J¹ which is fitted loose on the spindle j¹ of one
of the gripping and feeding rolls, preferably the upper one . This pinion J¹ has
connected to it a pawl or pawls catching into the teeth of a ratchet wheel J,
which is keyed to the saine spindle j¹, so that the gripping roll 7 is rotated by the
action of the rack J, pinion J' and ratchet J², j' in the one direction to feed forward
the paper H; while on the return movement of the rack, the rotation of the loose
pinion J causes the pawl j to glide over the teeth of the ratchet J, and the feed
roll is not acted on. The rack J is traversed by means of a tappot F projecting
laterally from one of the sliding blocks F. This sliding block F when traversed
by the motion of the platen lever C (as hereinbefore described) comes in contact
with a projecting catch or tappet bracket piece J³ fitted adjustably on the rack J
by a pinching screw or other means, so that by fixing it nearer or further from
the sliding block F, a greater or less traverse may be given to the rack J, and a
corresponding extent of feed motion given to the pinion J' and ratchet J2 and to
the feed rollers to suit the size or length of sheet desired to be printed for
the time being. The return movement of the rack J is effected by contact of the
tappet F' on the slide block F, with the end of the rack J, or with a stop fitted
thereon, which brings it always to its normal position.
The motion of rotation of the inking plate or disc E, on its spindle e is also
derived from the traversing motion of one of the slide blocks F, which in sliding,
when the platen lever is raised, carries with it the pawl E2 by the action of a
tappet Estriking on a projection E at the other end of the pawl, the pawl being
brought back by the power of a spring F³, bearing on the pin e on the pawl; and

page_text: by the pawl E2 gripping into the teeth of the ratchet E' carries the ratchet and
with it the inking table round to the extent of one, two, or more teeth. In returning
the pawl glides over the teeth of the ratchet which is kept from turning back by
means of a spring pawl E fitting into the teeth of the ratchet E'.
In combination with the inking printing and feeding devices described, cutting
apparatus is fitted to cut the printed web II, into uniform sheets corresponding to
the extent of feed given to the feed rollers 20, 27. This cutting apparatus consists of
two knives or cutting blades K. K¹. placed transversely in suitable frames A¹, at
the delivery end of the machine. One of the knives, preferably the lower K' is
stationary, while the other K has a vertical reciprocating motion given to it, and
is formed with an inclined cutting edge k, so that the knives act like shears in
cutting the paper across. A clamp L. L. is fitted in combination with the cutting
knives or blades K. K¹. to hold or grip the web portion of the paper behind the
cutters K. K', while they are cutting-the upper jaw L of the clamp being brought
down to grip the paper automatically, by the action of a spring or otherwise, just
before the knives K. K'. commence to cut, and being raised to release it after each
cut. The vertical motion of the upper knife K. is imparted to it by the action of
the platen lever C, a projection m on which acts on the bent-arm M of a longi-
tudinal beam lever M. M', weighted on the other arm M' by an adjustable sliding
block M². This arm M' acting through a connecting rod M³ to a second or trans-
verse lever M and link M³ depresses the knife K. when the platen lever is brought
down, and while the paper is clamped and the feeding rollers are not in motion.
The knife blade is raised again by the weighted lever M. M'. M, or it might be an
equivalent spring, as the platen lever is raised, and frees the arm M, so that the
knives are ready for the next feeding and cutting action.
It will be observed that in this construction and arrangement of the feeding
rollers with their journal bearings in a stationary frame A', and also the
cutting blades K. K¹. at fixed or uniform distances apart respectively in advance
of the platen D. and that, as the feed rollers 7. have at each action to draw
forward the paper to them, and push the part of it beyond them forward to the
cutting blades K. K¹. to the exact length to which the circulars or sheets are being
printed in the press, a differential means of adjustment must be provided, so that
the sheets may be fed forward and cut off by the feeding and cutting mechanism,
to prevent waste of paper, and so that the paper may be cut in the middle between
each printed circular or sheet. One means of effecting this (and compensating for
different lengths or sizes of sheets required to be fed forward) is by shifting back
or forward and so setting or fixing the adjustable roller in its bearings on the
platen lever frame to lengthen or shorten the doubled or loop part of the travelling
blanket I, and corresponding length of the paper passing over it between the
platen D and the feed rollers i. 17. in order to form approximately a multiple of the
length of sheet or of the feed of the rollers 2. 17. at each action. This may be done
by fitting the bearings of the roller in a cross rail N working in slides Ni actuated
by a screw spindle N with a milled head N³, which would both shift the bearings
and roller and retain them in the adjusted position.
A similar screw arrangement o. 0¹. 0 o may be fitted to the bearings of the
tightening guide roller at the opposite or back end of the traversing carrying
blanket I to ensure its proper working, or a weight may be used for this purpose.
Adjustable bearing brackets P are jointed to the framing A' and are fitted to carry
the journal bearings of the under feeding roller and these brackets are held up at
their outer ends by screw spindles P¹ passing through them, and bearing on the
ends of an inverted bow spring P³ supported in the centre on a stud P. These
screws P' are fitted with a handle P and are used to regulate the gripping pressure
required on the blanket and on the paper between the lower and the upper
actuating rollers 2º. 7.
Ordinary counting mechanism and index pointers with dials may be fitted in
connection with the moving paper gripper or cutting knife K., so as to indicate the
number of sheets, circulars, or labels printed and cut off. The counting mechanism

page_text: shown consists of a dial and pointer, which is rotated by means of a link Q from
the lever M of the reciprocating knife K. connected by a slotted joint and acting
on a pawl Q gripping in the teeth of a ratchet Q2 on the spindle of the dial
pointer. A tooth is fitted on the same spindle, and by each revolution of the spindle
a rack R below is moved by it to the extent of one or more teeth, so that if the
dial pointer is inade to indicate tens or hundreds, the motion of the rack may be
made to indicate multiples of these numbers.
The distance of upward or back motion of the platen lever frame is uniform, and
may be fixed by coming up to rest against a stop bar projecting up from the
frame A, or by coming up against the fixed brackets a. The platen D may be
fitted with any ordinary fixed or portable guides and automatically acting spring
or hinged lever grippers or tympan D³ for also printing on sheets or cards fed in
by hand. This tympan D³ is pivotted or jointed on studs d on links, d' jointed to
the platen D, as shown in figure 4, so that it may lie horizontally over the face of
the type when in its lower position, and may rise with the platen lever; and it is
fitted with a cam lever or spring d³ for this purpose, by which the platen lever C
in rising lifts it into the angled position shown, so that the sheets may be readily
inserted by hand. The tympan frame D³ is opened automatically to receive the
sheet, by means of the projecting horn D which when the platen lever C is raised
nearly to the full extent, strikes against the link and relieves the pressure of the
closing spring. The mechanism for feeding from a web of paper is then put out
of action by drawing forward the reciprocating feeding rack J, and removing its
acting tappet J³, so that it could not be actuated by the moving projection Fon
the siding block F2 of the inking rollers F. F. and the cutting mechanism is also
taken out of action by raising its actuating weighted lever M. M. out of gear with
its depresser m on the platen lever C by means of a spring or catch.
This improved printing press may be set with its type table frame and platen
oscillating lever frame otherwise than in the horizontal position described; and
when driven by motive-power, the platen frame may be made without the long
hand levers C, and be actuated by a revolving shaft, with a crauk, eccentric, or cam
motion and connecting rods, links or levers, connected to the platen lever-frame C,
so as to reciprocato it; the inking feeding and cutting mechanism being also thereby
actuated in the intermittent manner described as adapted for hand printing
presses.
The improved arrangements of mechanism herein described for feeding forward
the web paper, and for cutting it into sheets as printed, and for operating the
inking devices, may be fitted in combination with other forms of hand platen
presses, or may be applied to the larger size or class of such printing presses as
usually operated by motive-power.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is:
First The arranging and combining of the parts of type printing presses,
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Second The construction and arrangement in a type printing press of a platen
lever and platen combined with and actuating the inking devices, and paper feeding
and cutting appliances, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
Third. As means for feeding-in and regulating the feeding-in of the paper to be
printed in web printing presses, the arrangement and combination of the traversing
rack and tappet with the pinion and pawl and ratchet devices actuating the feed
rolls, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement in type printing presses of the cutting
blades or kuives for cutting the printed sheets operated by levers from the platen

page_text: lever, and in unison with the paper feeding apparatus, substantially as herein
described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In type printing presses, the fitting of an endless paper carrying blanket
over one of the feed rolls, and over adjustable rolls provided with straining and
regulating mechanism, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. In type printing presses, the arrangement of the inking rollers carried in
slide blocks, and operated direct from the platen lever, substantially as herein
described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. In type printing presses, the arrangement and combination with the
platen lever and platen, of a tympan frame with opening devices and adapted for
feeding in the sheets by hand, substantially as herein described and illustrated by
figure 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whoreof, I the said John Miller, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this cleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER C.E
Of W. R. M. Thomson & Co.
Patent Agents
Glasgow.
JOHN MILLER (L.S.)