AN IMPROVED ROTARY LITHOGRAPHIC AND TYPE PRINTING MACHINE.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Greig and John Greig, both of Edinburgh,
in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of
“AN IMPROVED ROTARY LITHOGRAPHIC AND TYPE PRINTING MACHINE.
"
“AN IMPROVED ROTARY LITHOGRAPHIC AND TYPE PRINTING MACHINE.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Greig and John
Greig at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 6th December 1871.
We, DAVID GREIG and JOHN GREIG, both of Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention of "AN IMPROVED ROTARY LITHOGRAPHIC AND Type
PRINTING MACHINE," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to an improved rotary lithographic and type
printing machine self-delivering in action.
As a lithographic machine it has the advantages of dispensing with
skilled labour, and allowing a much larger number of impressions to be
printed from one stone than has hitherto been accomplished.

page_text: The frame of the machine consists of two strong metallic iron
standards braced together by stays and tie bolts. Between these
standards and resting in bearings a revolving cylinder is situated, which
cylinder carries the lithographic stone or the chase on which the types
are fixed. The sheets are fed in against a brass guago in the ordinary
manner, and brought in contact with this cylindrical stone or types as
the case may be by means of a metallic printing roller, the surface of
which is covered with an clastic substance such as vulcanized india-
rubber. The printing roller is through the combined actions of a crank,
cam, and spiral spring caused to move so that an impression is produced
by pressing the sheet against the stone or type, whenever the said stone
or type has attained the proper position. As the cylinder continues to
move, the printing roller keeps the sheet tightly pressed against the
printing surface until the impression is completed, the sheet being
carried in the same direction owing to the combined rotary motions of :
the cylinder and printing roller, and when released slides into a receiving
box placed between the standards immediately below the cylinder.
The inking and damping rollers are distributed around the cylinder,
and the cylinder serves a twofold purpose.
In the first place, as herein-before mentioned, it carries the litho-
graphic stone or the frames containing the types.
Secondly, it constitutes the inking table the whole surface of the
cylinder, less that portion occupied by the lithographic stone or type
chase, being available for the distribution of ink.
The damping rollers are somewhat longer than the inking rollers, and
are kept clear off the inking surface by means of a narrow projecting
strip at each end of the cylinder, which is carried round the circum-
ference thereof, with the exception of that part occupied by the litho-
graphic stone or type chase.
The damping rollers are formed of metallic tubes covered with a
spongy material, and are moistened by the attendant when required by
means of a sponge or damping cloth.
The machine herein-before described may be worked either by hand,
treadle, or steam nower.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Greig and John Greig in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 6th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
GREIG and JOHN GREIG, both of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
34th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said David Greig and John Greig, Her special
license that we, the said David Greig and John Greig, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said David Greig
and John Greig, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN IMPROVED ROTABY LITHOGRAPHIC AND TYPE PRINTING
MACHINE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said David
Greig and John Greig, by an instrument in writing under our hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said David Greig and John Greig,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :-
Our said Invention relates to an improved rotary lithographic and
type printing machine self-delivering in action.
The frame of the machine consists of two strong metallic iron
standards braced together by stays and tie bolts. Between these

page_text: standards and resting in bearings a revolving cylinder is situated,
which cylinder carries the lithographic stone or its equivalent, a zinc
plate, or the chase in which the types are fixed. The sheets are fed
in against a gauge in the ordinary manner and brought in contact with
the stone or types, as the case may be, by means of a metallic printing
roller, the surface of which is covered with an elastic substance, such as
vulcanized india-rubber. The printing roller is through the combined
actions of a crank, cam, and spiral spring caused to move so that an
impression is produced by pressing the sheet against the stone or type
whenever the said stone or type has attained the proper position. As
the cylinder continues to move the printing roller keeps the sheet
tightly pressed against the printing surface until the impression is com-
pleted, the sheet being carried in the same direction owing to the
combined rotary motions of the cylinder and printing roller, and when
released slides into a receiving box placed between the standards
immediately below the cylinder. The distributing rollers are made
of india-rubber ground truc, one of their number having a lateral
motion in order to equalize the ink in the proper manner. The inking,
distributing, and damping rollers are arranged around the cylinder
in a suitable manner. The cylinder serves a twofold purpose.
In the first place, as herein-before mentioned, it carries the litho
graphic stone or the chase containing the types.
Secondly. It constitutes the inking table the whole surface of the
cylinder, less that portion occupied by the lithographic stone or type
chase, being available for the distribution of ink.
The damping rollers are somewhat longer than the inking rollers, and
are kept clear of the inking surface by means of a narrow projecting
strip at each end of the cylinder, which is carried round the circum-
ference thereof with the exception of that part occupied by the
lithographic stone or type chase.
The damping rollers are formed of metallic tubes covered with a
spongy material, and are moistened by the attendant when required by
means of a sponge or damping cloth.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say :-

page_text: On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is an end
elevation of our improved "Rotary Lithographic and Type Printing
Machine;" Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, whilst Figure 3 is a
transverse section of a part of the same.
As shewn by Figures 1 and 2 the framing of the machine consists of
two strong metallic standards A. braced together by stays B. Between
the standards A a revolving cylinder C carried on an axis D is situated,
the axis D revolving in suitable bearings D¹ formed in the standards A.
The revolving cylinder O is constructed with jaws a, in which is placed
a lithographic stone or its equivalent, a zinc plate E, or the chase on
which the types are fixed.
The lithographic stone E is shewn in transverse section at Figure 3 of
the Drawings, placed in position within the jaws a, and firmly secured
therein by means of pinching screws b. The printing surface of the
lithographic stone E is formed flat, as shewn at Figure 3. Situated
below the revolving cylinder O is a metallic printing roller F, (shewn
more particularly at the transverse section, Figure 3,) of the Drawings,
the surface of which is covered with an elastic substance, such as
vulcanized india-rubber. The extremities of the axis of the metallic
printing roller F are supported by spiral springs c situated within slots
formed at the lower end of the vertical links d, and the printing roller F
is retained in its horizontal position by means of the links e, which are
attached at one end to the axis of the printing roller F, whilst the other
ends are attached by means of studs f to the standards A. Attached to
the upper ends of the vertical links d are small rollers g, which bear on
cams h and h¹ respectively, which are attached to the vertical links d by
means of bolts and nuts i passing through slots formed in the upper
part of the vertical links d. The cam bears on the boss k of a spur
wheel G, situated at one extremity of the shaft D, on which the
revolving cylinder C is carried; the cam h' bears on a similar boss k³
formed on a dise and situated at the opposite extremity of the shaft D.
As the bosses and revolve with the shaft D the cams h and h¹ are
revolved in an opposite direction between the rollers 7 and bosses & and
, the motion caused thereby, combined with the action of the spiral
springs c, alternately depressing the vertical links d, and with them the
printing roller F when the lithographic stone E is out of position, and
elevating and pressing it firmly against the same as it comes into
position, and kceping it so until the print is completed. Or other

page_text: Near the
means of a sponge or damping cloth. The machino is actuated by
means of a treadle I, which is centred on studs attached to tho
standards A. The treadle I is connected by means of connecting rods J
to cranks K, situated at the extremities of a crank shaft L, which is
supported in bearings y formed in the standards A. Situated near one
extremity of the crank shaft L is a spur pinion M, which gears with the
spur wheel G, placed on one end of the revolving shaft D.
other extremity of the crank shaft L is a spur wheel N, which
a pinion (not shewn on the Drawings), carried on one end of a shaft P,
which is supported in bearings x formed in the standards. The other
end of the shaft P carries a fly wheel Q, by means of which the rotary
motion conveyed through the spur wheels and pinions to the revolving
cylinder O is rendered uniform.
gears with
In lieu of actuating the machine by means of the treadle I, hand or
steam power may be applied. The lithographic stone E has the work or
design to be printed transferred to its surface by means of an ordinary
lithographic hand press, and the stone E is otherwise prepared in the
usual manner.
The arrangement of machine now described is intended to be used as
a small jobbing machine, and we would remark that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise mechanical arrangements herein-before described,
as such arrangements may be modified.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion
that what we consider novel and original and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First. The general arrangement and construction of lithographic and
type printing machine herein-before described and shewn on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto appended or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The arrangements whereby an ordinary flat lithographic stone
or its equivalent, or a type chase, is operated in a revolving cylinder, the
stone or type chase being contained in a recess formed in that cylinder,
as herein before described and shewn more particularly at Ficure 3 of

page_text: Third. The arrangement of mechanism herein-before described and
shewn on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, whereby the raising
and lowering of the printing roller F is effected.
Fourth. Arranging the cylinder C in such manner that its periphery,
less that portion occupied by the lithographic stone or type chase, acts as
an inking table, whereby through the intervention of the rollers H ink
is distributed to the lithographic stone or type chase as hercin-before
described.
In witness whereof, we, the said David Greig and John Greig,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth day of June,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
DAVID GREIG. (L.S.)
JOHN GREIG.
(L.S.)