A Proof Press for Printing Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Proof Press for Printing Purposes.
I, NICHOLAS G. Duffy, of No. 217 Meeting Street, Charleston, South
Carolina, in the United States of America, Printer, 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 has relation to a combination proof press, for the use of printers,
lithographers, engravers or designers, and has for its object, the provision of a
novel machine or apparatus for the purpose of taking proofs of all "forms" that
require reading, of type, after being composed, or for taking proofs of cuts,
engravings, lithographs, or the like.
This invention consists in the novel construction, and combinations of parts
constituting a portable, manuable-operated proof press, by which printers matter,
such as forms of type, cuts, engravings, and the like, may be easily, neatly and
uniformily inked, and impressions taken therefrom at one, and the same continuous
operation.
This invention also consists in the combination with an apparatus or machine of
the character referred to, of a suitable ink fountain and ink feeding and distributing
appliances, and furthermore in the combination therewith, of a paper cutting blade,
by means of which galley slips unwound from a reel of paper carried upon the
machine, may be severed or cut off evenly after having been printed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved proof press in operation.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same.
Figure 3 is an end view showing the press tilted backward as required in the act
of cutting the paper.
Figure 4 is an end view, showing the position the press should rest in, when not
in use.
The apparatus in its entirety comprises a suitable supporting frame having an
upright handle by which it is manipulated, an inking roller, an ink feeding and
distributing roller, an ink fount, a paper reel or roll, an impression roller and a
paper cutting blade.
A, A, designates the side plates of the frame, which are conveniently made of
approximately semi-circular shape, and which are secured by screws, a, to a
vertically arranged transverse partition or connecting web B, and to a transverse
bar B', from the middle part of which rises a suitable handle C.
D designates the ink fount, which consists of an elongated trough of triangular
form in cross section, and which is secured to the transverse bar B', by means of
screws d, d, passing through lugs formed on the ends of the trough.
The opening of the trough is on the inclined side or face of the fount, and is
provided with a sliding gate E, by means of which the flow of ink to the
distributing roller may be regulated.
F designates the ink feeding and distributing roller journaled in curved slots f,f,
in the side plates A., A., and located with its axis below, and slightly forward of, the
ink fount. This roller is journaled in slots, so that it will have a certain amount of
play, allowing it, when the machine is in operation, to rest upon the inking roller,
and when the machine is out of use, and resting in the position shown in Figure 4,
to fall back against the ink fount and out of contact with the inking roller, thereby
avoiding an impression being made in the composition inking roller such as would
occur if the wooden distributing roller were allowed to rest against the inking
roller for any length of time.
H designates the inking roller which is of the usual composition, and which is

page_text: journaled to the side plates A, A, below and forward of the ink distributing roller.
One end of the shaft of the inking roller projects beyond the frame of the
apparatus, and is squared as shown at g, for the application of a crank or handle,
by which the inking roller is is turned when it is desired to spread ink upon it from
the distributing roller. The inking roller projects below the side plates A, A, so
as to contact with and ink the form.
I designates the paper reel or roll mounted on a shaft K, which has its bearings
in slots L, L, in the oblique plates K', K', secured to the side plates A, A, and
rising therefrom in the rear of the handle C.
Below the paper reel or roll is arranged the felt-covered impression roller M,
journaled in the side plates A, A, of the machine at the rear end thereof, in a
position corresponding to the position of the inking roller H.
The paper from the reel or roll is led downward inside the impression roller M,
and back underneath the same. The paper reel or roll is intended to rest upon the
impression roller, and in order to do so notwithstanding the dimunition of the
diameter of the paper roll or reel, the shaft of the latter has its bearings in
the oblique slots L, L, which slots, at their lower ends, are branched or diverted
rearwardly and downwardly, as shown at 1, 1, so that the paper reel or roll will rest
upon the impression roller, until all the paper is exhausted.
The slots L, L, are open at their upper ends to receive the shaft of the paper
reel or roll, and after the reel or roll is inserted in position, the ends of the slots
are barred by the forked keys N, N, which slide upon, and are locked by the
screws n, n.
O designates the paper cutting blade, which consists of a horizontal sharp edged
plate formed on, or attached to, a frame P, which projects horizontally from the
rear ends of the side plates A, A, nearly on a line with the axis of the impression
roller M.
OPERATION.
The position of the apparatus when in use, is clearly shown in Figure 1, of the
drawing. In inking and taking an impression from a form, the machine is rolled
forward on the type, from one end of the form to the other, the inking roller
travelling ahead of the impression roller and paper, and the free end of the latter
being held taut. As the machine is pushed forward, the form is inked, and the
paper unrolling from the roll or reel is gradually pressed down upon the inked
type by the impression roller, until the end of the form is reached by the cutting
blade. The machine is then tilted back until the cutting blade rests upon the paper
as shown in Figure 3. The paper is then raised and torn off sharply against the
edge of the blade. The frame of the press, as will be seen, is supported entirely
and soley by the inking roller and the impression roller, and these roliers extend
below the lower margins of the frame. The rollers are therefore rotated soley
by frictional contact with the type or other surface over which the press may be
passed. There is therefore no sliding or rubbing motion of the rolls on the type or
impression surface, as might result from having the rollers rotated by other means
than frictional contact with the impression surface. Again by having the
impression and inking rollers free, and projected below the frame or its appurtanent
parts, the press may be used for inking and taking impressions from forms of any
size, either narrower or wider than the press.
Extra rolls of paper may be supplied in any quantity, and readily secured in
position on the machine, and when duplicate proofs are needed as on newspaper
work, for counting type of compositors, the white roll of paper usually employed
may be supplemented by a roll of colored paper, which is substituted for the white
paper in taking the second proof. The advantages of my improved proof press
over those now in use for taking proofs are many. Proofs of galleys or jobs may
be taken with less labor, and can be secured more rapidly than with the appliances
now in use.
Proofs of galleys may be taken on stands if desired and the great cleanliness

page_text: and neatness of the press commends it to the practical printer, engraver or litho-
grapher. Its use saves labor, saves paper, saves ink, avoids dirt, and economises
room space. The press may be manufactured cheaply, and of different sizes to suit
different conditions under which it will be servicable.
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 proof press, the combination with the carriage or frame of the ink
fount D, mounted on the frame, the ink distributing roller F, journaled in the
frame below the ink fount, the paper reel shaft K, also journaled in the frame, the
impression roller M, and the inking roller H, both journaled in the frame and in
such position that the peripheries thereof project below the bottom of the frame,
whereby the said inking and impression rollers constitute the sole support and
bearing of the frame, substantially as described.
Secondly-In a proof press, the combination of a suitable frame, an ink
distributing roller, and a paper reel shaft, both journaled in the said frame, with
an inking roller and an impression roller journaled respectively at the front and
rear of the frame, and at such points that the peripheries of both project below the
lowest part of the said frame, substantially as described.
Thirdly-In a proof press, the combination with a frame or carriage, mounted
on and supported by an inking roller and an impression roller, of an ink fount,
arranged above the inking roller, and an ink distributing roller journaled in
elongated bearing slots between the ink fount and the inking roller, whereby when
proof is being taken, the distributing roller will bear on the inking roller, out of
contact with the ink fount, and when the carriage is turned over, said distributing
roller will rest against the ink fount, out of contact with the printing roller,
substantially as described.
Fourthly-In a proof press, the combination with a frame or carriage mounted
on an inking and impression roller journaled in the frame at such positions that the
peripheries of both project below the bottom of the frame, and having a distributing
roller above, and normally in contact with the inking roller, of an ink fount, located
above the distributing roller, and consisting of a transversely arranged trough
provided with a sliding gate, at its lower and open side, whereby the flow of ink to
the distributing roller may be regulated, substantially as described.
Fifthly In a proof press, consisting of a frame or carriage, mounted on and
supported solely by an inking roller, and an impression roller, and capable of being
tilted upon the fulcrum formed by the impression roller, of a rectangular frame
projecting rearwardly from the proof press, and having a sharpened lip or flange on
its lower edge, substantially as described.
Dated this 96th der of Santember 18000
NICHOLAS G. Duffy,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.