Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
1, SIDNEY THACKER, of The Minerva Works, in the Town and County of the
Town of Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
The invention has for its object, firstly, improvements in platen printing machines
whereby what is known as the "Cuthbertson counter," or any analogous counter, is
enabled to be applied to such class of printing machines.
I will describe this part of my invention as applied to that class of platen printing
machine known as the "Cropper."
I mount the counter on a suitable bracket, which, for convenience, may be an
tension of the power tackle bracket, in such manner that the prime revolving
shaft of the counter is axially in line with the axis of the cam wheel but at a
distance therefrom, to permit of the free motion of the crank pin and connecting
rod giving motion to the type bed lever frame on that side of the machine.
On the outer end of said crank pin I fix an arm or lever, which extends over the
axle of the cam wheel and is provided with a stud or axis also axially in line with
said cam wheel axle, and on said stud or axis I mount a clutch sleeve, which, by
means of a groove and feather, is compelled to rotate with such stud or axis but
can also be moved endwise thereon when required to enable its clutch formed end
to be placed in connection with, or to be disconnected from, a correspondingly
formed clutch on the prime revolving shaft of the counter. I interpose a spring
between the two parts of the clutch, so as to force the sliding sleeve clutch away
from the other part of the clutch when the "impression" is thrown off; or other
suitable means may be employed for such purpose.
"
In order that the counter may be disconnected from the moving parts of the
machine when the "impression" is thrown off, I attach to the "impression rod a
short lever, to which a fork is pinjointed, and the said fork straddles the stud or
axis of the sliding clutch and acts between the latter and the boss of the said stud
or axis, the said fork being of taper or wedge form, so that when the "impression"
is thrown on, the thicker portion of said fork will throw the sliding clutch into
gear with the counter clutch, but when the impression is thrown off, the thinner
portion of said fork will permit the spring to push back the sliding clutch and
thereby disconnect the counter from the moving parts of the machine.
It will be evident that the details of this part of my invention may be modified,
even as applied to the "Cropper" machine, whilst they will necessarily be modified
when applying the said class of counters to other platen machines, the essential
feature of this part of my invention being the provision of means to a platen
printing machine for rotating the counter when the "impression" is thrown on and
off and for disconnecting the counter from the working parts of the machine when
the "impression" is thrown off, the said connecting and disconnecting means being
automatically operated by a connection from the rod, lever or apparatus employed
for throwing the "impression" on and off. As above arranged the counter hand
will revolve in the contrary direction to that in ordinary use, I therefore reverse
the figuring on the face of the counter, or, if desired, reversing gear may be
emploved.

page_text: My invention relates, secondly, to a more convenient and lasting arrangement of
parts for shogging or traversing sideways the inking and distributing roller carrying
arms or frame, for the purpose of obtaining a proper distribution of the ink.
For this purpose I fix on each side of the arms of the type bed frame, a cam or
incline, and I fix on each inking roller arm, a stud or projection, or the reverse
arrangement may be adopted, said inclines and studs or projections being fixed in
such positions that as the inking roller carrying arms rock in one direction, one of
the studs or projections will come against one of the cams or inclines and
consequently move the roller carrying arms sideways in one direction, whilst the
rocking in the reverse direction of such arms will bring the other stud or projection
and cam or incline into action, and the said arms will consequently be shogged in
the opposite direction to their first motion, thereby causing the inking and
distributing rollers to be shifted a short distance across the ink bed.
My invention relates, thirdly, to improved means for operating the distributing
rollers of platen printing machines where separately operated distributing and
inking rollers are employed.
The said distributing rollers move over the ordinary inking table and over an
extension therefrom, and the arms carrying such distributing rollers are, according
to the present invention, connected by a link or connecting rod to a lever operated
by a suitable cam preferably so formed as to give two double reciprocations of the
distributing rollers over the ink bed.
My invention relates, fourthly, to the ink fount, the trough of which, according
to my invention, is cast on the end of the ink bed, suitable bearings being provide
for the doctor or fount roller, as also tapped bosses to receive the screws for setting
up the fount knife to the doctor roller.
My invention relates, fifthly, to the gearing for communicating motion from
the driving shaft to the cam shaft, and this part of my invention consists in the
substitution of internal gearing for the external gearing usually employed, whereby
I obtain a smooth exterior to the internal toothed wheel, and enclose within the
latter the pinion on the driving shaft, thus obviating the risk of accident in working
the machine.
Dated this 5th day of March 1801
Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
I, SIDNEY THACKER, of The Minerva Works, in the Town and County of the
Town of Nottingham, Engineer, 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 :-
The invention has for its object improvements in platen printing machines.
I will describe my invention in connection with the accompanying drawings as
applied to that class of platen printing mahine known as the "Cropper."
Fig. 1 is a front view and Fig. 2 is an end or side view of parts of a "Cropper
platen printing machine showing my improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 3 is a back view of the "Cuthbertson" counter.
"
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation showing part of the counter and its driving
mechanism full size.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of some of the parts shown at Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an end view of one part of the operating clutch.

page_text: Fig. 7 is a side view of the connecting rod shown in Fig. 5.
Figs. 8 and 9 are two views of a crank fixed on the "impression" rod and
connected with the connecting rod shown at Figs. 5 and 7.
Fig. 10 is a side view of part of the type bed frame showing the shogging cams
of the inking and distributing rollers.
Figs. 11 and 12 are two views, full size, of the extra distributing roller and its
carrying arm.
Figs. 13 and 14 are two views of link connecting arm of extra distributing roller
to the arm of the ordinary inking and distributing rollers.
Fig. 15 is a plan of the inking table and ink fount.
Figs. 16 and 17 are two views showing the gearing for communicating motion
from the driving shaft to the cam shaft, the cam and the counter operating
shaft, and
Figs. 18 and 19 are two views of one of the cranks for operating the platen.
The machine shown in the drawings is represented as driven by a treadle, but it
may be driven by a pulley fixed on the main or crank shaft, as is commonly
practised.
a is the main framing, 6 the crank shaft, c the treadle, c' the connecting rod from
the treadle to the shaft b; d is the cam shaft, e the platen, e' a crank fixed on the
platen shaft operated by the cam e; f is the type bed frame; ff are
connecting rods communicating motion from the usual crank pins f2 to such type
bed frame; g g are the arms carrying the ordinary inking and distributing
rollers g' g, and g³ is a connecting rod from one of the said arms g to a fixed stud
or axis g on the main frame.
The parts above described are well known and in common use and therefore
form no part of my present invention.
"
The first part of my invention consists in means for applying what is known as
the Cuthbertson"
66
counter to the said class of platen printing machine. is the
"Cuthbertson counter mounted on a bracket o, which, for convenience, may be
an extension of the power tackle bracket, in such manner that the shaft 1 of the
reversing pinion h² is axially in line with the axis d of the cam wheel e³, but at a
distance therefrom to permit of the free motion of the crank pin f² and connecting
rod on that side of the machine giving motion to the type bed frame f. On the
outer end of said crank pin f I fix an arm or lever ³, which extends over the
axle d of the cam wheel and is provided with a stud or axis also axially in
line with the said cam wheel axle d, and on said stud or axis h I mount a clutch
sleeve, which, by means of a groove and feather 6, see Figs. 4 and 6, is
compelled to rotate with such stud or axis / but can be moved endwise thereon
when required to enable its clutch formed end to be placed in connection with, or
to be disconnected from, a correspondingly formed clutch on the axis of
reversing pinion giving motion to the pinion 8 on the prime revolving shaft of
the counter. I interpose a spring between the two parts of the clutch so as to
force the sliding sleeve away from the other part of the clutch when the
"impression" is thrown off; or other suitable ineans may be employed for such
purpose. In order that the counter h may be disconnected from the moving parts
of the machine when the "impression" is thrown off, I attach to the "impression
rodi, see Figs. 1 and 8, a short lever i to which a fork is connected by link ³
and pinjoints, and the said fork straddles the stud or axis of the sliding
clutch and acts between the latter and the boss of the said stud or axis h, the
said fork being of taper or wedge form so that when the "impression" is thrown
on, the thicker portion of said fork will throw the sliding clutch into gear with
the counter clutch h', but when the "impression" is thrown off, the thinner portion
of said fork will permit the spring to push back the sliding clutch and thereby
disconnect the counter from the moving parts of the machine. It will be evident
that the details of this part of my invention may be modified, even.as applied.to
the "Cropper" machine, whilst they will necessarily be modified when applying the.
sail class of counters to other platen machines, the essential feature of this part of
"

page_text: my invention being the provision of means to a platen printing machine for rotating
the counter when the "impression" is thrown on and for disconnecting the counter
from the working parts of the machine when the "impression" is thrown off, the
said connecting and disconnecting means being automatically operated by a
connection from the rod, lever or apparatus for throwing the "impression
and off. As above arranged with the reversing pinion h2, the counter hand will
revolve in the same direction as that in ordinary use, but if desired the clutch /
may be connected directly with the prime revolving shaft of the counter /, in which
case the figuring on the face of the counter will be reversed.
on.
My invention relates secondly to a more convenient and lasting arrangement of
parts for shogging or traversing sideways the arms or frame 9 of the ordinary inking
and distributing rollers g¹ y² for the purpose of obtaining a proper distribution of
the ink. For this purpose I fix on each side of the arms of the type bed frame f
a cam or incline go, and I fix on each inking roller arm g, a stud or projection,
or the reverse arrangement may be adopted, said inclines and studs or projections
'being fixed in such positions that as the inking roller carrying arms g rock in one
direction, the stud or projection on the arm g at one side of the machine will
come against one of the cams or inclines 95 and consequently move the roller
carrying arms sideways in one direction when the rollers g¹, g² are on the ink
bed y', whilst the rocking in the reverse direction of such arms g will bring the
other stud or projection and cam or incline 9 into action, and the said arms g
will consequently be shogged in the opposite direction to their first motion when
below the type bed, thereby causing the inking and distributing rollers g¹ g² to be
shifted a short distance in the reverse direction to their first motion.
9
My invention relates thirdly to improved means for operating the distributing
roller or rollers j of platen printing machines where separately operated distributing
and inking rollers are employed. The said distributing roller; or rollers move
over the ordinary inking table g' and over an extension g' therefrom, and the
arms carrying such distributing roller ; or rollers are according to the present
invention connected by links to the levers or arms g in such manner that the
roller shall travel to and fro only over the ink bed g' and fount or doctor roller g³;
or, as stated in my Provisional Specification, one of the arms j¹ may be connected
to a lever operated by a suitable cam so formed as to give two double reciprocations
of the distributing roller j or rollers over the ink bed..
My invention relates fourthly to the ink fount, the trough g of which, according
to my invention, is cast on the end of the ink bed g', suitable bearings g being
provided for the doctor or fount roller g', as also tapped bosses g12 to receive the
screws g¹³ for setting up the fount knife g to the doctor roller.
My invention relates fifthly to the gearing for communicating motion from the
driving shaft b to the cam shaft d, and this part of my invention consists in the
substitution of internal gearing, consisting of pinion on the driving shaft band
internal toothed wheel di formed within the cam wheel e³, for the external gearing
usually employed, whereby I obtain a smooth exterior to the toothed wheel and
enclose within the latter the pinion on the driving shaft b, thus obviating the
risk of accident in working the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. The improvements in platen printing machines substantially as herein shown
and described.
2. The combination with platen printing machines, of a "Cuthbertson" or
analogous counter, substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In platen printing machines, the improved means for shogging or traversing
sideways the inking and distributing rollers, substantially as herein shown and
described.
4. In platen printing machines, the improved means for operating one or more
1

page_text: separately operated distributing rollers, substantially as herein shown. and
described.
5. In platen printing machines, the casting of the ink fount on the end of the
ink bed, substantially as herein shown and described.
6. In platen printing machines, the employment of internal driving gear,
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 5th day of December 1894.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.