Improvements in Printing Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1899-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Printing Machines.
We, FREDERICK MAY, of 52, East Dulwich Grove, Dulwich, in the County of
Surrey, Stationer, and MILLINGTON AND SONS LIMITED, of 32, Budge Row, in
the City of London, Wholesale Stationers, 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 which are more especially applicable
to envelope printing machines, but it is also applicable to machines for print-
ing cards, labels, and the like.
According to this invention the envelope or other blanks are placed in a pile
on the machine and are printed one at a time, being brought up to and pressed
against the fixed type with more or less automatically regulated pressure, and
are removed (after being printed) by hand, or by any suitable form of mechan-
ical picker device, such for example as is employed in envelope folding
machines.
For the purposes of illustration I will proceed to describe my invention as
applied to a machine for printing envelopes, which machine is illustrated in the
accompanying four sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation,
Figure 2 a side elevation, Figure 3 a vertical section on line x-x of Figure 1,
and Figure 4 a horizontal section on line zz of Figures 1 and 3.
Similar letters relate to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.
A is the framework of the machine, which carries in suitable bearings the
driving shaft B on which are mounted the fast and loose pulleys C C¹, the fly-
wheel D, and the spur-pinion E gearing into the spur-wheel F which is mounted
on and drives the cam shaft G. On the cam shaft G are mounted the cam H
for effecting the rise and fall of the printing table, the cam I for actuating the
inking device, and the crank plate J for operating the pump K, all as herein-
after more particularly described. Lis the printing table provided at its
underside with slides L running in guides L2 on the frame A. The printing
table L is also provided with guideways L³ (Figure 4) in which slides the nut M
of the adjusting screw N. L is a crosshead attached to the underside of the
printing table, as shewn in Figures 1 and 3, the collar N¹ of the screw N
revolving in a recess therein, whereby the printing table L is connected to and
moves with the nut M. O is a crank-handle for operating the screw N by hand.
P is a ratchet-wheel by which the said screw can be more or less automatically
operated as hereinafter described; or a suitable lever or slide with rack or other
similar device may be employed for the same purpose if desired. Q is the ink-
ing table to which an intermittent rotatory movement is imparted by a pawl
acting upon the teeth Q¹, and Q2 are inking rollers carried by the pair of
brackets Q which are caused to oscillate on the spindle Q5 by the forked con-
necting rod Q, the upper end of which is connected to the oscillating bracket Q*
and the lower slotted end surrounds the cam shaft G as shewn in Figure 3.
This connecting rod Q carries the bowl Q which runs in the groove I of the

page_text: cam I, and thereby imparts the necessary movements to the oscillating bracket Q4,
the inking table Q, and the inking rollers Q², the latter being
first caused to traverse the inking table and then the surface of the printing
type R which is set up in the fixed type chase R' in the usual way, the printing
surface being downwards. The inking devices just referred to are such as are
used in other printing machines and I do not therefore consider it necessary to
describe them in further detail.
S is a lever, fulcrummed to the shaft S¹, one end of which takes into the slot M¹
in the nut M and bears at its upper side against the friction roller M³ as seen
in Figure 3. The other end of the lever S extends beyond the rear of the
machine and is conveniently shaped to receive a counter balance weight S2, or
a battery of weights, or a spring or springs; as may be preferred. S is a bowl
or roller bearing on the edge of the cam H which latter in conjunction with the
weight S2 imparts the necessary rising and falling movements to the nut M,
and, through the collar N¹ on the screw N, to the printing table.
K is a suction device for lifting the envelope blanks one at a time from the
pile T. It is connected with the pump K by the flexible tube K2, and in itself
forms no part of my invention, being well known in connection with machinery
for folding envelopes for example.
U is a pedal for throwing the pawl P" out of gear with the ratchet wheel P
when desired.
Vis an automatically adjustable guide pin attached to the rising and falling
with the nut M and table L but capable of being adjusted independently of the
said table.
W W are adjustable pins connected to the table P those marked W being
for the purpose of keeping the blanks T from shifting horizontally, and those
marked W being for the purpose of exerting a slight downward pressure thereon
by means of their heads or bearing plates W
Pa is an arm pivotted at P³ to the frame A and having a roller P*. thereon
which comes in the path of the tappet or projection F on the side of the spur
wheel F. P³ is a pin mounted on the arm P2 over which is passed the eye in
one end of the crank arm P which is mounted loosely at its other end on the
spindle of the adjusting screw N. P¹ is a pawl mounted on the crank arm P6
and engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel P. This pawl has an exten-
sion P8, the end of which is held against a pin P on the arm P10 by the
spring P, another spring P serving to draw the crank arm P6 and arm P
with its roller P4 in the direction of the spur wheel F. The arm P is con-
nected by means of the cord or chain P to the pedal U.
'
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The machine having been turned into such a position that the short end of
the lever S is in its lowermost position, the operator depresses the pedal-U with
his foot; draws the arm Po to the left (Figure 4) causing the pin P to push
back the extension 18 of the pawl P against the resistance of the spring P,
and thus releases the said pawl from the ratchet wheel P. He then turns the
adjusting screw spindle N by its crank-handle to the left, and unscrews the
said screw from the nut M, allowing the printing table L to fall by its own
weight, or be drawn down by the action of the collar L¹ on the plate L*, into
its lowermost position. The ratchet wheel P, the crank arm Po with the pawl P¹
and extension P8 fall with the table L, the crank arm P and extension Pa
sliding down the pins P5 and P respectively, but remaining in contact therewith.
As the table L falls it passes over the guide pin V which is thereby caused to
project an increasing distance from the surface of the printing table L as the
said table descends. The operator now places a pile of blanks T on the table L,
and having adjusted the pins W and W thereto, he adjusts the level of the
table L to such a height as to leave the most desirable distance between the sur-
faces of the top blank T and the type R. He then releases the pedal U and the
springs P and P return the pawl P¹ into gear with the ratchet wheel P.

page_text: On the machine being now set in motion the cam shaft will be rotated in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3. The cam I acting upon the con-
necting rod Q through the roller Q will impart the necessary movements to
the various parts QQQQQ whereby the inking rollers are first made to
pass over the surface of the inking table Qand then over the type R in a manner
well understood in connection with inking devices for printing machines.
After
the inking rollers Q have retired from the type R the further rotation of the
shaft G brings the cam H into such a position as to no longer form a support
for the roller S which at this part of the revolution of the cam H is entirely
independent thereof, the full effect of the weight S2 acting upon the long end
of the lever being momentarily but entirely transferred through the fulcrum S¹
and the short end of the lever S to the roller M2 and thence by the nut M,
screw spindle N, collar N' and crosshead L to the printing table L, whereby
the momentarily sustained pressure which is essential for good printing is
obtained. This effect is obtained during that part of the revolution of the
cam H in which the portion of shortest radius passes the roller S³, the latter
being quite free of the cam at this point. The cam H continuing its rotation
now comes again into contact with the roller 83 and raises the weight S2, when
the table L, cross-head L*, nut M, guide pin V, screw spindle N, ratchet wheel P,
crank arm P, pawl P, extension P8, and handle all fall by gravity into the
lowest position permitted by the lever S.
In some cases the lever S may be dispensed with and the necessary movement
of the printing table L and its accompanying parts be effected by a cam or tappet
acting more or less directly upon the roller M2 or other equivalent part.
While the blanks T were being pressed up to the type as hereinbefore des
cribed they also being pressed against the under surface of the suction device K',
and the suction caused by the action of the crank plate J on the pump K (in
a manner well understood in connection with such devices) will have retained the
front portion of the uppermost blank in contact with the under surface of the
suction device K¹, the back portion of the same blank being lightly held down
by the heads W2 of the adjustable pins W', thus rendering the said uppermost
blank easily accessible to the fingers of the attendant, or to the picker mechan-
ism, as the case may be whereby the said printed blank is easily removed and
the upper surface of the next blank is exposed to be operated upon in a similar
manner. During the cycle of operations above described the revolution of the
spur wheel F will bring the tappet or projection F into contact with the
roller P on the arm P2, moving it momentarily to the left against the resist-
ance of the spring P. This movement will by means of the pawl P¹ cause the
ratchet wheel P to make a partial revolution, and as the said wheel is keyed
on to the screw spindle N, and the nut is held stationary by the weighted
lever S, the upper surface of the collar N1 acts upon the cross-head L' and raises
the printing table L an amount approximating to the thickness of one of the
blanks T. By these means the distance between the top surface of the upper-
most blank and the surface of the type is approximately maintained notwith-
standing the gradual reduction of the height of the pile of blanks T. Should
however the attendant find that the aforesaid distance is gradually decreasing
owing to variations in the thickness of the paper blanks or from other causes,
he places his foot upon the pedal U and thereby throws the pawl P1 out of gear
with the ratchet wheel P for a short time until the temporary discontinuance
of the feed thereby effected in combination with the periodical removal of the
blanks as they are printed, will have compensated for the previous excessive
feed. I prefer to arrange the automatic feed of the ratchet wheel P and pawl P
so that it is slightly excessive rather than the reverse, as the attendant can easily
compensate for such excessive feed in the manner just described. Y. is a finger
attached to the nut M the lower end of which is arranged to come into contact
with the arm Y₁ of a bell crank lever (mounted on the cross head L*) when the
blanks T are nearly exhausted, causing the arm Y' of the same lever to act upon

page_text: the extension Ps of the pawl P₁ and throw it out of gear with the ratchet
wheel P, thus stopping the feed of the table in the upward direction.
It will be understood that the guide pins W W being connected with the
upper portion of the printing table L, will be fed upwards with such table by
means of the ratchet and pawl devices just above referred to; but that the
guide pin which is situated in the front portion of the table, being attached
(as shewn in Figure 3) to the upper portion of the nut M, will not partake of
that movement, and that the portion of such guide pin which projects above
the surface of the table will be automatically reduced as the height of the pile
of blanks T is reduced. That is to say, the distance from the top of the pile
of blanks T to the top of the guide pin V remains constant notwithstanding the
periodical removal of such blanks by the attendant as they are printed, and
hence the pin V does not interfere with the ready removal of the printing
blanks when the pile is low, as it would do if it were attached to the table.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it
understood that I am aware that it has been proposed to print envelopes and
the like from a pile of blanks, by pressing an electro downwards on to the top
blank, also that it has been proposed to feed the pile of blanks upwards towards
the descending electro by the intermittent action of a ratchet, pawl and screw;
and I do not desire to claim generally the exclusive use of such devices; neither
do I desire to claim the exclusive use of the inking devices herein before des-
cribed, nor the devices for automatically retaining the blanks one at a time
against the surface of the suction device, as I am aware that both these devices
are known and used in connection with other printing machines; but that what
I do claim is :-
First. The improvement in printing machinery which consists of a stationary
type-chase in combination with a rising and falling printing table carrying a
pile of blanks to be printed, substantially as described.
Second. The improvement in printing machinery which consists of a
stationary type-chase, a printing table carrying a pile of blanks to be printed,
devices for raising and lowering the said table in order to press the blanks
upon it against the surface of the type, and devices for feeding the table gradu-
ally upwards as the pile of blanks is reduced in thickness, substantially as
described.
Third. In printing machinery the combination of a stationary type-chase with
a rising and falling printing table and means for raising the pile of blanks,
by freeing the roller $3 from the cam H, and imparting to such blanks a
momentarily sustained pressure against the type while printing, substantially
as described with reference to the drawings.
Fourth. In printing machinery the combination of a stationary type-chase
and a rising and falling printing table with automatic means for maintaining
an uniform pressure of the pile of blanks against the type, notwithstanding
the reduction in thickness thereof as the blanks are printed and removed, sub-
stantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Fifth. In printing machinery the rising and falling printing table with auto-
matic devices for maintaining an uniform pressure of the pile of blanks against
the type notwithstanding the reduction in the thickness thereof as the blanks
are printed and removed, in combination with means for rendering the said
automatic devices temporarily inoperative when desired, substantially as described
with reference to the drawings.
Sixth. In printing machinery in which envelope or other blanks are printed
from a pile, the guide pin Vso arranged that its upper end shall normally
coincide more or less with the top of the pile of blanks notwithstanding the
reduction in thickness of such pile as the blanks are printed and removed, sub-
stantially as described with reference to the drawings.

page_text: Seventh. The improved printing machine for printing from a pile of envelope
or other blanks constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the drawings.
1000.
F. MAY.
MILLINGTON & SONS LD.,
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent, 115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.