IMPROVEMENTS IN CYLINDRICAL CHROMO-LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Conisbee, of Nos. 39 and 40, Herbert's
Buildings, Waterloo Road, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CYLINDRICAL CHROMO-LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Conisbee at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
January 1868.
I, WILLIAM CONISBEE, of Nos. 39 and 40, Herbert's Buildings, Waterloo
Road, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CYLINDRICAL CHROMO-LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES,"
to be as follows:-
I first form a cast-iron framework, comprising 2 side and a suitable number
of cross frames bolted together, the height of the side frames being greater
than the cross frames. On the latter, extending the length of the side frame
or thereabouts, I place 2 planed grooved ribs on which I place a suitable
number of steel or cast-iron rollers having journals at each end projecting and
fitting into round holes at convenient distances drilled in flat bars, which are
bolted together, so as to keep the rollers equidistant, and enabling the rollers
to turn freely on their axes. Mounted on the rollers I place a carriage or table
of cast iron, provided with ribs planed the same form as the ribs before described,

page_text: the width of the grooves in each being exactly the same as the rollers are in
length in the body, the distance of the bottom ribs being the same as those
on the table, enables the latter to travel freely on the rollers, yet free from
lateral movement.
On the upper side or face of the table I place a cast-iron box of a suitable
size to admit a lithographic stone. In the bottom of the box at suitable distances
apart I make 4 round holes to receive 4 large screws, having at the bottom of
each a worm wheel of suitable diameter screwed in the centres to take the
4 screws. I regulate the peripheries of the worm wheels so as to enable me to
give motion to the whole 4 wheels at once by a worm or screw shaft having a
screw cut at each end, which I place horizontally in suitable bearings in the
sides of the box, 2 of the worm wheels being on one side and 2 on the reverse
side of shaft in gear with the screw cut thereon. The wheels being thus
placed in pairs are moved simultaneously by turning the screw shaft, the worm
wheels and screws being cut in pairs, right and left handed threads.
I also
fit inside of the box a flat plate, the size of box in length and width, and of
suitable thickness to withstand the pressure to which the stone is subjected
while receiving the impression; the plate has square holes in it to receive the
square shanks of the screws. I place on the plate suitable pieces or sheets of
millboard, on which the stone is laid; it is then elevated or depressed to the
proper level by turning the screw shaft, which acting on the 4 screws in the
box ensures the desired level; the stone is then secured in position by means
of screws fitted in the ends and sides of the box. On the same carriage or
table, and at some distance from the stone box, I place a cast-iron water box
of suitable dimensions; in this box I place horizontally a movable slab or
plate, on the under side of which I fix vertically 2 metal rods, which pass
through stuffing boxes formed in the bottom of water box; the lower ends of
the 2 rods are provided with rollers working on pins fitted into suitable double
joints; on the top of water box, mounted on a frame, I place a cloth cover
strained moderately tight, the frame being made to fit the top of box like a lid.
On the cross frames I place 2 bars, having the ends bevilled or inclined, which
causes the table in the box to be elevated or depressed as the rollers pass over
them, the object of this being to bring the table in contact with the under side
of the cloth cover in order that the water taken up on the top side of the
table by immersion in the water in the box may be taken up by the cloth.
At a suitable distance from the water box, and on the same carriage or
table, I fix an inking slab or table of suitable material, the stone carriage,
water box, and ink table moving as one when in operation. On both
sides of the table are 2 planed bearers corresponding to the face of the

page_text: lithographic stone. Parallel to the bearers on each side I place a spur
tooth rack of suitable length to suit the requisite traverse of the table when
in operation..
On the 2 side frames, and mounted in eccentric bearings, I place the
printing cylinder provided with suitable journals, which work in bearings
having holes bored in them to fit. The outside of these bearings are eccentric to
the hole, and are turned to fit other bearings bored to receive them, so that
they form double bearings, the inner or cylinder bearing having a tail piece in
which are fitted collar pins, attached to which and working freely are suitable
connecting rods connected to cranks and pins mounted on a horizontal shaft
working in bearers placed at the bottom part of side frames; this shaft is pro-
vided with a crank connected by a rod to a cam fixed on main shaft for the
purpose of lifting the cylinder clear of the stone when in operation after the
sheet is printed, and depressing it when the sheet is ready for printing.
On each end of the cylinder I fit a spur wheel of the same pitch as the
racks on the table, the pitch line of both cylinder wheels and racks being the
same horizontally as that of the face of the stone. The cylinder is provided with
grippers mounted on a bar working in bearings at each end of cylinder; at
one end of the gripper bar which passes through the outer end I attach a
crank and roller working freely on a fixed stud at its outer end; as the
cylinder revolves this roller is brought in contact with a shape fixed on the
inner face of one of the cylinder bearings at the time the table reaches the full
extent of its traverse, the cylinder rotating as the table travels by their direct
connection by the racks and wheels, and has thus a semi-rotatory motion in
each direction as the table travels to and from each end of machine by always
being in gear with it.
At one end of the machine I place horizontally a feed table, one side of
which is parallel with the axis of the cylinder, the table itself having slides or.
grooves in which to travel to and from the cylinder as required, the motion
being obtained by a suitable cam placed on main shaft in connection with
levers and connecting rod. To the front edge next the cylinder I fix a metal
plate let into the table and projecting some distance from its edge; under this.
plate, working in bearings attached to the ends of table, I place a turned
bar, in which I place several metal stocks which slide freely on it. On the upper
face of the stocks I mount plates capable of adjustment by screws; in each of
these I screw a fine steel point, which is capable of passing through holes or
slots in the metal plate fixed on the feed table; on other of the stocks I fasten
angle pieces, which likewise project above the outer edge of the metal plate,
for the purpose of laying the sheet to be printed; these points and marks are

page_text: depressed as the feed table is advanced to the cylinder, so that the grippers
when closing can take the sheet unobstructed, while as the feed table leaves
the cylinder the points and marks resume their position to take the next sheet.
On the 2 side frames on the other side of the cylinder and working in vertical
slides, I place 2 metal roller carriages for carrying several wetting rollers; these
are clothed in suitable cloth fabric, and extend the full width of the machine
parallel with the cylinder. The 2 carriages are capable of being elevated and
depressed by means of a cam fixed on main shaft in connection with suitable
bell-crank lever and connecting rod, for the purpose of lifting the wetting
rollers when required to escape the inking table and stone after it is once wetted.
On the side frames I also place other roller carriages, which likewise work
in vertical slides, to carry the several inking rollers; these carriages and rollers
are capable of being elevated at will by means of hand levers in connection with
a bottom horizontal shaft provided with arms and connecting rods connected to
the carriages, which are so constructed as to admit either straight or diagonal
inkers, as may be required for the perfect inking of the stone; the rollers in
their carriages can also be elevated clear of the stone when it is necessary to
stop the machine, or for the purpose of distributing the ink thoroughly on the
ink table before printing. The distributing rollers are placed in other carriages
in the ordinary manner, diagonally or parallel, as may be required. The ink
duct is of the ordinary construction, and fixed on the framing at the opposite
end to the feed table.
To give motion to the machine I fix at the inking end of the framing a driving
shaft with suitable pinion and fast and loose pullies; the pinion gears into a
large spur wheel fixed on the end of main shaft. Inside the framing in one of
the arms of the spur wheel I fix a crank pin, to which is attached a connecting
rod carrying at the reverse end a compound wheel and 2 pinions; the pinions
gear into 2 racks fixed on the middle cross frames, and the wheel which is
between the 2 pinions gears into a rack fixed exactly central on the lower
face of the table, the proportion of the wheel and pinion being such as to
enable me to obtain the long traverse requisite in the operation of lithographic
printing by steam, which is much greater than is required in typographic
printing of a corresponding size sheet.
Having described the various parts of the machine, I will now describe the
process of printing, wetting, inking, and distributing. The ink being placed
in the duct is taken from thence by a taking-off or vibrating roller and deposited
on the ink table; as the table passes under the distributing rollers the ink is
evenly distributed over its surface, when the inking rollers may be lowered by
means of the hand levers. The wetting is during this time going on as

page_text: follows:-As the water trough or box passes under the wetting rollers the
table in the box is elevated, and the table being wet gives off the moisture to
the under side of the cloth covering the box, and while this table is elevated
the cam on the main shaft has depressed the wetting rollers, and they are
brought in contact with the cloth, which now, by the elevation of the table
under it, becomes a porous wetting table. The stone is now brought under
the wetting rollers before passing to the ink rollers, when the moisture is
given off on the stone; as soon as the wetting rollers have passed entirely
over the stone they are elevated to their former position, and the wetting
table in box is depressed ready for the next operation. The sheet having
been laid to the points or marks while the wetting and inking is taking
place is advanced to the opening in the cylinder at the moment the grippers
are opened to take the sheet, the feed table being quite stationary, and the
marks and points depressed. The cylinder now rotates in the contrary
direction, carrying the sheet over the stone and the printing is complete. The
cylinder is now lifted, at the same time it rotates in the reverse direction; the
grippers are at the same time opened to remove the sheet, which is taken
printed side upwards from the cylinder to a board placed over the wetting and
ink rollers. When I require to pass the sheet through to receive a different
colour, I dispense with the points on the front of feed table, and use the marks
only for the first operation, placing points in the end of the grippers instead,
which, as they close on the paper, puncture point holes; which holes in the
succeeding operation are placed on the points on the feed table (which are
adjustable laterally and transversely) as often as it is required to print a fresh
color on the same sheet, and by this means I ensure good and perfect register
in the process of printing in lithography by steam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Conisbee in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CONISBEE, of Nos. 39 and 40, Herbert's Buildings, Waterloo Road, in the
County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and

page_text: grant unto me, the said William Conisbee, Her special licence that I, the
said William Conisbee, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Conisbee, my executors administrators, and
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN CYLINDRICAL CHROMO-LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING
MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Conisbee, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their 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 I, the said William Conisbee, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
I first form a cast-iron framework A, Figures 1, 2, comprising two side and
a suitable number of cross frames bolted together, the height of the side
frames being greater than the cross frames. On the latter, extending the length
of the side frame or thereabouts, I place two planed grooved ribs B, B,
Figures 1, 2, on which I place a suitable number of steel or cast-iron rollers C,
having journals at each end projecting and fitting into round holes at con-
venient distances drilled in flat bars, which are bolted together, so as to keep
the rollers equidistant, and enabling the rollers to turn freely on their axes.
Mounted on the rollers I place a carriage or table D of cast iron, provided
with ribs planed the same form as the ribs before described, the width of the
grooves in each being exactly the same as the rollers are in length in the
body; the distance of the bottom ribs being the same as those on the table,
enables the latter to travel freely on the rollers, yet free from lateral move-
ment. On the upper side or face of the table I place a cast-iron box E of a
suitable size to admit a lithographic stone. In the bottom of the box at
suitable distances apart I make four round holes to receive four or more large
screws F, having at the bottom of each a worm wheel of suitable diameter
screwed in the centres to take the four or more screws F. I regulate the
peripheries of the worm wheels so as to enable me to give motion to the whole
four wheels at once by a worm or screw shaft G, G, having a screw cut at.

page_text: each end, which I place horizontally in suitable bearings in the sides of the
box, two of the worm wheels being on one side, and two on the reverse
side of shaft in gear with the screw cut thereon. The wheels being thus
placed in pairs are moved simultaneously by turning the screw shaft, the worm
wheels and screws being cut in pairs, right and left handed threads. I also
fit inside of the box a flat plate, the size of box in length and width, and of
suitable thickness to withstand the pressure to which the stone is subjected while
receiving the impression; the plate has square holes in it to receive the square
shanks of the screws. I place on the plate suitable pieces or sheets of mill-
board, on which the stone is laid; it is then elevated or depressed to the proper
level by turning the screw shaft, which acting on the four or more screws F
in the box ensures the desired level; the stone is then secured in position by
means of screws fitted in the ends and sides of the box. On the same
carriage or table, and at some distance from the stone box, I place a cast-iron
water box f, Figure 1, of suitable dimensions; in this box I place horizontally
a moveable slab or plate f¹, on the under side of which I fix vertically two
metal rods fs, which pass through stuffing boxes formed in the bottom of
water box; the lower ends of the two rods are provided with rollers working
on pins fitted into suitable double joints; on the top of water box mounted on
a frame I place a cloth cover, strained moderately tight, the frame being made
to fit the top of box like a lid. On the cross frames I place two bars, having
the ends bevilled or inclined, which causes the table in the box to be elevated
or depressed as the rollers pass over them, the object of this
the table in contact with the under side of the cloth cover, in
water taken up on the top side of the table by immersion in the water in the
box may be taken up by the cloth. At a suitable distance from the water
box, and on the same carriage or table, I fix an inking slab or table c of
suitable material, the stone, carriage, water box, and ink table moving as one
when in operation. On both sides of the table are two planed bearers corres-
ponding to the face of the lithographic stone. Parallel to the bearers on each
side I place a spur tooth rack of suitable length to suit the requisite traverse
of the table when in operation. On the two side frames, and mounted in
excentric bearings, I place the printing cylinder i, provided with suitable,
journals, which work in bearings m, having holes bored in them to fit. The
outside of these bearings are excentric to the hole, and are turned to fit other
bearings bored to receive them, so that they form double bearings, the inner
or cylinder bearing having a tail piece, in which are fitted collar pins, attached
to which and working freely are suitable connecting rods connected to
cranks q, q, and pius mounted on a horizontal shaft working in bearers
being to bring
order that the

page_text: placed at the bottom pait of side frames; this shaft is provided with a crank
connected by a rod to a cam fixed on main shaft, for the purpose of lifting the
cylinder clear of the stone when in operation after the sheet is printed, and
depressing it when the sheet is ready for printing. On each end of the
cylinder I fit a spur wheel of the same pitch as the racks on the table, the
pitch line of both cylinder wheels and racks being the same horizontally as
that of the face of the stone. The cylinder is provided with grippers k
mounted on a bar working in bearings at each end of the cylinder; at one
end of the gripper bar which passes through the outer end I attach a crank
and roller working freely on a fixed stud at its outer end; as the cylinder
revolves, this roller is brought in contact with a shapes fixed on the inner face
of one of the cylinder bearings; at the time the table reaches the full extent of
its traverse the cylinder rotating as the table travels by their direct connection
by the racks and wheels, and has thus a semi-rotatory motion in each direction
as the table travels to and from each end of the machine by always being in
gear with it. At one end of the machine I place horizontally a feed table j,
one side of which is parallel with the axis of the cylinder, the table itself
having slides or grooves in which to travel to and from the cylinder as
required, the motion being obtained by a suitable cam placed on main shaft in
connection with levers and connecting rod. To the front edge next the
cylinder I fix a metal plate let into the table, and projecting some distance
from its edge; under this plate, working in bearings attached to the ends
of table, I place a turned bar t, in which I place several metal stocks,
which slide freely on it. On the upper face of the stocks I mount plates
capable of adjustment by screws; in each of these I screw a fine steel point,
which is capable of passing through holes or slots in the metal plate fixed on
the feed table; on other of the stocks I fasten angle pieces, which likewise
project above the outer edge of the metal plate, for the purpose of laying the
sheet to be printed; these points and marks are depressed as the feed table is
advanced to the cylinder, so that the grippers when closing can take the sheet
unobstructed, while as the feed table leaves the cylinder the points and marks
resume their position to take the next sheet. On the two side frames on the
other side of the cylinder, and working in vertical slides, I place two metal
roller carriages for carrying several wetting rollers g; these are clothed in
suitable cloth fabric, and extend the full width of the machine parallel with
the cylinder. The two carriages are capable of being elevated and depressed
by means of a cam fixed on main shaft in connection with suitable bell crank
lever h* and connecting rod, for the purpose of lifting the wetting rollers when
required to escape the inking table and stone after it is once wetted. On the

page_text: side frames I also place other roller carriages, which likewise work in vertical
slides, to carry the several inking rollers e, e; these carriages and rollers are
capable of being elevated at will by means of hand levers in connection with a
horizontal shaft, which may be at the top, as shewn in the Drawing, or
at the bottom thereof; this shaft is provided with arms and connecting
rods, connected to the carriages, which are so constructed as to admit either
straight or diagonal inkers, as may be required for the perfect inking of the
stone; the rollers in their carriages can also be elevated clear of the stone
when it is necessary to stop the machine, or for the purpose of distributing the
ink thoroughly on the ink table before printing. The distributing rollers are
placed in other carriages in the ordinary manner, diagonally or parallel, as may
be required. The ink duct a is of the ordinary construction, and fixed on the
framing at the opposite end to the feed table. To give motion to the machine
I fix at the inking end of the framing a driving shaft 1, with suitable pinion
and fast and loose pullies; the pinion gears into a large spur wheel 2 fixed on
the end of main shaft. Inside the framing, in one of the arms of the spur
wheel, I fix a crank pin, to which is attached a connecting rod carrying at the
reverse end a compound wheel and two pinions 3; the pinions gear into two.
racks 4, fixed on the middle cross frames, and the wheel which is between the
two pinions gears into a rack 5, fixed exactly central on the lower face of the
table, the proportions of the wheel and pinion being such as to enable me to
obtain the long traverse requisite in the operation of lithographic printing by
steam, which is much greater than is required in typographic printing of a
corresponding size sheet.
Having described the various parts of the machine, I will now describe the
process of printing, wetting, inking, and distributing.
The ink being placed in the duct a. Figure 1, is taken from thence by a
taking-off or vibrating roller b, and deposited on the ink table c; as the table
passes under the distributing rollers d, d, the ink is evenly distributed over its
surface, when the inking rollers e, e, may be lowered by means of the hand
levers. The wetting is during this time going on as follows:-As the water
trough or box passes under the wetting rollers 9 the table in the box is
elevated, and the table being wet gives off the moisture to the under side of
the cloth covering the box; and while this table is elevated the cam on the
main shaft has depressed the wetting rollers, and they are brought in contact
with the cloth, which now, by the elevation of the table under it, becomes a
porous wetting table. The stone is now brought under the wetting rollers
before passing to the ink rollers where the moisture is given off on the stone;
as soon as the wetting rollers have passed entirely over the stone they are

page_text: elevated to their former position, and the wetting table in box is depressed
ready for the next operation. The sheet having been laid to the points or
marks while the wetting and inking is taking place is advanced to the
opening in the cylinder at the moment the grippers k are opened to take
the sheet, the feed table being quite stationary, and the marks and points
depressed. The cylinder now rotates in the contrary direction, carrying the
sheet over the stone, and the printing is complete. The cylinder is now lifted,
at the same time it rotates in the reverse direction; the grippers are at the
same time opened to remove the sheet, which is taken printed side upwards
from the cylinder to a board placed over the wetting and ink rollers. When
I require to pass the sheet through to receive a different color I dispense with
the points on the front of feed table, and use the marks only for the first
operation, placing points in the end of the grippers instead, which, as they
close on the paper, puncture point holes, which holes in the succeeding
operation are placed on the points on the feed table (which are adjustable
laterally and transversely) as often as it is required to print a fresh color on
the same sheet, and by this means I ensure good and perfect register in the
process of printing in lithography by steam.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to any
of the mechanical parts separately; and I would remark that it will be seen
that the machine shewn and described is in many respects to what has before
been used in typographic printing; and I would further state that the
peculiarity of my Invention consists in the combined arrangement of apparatus
and mechanism herein described, by which the machine is made suitable for
printing from lithographic stones.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Conisbee, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
W. CONISBEE. (L.S.)