IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING UPON SPOOLS USED FOR HOLDING THREAD AND LIKE MATERIALS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Joel Livsey, of the City of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING UPON
SPOOLS USED FOR HOLDING THREAD AND LIKE MATERIALS."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Ira Dimock, of Florence, Hampshire County,
in the State of Massachusetts, United States of North America.
Scaled the 8th October 1870, and dated the 3rd May 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Joel Livsey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd May 1870.
I, PETER JOEL LIVSEY, of the City of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
PRINTING UPON SPOOLS USED FOR HOLDING THRRAD AND LIKE MATERIALS," a com-
munication to him from abroad by Ira Dimock, of Florence, Hampshire
County, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of North America,
to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is principally to print directly upon one

page_text: or both ends of wood spools, but it may be used to print upon paper
secured to the ends of such spools, and both ends may be printed either
at the same or at separate times, and in as many different colors as are
required at one operation, and the Invention consists in the means for
accomplishing the object above mentioned by self-acting mechanism,
namely: The spools to be printed are fed to the machine by a hopper
or trough, and mechanism is arranged and actuated by a cam to regulate
the delivery of the spools one at a time, and at the proper time, to a wheel
having a series of cavities or V³ at regular intervals, into each of which
cavities as the wheel turns intermittently, and while it remains sta-
tionary, one spool is entered and is held therein by a lever acted upon
by a spring, there being one lever carried by the wheel for each cavity.
The cavity wheel carries the spools between a series of printing dies,
there being as many sets of dies as there are colors to be printed, and
the wheel remains stationary opposite each set of dies to give time for
the printing, and when this is completed the wheel by its onward move-
ment brings the levers which hold the spools in its cavities against a
stationary cam which acts upon the levers and releases their hold upon
the spools in succession, and allows them to drop into a suitable recep-
tacle. The cavity wheel is actuated by a crank pin and ratchet pawl
and wheel, and it is held steady after each movement by a spring catch
which enters notches in the rim of the ratchet wheel. The printing
dies are actuated by a cam or cams so as to come simultaneously against
the ends of the spools when the cavity wheel is stationary, and the
dies are supplied with ink by rollers mounted on a plate carried by
a shaft having the cam upon it, which gives movement to the printing
dies.
Another mode of carrying out the object of the Invention is by means
of printing dies, the faces of which are arranged to form a part of a
cylinder or roller, which is made to rotate constantly in one direction or
with an oscillating rotatory motion. These dies are arranged in pairs,
and as many are used as there are colors to be printed. If the printing
dies rotate continuously the spools are fed to cavities in or upon an
endless belt or chain, which cavities are provided with suitable holders,
which, as they move along, are actuated by springs and stationary cams.
The endless belt or chain carries the spools between the printing dies,
which operate while the spools are passing, then the holders are opened
by the stationary cams to release the spools and allow them to fall away.
The ink is applied to the printing dies as they pass rollers in rotating..

page_text: If the printing dies have an oscillating or partial rotatory motion the
spools are carried and guided by a reciprocating bar provided with
suitable holders, actuated by springs and stationary cams, and this bar
has teeth upon it which gear with wheels that give movement to the
printing dies, so that the surface speed of the bar and printing dies
coincide, each set of printing dies operating upon the spool as it passes
between them. The printing rollers are arranged so as to be adjustable
to suit different lengths of spools, and the holders for carrying the spools
are made adjustable to suit different diameters of spools:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Peter Joel Livsey in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th October 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
JOEL LIVSEY, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Peter Joel Livsey, Her special license that I, the said
Peter Joel Livsey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Peter Joel Livsey, 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 MACHINERY FOR
PRINTING UPON SPOOLS USED FOR HOLDING THREAD AND LIKE MATERIALS," a com-
munication from abroad by Ira Dimock, of Florence, Hampshire County,
in the State of Massachusetts, United States of North America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Peter Joel Livsey, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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

page_text: 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 Peter Joel Livsey, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and the accompanying Drawings (that is to
say):
The object of this Invention is principally to print directly upon one
or both ends of wood spools, but it may be used to print upon paper
secured to the ends of such spools, and both ends may be printed either
at the same time or at separate times, and in as many different colors as
are required at one operation, and the Invention consists in the means
for accomplishing the object above mentioned by self-acting mechanism,
namely The spools to be printed are fed to the machine by a hopper
or trough, and mechanism is arranged and actuated by a cam to regulate
the delivery of the spools one at a time, and at the proper time, to a
wheel having a series of cavities or V* at regular intervals, into cach of
which cavities, as the wheel turns intermittently, and while it remains
stationary, one spool is entered, and is held therein by a lever acted upon
by a spring or weight, there being one lever carried by the wheel for
cach cavity. The cavity wheel carries the spools between a series of
printing dies, there being as many sets of dics as there are colors to be
printed, and the wheel remains stationary opposite each set of dics, to
give time for the printing, and when this is completed the wheel by its
onward movement brings the levers which hold the spools in its cavities,
if connected with springs, against a stationary cam which acts upon the
levers and releases their hold upon the spools in succession and allows.
them to drop into a suitable receptacle, but if the said levers are acted
upon by weights the turning of the wheel causes the levers to press
'upon or release the spools as required. The cavity wheel is actuated by
a crank pin and ratchet pawl and wheel, and it is held steady after each
movement by a spring catch which enters notches in the rim of the
ratchet wheel or by a friction band. The printing dies are actuated by
a cam or cams so as to come simultaneously against the ends of the
spools when the cavity wheel is stationary, and the dies are supplied
with ink by rollers mounted on a plate carrried by a shaft having the
cam or cams upon it that give movement to the printing dies. Another

page_text: mode of carrying out the object of the Invention is by means of printing
dies, the faces of which are arranged to form a part of a cylinder or roller
which is made to rotate constantly in one direction or with an oscillating
rotatory motion. These dies are arranged in pairs, and as many are
used as there are colors to be printed. If the printing dies rotate con-
tinuously and in the same direction the spools are fed to cavities in or
upon an endless belt or chain, which cavities are provided with suitable
holders, which as they move along are actuated by springs and stationary
cams, the endless belt or chain carries the spools between the printing
dies which operate while the spools are passing, then the holders are
opened by the stationary cams to release the spools and allow them
to fall away.
The ink is applied to the printing dies as they pass
rollers in rotating. If the printing dies have an oscillating or partial.
rotatory motion the spools are carried and guided by a reciprocating bar
provided with a suitable holder actuated by a spring and stationary cam,
and this bar has teeth upon it which gear with wheels that give move-
ment to the printing dies, so that the surface speed of the bar and
printing dies coincide, each set of printing dies operating upon the
spools as it passes between them. The printing rollers are arranged
so as to be adjustable to suit different lengths of spools, and the holders
for carrying the spools are made adjustable to suit different lengths and
diameters of spools. Fig. 1 is an end elevation, and Fig. 2 a vertical
longitudinal section taken in the plane of the line x, x, Fig. 1 of one
machine, according to the Invention. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the
mechanism for producing the intermittent motion of the skeleton or
cavity wheel. Fig. 4 is a side view of the slide which carries the
printing surface or die, and Fig. 5 is a section thereof. Fig. 6 is a side
view of the skeleton or cavity spool wheel, and Fig. 7 a diametrical
section thereof. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the roller for conveying
ink or color to the heads or surfaces upon which the inking rollers
work. Similar letters of reference indicate the same and corresponding
parts in the Drawings.
A are legs which support the platform A' of the machine. a is the
first motion shaft, which is driven by a belt working on a suitable pulley
upon the shaft, or by other means. Upon this shaft there is a spur
pinion a' that gears with a spur wheel a² on a shaft a³, having bearings
in stands a secured to the platform. This shaft a³ has bevel wheels (a³)

page_text: upon it that gear with bevels upon the two shafts b, having bearings in
stands. The shafts each pass through the centre of two stands or
heads (c) which are secured to the platform and to each other by the
lugs c. These shafts are for actuating the printing mechanism, one
for one end and the other for the other end of the spool. At right
angles to and below the shafts there is another shaft d which has
bearings in the stands (c), and upon this shaft the skeleton or cavity
wheel is secured. In the skeleton wheel shown (see Figs. 6 and 7)
there are five V-spaces, and for cach space there is a weighted bell-
crank lever d having its fulcrum on a screw pin d³ secured in the side
of the disc of the wheel. These bell-crank levers change their position
as the skeleton wheel turns, in such manner that the arm (d³) will press
upon and hold the spool firmly in the cavity when at the upper part of
the wheel, which stands in the position shewn in Fig. 6, when printing,
with the two upper V or cavities on the same level. But the pressing
arms d for the three lower V³ or cavities are removed by the change of
position of the weighted ends of the levers, as shown. The skeleton
wheel turns in the direction pointed by the arrow in Fig. 6. The spools
are fed by an inclined trough (d³) secured to a stand (d), which is fixed
to the platform. e are the spools in the trough which brings them
opposite to the V, at the side of the wheel. At each movement of the
skeleton wheel one spool is fed and one is discharged, the latter falling
from the wheel into a suitable receptacle below the platform. To
regulate the feeding of the spools there is a bell-crank lever di on a
fulcrum at d. One arm of this lever is acted upon by a cam on one
of the shafts b, the other arm comes in front of the spools on the trough
and lifts to allow them to roll down and enter the approaching cavity
in the skeleton wheel, one at a time, and at the proper time, and then
falls between the advance spool and the one next in order. Intermittent
motion is given to the shaft d by means of a crank a' on the end of the
shaft as, and an adjustable connecting rod a jointed to an arm a loose
on the shaft d, to which arm a pawl d* is jointed that works upon the
teeth of a ratchet wheel d¹, fast to the shaft d, this ratchet wheel having
as many teeth as there are cavities or v³ in the skeleton wheel. There
is a flange upon the ratchet, over which a belt du passes, one end of
which is secured to a bracket, the other to an adjustable screw, as shewn,
to regulate the friction of the band which holds the wheel steady after
each movement and prevents it from moving too far by momentum.
S

page_text: From the above description it will be understood that the skeleton
wheel will make a movement equal to the distance from one V to the
next during one half of each revolution of the shafts a and b, and
will stand during the other half of the revolution of these shafts.
The machine illustrated in the Drawings will print at both ends of
the spools in one or two colors, but the Invention is not limited to two
colors, as by employing more dies and heads spools may be printed in a
great variety of colors. There are four printing dies, two for one end
of the spool and two for the other end, and each die ' is secured in a
separate slide 2 (see Figs. 4 and 5), which are mounted in slide ways in
the heads c, so that one pair of dies will come opposite one of the two
upper spools in the skeleton wheel, and the other pair of dies opposite
the other spool. One pair of dies may give one color, and in the next
move of the wheel the other pair may give the other color. The slides
are moved horizontally to bring the dies against the ends of the spools.
when the skeleton wheel (d) is stationary by cams (63) on the shafts (b),
there being one cam for each slide, which acts between the antifriction
bowls and that are placed on studs in the slide 2, one of them (5)
being adjustable in a slot to regulate the face of the dic to the inking
rollers. The parts or heads c carrying the slides are cylindrical, and the
ink or color is distributed upon the cylindrical surfaces. In each head
the distribution of the ink or color is effected by two rollers f, which are
each mounted upon a stud in a plate f¹, secured so as to rotate with the
shaft (b). Upon each distributing roller there is a collar or projecting
rim that enters a zig-zag groove f³ in the head c, and this causes
the rollers to move endways upon their axes while rolling over the
cylindrical surface, and thus distribute the ink or color more effectually.
The rollers g for inking the dies or type are each mounted on a stud in a
part which is arranged to slide radially in the plate f¹, the slide being
pulled inwards by a spring (9¹) to press the roller on the inked surface
and against the type or dye, which is withdrawn by the cam (b) acting
on the slide from the end of the spool until its face comes in a line with
the periphery of the cylindrical surface upon which the distributing
rollers work. Each inking roller g has a collar g¹at its end that runs
upon a path on the cylindrical head, which path is flattened at the place
where the roller has to cross the face of the type, so that the rollers can
properly apply the ink in passing over the flat surface of the type or die.

page_text: and prevents
from being
The arm ²
The supply of ink or color is contained in fountains of the usual
construction in which a roller ¹ rotates. There is a separate fountain
for each head, and a separate roller for taking the ink from the fountain
and applying it to the under side of the head. This roller is mounted in
a fork on a stem that can slide in and out of an arm or socket . The
stem has a crosshead which works upon the slides
the roller from twisting, and also prevents the stem
pushed too far outwards by the spring coiled round it.
carrying the roller is secured upon a shaft k, and there are two of
these shafts, and upon each shaft two arms are fixed, one for each
head. Each shaft ⁄ has an arm upon it, to which one end of a rod k³
is jointed; the other end of the rod is slotted to fit the shaft ǝ on the
same side, and in the side of the rod a pin is secured, on which a bowl is
placed, which comes against a cam 9 on the shaft 6; this produces one
movement of the arms ², which brings the roller in contact with the
roller in the ink fountain. The back movement is caused by a spring k*,
one end of which is secured to the frame, the other to an arm on the
shaft, as shown, and this movement takes the rollers under and
against the cylindrical surface of the heads. A pawl 3 is jointed to one
of the arms to act upon a ratchet wheel on the end of the rollers in
the fountains, to give them a slight movement in rotation at each
oscillation. The cams and other parts of the mechanism are shaped and
arranged to give the movements in the following order :-When the
skeleton wheel has come to rest the dies are pressed against the ends of
the spools, and are then withdrawn into the inking position; the inking
rollers then pass over the face of the dies. The rollers are pressed
against the fountain rollers while the inking rollers (g) are passing the
lower part of the heads, and then the rollers are moved against
the lower part of the heads, while the inking rollers are passing the
upper part of the heads. The movement of the skeleton wheel takes
place while the dies are withdrawn and are being inked, and the lever
arm d for regulating the feeding of the spools is made to rise on the
completion of the movement of the skeleton wheel, and fall again before
its next movement begins.
One of the other methods of carrying out the Invention is illustrated
ירד
10

page_text: line a, a, Fig 9. Fig. 12 is a side view of the reciprocating bar or rack;
and Figs. 13 and 14 are end views of the same. Fig. 15 is a view of
the discharging lever and inclined plate, upon which the spool is dis-
charged when printed. A are the side frames of the machine, A' the
table or platform; A², cross stays between the side frames; a, the fast
and loose driving pulleys; a', the first motion shaft; a², a fly wheel
I;
a, a pinion on shaft (a) which gears with a spur wheel a', on a shaft a³,
in suitable bearings. The wheel a has a crank pin in it to which onc
end of a connecting rod a is attached, the other end being jointed with
the lower end of a vertical rack b, to which the crank gives reciprocating
movement. This rack slides up and down in guides formed between two
stands A³ secured to the table A. This rack (b) is made double or in
two halves, each half has a projection 6¹ from it, upon which a V part b
is fitted to slide vertically, the slide being adjusted by a screw b³, which
screws through a boss on the projection (¹), the end of the screw being
connected with the slide, as shown in Fig. 12. Another projection from
the rack carries the fulcrum (c) of a bell crank lever, one arm (c¹) of
which acts upon the spool (a) to hold it firmly in the (V) by a spring
round a rod (e) jointed to the bell crank as shown. The other arm of
the bell crank has a pin (c) in it, that works against a stationary cam (d)
secured to the stands. This stationary cam (d) causes the pressing
arm (c) of the bell crank to be lifted when the rack (6) arrives
at the two extremes of its movement, so as to allow the spool to
enter the Vs, at its lowest, and allow it to be discharged from the
V, at its highest position. The discharge of the spool (a) is effected
by two levers g, one lever being jointed to the side of each V slide.
When the rack (6) arrives near the end of its upward movement the
short ends of these levers g come against the end of a fixed incline,
(secured to the stands or frame) which causes the long ends of the lever
to lift the spool from the Von to the incline, down which it rolls to
any suitable receptacle. When the rack arrives at its lowest position
the nearest spool (a), carried by the incline trough 1, rolls into the V.
The front part of the slides (62) (if continued downwards) will keep
back the other spools (x) upon the incline. Or this may be done by
a finger made to lift in front of the spools by a weight or spring and
forced down out of the way by a projection from the rack when it arrives
near the end of its descending movement. The teeth upon the rack b
gear with wheels m² on the axes m³ of each printing roller m which are

page_text: in bearings in the stands A³. The surface speed of the printing rollers
'm is in exact agreement with that of the rack. In the machine illustrated
two pairs of printing rollers are used, and these will print two colors on
cach end of the spool. As many pairs of rollers.are used (arranged one
above the other) as there are different colors to be printed on the ends
of each spool. It may be desirable to use only one kind of ink on one
end of the spool, in which case only one printing roller will be required,
a blank pressure roller or its equivalent being used for the other end of
the spool. The printing dies are made to conform to the periphery of
the roller, and the printing rollers are arranged so that the dics will come
exactly opposite the spool when it is carried between them by the rack (b).
Each printing roller (m) receives its ink from a separate fountain n, and
by means of rollers n', in the usual manner. The V holders are made
adjustable to suit different diameters of spools, and the standards may
be separated as well as the two halves of the racks, to suit spools of
different lengths. When the spool enters the V it is carried up between
the first pair of printing rollers and receivers the first color or colors,
(the color may be different at each end) then to the next, and so on,
if there are more than two pairs of printing rollers, then it is discharged
and the V descend empty to take the next spool.
7
I have now particularly described the nature of the Invention com-
municated to me and the manner of carrying it into effect, and claim
as secured to me,-
Firstly. Printing the ends of spools either directly on to the wood, or
on to paper or other material secured to the ends of the spools by means
of a series of dies, substantially as described.
Secondly. The skeleton spool wheel (¹) holders (d³) and feed regu-
lator (d) acting substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
Thirdly. The mechanism for producing the intermittent motion of the
spool or skeleton wheel (d) substantially as described.
Fourthly. The ink or color rollers combined with the heads (c) or
their equivalents arranged and operating substantially as described.*
Fifthly. The general arrangement and combination of mechanism
herein-before described and illustrated by the Figures on Sheet 2 of the
Drawings.

page_text: Sixthly. The printing of spools by carrying them by suitable holders
between one or more pairs of rotating or reciprocating printing rollers,
substantially as herein-before described.
Seventhly. The bell-crank lever (c¹) for holding the spools, and the
levers (g) for discharging them arranged and actuated substantially as
hercin-before described.
Eighthly. The arrangement of the V supports (62) for the spools, so as
to be adjustable to different diameters of spools, and the arrangement
of the printing rollers (m) on the stands and the rack (6), so as to be
adjustable to different lengths of spools, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Joel Livsey, have hereunto
set my band and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.