Improvements in and applicable to Platen Printing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 19th Sept.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Platen Printing Machines.
SAMUEL THAOKER Great Alfred Street, Nottingham Engineer and THE
CROPPER MINERVA MACHINES Co. LTD. Great Alfred Street, Nottingham
Printers Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention which relates to improvements in, and applicable to platen
printing machines, has for its object, the provision of means for enabling the
distance between the type bed and the platen to be varied to a greater extent and
in less time than has hitherto been possible; also means for enabling certain parts
of the machine to be renewed without taking the machine to pieces; and means for
reducing the friction of the machine at the time the impression is being taken.
According to the first part of this invention one or more pairs of wedges are
arranged between the platen and the balance carrying the same. These wedges
are fitted to slide in suitable guides and are provided with means for actuating the.
same, the adjustment of the platen with regard to the type bed being obtained by
varying the position of the wedges. Means are also provided for locking the
platen after it has been adjusted.
4
According to the second part of this invention, a hole is formed in the cam
wheel so that the cam truck and axle carried by the balance arm or lever may be
removed therefrom without having to take the machine to pieces.
According to the third part of this invention, on or both ends of the side links
connected to the type bed are provided with ball or roller bearings for reducing
the friction between the links and their axles at the time the impression is being
taken.
Dated this 15th day of November 1895.
W. H. POTTER, F.S.P.A.,
Nottingham, Patent Agent.
Improvements in and applicable to Platen Printing Machines.
SAMUEL THACKER Great Alfred Street Nottingham Engineer and THE
CROPPER MINERVA MACHINES Co. LTD. Great Alfred Street Nottingham
Printers Engineers 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 in and applicable to platen printing
machines and has particular reference to improvements in and applicable to platen
printing machines of the type known as the "Cropper ; the object of the present
invention being the provision of means for enabling the distance between the
platen and the type bed to be varied to a greater extent, more expeditiously,
and with greater certainty of keeping the type bed parallel with the platen, than
the means usually adopted, also, means for enabling the macliiue to be used as a
D27

page_text: blocking press; secondly, the provision of means for enabling the balance arm:
cam truck to be taken off and replaced without taking the machine to pieces, and
thirdly the provision of means for enabling the friction to be reduced at the time
the impression is being taken.
According to the first part of this invention one or more sliding wedge shaped
pieces are placed between the platen and the balance carrying the same, and these
wedge pieces are adjusted and locked by means of suitable screws or bolts. There is
also a chamber formed at the back of the type bed and means are provided for
heating the type.
According to the second part of this invention a hole is cut through the cam
wheel in such a position as to allow of the cam truck and its axle being removed or
replaced.
According to the third part of this invention one or both ends of the side links
used for actuating the type bed are fitted with rollers or balls.
In the accompanying drawings the application of the herein described improve-
ments are shown in connection with a Cropper" machine.
67
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of a "Cropper "machine with the improvements applied
thereto.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation of a platen and balance.
Fig. 3. is a front elevation of a link end fitted with rollers according to one
method.
>
Fig. 4. is a section of Fig. 3, and
Fig. 5. is a section of a link end fitted with rollers according to an alternative
method.
The machine is built in the usual manner so far as the ordinary parts are
concerned, and comprises standards a which carry the driving shaft b. This is
geared to the front shafte from which motion is communicated to the type bed d
by links e. The type bed is pivotted at f to the standards and there are the usual
roller arms g, inking rollers g, and distributing roller , this latter being operated
by a pivotted arm h¹ and a link connected to the roller arms.
For
The platen k is carried by the balance which turns with the shaft / and is actuated
from the cam wheel n through a lever or arm m as in the ordinary arrangement.
Instead, however of connecting the platen to the balance by means of adjusting
screws, the underside of the platen is provided with inclined surfaces k which bear
against similarly inclined surfaces o fitted to slide in guides, on the balance.
adjusting the relative positions of the platen and type bed the surfaces o are moved
by a screw o³, and after adjustment the parts are held in position by screws 1.
Preferably there are four surfaces k¹ on each platen, and these surfaces are placed
at or near the four corners of the platen. The angles and positions of the inclined
surfaces may be varied, and also the means for adjusting and locking the satne.
To enable the machine to be used as a blocking press, for which purpose the
application of the inclines renders the machine particularly suitable, it is necessary
to provide means for heating the type. According to this invention this is done
by forming a chamber d' at the back of the type bed and fitting gas jets thereto.
A space or opening is provided at the top of the chamber for the escape of the
products of combustion.
In the machines as at present constructed the arm or lover m on the end of the
balance shaft works between the standard and inner face of the cam wheel n, and
to replace the balance arm cam truck and axle it is necessary to remove the side
links e and to take a plain disc wheel off one end of the shaft c before the cam
wheel can be moved clear of the cam truck. Now according to this invention.a
hole p Fig. 1 is cut through the cain wheel so as to meet the cam groove and thus
allow of the cam truck being taken off the balance arm. There may be a cap or
plug for closing the hole in the cam wheel.
According to the third part of this invention one or both ends of the links e are
fitted with rollers or balls to reduce the friction set up during the taking of the
impression. In Figs. 3. and 4 one method of inserting rollers is shown. The end of

page_text: the link e is recessed at el, and to the sides of the links there are plates: fastened,.
these plates being drilled to form bearings for the ends of the rollers e. If
desired the rollers may be placed all round the axle and slots may be cut in the
plates e instead of the holes. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 the link is-
bored to carry rollers all round the axle, the said rollers being free to move round
the axle. When ball bearings are used, the ball races are formed at each end of
the hole in the link, at one end of the axle, and on an adjustable race.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we-
claim is :
1. In a platen printing machine of the kind herein specified, the applica-
tion to and the combination with the same of inclined surfaces on the under
side of the platen and correspondingly inclined surfaces fitted to slide on the
balance, and means for moving the latter and locking it in position and the
combination with the inclined surfaces of a chamber at the back of the type bed
and means for heating the type, substantially as herein shown and described for the
purposes specified.
2. In a platen. printing machine of the kind herein specified making the cam.
wheel with a hole in the same for enabling the cam truck to be removed without
taking the machine to pieces as herein set forth.
3. In a platen printing machine of the kind herein specified' the combination with
and the application to the same of side links having roller or ball bearings.
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of August 1896.
W. H. POTTER, M.I.M.E.,.
Nottingham, Patent Agent.