Improved Method of and Apparatus for Actuating Printing Machinery by Means of an Electric Current and Instantaneously Checking or Arresting the Motion thereof when Required.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improved Method of and Apparatus for Actuating Printing Machinery
by Means of an Electric Current and Instantaneously Checking
or Arresting the Motion thereof when Required.
I, RICHARD RICHARDSON HUTCHINSON of 114 Edith Grove, Brompton, London,
S.W. Electrical and Mechanical 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 object of my Invention is to operate lithographic, letter press, or other printing
machines by means of a suitable electric motor or motors, and also provide means for
instantaneously checking or arresting the motion of said printing machines at the will
of the operator in charge, substituting for the mechanical brakes as hitherto employed
for this purpose an electrical brake, hereinafter described relatively to its application
to the machines above referred to, but forming the subject of the specification of my
Invention No. 14979 1888 and therein fully described and shewn by the drawings
appended thereto.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent a plan, end
elevation and front elevation respectively of the end of a printing machine to which
the driving power and brake is generally applied; and Figures 4 and 5 are end and
front elevational views respectively of the electrical brake, enlarged and shewn
in detail.
b
In carrying my invention into effect 1 attach a suitable electric motor A, Figures 1, 2
and 3, (similar letters of reference being used throughout these views to denote
corresponding parts) to the frame of the machine C, so that the spindle of said motor b
is concentric with the driving shaft c of said printing machine, and I may either
couple the shaft c and the spindle & by means of any suitable coupling device, or I may
form the shaft and spindle of one piece of metal. In printing machines as usually
constructed, motion is imparted to the various parts of said machines from the driving
shaft e by means of a pinion or pinions d d', and a fly wheel B is keyed or otherwise
attached to said shaft c for the purpose of equalizing the motion thereof, the load being
C

page_text: intermittent. In order to meet the requirements of certain cases in which the com-
paratively high rate of speed at which an electrical motor must rotate to attain the
maximum efficiency is in excess of the speed required for the driving shaft. I
provide a counter shaft or shafts, with intermediate gearing, interposed between the
motor spindle and said driving shaft, c.
I do not confine myself to any particular type of electric motor as applied in the
manner above described to lithographic and letter press printing machines but prefer
to adopt the type of motor described in the specification of my Invention No. 18598
A.D. 1888 since, in addition to the high mechanical and electrical efficiency of said
moter, special facilities are afforded by its peculiar construction, for attaching or fixing
it to machines of this description.
In carrying out, according to my Invention, the application of an electric motor to
printing machines as hereinbefore described, no structural alteration of such machines
is necessary, and in any case by the adoption of my invention, electrical motive power
may be readily substituted for steam, gas, hot air, explosive vapor or water power in
driving or operating said machines, with but little trouble and expense.
It is necessary, in the proper working of lithographic and letter press printing
machines, to provide a suitable brake, or other mechanism for immediately stopping
or arresting the motion thereof. This has hitherto been accomplished by means of a
mechanical brake, either applied to the flywheel B or to any part of the driving
shaft c, and is usually a friction brake of any suitable type, and the regulating
mechanism thereof placed in the proximity of the operator in charge of the machine,
so that he may put the brake into action after diverting the driving power from said
machine.
According to my Invention, I substitute for the foregoing arrangement a brake or
brakes which may be actuated by the electric current used for driving the motor, but
diverted therefrom by means of a switch. This appliance is shown by D. D in Figures 1, 2
and 3, but more particularly by Figures 4 and 5. Although a double set of brakes is shewn
attached to the machine in Figures 1, 2, and 3, I do not confine myself to the use of
any number, but may make use of one, two, or more, either singly or collectively
actuated by the electric current as may be desired.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, yg represent the coils of an electro magnet, with
iron cores yoked at said cores being provided with segmental extensions ff, hinged
or pivotted at Said segmental extensions are so placed as to embrace a disc
or drum of soft iron e keyed or otherwise attached to the shaft or spindle e to which
the brake is applied-Two lugs i, carrying spiral or volute springs, allow of
the segmental extensions being kept from contact with the disce when the brake is
not in use. When, however, a current of electricity is caused to traverse the coils of
the magnet gg, and the segmental extensions become oppositely magnetized by the
effect of said electric current; these close upon the disc c and hold it, the friction due
to the mechanical force of the electro magnetic action in pressing the segmental
extensions upon said disc e being augmented by the magnetic adhesion of the
surfaces of said extensions to the circumferential surface of the disc and the motion
of the latter is thereby instantly checked and the moving paris actuated by the spindle
or shaft c are brought to rest.
C
In order that the starting and stopping of a machine driven by the apparatus
according to my Invention may be thoroughly under the control of the operator
I provide a switch E, Figure 3, fixed to the frame C in such a manner as to be near
the person in charge. The lever E is electrically connected to one of the main leads
or conductors, and three contact bars and m are so placed that the current of
electricity may be conducted through either of said bars and the wires or leads con-
nected to them, when the contact end of said switch lever rests upon them. The bar k
may be connected to one terminal of the motor A, and to one end of the brake
magnet coils gg, the opposite end of said coils, and also the opposite terminal of the
motor being connected to the other electric lead, or conductor, the contact bar m being
neutral. Therefore when the bar is placed in the electrical circuit by moving the
switch lever E upon it the motor A is actuated, and the machine driven by it is put

page_text: in motion-When said lever E is moved so as to cut the bark out of the circuit, and
so divert the current from the motor A-If the switch lever E be placed in contact
with the bar the brakes become operated, and the rotation of the driving shaft c is
immediately stopped. When the contact end of the lever E rests upon the bar m
the electrical circuit is open and no current passes.
It is evident that the action of the switch lever E in cutting the motor A out of
the circuit must momentarily operate the brake, in passing over the conduct bar 7,
although a slight "dwell" is preferable as this allows of the full power of the brake
being exerted and the machine is instantly stopped.
I wish it to be understood that I may apply the brake as above described to any
lithographic or letter press printing either in connection with an electric motor for
driving said machine, or may apply said brake to any machine that is operated
by motive power other than that of electricity, or I may employ an electric motor
for driving said machine without using the brake.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. The combination of a lithographic letter press or other printing machine
with an electric motor for the purpose of applying electricity to said machine
as a motive power substantially as herein described and shewn.
Second. In a combination of an electric motor and a printing machine as referred
to in the preceding claim, the employment of an electric brake, with a regulating
appliance substantially as herein described and shewn.
Third. The combination of an electric motor A, an electro-magnetic brake or
brakes DD, and regulating switch F with a lithographic, letter press, or other
printing machine, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn
by figures 1, 2 and 3 in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 15th day of October 1888.
FRED. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C.,
Agents for Applicant