IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER PRESS PRINTING MACHINES PROAL
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Godfrey of New Reddish in the County of
Lancaster Draughtsman for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER
PRESS PRINTING MACHINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Godfrey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th August 1883.
Alfred GodFREY of New Reddish in the County of Lancaster Draughtsman:
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER PRESS PRINTING MACHINES "
This invention relates to that class of printing machine known as the "double
feed single Cylinder Letter Press Machine."
The several improvements which I have carried out in this class of printing
Machine may be described as follows:-
1st. In order readily to adjust the impression surface of the rotating Cylinder to
suit the various lengths of type surfaces the paper has to be brought into contact
with I form the Cylinder of two segments the size of which will admit of gaps or
spaces being formed between them which break the continuity of the circumference
of the Cylinder, the size of these gaps or openings can be increased or diminished
at will to suit the length of the subject matter being printed by the type on the
sheet at any one time. I accomplish this adjustment of the segmental surface of
the Cylinder to the job in hand by fixing one of the segments to the central axis
and allowing the other segment to be loose thereon and so connecting one segment
to the other by means of a screw or its equivalent that such screw or its equivalent
will form the medium for adjusting their relative positions which when obtained
are locked by bolts passing through a slot in the flange of the fixed segment and a
hole in the outer cam fixed to and revolving with the adjustable segment. The
edge of the loose segment of the Cylinder is provided with grippers so that the
position of the loose segment is determined by the length of type surface trans-
ferring its impression to the paper such portion being indicated by the divisions
marked on the edge of the cam before mentioned and a pointer formed on or secured
to the flange of the fixed segment.

page_text: 2nd The double "take off" of the sheets as printed with every reciprocating
movement or oscillation of the Cylinder I accomplish as follows:-
The blank sheets of paper are fed to the Cylinder grippers with each oscillation
of the same from two feed boards one placed on either side of the said Cylinder
parallel to its axis. One of the said feed boards, say that to the right of tho
Cylinder designed for giving the direct feed to the head of the type occupys a
fixed position on the framing whereas the other feeding board on the opposite side
of the Cylinder is mounted on inclined sliding bearings and a segmental cam
surface the combination of which allows the position of the feed board to be
adjusted to an elevation radial to and agreeing with the curve of the Cylinder thus
allowing the blank sheets of paper fed from its surface to the grippers of the
Cylinder to agree with and be on a line with the type forming the tail of the
subject matter, this adjustment of the feed is necessary in consequence of the varying
lengths of type surfaces required for transferring their impressions to different
lengths of paper. The sheets of paper as they are alternately fed to the Cylinder
are carried by the same in the ordinary manner first over the type surface and
then up towards the top of the Cylinder when as released by the Cylinder grippers,
they pass under rubber bowls, other bowls keeping the sheet down on the strippers
are supported by the short arms of bell crank levers which have their fulcra in the
framing nearly over the vertical centre of the Cylinder, the long arms of these bell
crank lovers, extend in an upward dingonal direction and are provided with pullies
or wheels over which endless india rubber bands tapes or their equivalent are
carried, the short arms of the said bell crank levers are provided with bowls which
rest upon a cam surface rovolving with the Cylinder the formation of this .cam
governs the position of the said levers in such a manner that at the time the sheet
or printed paper is floating up the Cylinder the india rubber bowls and endless
india rubber bands or their equivalent are lowered the action of which first causes
the india rubber bowls to pass the paper on to the stripper and under the endless
india rubber band which at this time when in its lowest position is in contact with
the stripper knife (described in the Specification of the Patent previously referred
to) between which and the said endless travelling band the paper is held and
passed up such knife clear from the Cylinder when as it advances it is made to
pass under pressure rollers which prevent such sheet when the endless band tape or
its equivalent is raised by the aforesaid cam from falling back on to the Cylinder,
these pressure bowls also hold the sheet in position whilst being taken hold of by
grippers acted upon and travelling to and fro in manner as previously describod
which grippers in their action transfer such sheet of paper on to the receiving
board.
The taking off of the sheet and transferring it from the Cylinder as described on
to the receiving board takes place alternately in the double feed single Cylinder
letter press machine but it will bo obvious the same action precisely takes placo in
the single feed machines with the exception that the adjustable feed board and
take off apparatus on one side of the Cylinder are dispensed with.
The third portion of my invention relates to mechanism in connection with the
feed boards of Single feed Single Cylinder Printing Machines Double feed Single
Cylinder Printing Machine and that class of Platen Machine for which a Patent
was granted to me in 1883 N° 1501, the said improvement is designed for the
purpose of giving an automatic action to the "lays" of the said feed boards in
such a manner that the sheets of paper when placed without extra care near such
lays" will be adjusted and placed in register for being taken hold of by the
grippers and presented to the type surface of the machine. The arrangement of
mechanism I employ in connection with the feed boards of Single and Double feed
Single Cylinder Machine for placing the sheet automatically in register for receiving
their type impression consists in transmitting to the board each time a sheet is fed
to the "lay"a sliding motion by means of a cam and connecting rod in the case of
single feed Cylinder Machine which said Cam in the case of double foed singlo
Cylinder Machines is duplicated and in conjunction with the other cam actuates

page_text: both feed. board on either side of the Cylinder through the medium of connecting
rods in such a manner that at the time ono board is advancing with its sheet
towards the "lay" the other board is receding therefrom, thus making their feeds
alternate and so timed as to correspond with the oscillating motion of the Cylinder
Brackets secured to the sliding feed board carry two horizontal transverse parallel rods
the rear one of which farthest from the Cylinder supports the longitudinal "lay"
and the front one the curved fingers or smoothers between which and the board the
paper fed to the Cylinder passes; the rear rod to which the longitudinal "lay" is
secured is capable of sliding in its supporting brackets in a direction at right angles
to the traverse of the feeding board and is kept up against a perpendicular inclined
surface of the side frame supporting the sliding feed board by means of a spring,
thus when the board is sliding towards the framing an inward transverse sliding
motion is given to the longitudinal "lay" by reason of its supporting bar being
acted upon by the fixed perpendicular incline surface of the frame simultaneously
with this Action the sliding board whilst advancing towards the Cylinder contracts
the distance between its front edge and the transverse lays parallel with the surface
of the Cylinder, theso front transverse lays aro pivoted to a Carriage or sliding
plate provided with an abating stud mounted on a bed plato or rails which
terminates in a horizontal inclined surface and are so arranged that during the
partial advance of the feed board the said lays remain stationary on their swivel
carriage which at this time is resting on the upper plane of its bed plate or rail,
but when the forward traverse of the feed board has completed about one third of
its advance a stud secured to the underside of such board comes into contact with
the abutting stud of the sliding plate supporting the front "lays" which with the
continued action of the onward traverso of the board forces the swivel carriages
supporting such "lays" down the aforesaid horizontal incline and so removes them
below the surface of the feeding board. The curved prosser fingers or smoothers
secured to the first parallel bar supported by the bracket on the sliding feed board
are caused as the feed board advances through the medium of a bowl and lever
descending a second fixed horizontal incline to come into contact with the paper
being fed to the machine the light pressure of which keeps the paper steady and in
position whilst leaving the board, thus it will be seen that when a sheet of paper
is placed on the board near to the "lays" the traverse of the board towards the
Cylinder combined with the transverse traverse of the side lay as described brings
the side and front edges of the sheet into contact with their respective lays and so
places the sheet in register which with the continued traverse of the boards as tho
front lays descend as described is taken hold of by the Cylinder gripper and passed
over the type surfaces.
In my application of the "automatic lays" adjusting the register of the sheets
fed to my improved Platen before mentioned I causo the feeding boards to remain
stationary and hinge to their undersides a numbers of fingers terminating in
vertical projections in front of the said board which when raised by the action of
a cam or other equivalent in connection therewith will raise such projections above
the surface of the boards and also give them a forward motion towards the paper
and so form lays against which the edge of the paper sheets are placed the sido
lays at the same time receives a latent movement upon the surface of the board by
reason of their connection with another cam or other acting medium The action
of these lays place the sheet of paper iu register so that the grippers advance and
take hold of the sheets already in register for being presented to the type surface
or as an additional means of securing accurate register I provide the gripper jaws
themselves with pegs against which the paper fed abuts and so is carried by the
grippers to the type surface in perfect register simultaneous with the advance of
the gripper the projecting lays of the before mentioned rods are lowered the action
of which by reason of such rods being connected by springs or other connections
with curved fingers or smoothers placed above the paper cause such smoothers
whilst the lay rods are being lowered to come into contact with the paper and so

page_text: steady the same whilst being drawn by the gripper to the type surfaces of the
Machine.
Finally my improvements relate to apparatus in connection with the Platen
designed for enabling the surface of the platen to be placed in a horizontal position
for the purpose of enabling the printer to "make ready" with the greatest ease
and facility.
In carrying out this portion of my Invention I so form the platen beam that it
will fit circular holes bored in the blocks supporting the said platen by which it
receives its parallel motion to and from the type, the ends of the Platen beam
filling the holes of the sliding blocks are provided with a handle which abuts when
the platen is in its vertical position against a shoulder of the said blocks and when
in that position is locked by a cam surface which forms one arm of a bell crank
lever supported on a fulcrum pin fixed to the said block-the opposite arm of the
said lever forms a handle by which the cam surface can be removed so as to leave
the handle fixed to the platen free-in which state when such handle is pulled back
it turns the platen supported in the journals of the blocks a quarter turn when it
comes in contact with a second stop of the block-this quarter turn of the Platen
removes such Platen from its vertical position and turns it up into a horizontal
position in which state it offers the Printer the greatest facility for inspecting and
making ready" the impression surface of the Platon.
In this arrangement of Printing Machine- where the Platen is arranged to
advance to and return from the type surface in parallel lines the "forme" is set up
on the-type-bed-from-the-bottom.of.such bed and extends nearer to or from the top
of such plate, according to the size of sheet being printed this difference to the
surface of the type will when the pressure is exerted upon it by the Platen cause
an unequal pressure upon the surface of the Platen and so tend to throw it from its
true vertical printing position, in order to obviate this tendency I place or fix to
the square cam (described in the Specification of the Patent of my Platen invention
herein referred to) or to any other suitable portion of the mechanism fixed or
forming part of the Platen, projecting adjustable fingers above and below the
type surface which when the Platen is forcing the paper against the type simul-
taneous with such action the projecting adjustable fingers will come into contact
with the bed or plate of the type forme and uniformly support the same and
counteract any tendency there otherwise would be of uneven-ness of pressure at
the time the impression was being given and so prevents all "batter" to the type

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Godfrey in the Patent Office on the 11th February 1884.
ALFRED GODFREY, of New Reddish, in the County of Lancaster, Draughtsman,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER PRESS PRINTING MACHINES"
This invention relates to that class of printing machine known as the "double
feed single cylinder letter press machine" and to those letter press printing
machines known as "Platen" machines, to which latter; part of my invention is
equally applicable as to the former.
The several improvements which I have carried out in letter press printing.
machines may be described as follows.
First Improvements in double feed single cylinder so that the grippers may
bo readily adjusted for different lengths of "formo."
Second-Improvements in the feed tables, so that one of them may be readily
adjustable to the altered position of the "grippers"
Third Improvements in tho "lay" apparatus of the feed tables to obtain
perfect "register."
:
Fourth Improvements in tho "take off" apparatus to suit the double feed.
Fifth Adaptation of my improved "lay" apparatus for perfect register to the
feed table of a platen machine.
Sixth Locking lever apparatus applicable to a platen machine as described in
Letters Patent Number 1591. 1883.
Seventh-The adaptation of bearers and stops to a Platen machine as described
in Letters Patent Number 1591 to preserve a uniformity of pressure over the
"forme" and to prevent all "slur
"
In order that my invention may be the better understood I now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the drawings hereto annexed and to the letters
and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 shows a part side elevation of a double feed single cylinder letter press
machine with my iniproved segmental cylinder and feed and take-off apparatus in
place.
Figure 2 is a sectional detail of my segmental cylinder
Figures 3 and 4 are a detail of my automatic adjusting lay in elevation
and plan.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the preceding figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Figures 5 and 6 show in plan and elevation respectively my improved feed and
automatic adjusting "lay" and my locking lever and handle for tilting the Platen
to a suitable position for "making ready."
"
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the preceding figures 5 and 6
With regard to the first part of my invention for the adjustment of the
grippers" and impression surface of the rotating cylinder I form the cylinder in
two segmental parts A A¹, as clearly seen in the detail, figure 2, having
considerable gaps between both their circumferential surfaces on both sides. One
of the segments A is fixed to the central axis, and the other A¹ is loose thereon.
I connect one segment to the other by a right and left handed screw B passing
through suitablo nuts b attached to the segments. The lower edge of each
segment is provided with grippers C of usual construction, operated by the usual
cam and lever motion. By rotating the adjusting screw B the movable segment
may be rotated on tho axis so that the space or gap between the two grippers,
each being carried by their respective segments, may be shortened or lengthened
as required. One gripper thus always takes up from the feed board D at a fixed
point to suit the head of the "forme" whilst the other set of grippers having to

page_text: take up from the other feed board D₁ to suit the tail of the forme is adjustable as
before described, to suit the varying length of the "forme" in ordinary jobbing
work.
A scale E with a pointer is provided so that the segments can be adjusted at
sight to suit any known length of "forme." A clamp nut e is provided, passing
through a hole in the outer cam, which is used for opening and closing the take-off
grippers, and is fixed to and moving with the adjustable segment bolting the latter
to the flange of the fixed segment and thus securely locking it in place, when once
adjusted.
The feed board D¹ is adjustable in the following manner as shown in figure 1:-
the lower earriage F is free to slide upon the main frames G, its reciprocating
movements being effected by a pinion g, operated by an eccentric slot cam H and
rod h, gearing into a rack g' under the said carriage.
As
Upon this carriage is mounted a second carriage K free to slide on the lower
one, and which can be moved upon the lower one by a pinion and handle & carried
in bearings on the carriage F and gearing into a rack on the top of the carriage K.
When moved to any required position the carriage K can he locked there by a nut
upon the pinion shaft k. The carriage K is provided with two parallel inclined
faces upon which rest by similar inclined faces the feed board frame L.
the middle carriage K is drawn back by the pinion k, the upper frame L is
prevented from following the middle carriage by the curved bearing rails 7, one on
each side of the lower carriage F, against which the feed board frame L rests by
the rollers . The backward movement then of the middle carriage K wedges up
the feed board, at the same time tlint the curved bearing rail allows the front
edge of the feed board to recede so as always to closely follow the circumference of
the cylinder. A scale upon one of the inclined faces of the middle carriage K
and an index pointer on the. opposite face of the feed board frame enables the
adjustment of this feed board to be made accurately at sight to suit the similar
adjustment of the grippers according to the length of "forme."
The blank sheets of paper are fed on to the feed table by hand to an approximate
lay, and they are then accurately placed in register by the following automatic
apparatus (figures 3 and 4)
The side lay or fence M is attached to the transverse shaft m carried on suitable
bearings on the feed board L. The feed board has a reciprocating motion given
to it and to the carriages K and F by the rack and pinion g and eccentric slot
cam H. As the board moves forward the end of the shaft m comes in contact
with the inclined face m' of the frame moving the shaft m and the "lay" M
against the spiral spring X transversely to the board, placing the paper in exact
sido register. Upon the side frames is fitted a sliding carriage N under the feed
board carrying a transverse shaft, to which are fixed a number of end stops or
"lays." distributed over the end of the feed board. These end stops or lays rest
in a horizontal position so as to engage the sheets upon a stretcher Ỷ of the franc
which terminates in a sudden incline n². As the feed board travels forward the
end lays and carriage remain stationary for a short time, thus adjusting the paper
on the board as to its end "register." After a short part of the stroke has taken
place, a stud on the feed board comes in contact with a stud n³ on the carriage N
pushing down the end lays and carriage against the reaction of the spiral springs n*.
As the feed board reaches the cylinder, the end lays n drop over the incline at the
end of the under frame and thus rolouso the sheet of paper. At the same time a
series of " pressers or smoothers O mounted on a shaft o, transverse to the feed
board, are allowed to fall upon the paper by the roller O' at the end of the lever o²
keyed to the said shaft, dropping over the suddenly inclined face of the bearing
rails on the frame. The contact of the pressers or smoothers upon the sheet is
necessary to prevent the sheet falling by its own gravity from the feed board,
until drawn therefrom by the cylinder grippers. The pressers or smoothers are
gently pressed against the paper by a spiral spring producing rotary pressure upon
the smoother shaft,
"

page_text: The paper is thus automatically registered and fed to the cylinder grippers with
each oscillation of the same, from the two feed boards D D', one placed on either
side of the cylinder, and after passing over the type, the paper is deliverod upwards
to the two take-off apparatuses over the cylinder.
I construct these as follows (figure 1) :-
A series of gripper fingers P are mounted on hanging links on the carriago p
running on rails forming part of the framing and which is caused to travel
backwards and forwards by the rack Q and the pinion 9, operated by the
reciprocating rack rod q' and an eccentric cam on a rotating shaft. The gripper
arm or link is kept in position by a lever and spring or counterbalance, bearing
on the side frames on each side by a roller attached to the said lever. As the
grippers P are brought down to meet the paper on the cylinder they are depressed
by the wedge incline of the said frames, and the form of the eccentric cam is so
arranged that the take-off grippers first slightly pass the cylinder and receive tho
paper from the cylinder grippers on their return stroke. The printed paper is
released from the cylinder grippers by a cam action in the usual way, but an
additional set of fingers lift the paper to the take-off grippers P.
On their return travel the take-off grippers P strike against the nose p¹ of the
frame, and leave the paper upon the receiving board p².
The feed board with automatic adjustable "lays" may be adapted with slight.
modifications to the platen machine described in my specification filed in pursuanco
of letters Patent Number 1591 of 1883 and as shown in figures 5 and 6 in clevation
and plan respectively. Here the side lay or fenco M is attached to the transverse
shaft passing through holes in the frame sides under the feed board L, and this
side lay is moved transversely to the board by the rocking inclined cam R against
the reaction of a spring. This effects an accurate side register.
In this case the feed board L is a fixture and the end stops or lays n distributed
over the end of the feed table are mounted on a shaft n¹ carried on rollers n² upon
side rails from the frame.
To the rocking cam R, receiving motion from an eccentric cam on the rotating
shaft, is attached a rod r giving a reciprocating movement to the shaft n¹ carrying
the end lays n. The movement of the end lays towards the sheet of paper sets it
accurately in end register, and as the grippers S come round to take the sheets off*
the feed table they lift the paper over the end lays and carry it to the forme.
To render my Platen machine readily accessible for "making ready," I mount
the Platen Beam on an axis T, fitting, but free to turn in the sliding blocks t.
To this axis is keyed a hand lever t¹ by which the platen may be turned up
horizontally for "making ready." When in position for printing, the said lever
comes home upon a stop on the block, and is locked there by a locking lever U
which moves on the fulcrum u. This locking is conveniently fixed in position by
the pin u¹.
In this form of Platen machine where the Platen is arranged to advance and
retire from the type in parallel planes, I fit bearers V bolted to the Platen beam
and adjustable by set screws between guides so that their outer ends bed home
upon the type back or bed of the machine, as the necessary pressure is applied to
the "forme."
If, therefore, as is necessary in the before mentioned machine, the "forme" is set
to a line near the top or bottom of the "type back," those bearers farthest from
the "forme" take their bearing on the type back or bed, and maintain the platen
in its position parallel to the type back, and thus prevent all "batter" and ensure
a perfect uniformity of pressure upon the whole of the "forme," whatever its size
or position.
These "bearers" also prevent any undue printing pressure upon n forme" of
small area, and by fitting into slots in the type back they act as a lock to prevent
"slur," or any sliding movement of the platen over the type.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and the

page_text: manner of its performance be it known that what I consider novel and claim as my
invention is:
First. In a double feed single cylinder letter-press printing machine the
construction of the cylinder in two segments each carrying grippers and adjustable
to one another by a screw or screws to suit the double feed to formes of varying
length substantially as described.
Second. In a double feed single cylinder letter-press printing machine the
construction of an adjustable feed board mounted on two parallel inclined planes
and checked by a curved incline upon the bed carriage so that the feed board
shall when rising or falling accurately follow the circumference of the cylinder, as
and for the purposes substantially as described.
Third. In letter press cylinder printing machinery the combination of a movable
feed table with a transverse reciprocating "lay," and end lays or stops, moving
longitudinally with the feed board disengaging the sheet by falling, the paper being
checked by smoothers to effect perfect automatic end and side register substantially
as described.
Fourth. In letter press printing machinery the construction of the taking off
apparatus by grippers attached to a carriage reciprocating to and from the upper
part of the cylinder by a rack and pinion gearing operated from eccentric cam
substantially as described.
Fifth. In letter-press printing machinery the combination of a stationary.feed.
board with a transverse reciprocating "lay" and end "lays" or stops reciprocating
longitudinally to the feed board, the paper being lifted by the grippers over the
end lays, substantially as and for the purposes described with reference to
figures 3 & 4.
Sixth. In a Platen letter-press printing machine the combination of the
--horizontally-moving-Platen beam-with-a-turning-lever-upon-its axis-and-a-locking-
lever upon the block substantially as and for the purposes described in reference to
figure 5
Seventh. In a Platen letter-press printing machine the combination with a
horizontally moving Platen beam of side bearers, fitting into suitable recesses on
the "forme back" substantially as and for the purposes described in reference
to figures 5 & 6
In witness whereof I, the said Alfred Godfrey, have hereunto set my hand and
scal this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four,
Witness:-
JOHN C. FELL
Fell & Wilding
23 Rood Lane E.C.
Patent Agent
ALFRED GODFREY (L.S.)