IMPROVEMENTS IN A PRESS OR PRESSES, MACHINE OR MACHINES, FOR LETTER-PRESS PRINTING
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN REED
HILL, of 98, Chancery Lane, London, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Second day of August, in the eighth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Reed Hill, Her especial licence, that I, the said John Reed Hill, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, or such others as I, the said John Reed
Hill, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within that said part of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all in Her Colonies and Planta-
tions abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN A PRESS OR PRESSES, MACHINE
OR MACHINES, FOR LETTER-PRESS PRINTING;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso obliging me, the said John Reed Hill, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of

page_text: Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Reed Hill, do hereby declare that the object of my said Invention is
the construction of a machine which shall place within the reach of the general
hand or jobbing printer the means of printing with the rapidity of the steam
press.
Figure 1 is a view of the side of the machine.
shewing the fly wheel, grooved pully, and wheel
Figure 2, the opposite side,
connecting it with the part
or portion of a cylinder I, which in future, for the sake of brevity, I shall call
the printing cylinder. Figure 3 is a view of the end containing the apparatus
for inking the types. Figure 4, the opposite end. Fig. 5 shews an enlarged
view of the crank arms and connecting rods outside the standard for moving
the table, which is in its most backward position, as also the relative positions
of the cylinder and type table. Fig. 6 shews the position of the type table
passing under the inking rollers, the cylinder, and external machinery at the
; commencement of taking an impression. Fig. 7, the position of the same
immediately after an impression. Fig. 8 represents the end of the cylinder
with the feeding apparatus in the position of taking in a sheet to be printed.
Fig. 9 is a view of the external lever and spring tappet for lowering a metal
frame for the purpose of bringing the sheet to be printed in contact with the
cylinder. Fig. 10 represents the end of the cylinder at the completion of an
impression, the removing nippers or jaws having closed on a sheet ready for
taking it off' and carrying it back (as shewn by the dotted lines) and depositing
it in the receptacle or box. Fig. 11, a latch for keeping the removing nippers
in their place when waiting for a sheet from the cylinder. Fig. 12, a trans-
verse section of the cylinder, shewing the spring for closing and holding the
sheet on the cylinder by the nippers. Fig. 13 represents the removing nippers
open, waiting for a sheet. Fig. 14, a vertical section of the open connecting
rod, with the crank arms and wheels in the position of Figure 5. Fig. 15, a
similar section of the connecting rods at the line A*, B*. Fig. 16, a plan of
part of the under side of the open connecting rod. Fig. 17; a detached view
of the connecting rod for giving the backward motion to the table. Fig. 18, a
bird's-eye view of both connecting rods, with the crank arms and wheels in
the position of Figure 7. Figure 19, a side view of a connecting rod for
producing both forward and backward motion by the long arm working in the
upper slot. Fig. 20, a horizontal view of the metal frame for depressing the

page_text: paper in feeding. Fig. 21, a back view of the same looking from the inking
end, shewing the spring for keeping it open. Fig. 22, a side and end view of a
screen or guard at the back of the cylinder, for keeping the paper near the
cylinder. Fig. 23, a view of the inside of the cylinder with the nippers, its
lever on the end and axis of cylinder. Fig. 24 shews the end of the cylinder
in contact with a side slip on a spring, resting on and secured to the table,
for the purpose of communicating motion from the cylinder to the type table
whilst an impression is being taken. Fig. 25 is a horizontal view of a register
plate as a guide in "laying on" or feeding. Fig. 26 is a front view of the same.
Fig. 27 is a view, looking towards the inking end of the machine, of the removing
nippers with its spring jaws. Fig. 28 is a view of the top. Fig. 29 is a view of
the upper jaws detached. Fig. 30 is an outside view of the cylinder, shewing
two notches for receiving the lower jaws of the removing nippers. Fig. 31 is a
horizontal view of the top of the machine. Fig. 32, a similar plan with the
top removed. Fig. 33, a pendulas frame hung from a beain above, to receive
motion from the connecting rods at the side of the machine, and to impart it
to the type table by a rod placed in the centre of the width of the table.
Fig. 34 is a back view of the same looking towards the table. Fig. 35 is a
side view of the removing apparatus suspended from the beam above in a
larger machine. Fig. 36 a front view of the same. A, A, A, A, frame or
standards of machine. B, fly-wheel. C, Fig. 2, small grooved pulley on axes
of fly-wheel. D, treadle for working the machine by the foot. E, grooved
band wheel on the spindle of the printing cylinder, and driven by a line or band
from the small wheel C. F, a flat grooved wheel running on the cylinder
spindle, for guiding and supporting the connecting rods. G, connecting rod
partly supported and running on the wheel F, the other end being connected
to the type table; the object of this connecting rod is to draw the type table
forward from the position shewn in Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6. The part (a) of
this rod projects forward from the general face so as to receive the push of the
roller, as seen in the cross section of the same at Fig. 14, and the part b
comes forward nearly as far, but instead of forming a fixed part of the same,
it is jointed to the main rod G by a joint at c, and the end 6 is kept forward
in its place by a very light spring at the back, as seen by the adjoining plan of
the same. The use of this projection b is to prevent the table from being thrown
forward at a greater velocity than the arm and wheel, and the object of the
spring at the back is that the roller may easily push back the inclined pro-
jection b, and pass on to the projection a, when 6 springs forward and the
roller is secured between the two. H is another connecting rod for producing

page_text: the backward motion of the table after an impression has been taken, the
crank end of which passes through the arc d, e, Fig. 6, but is prevented from
going to a lower position by falling into the hoof ƒ of the connecting rod G.
The manner in which these connecting rods operate, and the means adopted for
moving the table in making one alternation by one revolution of the printing
cylinder, are as follows:-The table and cylinder being in the position shewn in
Fig. 4, and motion being given to the axis of the cylinder, as before described,
by the foot (if in small machines, or by a hand wheel or steam power in larger
machines), the cranks being also turned in the direction of the arrows, the
roller g in the long arm quits the cavity of the connecting rod H at the same
moment that the roller h on the short arm has passed over the elastic projec-
tion, and is secured when the roller, connecting rod, and table move forward
into the position shewn by Fig. 6. At this position of Fig. 6 the angular
velocity of the circumference of the printing cylinder is the same as the recti-
linear velocity of the type table, and therefore, as will hereafter be described, a
firm contact takes place between the surfaces of both, the rotation of the
cylinder being continued from the position of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7 (during
which portion of the revolution the impression is taken), the connecting rods
and table will have advanced to the position of Figure 7, when the roller 'g will
enter the cavity of the connecting rod H, and by its continuity of revolution will
carry the end through the are, as before mentioned, and thereby push the table,
&c. back again, ready for a new supply of ink and a sheet of paper. I, in all the
views is an end or cross section of the printing cylinder, covered with the usual
kind of printer's blanket, and secured by any of the most approved methods of
straining. J (Fig. 8 and 12) is a weight to be adjusted so as to balance the
printing cylinder. K (Fig. 1 and 5, 6, 7) is a vertical rod, having a slot in its
upper end to receive a small crank pin fixed on the end of the cylinder spindle,
and jointed at its lower end to an external arm, fixed on a racking spindle,
extending across the frame. L is an arm fixed inside the frame or standard
on the racking spindle at the bottom; and at top, furnished with spring
nippers for taking hold of the printed sheets, and carrying them back, and
delivering them into the receptacle. M (Fig. 1 and 9) is a lever for lowering
the depressing frame. N is a spring roller for moving the lever. O, Fig. 9)
bearing of spindle of cylinder, to be adjusted in height by the screw below.
P, nippers for holding the paper to the cylinder, held close by a spring.
Q (Fig. 13), jaws open to receive a printed sheet, which in Fig. 10 are shewn
shut in in dotted lines with a sheet in them. R (Fig. 23), lever on the end
of the nipper axis. S (Fig. 8, 10), a steel stud fixed in the side of the

page_text: machine for opening the nippers. T (Figs. 8, 9), the frame for bringing the
edge of the paper to the cylinder. U, feeding plate on which the sheet is laid.
V (Fig. 8, 9, 25, 26), the register plate. W (Fig. 5, 6, 7), the form con-
taining the types. X, inking plate. Y, inking rollers.. Z, distributing rollers.
Z+ ductor roller and ink box. The same letters of reference are used to
identify the same parts, wherever they occur throughout the Drawings.
The operation of taking an impression is as follows:-the sheet is "laid
on" or supplied to the machine by placing one side of it in contact with the
register guage B (see Fig. 8, 9, 25, 26), with its end adjusted to a mark,
a gauge or graduated divisions on the feeding plate, and on the spring
nippers P, which are fixed on the printing cylinder, reaching the position
shewn by Fig. 8, the spring roller fixed on the cylinder spindle comes in
contact and presses back the bent lever M on the end of the depressing frame,
which pushes down the feeding plate, depressing frame, and paper, so as to
touch the cylinder, at which moment the tail of the lever R on the spring nippers
of the cylinder will have passed the steel tappet S, which the nippers P will
have closed and secured the paper to the front edge of the cylinder, which will
carry it round to meet the type. During the time that the table has per-
formed its backward motion, the inking plate will have received its due
portion of ink from the ink box, by the transferring roller or any other means
at present in use, which will be evenly spread on the surface of the inking
plate, and then to the inking rollers. On one or both edges of the type
table, and outside the "form," there is a narrow slip of metal covered
with leather or other suitable material, or of wood supported on a spring, as
described, and shewn at Fig. 23 and 24, so adjusted in height as to press
with sufficient force against the end or ends of the cylinder covered with
blanket as to cause the table to move with the cylinder by the resistance of
contact, and which will be the only communication of motion between the
table and cylinder at the time that an impression is being taken, or of its
moving from the position shewn by Figure 6 to that of Figure 7, after which
the long crank arm pushes back the table, and the short arm brings it forward
for another impression, as before described. To counteract the impetus of the
type table at the end of its stroke, springs may be used in a similar manner to
those of the common printing machine. Whilst the printing is being per-
formed, the small crank pin will have depressed the rod K, and thereby
brought up the apparatus for taking off the sheet, where it will remain as
shewn at Figure 13, until the cylinder has brought the edge of the sheet
within the jaws, at which moment the adjustable pin i*, see Fig. 10, on the end

page_text: coming back and striking
open, and the paper to fall
In Fig. 1, the vertical rod
of the cylinder will have pressed up the end of the lever on the end of the
upper jaws k, until its inner end, with the arm of the bent lever I will have
been depressed below a straight line, joining the centres, when the force of the
spring m will instantly close the jaws on the edge of the paper. About the
same time the pin it will also have lifted the latch, Fig. 11, so as to allow the
pin in the arni of the removing nippers to escape from the notch of the
latch, when the arm will be thrown back by a spring placed in any convenient
way into the position shewn at Fig. 10. The tail
against the elastic padding j, causes the jaws to
down into the receptacle, as shewn at Fig. 10.
for bringing up the removing apparatus to the cylinder is shewn on the side
at which the printer stands, which will be found the most convenient position
in machines worked by the foot; but in larger machines worked by other
means, it will be found advantageous to place it on the opposite side, as shewn
by Fig. 5, 6, 7, and instead of the cross spindle and arm of the removing
apparatus being contained within the frame, I propose to suspend the arm from
a beam above, and moved as before described by the crank pin on the cylinder
spindle, as shewn by Fig. 35 and 36.
I do not confine myself by this Specification to any definite proportions
in the several parts composing this machine, or in the arrangement of
its details, or of the materials of which it is composed, as these matters
may be varied to suit different sizes, different work, and other circum-
stances connected with their use; nor do I claim the exclusive use of the
several parts herein described and referred to, except when such parts are
used for the purposes of or in connection with my said Invention; which I
hereby declare to consist, first, in the construction of a printing press or
machine in which the alternating motion of the type table is produced by the
combination and arrangement of parts above described; and, secondly, in the
construction of a printing press or machine in which the sheet when printed is
thrown off by the combination and arrangement of parts herein described.
And I hereby declare that this my Specification doth comply in all respects
fully, and without reserve or disguise, with the provisoes in the said herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent contained. Wherefore, I hereby claim
to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Reed Hill, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and forty-five.
(L.S.) JOHN REED HILL

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the First day of February, in the
eighth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said John Reed
Iill came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year of
the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.