IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by David Culross and Edward Edward-
son at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1876.
DAVID CULROSS and Edward EdWARDSON, of Cardington Street, Euston Square,
in the County of Middlesex, Stationers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES
OR PRESSES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in printing machines or presses,
and it has for its object the arranging and combining the necessary and component
parts thereof with a view to effect an economy of space occupied, cost of construc-
tion, and labour in working.
The Invention comprises the application and use in this description of machinery
of an improved and peculiarly constructed carrier for removing the printed sheets
from between the type and the bed on which they rest, and also the arrangement
and combination thereof with a special arrangement and combination of the other
or remaining necessary and component parts of such machine.
The improved printing machine, as constructed according to our Invention, is
provided with suitably shaped side frames, which are stayed, bolted, or bratticed.
together. These frames carry a series of transverse shafts, the individual uses of
which will be herein-after described, and which are used to carry the parts by
means of which the following motions are given:-A vertical reciprocating motion to
a cross or platen head carrying the type, a horizontal reciprocating motion to the
slides carrying the inking rollers, a similar motion to the improved "taker off"
or carrier, and certain other motions thereto herein-after described, and a revolving
motion to the first inking roller. The fore part of the framing also carries a feed
board, in front of which the operative stands.
The type is carried under and by a cross or platen head, which at its ends is
provided with vertical rods or bars passing through the guiding parts of the framing
and gearing with excentrics placed at the ends of one of the transverse shafts, and by
which the said motion is given to the cross head carrying the type. This transverse
or main shaft receives motion by gearing from a second transverse or driving shaft,
which at one end is provided with fast and loose pullies, and at the other with a
fly wheel. One of the said end excentrics is provided with a grooved pulley, from
which a cord is guided by other grooved pullies held by the framing to a larger
grooved pulley carried by the shaft of the first inking roller, which is also carried
by the side frames at the rear of the machine, and to which the said motion is thus
given.
The traversing inking rollers are carried by side slides above the side frames, and
the said motion is given to them by means of slotted levers from another of the

page_text: said transverse shafts, which is provided with a crank, and is rocked to and fro by
means of a connecting rod and excentric ring actuated by an excentric placed near
the centre of the main shaft. The motion being timed to cause the traversing inking
rollers to roll under and ink the type when the platen head carrying the type is in its
raised position, and to cause them to traverse to the first inking roller and to and
fro under the inking bed when the platen head is depressed to effect the desired
printing. The inking bed is placed face downwards, and about halfway between
the first inking roller and the platen head carrying the type; it is journalled in
extensions of the side frames, and can be turned up thereupon.
The improved "taker off" or carrier slides inside of the side frames and under
the traversing inking rollers, and the said horizontal reciprocating motion is given
to it by a similar combination of means to those employed and immediately above
described for giving this motion to the traversing inking rollers, except that the
levers which are on another transverse rocking shaft are not slotted but are
connected to the end plates of the carrier by links. This motion is timed to effect
a retrogressive movement of the carrier when the traversing inking rollers are being
moved forward to under the platen head and vice versa. The said end or guide
plates of the carrier are united by a transverse grip bar and by a transverse rocking
shaft, carrying a series of gripping fingers, and provided at its ends with short
cranks, and at one end also with a quadrant, which is acted upon by a spring
carried by one of the end plates and by which the said shaft is kept in the positions
desired.
In the most forward movement of the carrier the said grip bar lies just above the
rear edge of the printed sheet of paper, and the platen head carrying the type has
commenced to rise and has released the paper, which is then gripped between the
said bar and the said fingers by the latter being caused to close thereupon by a fixed
stop on the front of the machine, against which the quadrant stop on the finger
shaft bears, the said spring then retains the fingers and they the paper thus during
the retrogressive movement of the carrier till its termination, where the other stop
on the rear of the machine opens or reverses the position of the fingers. The paper
then falls on to an inclined or delivery board arranged above the said transverse
shafts.
All the motions of the machine are thus automatic, the operator only requiring
to feed the paper singly in sheets to the machine.