IMPROVED DAMPENING APPARATUS FOR LITHOGRAPHIC PRESSES
Year: 1883

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Leopold Schmiers at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th October 1883.
LEOPOLD SCHMIERS of Leipzig in the kingdom of Saxony IMPROVED DAMPENING
APPARATUS FOR LITHOGRAPHIC PRESSES
During the process of lithographic printing it is of great importance to be at
any time able to easily regulate most accurately, the degree of moistening requisite
for the stone, during the full working of the machine.
For the purpose of maintaining the moistening cylinder for a long time in a
state of equal and constant dampness a correctly working moistening apparatus
should be constructed in such a manner that at each separate impression, the
apparatus discharges and again exactly replaces such a quantity of water as
consumed and which, owing to the extremely small quantity of water required
has not been obtained with any moistening apparatus hitherto known.
In the accompanying drawing Fig 1. is a side view representing the arrange-
ment of an adjustable moistening apparatus capable of being adjusted in such a
manner as to discharge the smallest quantity of water which may be required for
the moistening process and which discharges at each impression the requisite
quantity of water.
The water is forced by means of a small forcing pump A, fixed to the adjustable
lever B, from the vessel C into a hollow cylinder E which is perforated with small
holes and covered with cloth and flannel. The layers of cloth allow the escape of
water only when the hollow cylinder is completely filled with water and when by
the continued pumping the column of water is subjected to pressure.
The piston rod D of the pump A is set in motion by means of the forward and
backward travelling carriage K of the press and the spring H fixed on the piston
rod D, while the lever B, when its indicator points to zero, cccupies that position in
which the pump does not discharge water; the carriage at this point commences
ts return travel and consequently no longer presses on the piston rod.

page_text: If the lever B is set at 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. . . . . of its indicator division, the carriage K
during its return travel exercises a corresponding pressure on the piston rod
whereby the pump, according to the pressure, discharges the required quantity
of water, whether large or small. The adjusting of the lever B at any desired
point and the regulating of the quantity of water to be used, connected therewith,
is arranged in a simple and convenient manner so that the apparatus may be
adjusted during the full working of the press while the distribution of the required
quantity of water over the moistening cylinder owing to the pressure on the column
of water from the interior, is uniform and exact, so that the machine may be
worked with the greatest accuracy as regards any quantity of water which it may
be found desirable to use for the moistening of the stone.
It should be observed that owing to the discharge of the water from the inside
towards the outside, the felting of the layers of flannel is prevented owing to
which the moistening cylinder maintains its distributing sucking capacity for a
long time.
Furthermore by means of the arrangement above described the moistening water
is perfectly protected from impurities.
Fig 2 is a plan representing the above described arrangement. The angle
iron F fixed to the carriage K presses the piston rod D inward while the spring H
during the return travel forces the same back into its previous position.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the apparatus. The lever B turns on the pin M screwed
into the wall and may be adjusted in any desired position by means of the thumb
screw N.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view representing the moistening cylinder E made of metal.
The journal a is perforated and at its front end is placed the stuffing box O which
produces an airtight closing and permits the cylinder E to revolve.
The cylinder E turns when passing over the moistening table of the press.
The walls of the hollow cylinder E, made of brass or copper are perforated with
small holes through which passes the water which is forced through the layers of
cloth by means of pressure as described above. If the pressure on the column of
water from the inside ceases, the layers of cloth which cover the cylinder form an
hermetic closing. The filled cylinder can remain for days without sustaining the
slightest loss of water. The atmospheric pressure prevents the escape of water
even if the india rubber tube at the mouthpiece b is removed.
Fig 5 represents the forcing pump A in section. The piston rod D is pressed
inward corresponding to the motion of the carriage of the press, while the spring H
forces the same back into its previous position. The shoulder X terminates the
stroke. Fixed to the mouth piece c is a tube leading to the vessel C while the
tube leading to the hollow cylinder E is fixed at d.
Fig. 6. represents the same arrangement of the moistening cylinder with the
difference that instead of feeding the same by means of a forcing pump the
moistening water is supplied by ordinary adjustable water pressure.
Above the moistening cylinder E below the table P of the press is placed a water
reservoir C having the valve Q. The valve rod R is connected with the lever S
receiving jerking motions from the machine whereby the valve Q is raised or
depressed. The reservoir C is adjustable on the angle iron T, and the stroke of
the lever S is regulated according to the position of the reservoir C whereby the
stroke of the valve Q is regulated
Fig. 7 represents the same arrangement with the addition of the valve V,
connected with the pipe W of a water conduct.
The valve V is actuated by the inclined board U fixed to the upper carriage of
the steam press. The stroke is regulated by means of the thumb screw Y.

page_text: 2. The arrangement for producing a regulated pressure by means of the lever
connected with the pump and actuated by the motion of the carriage of a
press.
3. The arrangement for regulating the pressure by means of the valve and lever
The arrangement for obtaining a pressure directly from a water conduct regulated
by means of an adjustable valve.
All substantially as described and illustrated and for the purposes set forth.
In Witness whereof I, the said Leopold Schmiers, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 28th day of September A.D. 1883.
LEOPOLD SCHMIERS (L.S.)