IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR EMBOSSING AND PRINTING THE COVERS OF BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Richmond and Walter Whiting, both of Kirby
Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR EMBOSSING AND PRINTING THE COVERS
OF BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 29th January 1878, and dated the 2nd August 1877,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Richmond and Walter
Whiting at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August
1877,
JOSEPH RICHMOND and WALTER WHITING, both of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
EMBOSSING AND PRINTING THE COVERS OF BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Our Invention has for its object the construction of machines commonly called
"blocking presses," in such a manner as to effect the following improvements
therein, that is to say, the production of the requisite pressure with less expenditure
of power, an increase of speed in working, the more effectual maintenance of the
parallelism of the table on which the book cover is placed with the face of the die,
increased facility for adjusting the cover or article on the table, and the more effectual
inking of the face of the die.
And our Invention consists in the combination of parts herein-after described as
constituting our improved machine, and also in the inking apparatus herein-after
described.
The framework of the machine consists principally of two side frames or stan-
dards, a head and base, which are firmly united together. The two side frames or
standards are united in the centre of the machine so as to form a vertical rectangular
opening which forms a deep guide for the moveable bed of the machine, which bed
supports on its upper surface the table on which the book cover is laid, and also
part of the inking apparatus. This moveable bed so guided receives at the proper
intervals an upward movement from below, caused by the straightening of a pair
of jointed arms, the lower extremity of one of which arms abuts on the before-

page_text: named base. These jointed arms are worked by a cam, which, through the inter-
vention of a connecting rod, alternately straightens and bends the joint, and thereby
raises or lowers the bed. The said cam is fixed on the main shaft, which is suitably
mounted at the back of the machine. On this shaft is a spur wheel, which receives
To this pinion shaft
motion from a pinion shaft mounted above the main shaft.
the power is applied. On the upper surface of the bed is the table which receives
the book cover; this table is capable of a to-and-fro motion from the centre of the
machine outwards to the front thereof. This motion is imparted to the table at
the required intervals by a cam also on the main shaft of the machine through the
intervention of a connecting rod and levers.
The die is attached in the usual manner to the under surface of a heater box,
which is fixed to the under side of the head of the press. The rising of the bed
underneath the table forces it, together with the book cover resting thereon, upwards
against the die, and thereby the cover is caused to receive the impression from the
die. On the sinking of the bed the table is passed outwards to the front of the
machine, where the impressed cover is removed and a fresh one substituted.
The inking is accomplished by means of a cylinder at the back of the machine,
worked by either a band or gearing from the main cam shaft or other suitable
rotating parts of the machine, such cylinder being acted upon by two inking rollers.
The ink is transferred to the die or block roller by a roller mounted at the back of
the travelling bed being brought in contact (by the travel of the bed) with the said
inking rollers, against which it revolves. The block roller is caused to pass across
the face of the die with the to-and-fro movement of the bed which supports it.
The perfect distribution of ink as required is effected by means of a travelling or
"waving "roller arranged so as to work against one of the first-mentioned inking
rollers, such roller being caused to travel backwards and forwards along the inking
roller as required by means of a right and left handed screw on its spindle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Richmond and Walter Whiting in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd February 1878.
JOSEPH RICHMOND and WALTER WHITING, both of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineers. " IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR EM-
BOSSING AND PRINTING THE COVERS OF BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Our Invention of "Improvements in Machines for Embossing and Printing the
Covers of Books and other Articles," has for its object the construction of machines
commonly called "blocking presses," in such a manner as to effect the following
improvements therein, that is to say, the production of the requisite pressure with
less expenditure of power, together with an increase of speed in working, the more
effectual maintenance of the parallelism of the table on which the book cover is
placed with the face of the die, increased facility for adjusting the cover or article on
the table, and the more effectual inking of the face of the die.
And our Invention consists in the combination of parts herein-after described as
constituting our improved machine, and also in the inking apparatus herein-after
described.
The framework of the machine consists principally of two side frames or standards,
a head and base, which are firmly united together. The two side frames or standards
are united in the centre of the machine so as to form a vertical rectangular opening
which forms a deep guide for the moveable bed of the machine, which bed supports
on its upper surface the table on which the book cover is laid, and also part of the
inking apparatus. This moveable bed so guided receives at the proper intervals an
upward movement from below, caused by the straightening of a pair of jointed arms,
the lower extremity of one of which arms abuts on the before-named base. These
jointed arms are worked by a cam, which through the intervention of a connecting
rod alternately straightens and bends the joint, and thereby raises or lowers the bed.
The said cam is fixed on the main shaft, which is suitably mounted at the back of
the machine. On this shaft is a spur wheel, which receives motion from a pinion
shaft mounted above the main shaft; to this pinion shaft the power is applied. On
the upper surface of the bed is the table which receives the book cover, this table is
capable of a to-and-fro motion from the centre of the machine outwards to the front
thereof. This motion is imparted to the table at the required intervals by a cam,
also on the main shaft of the machine, through the intervention of a connecting rod
and levers.
The die is attached in the usual manner to the under surface of a heater
box, which is fixed to the under side of the head of the press. The rising
of the bed underneath the table forces it, together with the book cover resting
thereon, upwards against the die, and thereby the cover is forced upwards so as to
receive the impression from the die. On the sinking of the bed the table is passed
outwards to the front of the machine, where the impressed cover is removed and a
fresh one substituted.
The inking is accomplished by means of a cylinder at the back of the machine
worked by either a band or gearing from the main cam shaft, or other suitable
rotating parts of the machine, such cylinder being acted upon by two inking rollers.
The ink is transferred to the die or block roller by a roller mounted at the back of
the travelling bed, being brought in contact (by the travel of the bed) with the said
inking rollers, against which it revolves. The block roller is caused to pass across
the face of the die with the to-and-fro motion of the bed which supports it.
The perfect distribution of ink as required is effected by means of a travelling or
"waving" roller, arranged so as to work against one of the first-mentioned inking
rollers, such rollers being caused to travel backwards and forwards along the inking
roller, as required, by means of a right and left handed screw on its spindle.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, we will proceed to describe

page_text: more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, on which are represented the parts of mechanism above
referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the machine, Fig. 2 a front view, and Fig. 3 a plan or
horizontal view of the same.
Figure 4 represents on an enlarged scale the mechanism for working the table
which carries the book cover or article to be impressed.
Fig. 5 shews the inking apparatus on the same scale, and Fig. 6 shews on an
enlarged scale the "waving" roller and double screw for working it.
In these several Figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts.
A is the base plate of the machine; B, B, the two side frames; and C, the head.
These principal parts of the framework of the machine are firmly united by the
bolts D, D, and E, E. The two side frames B, B, where they are united by the bolts
E, form a deep guide for the bed F, in which guides the bed is capable of moving
vertically as required.
The bed F carries the table G, on which the book cover or other article to be
impressed is laid; H is the "heater box," to the under side of which is fixed the
die I in the usual manner, against which die the book cover or other article is forced
by the rising of the bed F. The depth of the vertical guide formed by the side
frames B, B, is adapted to maintain that parallelism between the face of the table G
and the under surface of the die I, which is essential to the production of a perfect
impression, as required.
The requisite power to force the book cover or other article against the die I is
obtained by means of the two jointed arins forming the knuckle joint K, which is
actuated by the cams L and M (see Fig. 4), the cam L at the right movement
straightening the joint, and thereby forcing up the bed F with the table G and book
cover or other article thereon with the requisite pressure, and the cam M bending
the joint and thereby allowing the bed and table to descend. These cams by their
revolution are caused to act on the knuckle joint K through the medium of the
roller carriage N and the connecting rod O.
In order to increase the facility of "feeding" the machine, the longest practicable
time is afforded for placing the book cover or other like article on the table G. For
this purpose the table is moved from underneath the die and back again by means
of the cams P and Q which actuate it, through the medium of the roller carriage R,
the connecting rod S, and the levers T and U, which are fixed on the shaft V.
The apparatus for inking the die is represented in Fig. 5, and consists of the
following parts -The roller W, which is by preference made of india-rubber or com-
position, is mounted as shown at the back of the table G, and as the table moves out
from underneath the die I this die receives ink on its under side from the roller W,
which operation is repeated as the table returns. On the table coming under the
die it is brought into contact with the roller X, which is kept in constant rotation
by being in contact with the rollers Y and Z. The roller X is also by preference
made of india-rubber or composition. The rollers Y and Z are also in contact and
kept in constant rotation.
Ink or colour is applied to the roller Z, and is spread on its surface in a suitable
manner by the roller a, which, besides revolving by contact with the roller Z, has a
waving" or lateral motion given to it by the action of the right and left handed
screw b, shewn in Fig. 6. The rollers Z and a are by preference made of metal.
"
The mode of applying power for working the machine is as follows :-On the main
shaft c, which carries the cams L and M, is fixed the spur wheel d, which gears into
the pinion e on the pinion shaft f, on the end of which are the fast and loose belt
pulleys g and h, while the other end thereof carries a fly wheel i. The power is
brought on or thrown off by means of the clutch k and lever l. Continuous rotary.
motion is imparted to the inking rollers by the spur wheel m and the pinion n,

page_text: Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we hereby declare that what we claim as of our
Invention is,-
First. The construction of the framework or standards of the machine in such a
manner as to form a deep vertical guide for the moveable bed, whereby is maintained
the requisite parallelism between the face of the table and the under surface of the
die, which is essential to the production of a perfect impression, as herein-before
described.
Secondly. The mechanism represented in Fig. 4, and described, whereby the
required power is exerted to force the book cover or other article against the under
side of the die.
Thirdly. The mechanisın as described, adapted for increasing the facility of
feeding the machine by allowing a longer period for placing the book cover or
other article on the table.
Fourthly. The apparatus for inking or applying colour to the die, as represented
in Figures 5 and 6, and described.
And, lastly. The machine in its general combination of parts, as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Richmond and Walter Whiting, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, the Second day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane,
JOSEPH RICHMOND. (L.S.)
WALTER WHITING. (L.S.)