CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1831

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WINCH, of Gunpowder Alley, Shoe Lane, in the City of London, Printers'
Joiner, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth
did, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
dato at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of January, in the first year of
His reign, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Winch, His special
licence that I, the said Robert Winch, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said Robert Winch, my exors, adiñors, 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 mentioned, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINES;"
in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, that I, the said
Robert Winch, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in His Majesty's High Court of 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
Robert Winch, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawing hereunto annexed, and the following
description thereof (that is to say):-
In the said Drawing, Fig. 1 is a side view or elevation of a printing machine;
Fig. 2, a plan of the same machine; and Figures 3 and 4, opposite end views
or elevations thereof, in all of which said Figures the same letters and figures of
reference indicate the similar parts. A, A, the machine frame, here shewn as
being made of cast iron, but it, as well as the other parts, may also be formed
of any other fit and proper material or materials; B, Figures 1 and 3, the
flat cast-iron table or support of the form of types C; D, the cast-iron platten,
which is hung upon or affixed to the moveable beam E by means of screws.
This beam E moves up and down in the guides F, F, which are firmly
affixed upon the sides of the machine frame G. A cross brace, to steady the
guides F, F, necks or pivots H, H, are formed near each end of the beam E,
upon which said necks the brasses I, I, &c. are fitted, which are affixed to the
end of the two connecting rods J, J, by means of straps, with keys and wedges
fitted to them, for adjustment in the usual manner. The brasses I, I, at the
lower ends of the connecting rods. J, J, are fitted upon two studs. or necks
K, K, which are affixed upon the outsides of two toothed wheels L, L,
mounted upon an axis M, which has necks or pivots formed upon it near its
ends, and which turn in brasses fitted into headstocks, firmly affixed to the
machine frame A, A, and one of which said headstocks is shewn at O, in
Fig. 1; P, P, are two toothed pinions, which act in or drive the toothed wheels
L, L, the said pinions P, P, being mounted upon another shaft or axis Q, with
necks or pivots turning in brasses fitted into headstocks, firmly affixed to
the machine frame A, A. Upon one end of the shaft or axis Q, a fly wheel R
is hung, having a handle or winch S affixed to-one of its arms, by turning
which motion is communicated to the machine, or otherwise the shaft Q may
be driven by a steam engine or other moving power of machinery. The tablo
B-is-strongly-braced.underneath_by_cross_beams, one of which is shewn at T
in Fig. 3, and it rests upon the two ribs or rails U, U, fixed inside tho
machine frame, and slides in and out occasionally as required, in order to
place upon it or to remove the form of types C. V, Fig. 3, is a handle,
whereby to pull out the tablo B; W, W, Fig. 3, are two of four upright
pieces, which are affixed by screws to the sides of the table B, in order to
afford bearings for the wedges to act against, by means of which the form of
types C is secured in its place upon the table; X, Figures 1 and 3, is tho
frame or carriage of the inking rollers, which, in Fig. 1, represents them as
having passed over and inked the forin of types, their opposite situation being

page_text: shown by dotted lines in that Figure; Y is a ratchet wheel upon the axis of
the ink-supplying or feeding roller, which roller is mounted in an ink trough,
and is furnished with a steel ductor or scraper in the usual manner. This
ratchet wheel Y is shifted or driven one tooth at a time by a tooth upon the
under side of a lifting catch Z, which is mounted to the end of the inking roller
carriage X, and is shewn separately in Figure 5, coming into contact with one
of the teeth of the ratchet wheel Y, it rising and slipping over the said teeth
on its return. The frame of inking roller X is drawn alternately back-
wards and forwards in the following manner :-a, Fig. 1, is a stout lever,
shewn by dotted lines, moving upon a stud v, shewn in Figures 2 and 3, firmly
affixed to the side of the machine frame A. This lever is also shewn sepa-
rately in Figure 6, in plan in Figure 2, and endways in Figures 3 and 4.
c, in Figures 3, 4, and 6, is a connecting rod, jointed to one end of the
lever a, and also to one of the two connecting rods J before described, and it is
thus moved upwards and downwards thereby. A toothed circular segment d,
Figures 1, 2, and 6, is formed upon the opposite end of the lever a, which acts in
a toothed intermediate pinion e, Figures 1 and 6, which said pinion turns upon
a stud firmly affixed to the side of the machine frame. The intermediate
pinion e acts in and drives another toothed pinion f, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6,
which is mounted upon a shaft or axis g, with necks or pivots turning in brasses
mounted in headstocks affixed to the sides of the machine frame. Upon each
end of the axis g two excentrics h, i, h, i, are affixed, as shewn edgeways in
Figure 3, and sideways in Figure 1. These excentrics have grooves formed
around them, in which catgut bands are lodged, one of which bands j, j, passes
from each of the excentrics h, h, and is affixed to one end of the inking roller
carriage X, Figure 1, whilst two others k, k, affixed to the opposite end of the
inking roller frame, pass over the two pullies r, r, Figures 1 and 4, and under
two other pullies m, m, affixed to the machine frame, and are then affixed to
the two other excentrics i, i, and each pair of the excentrics being continually
turned in contrary directions during the working of the machinc, in the
manner already described, the inking rollers are thus carried twice across tho
form of types previous to the impression being made by the machine, and as
will be described hereafter. The inking roller carriage X slides upon two
straight edges or rails affixed inside the machine frame, and the upright grooves
in the ends of the carriage, in which the necks or pivots of the three inking
rollers are lodged, are made sufficiently deep to allow the rollers to descend to
the surfaces of the types in passing over them and to ink them; m, in Figure 1,
is the inking table to diffuse the printing ink uniformly over the surface of the
iuking rollers, and besides the usual crossing motion endways of one of the

page_text: inking rollers, this inking tablo can also, by means of a handle applied
underneath it, bo traversed across backwards and forwards, when it may be
found necessary to equalize the distribution of the ink more perfectly. 0, 0, in
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, are two tables or boards, supported upon the feet p, p,
&c., which are affixed to their under sides, and are fitted into gaps or mortices
made to receive them upon the upper edges of the sides of the machine frame.
Upon the upper surfaces of each of these boards o, o, two guide bars q, q, are
affixed, for the purpose of guiding the friskets 1, r, one of which is shewn
upon an enlarged scale in Figure 7. This consists of a rectangular metal
frame, having on one side of it a metal bar s, hinged at t, t, so as to be capable
of being raised up perpendicularly and lowered down again; when so raised,
the paper to be printed being laid in its place in the manner to be hereafter
described, the bars is to be lowered upon it to retain it or its due position in the
following manner:-Figure 8 is a representation of part of one of the boards o,
having affixed upon it a curved plate of metal u, and having also a mortice v
cut in it to receive the end of a curved and elbowed metal plate w, formed
upon the bar s. The outer or projecting part of the plate w passes underneath
the curved plate a, which is affixed upon the table or board o, when the frame r
is carried along outwardly in the manner to be hereafter described, and thus
brings the bar s to its perpendicular position, when the paper which has been
printed may be removed, and another laid ready to be printed. The bar sis
then closed or shut down upon the paper, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, when
the framer is drawn in the opposite direction, or inwardly, by the part w
striking against the side a of the mortice v. The frames r, r, are received
npon a rising and falling frame y, y, Figures 1 and 2, which is mounted upon
four perpendicular rods,, &c., which slide in guide holes made in the sides
of the machine frame; these rods have shoulders or stops 1, 1, formed upon them
to limit the ascent of the framo y, y, and which ascent is caused by means of
four counterweights, shewn by dotted lines at 2, 2, in Figure 1, which have lines
or bands to them, passed over eight pullies, two of which are shewn at 6, 6, in
Figure 1, and two others, 7, 7, which are seen in Figure 4, and are then affixed
to the lower ends of the perpendicular rods z, z, &c. The manner of carrying
the friskets or frames r, r, backwards or forwards is as follows:-They are first
united or connected together by means of catches, constructed as follows:-
8, 8, are loops affixed upon the sides of the frames r, r, having slits in their
outsides to receive the stems of the bolts 9, 9, which have heads formed
upon them to enter and be retained within the loops 8, 8. The stems of the
bolts 9, 9, aro cach affixed upon a dovetailed plate 10, Figures 10 and 11,
which plates slide in dovetailed grooves 11, 11, formed in the middle of.

page_text: each table or board o, o. To theso plates are also affixed staples: 12, 12,
having binding screws fitted into their tops, which act upon plates::also fitted
within the staples, so as to slide up and down therein, and to bind or close
upon gut bands 18, 18, which pass over pullies .14, 14, which are affixed to the
outer ends of the boards o, o, and at one end the gut band 13, also passes over
another pulley 15, and from thence they proceed to two excentrics 16 and 17,
shown in various Figures, which are affixed upon a wheel 18, in the position
shewn in Figure 1; this wheel is mounted upon a shaft or axis 19, with necks
or pivots turning in brasses, mounted in proper bearings 20, 20, Figures .1,.3,
and 4, affixed to the machine frame. This action has a motion endways,
communicated to it in the following manner-Upon each end of it a ratchet
wheel 21, 21, is affixed, and likewise a projecting pin 22, 22, which are
alternately acted upon by two inclined planes 23 and 24, one of which is
affixed upon the inside of two guide rods 25, 25, connected with which,
by the cross heads 26, 26, are two other guide rods 27, 27; each of these
latter carry a rack 28, 28, furnished with moveable teeth, as shewn separately
on a large scale, and in section, in Figuro 12, the teeth turning upwards
upon pins 29, 29, &c., as shewn by dotted lines, and resting upon. other.
pins 30, 30, &c., in order to prevent their giving way when the teeth of the
ratchet wheels 21, 21, come into contact with them; the guide rods:25:and:27
are raised and depressed by the two rods 81, 31, which are affixed in the
middle of the cross heads 26, 26, and are affixed at their upper: ends by nuts
and scrows upon cylindrical necks formed to receive them upon the outer ends
of the beam E; around the edges of the platten D, a:frame is affixed, having
a parchment secured upon it, and between that: parchment. and the undermost
face of the platten.the printing blanket.is placed. In Figure 7, 32, 32,.shew
the register points affixed to tho frame,, by screws 33,:33; and 34, 84, &c.,
are supporting tapes to hold the paper upon whilst printing; these tapes are
placed so as to fall upon the blanks or marginal spaces between the pages of
types. Figure 13 is an edge view of one of the register points 32, and also
of a hollow or female register point or pipe 35, two of which are to be affixed
upon each of two other frames, upon which the paper to be printed is.to be
laid, in order to adjust its exact position. upon the frames. .TIT. The hollow
register points or pipes 35, 35, being so placed on such frames as exactly to
correspond with or meet and enclose the solid register points 32, 32, affixed to
the friskets r, r, within them. In order to disengage the paper from these
hollow points, and to transfer it to the solid register points, a spring 86, shewn
on a large scale in Figure 14, is affixed to the under side of each of the bars
which carry the hollow points, having a hole in it to surround the. hollow point,

page_text: and is made broader or extends beyond the said bars, when, should the paper
not separate from or quit the hollow points of its own accord, a pressure made
upon the springs will immediately disengage it. 37, 37, Figures 1, 2, 3, and
4, represent the frames on which the paper is to be first laid, in the manner
above described. These frames 37, 37, are hinged at 38, 38, to the tables or
boards o, o, and one of them is shown as thrown down in Figuro 2. These
frames 37, 37, have tapes fixed across. them, for the purpose of holding the
paper, as is also represented in Figures 1 and 2. 39, 39, 39, 39, in Fig. 2,
and 39, 39, in Figures 1, 3, and 4, represent four branches affixed upon the
platten D, the ends of which are slightly depressed, as shewn in Figures 1, 3,
and 4, at 40; these said ends press upon the rectangular frame y, y, y, y, and
cause it to descend with the platten D, carrying the paper with it, in order to
receive the impression; 41 and 42, Figures 1 and 2, are two rollers, the necks
or pivots of which turn in four upright standards 43, which are affixed by
screws upon the upper surface of the platten B; these rollers are for the
purpose of containing a long sheet of paper, which is extended underneath
the surface of the platten, and forms what is called, "the set-off sheet." This
sheet is, in the first instance, wound for the greater part of it upon the roller 41,
then passed underneath the platten and mado fast to the other roller 42, and is
kept extended by the friction of the necks of the rollers in their bearings; a
small portion of this paper is wound on the roller 42 each time the platten
rises after the impression is made, in consequence of a click 44, affixed to the
cross brace G, coming into contact with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 45, which
is affixed upon the outer end of the roller 42, and drives it one or more teeth
according to the quantity of motion to be given to the set-off paper.
IIaving thus described most of the various parts of which this printing machine
is composed, I shall next proceed to describe the progress of a sheet of paper in its
passage through the machine to be printed; and first, the sheet of paper is to be
placed upon the frame 37 (its hollow register points being previously removed).
This frame and paper is then thrown down upon the frisket or framer, Figs. 2
and 7, which will place the paper upon the register points 32, 32, Figs. 7, 13,
and 14, and leave the paper upon the frisket, when the frame 37 is to be
thrown into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, ready to receive another
sheet of paper. The frisket or frame r, in consequence of motion being given
to the fly wheel R, will be drawn underneath the platten D, together with the
paper, which motion will be produced by the ascent of the rods 31, 31,
carrying up the guide rods 25, 27, which will bring the teeth 30, of the
rack 28, into contact with one of the ratchet wheels 21, which is affixed upon
the cross traversing shaft 19, which puts into motion the wheel 18 and the

page_text: excentrics 16 and 17, which are affixed upon it. The Figures in the Drawing
annexed represent the platten D as being raised into its highest position, having
underneath it the frisket or frame 1, transferred from the right-hand board or
table o. The descent of the platten D brings the depressed ends 40, 40, &c.
of the branches 39, 39, &c. down upon the corners of the frame y, y, which
will carry the frame down, and bring the paper upon the surface of the types,
and the impression will be given thereto at the moment when the cranks or
studs K are at their lowest point or position. The continued motion of the
machine will again bring the platten D into its highest position, which, by the
teeth in the opposite rack 28 taking into the other ratchet wheel 21, will bring
back the parts into the position first described, and by the friskets r, r, being
connected by the catches 8, 9, they will be alternately brought under the
platten, yet in the descent of the platten the catches 8, 9, give way, and
admit of the descent of the frisket or frame r, and the catches will again come
into contact and engage, in consequence of the rising of the frame y, caused
by the descent of the four weights 2, 2, &c. The paper having thus received
its impression, is then to be removed, and another placed in its stead, in
the manner above described, by means of the frame 37. I would here
observe, that there are small friction springs placed underneath the plates
10, 10, to prevent them from moving when the friskets are separated.
When the paper is to be printed on its opposite side, the hollow or female
register points 35, 35, are to be affixed to the under sides of the frames 37, 37,
in such a manner that they exactly correspond with or fit upon the solid register
points 32, 32, of the frisketts or frames 1, r. The paper is then to be care-
fully placed upon the hollow register. points 35, 35, and upon throwing down
one of the frames 37, the paper will be again placed upon the solid register
points 32, 32, in the same holes which were originally made by the said solid
register points. The quantity of motion of the friskets, r, is determined by
their coming into contact with stops 46, 46, &c., Fig. 2, which are fitted upon
the tables or boards o, o; and at the time of their striking against those stops,
the part w of the bar s, Fig. 7, comes into contact with and passes under the
bent plate u, which causes the bar to be raised into the upright position before
mentioned. In order that the friskets or frames r, r, should be at all times
kept in their proper position underneath the platten D, when the impression
is to be made, two conical points 48, 48, are affixed on the under part of the
beam E, which enter into conical holes 47, 47, made in loops affixed upon the
ends of the friskets or frames r, r, as shewn in Fig. 7, and thus, in case of a
frisket not being exactly in its place, the conical points 48, 48, will enter
into the holes 47, 47, and bring it into the proper position.

page_text: I do not mean or intend hereby to claim as my Invention any of the various
parts of which this said printing machine may be composed which are already
known or in use, but only in combination in the manner herein shewn and
described. I do, however, claim as my Invention the manner of conveying
the paper down to the surface of the types by means of the descending
frame y, y, which supports and carries upon it the friskets or frames r, r; also
the manner of carrying backwards and forwards the friskets or frames r, r,
by means of the racks 28, 28, the ratchet wheels 21, 21, and the excentrics
16 and 17, affixed upon the wheel 18, mounted upon the shaft or axis 19; and
also the means of actuating the inking rollers, which consist of the excentrics
h, i, actuated by the beam or lever a, in the manner above described. Liko-
wise the manner of affixing the printing blanket under the platten by means
of the frame before mentioned.
Also, I hereby claim the liberty of changing the forms of the various parts,
still, however, retaining their essential properties.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Winch, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-one.
ROBERT (L.s.) WINCH.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-ninth day of July, in
the year of our Lord 1831, the aforesaid Robert Winch camo before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-one.