IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGRAVERS' PRESSES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hippolyte Fontaine, Engineer, of Marseilles, in
the Empire of France, and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City),
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGRAVERS' PRESSES."
Scaled the 26th June 1855, and dated the 3rd January 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hippolyte Fontaine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd January 1855.
I, IIIPPOLYTE FONTAINE, Engineer, of Marseilles, in the Empire of France,
and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGRAVERS' PRESSES" to be as
follows, viz.
These improvements consist of a novel arrangement of presses and inking
apparatus used for printing lithographic or other plates, and may be described.
as follows: Between two frame sides I arrange two printing tables, placed
at a suitable distance in slides or slots at each frame side, so that they may
move backwards and forwards. Under cach table is placed transversely a
roller, in close contact with the table, so that when the rollers are turned the
tables are moved in their slides. These rollers have a pinion, keyed at each
end, and on each side there is a wheel, turning on a stud between the said
pinions of the two rollers so as to gear into them. Said stud wheels are
segmental, i.e., they are only toothed on a portion of the rim, one quarter, say.

page_text: Said stud wheels are made to turn in opposite directions, and are angularly
so placed that the toothed segment of each stands diametrically opposite the
toothed segment of the other wheel; hence, by gearing into each roller alternately,
as has been stated above, said roller receives an alternate rotary motion, and
thereby gives each table an intermittent reciprocating backward and forward
traverse in opposite direction to what the other table has. Owing to the stud
wheels gearing alternately with the pinions of the two rollers, it will be seen
that each roller at the end of its rotary backward and forward motion stands
still during the time, equivalent to the revolution of half the circumference
of the stud wheel, diminished by the toothed portion. The reverse motion of
the stud wheels is obtained by driving from one side by a proper train of change
carrier and bevel wheels. Across each table, in moveable and elastic bearings,
are pressing rollers, which are forced down upon them by means of screws
acting upon said bearings. When the press is at work, the print is delivered
by the upper table, while the lower table delivers at the opposite end of, the
press, and vice versa;, they both then stand still, so that paper plates or other
material may be fed in, and thus during each revolution of the stud wheels
four prints may be taken off. In connexion with this press, I use an appa-
ratus for inking the plates. This apparatus consists mainly of two couples of
inking rollers, which are coupled together at a suitable distance, and capable
of moving to and fro in suitable slides or slots on a frame. In the middle of
the slides is a heavy feed roller, which is lifted up in its slotted bearing when
said inking rollers pass, & is made to dip into the inkholder; and by turning
on said couples of inking rollers, communicates to each of them the necessary
quantity of ink. In the middle portion of the inking table, which is between
the slide frames, there is a marble or other surface, for taking off the surplus
ink that has been given to the inking, rollers by the feed roller, and also for
spreading the same. At the two ends of the inking table there are suitable
surfaces, on which to lay the plates to be inked. Said surfaces or plate
holders are hinged, so that they may be turned out of the way when required;
also, in order to prevent them being daubed when the plate should happen not
to be on them. I sometimes give them the shape of trellis-work with sharp
edges, so as to offer the least possible surface to the inking rollers. The two
couples of inking rollers are moved to and fro by means of two connecting
rods, cranks, and a crank shaft, the latter being set in motion by proper gear
from the driving shaft or wheel of the press, above described. By the above
arrangements of inking rollers, it will be seen that two inking passes are
obtained for cach revolution of said crank shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Hippolyte Fontaine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd July 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HIPPOLYTE
FONTAINE, Engineer, of Marseilles, in the Empire of France, and of 16, Castle
Street, Holborn (City), London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Hippolyte Fontaine, Her special licence that I, the said Hippolyte
Fontaine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Hippolyte Fontaine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ENGRAVERS' PRESSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Hippolyte Fontaine, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Hippolyte Fontaine, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to he particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
These improvements consist of a novel arrangement of presses and inking
apparatus used for printing lithographic or other plates, and may be described
as follows:-Between two frame sides I arrange two printing tables, placed
at a suitable distance in slides or slots at cach frame side, so that they may
move backwards & forwards.
roller, in close contact with the
Under each table is placed transversely a
table, so that when the rollers are turned the
tables are moved in their slides. These rollers have a pinion keyed at each
end, and on each side there is a wheel, turning on a stud between the said
pinions of the two rollers, so as to gear into them. Said stud wheels are
segmental, i.e., they are only toothed on a portion of the rim, one quarter, say.
Said stud wheels are made to turn in opposite direction, and are angularly

page_text: so placed that the toothed segment of each stands diametrically opposite the
toothed segment of the other wheel; hence, by gearing into each roller
alternately, as has been stated above, said roller receives an alternate rotatory
motion, and thereby gives each table an intermittent reciprocating backward
and forward traverse in opposite direction to what the other table has.. Owing
to the stud wheels gearing alternately with the pinion of the two rollers, it
will be seen that each roller at the end of its rotary backward and forward
motion stands still during the time, equivalent to the revolution of half the
circumference of the stud wheel, diminished by the toothed portion. The
reverse motion of the stud wheel is obtained by driving from one side by a
proper train of change carrier and bevel wheels. Across each table, in
moveable and elastic bearings, there are pressing rollers, which are forced down
upon them by means of screws acting upon said bearings. When the press
is at work, the print is delivered by the upper table, while the lower table
delivers at the opposite end of the press, and vice versa; they both then stand
still, so that paper, plates, or other material may be fed in, and thus during
each revolution of the stud wheels four prints may be taken off. In connexion
with this press I use an apparatus for inking the plates. This apparatus con-
sists mainly of two couples of inking rollers, which are coupled together at a
suitable distance, and capable of moving to and fro in suitable slides or slots
on a frame. In the middle of the slides is a heavy feed roller, which is lifted
up in its slotted bearing when said inking rollers pass, and is made to dip into
the inkholder, and by turning on said couples of inking rollers, communicates
to each of them the necessary quantity of ink. In the middle portion of the
inking table, which is between the slide frames, there is a marble or other surface,
for taking off the surplus ink that has been given to the inking rollers by the
feed roller, and also for spreading the same. At the two ends of the inking
table there are suitable surfaces on which to lay the piates to be inked: Said
surfaces or plate holders are hinged, so that they may be turned out of the way
when required; also, in order to prevent them being daubed when the plate
should happen not to be on them. I sometimes give them the shape of trellis-
work with sharp edges, so as to offer the least possible surface to the inking
rollers. The two couples of inking rollers are moved to and fro by means of
two connecting rods, cranks, and a crank shaft, the latter being set in motion
by proper gear from the driving shaft or wheel of the press, above described.
By the above arrangement of inking rollers, it will be seen that two inking
passes are obtained for each revolution of said crank shaft.
Having thus briefly set forth the nature of my Invention, I will now proceed
to describe the way in which the same may be carried into effect, and for this

page_text: purpose I have shewn on the two annexed Sheets of Drawings several views
of my improved printing presses and apparatus connected therewith.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation, and Fig. 2 a vertical cross section, of the
left half of the framing, through the line a, a, of Fig. 1, shewing my improved
engraver's press.
Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the inking and wiping apparatus.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same, shewing only the upper portion of
the frame.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the inking apparatus, the half which is not shewn
being exactly similar to the portion represented.
Fig. 6 is a top plan of the bands and cylinders for carrying the plates under
the wiping cushions.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a damp or moist wiping cushion.
The same letters of reference stand for like parts in the corresponding
Figures.
The following description refers to the press, represented at Fig. 1 and 2:-
A, A, frame sides, of any suitable shape and strength; B, B, printing tables,
which can be moved backwards and forwards in slots C, C. These tables are
of hard wood or cast iron, and receive the sheets to be printed upon. D, D,
transverse rollers, for moving the tables under which they are placed, which
may be done either by contact, or by a tooth and rack gearing, shewn at
E, E, E, E; F, F, F, F, pinions, keyed at the end of the rollers D, D;
G, G, segmental stud wheels, gearing alternately into the pinions F, F, that
are on the same side of the frame; H is the fly wheel, for setting the printing
tables in motion, which may be done either by hand or power; I, J, K, L,
is the
spur wheel gear,
for turning the pinions F, F, on the right-hand side
of the frame, Fig. 2. The wheel L, which is secured.to F, is not shewn in
Fig. 1, so as to bring G into sight; I, J, K, M, N, N, N, O, O, P, is the spur,
bevel, and carrier wheel gearing, for turning the segmental wheel G on the
left-hand side of the framing; and hence, also, the pinions F, F, on the same
side, in the opposite direction to that in which they turn on the right-hand
side. The action of this gearing will be readily understood by those con-
versant with mechanical contrivances; and the wheels G being each toothed
though one quarter of their circumference, and the toothed parts keyed
diametrically opposite each other, it will be seen that when motion is imparted
to the driving shaft, each table B receives an intermittent backward and for-
ward traverse in opposite direction to what the other table has. Q, Q, pressing
rollers, bearing upon each table B over the moving rollers D, D. The moving
rollers D, D, turn in bearings fixed in the frame sides, but the pressing

page_text: rollers are mounted in bearings R, R, sliding in a vertical slot, and acted upon
by elastic packings S, S, so as to produce the required pressure upon the
roller. The elastic packings S, S, may be compressed more or less
screwing
or unscrewing the adjusting screws T, T; in the upper part of the framing
A, A. These screws act at the same time on both the lower and upper
bearing R by means of connecting frames U, U, which are actuated by the
screws T, T. V, V, are stretching rollers, right above the rollers Q, Q. These
rollers are mounted in adjustable spring bearings for stretching an endless
blanket, swan down, or similar fabric that wraps round each pair of rollers.
It has been seen above that the tables move in opposite directions, and when
they have arrived at the end of their, traverse, stop simultaneously whilst the
wheel G turns through one quarter revolution, so that each of the operators
placed at the ends of the press has only to take the print off and put the sheet
on one only of the tables at one time. But it will also be readily understood
that the motion of the tables may easily be changed by applying different
gearing, and keying the segmental wheels in different positions. The gearing
which I use for setting the inking apparatus in motion in connexion with the
press is shewn at Fig. 2; W is a wheel on the driving shaft gearing, with a
pinion Y on a shaft that runs across the press, and has a cranked part Z,
shewn in dotted lines on the left hand of Fig. 2.
The inking apparatus, Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, Sheet 2, consists of two couples
of inking rollers A, A, B, B, coupled together by a bar. C, D, slides for the
inking rollers to slide to and fro; these slides form part of a substantial-
framing E, E. F, feed roller, which is capable of rising in its slotted bearing;
G, inkholder, into which the feed roller is made to dip when the rollers A, B,
pass under and lift it, the inkholder being suitably recessed at the bottom for
receiving the feed roller. After the roller F has fed the inking rollers A or B
with ink by tangential contact, it falls again to the bottom of the slotted
bearing, still closing the inkholder. Motion is given to the rollers A, B, by
means of the shaft Z, which extends across the inking apparatus, and has a
crank at each end outside the framing. H, H, connecting rods; I, I, marble
or other hard surface, placed under the rollers near the middle portion of the
table, for the purpose stated above; J, J, plate holders, which I prefer making
of the trellis form, shewn in section, Fig. 4, and plan, Fig. 5, so as to offer but
very little surface to be daubed; there should be no plate on the plate holder to
receive the inking rollers; K, K, pivots, about which the plate holders J, J,
may be turned out of the way, by means of eccentric or half-round shafts
L, L, which are turned by means of handles M, the plate holders resting on
these shafts.

page_text: In conjunction with the inking apparatus just described, I also sometimes
use the herein-after described contrivances for wiping the plates after they
have been inked. These contrivances are represented, together with the inking
apparatus, at Figs. 3, 4, and 6, Sheet 2 of the annexed Drawings. a, b, a, a,
Figs. 3 and 4, cushions or bolsters, filled with rags or similar elastic materials
for wiping the plates. These cushions are secured to a board c, which is fixed
by hooks d to another board e, that may be moved to and fro on proper slides.
ffff, four wood cylinders with grooves, for receiving catgut, cords, or
tapes; these tapes being united by means of cross ribs g, g, that serve at the
same time as stops for carrying the plates along under the cushions. h, h,
supporting cylinders. i, i, Figs. 3 and 4, rag cushions, for a preparatory wiping
of the plates when they have been inked. These cushions are fixed in the
same manner as those mentioned above. Fig. 7 is intended to shew the con-
struction of a moist cushion b, to be used along with the dry ones a, a, a. j,
reservoir to hold the water for moistening. A, lead plate, which has a suitable
number of small holes, four, say, for letting pass the water from the reservoir j.
is another lead plate, under the plate k, and which has a less number of
holes, one, say. The moist cushion is bolstered with horschair, and contains
sponges. The metal plates having been inked as set forth above, an operator
placed at m and another at n put said plates one upon a grating o, o, and
another upon a like grating p, p, (see Figs. 3 and 4) so as to receive the first
wiping from the cushions i, i. Said cushions are secured to the uprights g, 1,
which are fixed to the steps of the inking rollers A, B. The cross bars r, by
which the two uprights 7, 2, are united, carry two rods s, s, by which the levers
t, t, are pushed back, and these levers being connected by a rod u, cause the
grates o, o, to be lowered, so that the preparatory cushion i, when performing
its return stroke, may not carry off the plates laid upon the grate o, o; and the
said levers at the same time cause the grates p, p, to rise, so that the plates
laid upon them may be subjected to the wiping friction of the other cushion
i, and so forth. After this preparatory wiping, the operator placed at n
takes the plate off the grate p, p, and lays it upon the grooved cylinder f,
whilst the operator that stands at m takes the plate off the grate o, o, and puts
it upon the cylinder f; and the two pulleys v, v, of the wiping apparatus
being driven in opposite directions by cross and open bands from the pulleys
w, w, keyed upon the driving shaft Z of the inking apparatus, it will be seen
that the plate laid upon the cylinder f is carried towards n, and that laid upon
f is carried to m, both plates passing under the finishing cushions to be
wiped. The inking and wiping apparatus being placed alongside the press,
as has been shewn above, the operator placed at each end of the press takes

page_text: up the plates as they are delivered by the wiping frame and puts them on the
press, as has been described, so that the inking, wiping, and printing form one
continuous process. It will be observed that the second cushion of each row
of wiping cushions works with water, whilst the others are worked dry; but
this arrangement may be varied. Also, instead of using a series of cushions,
a single cushion may be applied, extending the whole length of the wiping
apparatus, this cushion containing lead chambers for the portions that are to
work with water. a, Figs. 3 and 4, are screw bolts, for regulating the pressure
upon the cushion.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be carried into effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that what I claim as being secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the use and application of two printing tables, B, B, Figs. 1 and 2,
receiving an intermittent reciprocating motion in opposite directions by the
means described above, or their mechanical equivalents.
Second, the method of regulating the pressure upon the two pressing rollers
Qsimultaneously by means of screws T and connecting frames U.
Third, the use of stretching rollers V mounted in spring or elastic bearings
for the purpose of stretching the blanket wrapping round them and the pressing
rollers Q, as has been set forth.
Fourth, the inking apparatus above described, the main features of which
consist in sets of two or more inking rollers set to move to and fro by the
means described, or their equivalents.
Fifth, the wiping apparatus above described, the main feature of which
consists in an endless delivery or transmission, made of any suitable material or
substance, and by which the plates are made to pass under and against the
cushions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hippolyte Fontaine, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our
HTE FONTAINE. (L.S.)