IMPROVEMENTS IN LITHOGRAPHIC AND LETTERPRESS PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Mann and Charles Pollard, of Leeds, in the
County of York, Printers' Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LITHOGRAPHIC AND LETTERPRESS PRINTING MACHINES."
Sealed the 10th April 1879, and dated the 7th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Mann and Charles
Pollard at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November
1878.
GEORGE MANN & CHARLES POLLARD, of Leeds, in the County of York, Printers'
Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LITHOGRAPHIC AND LETTERPRESS PRINTING
MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in lithographic and letter press printing
machines, and consists of self acting arrangements whereby the sheets of paper
after being printed are taken from the impression roller or cylinder at the front of
machine and placed printed side upwards on a board or other arrangement prepared
to receive it.
This Invention is applicable to lithographic or any other printing machine where
the stone or type bed has a horizontal reciprocating motion and a rotating cylinder
is employed.
The first part of this Invention consists of placing horizontal slides or slide on or
over the front part of machine, which carry one or more automatic grippers in a
parallel direction above or about the height of cylinder and directly opposite the
front of the same. This we term a sliding parallel motion.
This said motion may be effected by wheels, lever, camb, rocking shaft, or other
suitable means.
1
The second part of this Invention consists in having arrangements by which the
taking off grippers (when moved forward to the cylinder by the sliding horizontal
motion described above) grip the printed sheet at the termination of each complete
revolution of cylinder, that is to say, when the cylinder is stopped to receive the
next sheet; the apparatus then with the printed sheet is moved back by the said

page_text: sliding motion and drops the printed sheet on to a board, frame, or other provision
made to receive it; the taking off gripper then moves forward to grip the next
sheet.
The third part of this Invention consists of a novel method of opening & closing
the taking off grippers; a finger is attached to the cylinder, also a finger to the
taking off gripper, the latter finger moving as the cylinder gripper opens presses
upon the opposite finger, and causes the gripper of the taking off apparatus to close
and seize the paper at the same instant that the cylinder gripper releases it.
The printed sheet is retained in the taking off gripper by means of a ratchet
wheel and springs until it is released by a tappet or inclined plane fixed on the end
of sliding parallel motion.
Fourthly. This apparatus being fixed at front part of machine dispenses with
necessity of bottom board required on the back of lithographic printing.machines,
thereby giving better access to the back part of machine for damping, sponging, or
cleaning the stone.
Fifth. The printed sheets can be taken off by hand as in other machines without
removing taking off apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Mann and Charles Pollard in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th May 1879.;
GEORGE MANN and CHARLES POLLARD, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Printers' Engineers, "IMPROVEMENTS IN LITHOGRAPHIC AND LETTERPRESS PRINTING
MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in lithographic and letterpress printing
machines, and consists of self acting arrangements whereby the sheets of paper
after being printed are taken from the impression roller or cylinder at the front of
the machine and placed printed side upwards on a board or other arrangement
prepared to receive them."
This Invention is applicable to lithographic, letter press, or any other printing
machine where the stone or type bed has a horizontal reciprocating motion, and
where a rotating cylinder is employed.
The first part of this Invention consists of placing the horizontal slides A', A¹,
Figs. 1 and 2, on or over the front part of machine A, which carries one or more
automatic grippers B in a parallel direction above or about the height of cylinder C
and directly opposite the front of the same. This we term a sliding parallel motion,
and is to be found at D, D. This said motion may be effected by wheels, levers,
cam, chain, rocking shaft, or other suitable means.
The second part of this Invention consists in having arrangements by which the
taking off grippers B when moved forward to the cylinder C by the sliding hori-
zontal motion at D, D, described above grip the printed sheet E at the termination
of each complete revolution of cylinder C, that is to say, when the cylinder C is
stopped to receive the next sheet. The apparatus B with the printed sheet E is
moved back by the said sliding motion at D, D, and drops the printed sheet E on
to a board F, frame, or other provision prepared to receive it. The taking off
gripper B then moves forward again to grip the next sheet.
The third part of this Invention consists in a novel method of opening and
closing the taking off grippers B, a finger G being attached to the cylinder gripper
shaft L and a finger G₁ to the taking off gripper B. The latter finger G₁ moving
as the cylinder gripper G opens presses upon the opposite finger and causes the
gripper B of the taking off apparatus to close and seize the paper E at the same
instant that the cylinder gripper G releases it.
The printed sheet E is retained in the taking off gripper B by means of a ratchet
wheel, of which H, Fig. 1, are the ratchets, and springs i, Fig. 2, until it is released
by a tappet or inclined plane K, Fig. 1, fixed on the end of sliding parallel
motion A¹.
Fourthly. This apparatus A¹ being fixed at the front part of machine A dispenses
with the necessity of a bottom board required on the back of lithographic or other
printing machines, thereby giving better access to the back part of the machine A
for damping, sponging, or cleaning the stone. The printed sheets E can be taken
off by hand as in other machines without removing the taking off apparatus B.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,—
Firstly. The apparatus for taking the printed sheet off the front side of the
machine when the cylinder has come home or otherwise finished its revolution, and
after having laid the sheet printed side upwards the said cylinder is again made
ready to receive the next sheet.
Secondly. The application and method of fixing springs made of steel or other

page_text: elastic material attached to two cross shafts for the purpose of holding the printed
sheet when released from the cylinder grippers.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Mann and Charles Pollard, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
AHADAN
GEORGE MANN.
(L.S.)
CHARLES POLLARD. (L.S.)