Self-acting Gauge:
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Self-acting Gauge: Improvements in Platen Printing and other
Machines.
WALTER JAMES ELLIS, Queen's Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, Printer. I do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
23
To ensure accurate register in printing two or more colors and to facilitate the
"laying on of ordinary work and thus enable the operator to feed the machine
with greater facility and certainty and in all cases to enable the operator to run
the machine at a greater speed which is the invention hereinafter described.
The invention is such that it can be applied and adjusted to existing machines
for printing where accurate or quick feeding of sheets of paper, boards or other
materials is required.
In the case of the "platen" printing machines instead of the usual fixed side-
lay or gauge an adjustable gauge is fixed to an extention bar by means of a clip,
screw or other method, the said bar is attached by an eccentric headed screw or
bolt to a V or other shaped slide, having a stud or cam-roll protruding into a cam-
track, cut in a revolving disc or drum, round which a length of catgut or other
suitable material, is wound and the end of same secured to a fixed part of the
machine; so that, when the machine proceeds to work, moving its platen
towards the type the drum or disc is unwound, thereby causing the slide to move
forward by the aid of the stud or cam-roll protruding in the cam-track, the slide
pushing the extention bar and gauge attached, which pushes the sheet of paper or
other material (laid to or near the gauge) always leaving it in the same position..
The invention is so constructed and the cam-track so cut, that when the platen
commences its travel toward the type, and the disc or drum is being unwound,
it does not move the slide till such time as the platen has carried the sheet out of
the reach of the operator, then, the cam track is so formed as to cause the slide
to move forward with the extention bar and gauge attached pushing the sheet
into correct position before the grippers or fingers 1), close on the sheet and hold
it firmly, at which period the platen has still some distance to travel towards the
type and this is obtained without moving the slide and parts attached by the stud
or cam roll passing round the outside of the disc or drum.
1
The small spring V shown at end of the slide track is a novel method of steady-
ing the slide when finishing it's travel, and also keeping the cam roll on one side
of the cam track, and also pushing the stud or cam-roll of the slide into the cam-
track as it returns by the aid of the spring I, which revolves the drum or dise
when the platen travels back on its return journey rewinding the catgut or other
material.
This part of the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Fig. 1 is the top view of a "platen" printing machine and sufficient to illustrate
the invention.

page_text: Fig. 3 is the invention enlarged. The same figures refer to the parts of the
Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
The spring I fixed to the main stud which is fastened to the disc E and H,
winds up the catgut or other substance (). by causing the drum or disc E and H to
revolve in the opposite direction which also causes the slide G¹ to return when the
platen opens.
The spring V steadies the slide G in its forward movement keeping the cam
roll firmly to one side of the cam-track and free from vibration and on the platen's
A return journey pushing the slide so that the stud or cam-roll F. passes into
the cam track W.
Fig. 3. L1, L1, are two lugs forming a novel method of fixing the invention
to the platen or other part of a machine by one ordinary bolt or nut, which in the
case of a platen machine, is done on the under side of the platen A as shown
in Fig. 1.
"
Q and S show the extention bar and extending gauge which are gripped
together in a novel manner by means of the clip R.
G shows the slide, also shows the track which the extention bar or gauge
slides into before being being fixed. K is the eccentric-headed screw or bolt which
by a half turn fastens the bar in position.
A is the platen of the printing machine upon which a sheet of paper or other
material X to be printed is placed by the operator.
The platen is mounted on the usual shaft or axle Z which is secured on bearings
formed in the slide frames of the machine or in any other way.
B indicates the type against which, the paper to be printed is pressed.
The paper X is laid on the platen A down to the bottom gauges as S, T, U, or
other pattern and placed within the moving distance of the side gauge which is
operated by the invention hereindescribed; viz; by the gauge S. being fixed to a
bar by the clips R or direct to the slide G by the eccentric stud or screw K,
which is moved forward by the aid of a stud or cam-roll projecting in the cam-
track W cut in the revolving disc E which is revolved by the catgut or other
material 0. passing over the pully N the end of which is fixed to a stationary
part of the machine C and being unwound as the platen A moves forward to the
type in the usual manner, as before described.
The catgut or other material being attached to the feed board or other stationary
part of the machine.
F is the stud or cam-roll which travels in the cam-track W cut in the disc E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
a
1. In a novel means of automatically moving the side or other gauges on
platen" printing or other machines. The side or other gauge being attached
to an extention bar or direct to the V or other shaped slide, the slide having
stud or cam-roll working in a cam-track cut in a revolving disc or drum, being
revolved by a lenght of catgut or other suitable material, which is wound round
the drum being fixed at one end to a stationary part of the machine, so that,
when the machine moves, or tips the platen, it unwinds the catgut or other
substance, causing the drum to revolve and thus forcing the slide, extention bar
and gauge attached to move to and fro substantially in the manner herein-before
described.
2. In the novel manner the clip R is used in conjunction with this invention
sucuring the strips of brass or other materials together for extending
the gauges by projection on the end of the lever, shown in the drawing R being
pressed tightly against the bar when the lever is down.
3. In the novel manner in which the spring V steadies the slide and causes the
stud or cam-roll to fall in the cam-track on its return journey as herein before
described.

page_text: 4. In the novel means of securing the invention to the platen of the printing
machine by the two open lugs L1, L1 through which a bolt is passed and screwed
up tight, thus holding the invention firmly to the machine.
5. In the novel manner of securing the extention bar to the slide G, by means
of the eccentric headed screw or bolt K, which on receiving a half turn pushes
the projecting side firmly against the bar.
6. In the novel means of preventing the disc revolving more than necessary by
putting a stop at side of the cam-track which also guides the stud or cam-roll into
the track W when being rewound.
Dated this 16th day of August 1898.
WALTER JAMES ELLIS,
Printer, Queen's Road, Southend-on-Sea.