IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING AND EMBOSSING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD HELY,
of Dublin, Ireland, Envelope Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal Letters
Patent, bearing date at Westminster the Twenty-seventh October One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-four, No. 3707, did for Herself, Her heirs, and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Hely, Her special license, that I, the said
Edward Hely, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Edward Hely, my executors, administrators, or assingns, should at any time
agree with and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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
the Isle of Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING AND EMBOSSING
MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Hely,
my executors or administrators, 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 :
And whereas, I, the said Edward Hely, did prepare an instrument in writing,
under my hand and seal, purporting to declare the nature of the said Invention and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and caused the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the Twenty-seventh April, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-five:
"
And whereas I have been recently advised that the modification of apparatus
referred to and described in the paragraph commencing with the words "It is
obvious" at line 19 of page 7 of the said Specification, and ending with the word
stationary" at line 24 of the said page 7 of the said Specification, as printed by
the Queen's Printers and published at the Great Seal Patent Office in 1875 is of
doubtful novelty, and that the utility of such modification is also doubtful, I am
desirous of disclaiming the use of the said modification as being any part of the
Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent.
And I am also desirous of altering the first claiming cause of the said Specification

page_text: with the view of limiting the claim to the arrangements described in the said
Specification, when so altered by the omission of the said paragraph in the manner
herein-after set forth.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Hely, by and with the leave of
Her Majesty's Attorney General, and for the reasons aforesaid, do hereby strike
out the whole of that part of the said Specification as printed by the Queen's
Printers and published at the Great Seal Patent Office in 1875, commencing with
the words "It is obvious" on line 19 of page 7 and ending with the word
stationary" on line 24 of the same page. I also insert before the word "cylinder,"
which occurs on line 30 of the said page 7, the word "non-rotating." And I also
strike out the words "or its equivalent," which occur in line 33 of the same page
of the said printed copy of the said Specification.
$8
And in order that the effect of the said Disclaimer may be clearly understood I
annex hereunto a copy of the said Specification as it will appear when so amended,
the preamble and testing clause being omitted.
My said Invention relates to the printing, stamping, or embossing of envelopes,
note paper, and other articles, and consists of a peculiar arrangement and com-
bination of apparatus operated by a treadle or equivalent device, and so arranged as
to admit of the envelopes, note paper, or other articles to be printed, stamped,
or embossed, being supplied in a considerable number at a time, the upper one of
which is printed during the down stroke of a non-rotating cylinder having a
vertical reciprocating motion, and forming the type or die carrier, and is removed
singly during the up or return stroke of such cylinder, the cylinder being also
utilized for the supply of the ink and for the reception of the same on its surface,
to be conveyed or distributed to the type which it carries, whereby the operation of
printing, stamping, or embossing in any desired color or colors is performed with a
perfect register in an efficient manner, and with greater rapidity than heretofore.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation, Figure 2 is a
longitudinal section, and Figure 3 is a front elevation of a machine for printing,
stamping, or embossing, constructed in accordance with my Invention.
A is the cylinder, which is provided on its under side with a V groove for the
reception of the chase or holder a containing the die or the form of types, and
beneath which there are placed adjustable guide rods B supported upon a table C and
enclosing, by preference in a flat or unfolded condition, the envelopes or other
articles to be printed, stamped, or embossed. The cylinder A is mounted fast upon
a pin or shaft b carried by the forked arms c, c, of an upright bar D which slides
vertically in guides d formed in the overhead and overhanging portion of the main
frame E, the feet e, e, of which are secured to the table C. The pin or shaft bis
caused to project at each end and beyond the arms e, e, for the reception of cranks F, F,
which are mounted loosely on such pin or shaft b, one on the outer side of each of
the forked arms c, c, and are each provided with a segmental arm or disc f, to which
there is secured a segmental plate or cheek G. The two cheeks G, G, are connected
together by tie rods g, g, and carry rollers H, H, for distributing ink over the
surface of the cylinder A, whilst the segmental discs f, f, which are similarly
connected together by a tie rod h, are provided with rollers I, I, for receiving the
ink from the surface of the cylinder A and supplying it to the type at a.
distributing rollers H and inking rollers I, I, are mounted on spindles i, the journals
of which are fitted in slots k, k, in the cheeks G, G, and segmental discs f, f, in
which they are maintained by means of springs 1, 1, so as to admit of their yielding
slightly when passing over the cylinder A, as herein-after mentioned. K is the
ink trough, which may be either attached to the cylinder A, as shewn in the
Drawing, or formed in one therewith, in which trough there is loosely mounted the
The

page_text: ink roller L, with which the distributing roller H' is maintained normally in
contact by means of lovers m working upon pins n, and acted upon by springs o in
such a manner as to exercise a constant pressure upon the spindle i of the roller H¹.
The ink roller L receives automatically a partial rotation at cach up stroke of the
cylinder A, in order to present a fresh inked surface to the distributing roller H¹,
by which means the supply of ink to the surface of the latter is constantly
renewed.
This partial rotation of the ink roller L is obtained in the following manner,
videlicet:-On the end of the roller L there is secured a ratchet wheel p, with the
teeth of which gears a pawl q carried by a rocking frame M loosely mounted on the
roller L, which frame during the ascent of the cylinder A is brought into contact
with a tappet carried by a bar N attached to the frame or standard E, by which
means the rocking frame M is caused to turn on the roller L and impart motion to
the ratchet wheel p, and through it to the ink roller L, the pawl q however passing
over the teeth of the ratchet wheel p during the return motion of the frame M on
the descent of the cylinder A without acting upon such ratchet wheel, so that in
intermittent motion of the roller L in one direction is obtained.
A cam lever or similar means may be provided for throwing the pawl q out of
contact with the ratchet wheel p when required.
The distribution over the surface of the cylinder A of the ink supplied to the
roller H and the inking of the type are effected by the following arrangement:—
The cranks F, F, are each provided with a pin O, which pins enter cam or eccentric
grooves or slots P, P, formed in two arms or brackets Q, Q, secured to or cast
in one piece with the main frame E, and are arranged in such a manner as to be
capable, when the cylinder A is raised or lowered, of traversing the said grooves or
slots. When the cylinder is elevated the effect of the pins O, O, traversing the
grooves or slots P, P, is to change the position of the centre of gravity of the entiro
distributing apparatus, consisting of the cheeks G, G, carrying the distributing
rollers H, H', and the segmental discs carrying the inking rollers I, I, and the
preponderance on one side thus produced causes the distributing apparatus to
partially revolve bodily in the direction of the arrows around the cylinder A away
from the ink roller L into the position shewn by red lines in Figure 1, by which
means the ink which has been supplied by the ink roller L to the distributing
roller H¹ is distributed by such roller H and also by the rollers H over the surface
of the cylinder A, and is thence taken by the inking rollers I, I, and supplied to the
type at a, which is thus inked ready for the down stroke of the cylinder A on to
the envelopes or other articles to be printed, stamped, or embossed. During the
descent of the cylinder A the pins O, O, return along the grooves or slots P, P,
whereby the distributing apparatus is caused to perform a partial revolution in the
opposite direction, so as to leave the type clear and unobstructed when the cylinder A
arrives at the bottom of its stroke.
The vertical reciprocating motion of the cylinder A. may be obtained by means of
a treadle or similar device. When a treadle is employed it is connected to the
outer end of a lever R, which is supported on a centre or fulcrum at s in a link t
hinged to the frame E, and is attached at its opposite end by a pin u to the sliding
bar D.
In printing, stamping, or embossing envelopes (for example) a pile of envelopes,
by preference in the unfolded condition, is first placed between the rods B, which
form registration guides, so as to ensure a perfect register, and the machine being
set in motion the cylinder A descends, and prints, stamps, or embosses one of the
envelopes, which is removed during the subsequent ascent of the cylinder.
The cylinder A and distributing apparatus first rise together bodily (the distri-
buting roller H¹ by its contact with the ink roller L having received a supply of
ink); the distributing apparatus then partially rotates, distributing the ink over
the surface of the cylinder, and then inking the type in the manner before
mentioned. When the cylinder has nearly completed its up stroke the tappet r
strikes the rocking frame M so as to partially rotate the ink roller, and provide a

page_text: fresh inked surface for the supply of the distributing roller H for the printing,
stamping, or embossing of the envelope second in succession. The cylinder with
the distributing apparatus then commences its descent; the distributing apparatus
first returns to its normal position with the distributing roller H¹ in contact with
the ink roller L, and the motion of the cylinder being continued the type is brought
down upon the upper one of the pile of envelopes beneath it, which is thus printed,
stamped, or embossed to-be removed when the next up stroke of the cylinder takes
place, the series of operations being then again repeated, and so on in succession.
Each envelope or other article is thus printed, stamped, or embossed separately, and
then withdrawn until the whole pile is completed, when the supply is renewed, or
fresh quantities may be supplied at intervals before the contents of the pile are
entirely exhausted, this arrangement thus obviating the necessity for the employ-
ment of a "blanket."
If desired a frame containing the envelopes or other materials may be caused to
rise and meet the type cylinder as the latter is descending by an arrangement of
cams and levers, springs, or other suitable mechanism.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use of a non-rotating cylinder having a vertical
reciprocating motion, and carrying type or a die for printing, stamping, or embos-
sing, and also inking apparatus for supplying ink to such cylinder in combination
with a reciprocating rotatory frame carrying rollers for distributing the ink over
the surface of the cylinder, and of the type or dye, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
carrying
Second. The employment of cam or eccentric grooves or slots for imparting a
reciprocating rotatory motion to the frame carrying the distributing rollers during
the reciprocating vertical motion of the non-rotating type cylinder, such frame
being supported on crank arms or discs mounted on the axis of the cylinder, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and as illustrated by my
Drawings.
Third. The combination with the ink roller of a ratchet lever operated by a
tappet during the motion of the type cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described and as illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Hely, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Seventeenth day of November, One thousand eight hundred
and goveny-gix

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Hely, of Dublin, Ireland, Envelope
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING AND
EMBOSSING MACHINES."
Sealed the 23rd April 1875, and dated the 27th October 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Hely at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October 1874.
I, EDWARD HELY, of Dublin, Ireland, Envelope Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRINTING AND EMBOSSING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to machines for printing and embossing
envelopes, note paper, or other material, and consists in a fixed cylinder
mounted on a stud or pin carried by and between the ends of two forked
arms forming the lower part of an upright rod or spindle sliding
vertically in guides formed in the overhead and overhanging portion of

page_text: a frame or standard fixed at its foot or base to the table on which the
material to be printed or embossed is laid.
On the ends of the stud or pin carrying the cylinder, and which project
beyond the forked arms aforesaid, are cranks loosely mounted, which are
formed (on the same or on parallel planes with their inner faces) with
segmental arms or discs, between the radial ends of which extending
across and concentric with the cylinder is fixed a circular segmental
frame carrying the rollers for distributing the ink over the cylinder and
on to the type, which is secured in the lower portion of the outer
cylindrical surface of the cylinder. The ends of the said cranks are
fitted with outwardly projecting pins, which work in cam or eccentric
shaped slots formed in two arms or brackets secured to and projecting
from the fixed frame or standard of the machine in such a manner that
when the cylinder with the upright rod or spindle is raised vertically by
the action of a treadle and lever in connection therewith the circular
segmental frame carrying the distributing rollers is caused by the said
slots to partially revolve round the cylinder, the distributing rollers in
so doing passing over and inking the type. On the reaction of the
treadle and connecting lever the upright rod or spindle and cylinder fall,
and the distributing rollers and their frame are caused to revolve in the
opposite direction or away from the type, which now descends upon and
impresses the envelope, paper, or other article placed beneath it, as here-
after described.
For supplying the distributing rollers with ink a rod extends hori-
zontally across the cylinder at the termination of the ink trough and
the backward movement of the distributing rollers towards the latter.
By means of a ratchet lever at the end of this rod operated by a tappet
bar fixed overhead to the frame or standard of the machine an intermit-
tent partially rotary motion is communicated to the said rod, whereby
the ink is continually fed or moved forward to the distributing rollers.
By means of this Invention a cut or pile of envelopes or other material
placed underneath the type portion of the cylinder in a suitable box or
guide on the table may be struck off with great ease and rapidity. Each
envelope or piece is printed or embossed separately, and then withdrawn,
until the whole cut or pile is completed, when it is renewed by a fresh
supply, or it may be renewed when only partially completed, so as to
never require what is termed a "blanket.”

page_text: If desirable the box or guide containing the envelopes or other material
may be caused to rise and meet the type on the cylinder as it is descend-
ing, by means of an arrangement of cams and levers or other suitable
mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Hely in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th April 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
HELY, of Dublin, Ireland, Envelope Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the 38th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Hely, Her special
license that I, the said Edward Hely, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Hely, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and all times thereafter 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 Íslands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PRINTING AND EMBOSSING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edward Hely, my executors or administrators,
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 Edward Hely, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
.
My said Invention relates to the printing, stamping, or embossing of
envelopes, note paper, and other articles, and consists of a peculiar

page_text: arrangement and combination of apparatus operated by a treadle or
equivalent device, and so arranged as to admit of the envelopes, note
paper, or other articles to be printed, stamped, or embossed being
supplied in a considerable number at a time, the upper one of which is
printed during the down stroke of a non-rotating cylinder having a vertical
reciprocating motion and forming the type or die carrier, and is removed
singly during the up or return stroke of such cylinder, the cylinder being
also utilized for the supply of the ink and for the reception of the same on
its surface, to be conveyed or distributed to the type which it carries,
whereby the operation of printing, stamping, or embossing in any desired
color or colors is performed with a perfect register in an efficient manner,
and with greater rapidity than heretofore.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation; Figure 2
is a longitudinal section; and Figure 3 is a front elevation of a machine
for printing, stamping, or embossing, constructed in accordance with my
Invention.
A is the cylinder, which is provided on its under side with a V groove
for the reception of the chase or holder a containing the die or the form
of types, and beneath which there are placed adjustable guide rods B
supported upon a table C, and enclosing by preference in a flat or
unfolded condition the envelopes or other articles to be printed, stamped,
or embossed. The cylinder A is mounted fast upon a pin or shaft b
carried by the forked arms c, .c, of an upright bar D, which slides
vertically in guides d formed in the overhead and overhanging portion
of the main frame E, the feet e, e, of which are secured to the table Ơ.
The pin or shaft 7 is caused to project at each end beyond the arms e, e,
for the reception of cranks F, F, which are mounted loosely on such pin
or shaft b, one on the outer side of each of the forked arms c, c, and are
each provided with a segmental arm or disc f, to which there is secured
a segmental plate or cheek G. The two cheeks G, G, are connected
together by tie rods g, g, and carry rollers H, H', for distributing ink
over the surface of the cylinder A, whilst the segmental discs f, f, which

page_text: are similarly connected together by a tie rod h, are provided with
rollers I, I, for receiving the ink from the surface of the cylinder A, and
supplying it to the type at a. The distributing rollers H and inking
rollers I, I, are mounted on spindles i, the journals of which are fitted in
slots k, k, in the cheeks G, G, and segmental discs f,f, in which they
are maintained by means of springs 1, 1, so as to admit of their yielding
slightly when passing over the cylinder A, as herein-after mentioned.
K is the ink trough, which may be either attached to the cylinder A, as
shewn in the Drawing, or formed in one therewith, in which trough thero
is loosely mounted the ink roller L, with which the distributing roller H¹
is maintained nominally in contact by means of levers m working upon
pins n, and acted upon by springs o in such a manner as to exercise a
constant pressure upon the spindle i of the roller H¹. The ink roller L
reccives automatically a partial rotation at each up stroke of the cylinder A
in order to present a fresh inked surface to the distributing roller H¹, by
which means the supply of ink to the surface of the latter is constantly
renewed.
This partial rotation of the ink roller L is obtained in the following
manner, videlicet:-On the end of the roller L there is secured a ratchet
wheel P, with the teeth of which gears a pawl q, carried by a rocking
frame M loosely mounted on the roller L, which frame during the ascent
of the cylinder A is brought into contact with a tappet r carried by a
bar N attached to the frame or standard E, by which means the rocking
frame M is caused to turn on the roller L, and impart motion to the
ratchet wheel p, and through it to the ink roller L, the pawl q however
passing over the teeth of the ratchet wheel p during the return motion
of the frame M on the descent of the cylinder A without acting upon
such ratchet wheel, so that an intermittent motion of the roller L in one
direction is obtained. A cam lever or similar means may be provided
for throwing the pawl q out of contact with the ratchet wheel p when
required.
The distribution over the surface of the cylinder A. of the ink supplied
to the roller H' and the inking of the type are effected by the following-
arrangement: The cranks F, F, are each provided with a pin O, which
pins enter cam or eccentric grooves or slots P, P, formed in two arms or
brackets Q, Q, secured to or cast in one piece with the main frame E,
and are arranged in such a manner as to be capable when the cylinder A
is raised or lowered of traversing the said grooves or slots. When:

page_text: the cylinder is elevated the effect of the pins O, O, traversing the
grooves or slots P, P, is to change the position of the centre of gravity
of the entire distributing apparatus consisting of the cheeks G, G,
carrying the distributing rollers H, H', and the segmental discs carrying
the inking rollers I, I, and the preponderance on one side thus produced
causes the distributing apparatus to partially revolve bodily in the
direction of the arrows around the cylinder A away from the ink roller L
into the position shewn by red lines in Figure 1, by which means the
ink which has been supplied by the ink roller L to the distributing
roller H is distributed by such roller H' and also by the rollers H. over 1
the surface of the cylinder A, and is thence taken by the inking
rollers I, I, and supplied to the type at a, which is thus inked ready for
the down stroke of the cylinder A on to the envelopes or other articles
to be printed, stamped, or embossed. During the descent of the cylinder A
the pins O, O, return along the grooves or slots P, P, whereby the dis- 1
tributing apparatus is caused to perform a partial revolution in the
opposite direction, so as to leave the type clear and unobstructed when
the cylinder A arrives at the bottom of its stroke.
The vertical reciprocating motion of the cylinder A may be obtained
by means of a treadle or similar device. When a treadle is employed it
is connected to the outer end of a lever R, which is supported on a centre
or fulcrum at s in a link thinged to the frame E, and is attached at its
opposite end by a pin u to the sliding bar D.
In printing, stamping, or embossing envelopes (for example) a pile of
envelopes, by preference in the unfolded condition, is first placed between
the rods B, which form registration guides, so as to ensure a perfect
register, and the machine being set in motion the cylinder A descends,
and prints, stamps, or embosses one of the envelopes, which is removed
during the subsequent ascent of the cylinder.
The cylinder A and distributing apparatus first rise together bodily;
(the distributing roller H' by its contact with the ink roller L having
received a supply of ink), 'the distributing apparatus then partially
rotates, distributing the ink over the surface of the cylinder, and then
inking the type in the manner before mentioned. When the cylinder
has nearly completed its up stroke the tappet" strikes the rocking
frame M, so as to partially rotate the ink roller, and provide a fresh
inked surface for the supply of the distributing roller H₁ for the printing,

page_text: Second. The employment of cam or eccentric grooves or slots for
imparting a reciprocating rotatory motion to the frame carrying the
distributing rollers during the reciprocating vertical motion of the non-
rotating type cylinder, such frame being supported on crank arms or
discs mounted on the axis of the cylinder, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described and as illustrated by my Drawings.
Third. The combination with the ink roller of a ratchet lever operated
by a tappet during the motion of the type cylinder, substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before described and as illustrated by my
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Hely, have to this my
. Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of
April, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.