IMPROVEMENTS IN CHROMATIC PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CHROMATIC PRINTING MACHINES." A communication
from abroad by E. Ernest Caduc, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHROMATIC PRINTING
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by E. Ernest Caduc, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to chromatic printing machinery and comprises the
following novel features, that is to say:-A platen designed to be raised and lowered
by a double crank shaft, whereby the said platen is uniformly operated on both
sides; providing the platen with guided steins for operating it correctly and pre-
venting warping; weighted levers which prevent rapid descent of the platen and
assist in its rising motion; one or more inking or color applying rollers fitted to
guided bosses and operated by arms which pass the rollers steadily and quickly
over the form, the construction, arrangement, and operation being as hereinafter set
forth; a system of rollers and cylinders, and operating parts, constructed and
adapted as hereinafter set forth, whereby the color is properly distributed and
spread, and evenly supplied to the form; feed-rollers operated intermittently by
mechanism, as hereinafter set forth; and a stop or throw-off for the pawl of the
feed-ratchet, whereby when the feed is accomplished and the impression is effected
the feed is inoperative, and the strip or sheet remains passive, thus preventing
tearing of the sheet and blurring of the print.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a top view or plan of a press or machine embodying my Invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are a side and end elevation thereof.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.

page_text: A represents the frame of the press, and B, uprights thereof, at the top of which
is supported the stationary bed-plate C; D represents the platen which is guided
on the uprights B and operates beneath the bed-plate, which with the platen is
arranged horizontally.
To the underside of the platen at points opposite to each other are connected
yokes E within each of which slides a cross-head F, and to said heads F is
connected a double crank-shaft G, whose bearings are on suitable parts of the frame
of the press; this shaft constitutes in a measure the main or driving shaft of the
machine.
From the under side of each end of the platen depends a stem H which enters
and is guided in an opening in the base a of the press.
It will be seen that when power is communicated to the crank-shaft G sliding
motions are imparted to the cross-heads F, and the yokes E are caused to rise and
fall, thus advancing the platen to and from the form, which is suspended from the
underside of the bed-plate c by means of strips b.
By means of the double-crank shaft G and stems H the platen is uniformly and
steadily advanced at both sides, so that it is presented correctly to the form.
The paper or material is fed from a roll mounted on the bed-plate or other proper
part of the frame-work, and moves on the upper face of the platen at a right angle
to the motion of the inking rollers J, which are mounted on bearings J' having
sliding motions on the outer sides of the strips b. Connected to the bearings J' are
jointed arms K, the lower ends of which are fixed to a rock-shaft L mounted on the
frame A, and receives motion from an arm M' which engages with a cam M. on the
crank-shaft G.
It is obvious that the operation of the shaft L imparts reciprocating motion to
the rollers J, which receiving the colors from the inking-cylinder N impart them to
the form.
The cylinder N is mounted on the upper portion of the frame A, and adjacent to
and in contact with it there is a cylinder N₁ which is in contact with a cylinder N
both mounted on the frame A. On the shaft of the cylinder N" is a cam d against
which bears an arme of a rock-shaft f mounted on the frame A, and supporting-
arms on whose upper ends is supported a roller P, which is alternately brought
in contact with the cylinder N" and the roller Q of the fountain R.
The cylinders N, N¹, N", rotate together by means of gear-wheels g, and power
is communicated to one of the wheels by a band-wheel or pulley h operated from
a suitable portion of the press, and the fountain-roller Q is intermittently rotated
by means of a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism k operated from one of the gear
wheels g.
S, S, represent rollers which rest freely on the cylinders N, N1, and have their
ends guided on the upper portion of the frame A. One end of each roller has a
neck which enters an ear m jointed to a hinged bar T formed of two parts hinged
together, each having a pivotal connection with the frame-work A by means of
suitable hangers n. A horizontal arm U is pivotted to the frame A. or bed-plate C,
and has a slotted connection with the bar T, and receives swinging motion from a
cam-wheel p on the shaft of the cylinder N.
The fountain R, roller Q, and rollers S are spaced for the different colors, and
each part of the bar T has connected to it by means of the ears m two rollers S,
so that when the press is in operation, each cylinder N, N", has in contact with
it one roller S moving to the right, and one to the left.
It will be seen that by this system of rollers and cylinders the ink or color
from the fountain is properly conveyed to said rollers and cylinders, and uniformly
spread on the rollers J, and thus evenly and properly distributed to the form.
Pivotted to the base a are two weighted levers V, one for each stem H of the
platen. The inner end of each lever bears or rests against the bottom of the
respective stem, whereby when the platen descends the weights of the levers resist
the same, and thus prevent rapidity in the descent. When the platen rises the
weights of the levers assist the same, and thus ease the operations of the press

page_text: it being noticed that the platen with connected parts is a heavy portion of the
press.
This
The paper or strip to be printed is drawn forward by an intermittent motion,
whereby it is carried each time the distance of a division of the form, so that it is
presented successively to each division, and thus receives the different colors.
motion is obtained from rollers or discs 8 which are geared with a cylinder s¹,
between which discs and cylinder the strip is passed in close contact, the discs and
cylinder being mounted on arms or extensions of the platen D. On the shaft of
the discs 8 is secured a ratchet wheel W, the pawl W₁ being hung from the upper
limb of an elbow-lever X, which is mounted loosely on the shaft of the discs 8.
The other limb of said lever X is slotted and connected by a pin or screw to the
lower part of a telescopic piece Y, which is secured to the bed-plate C by an arm t¹¹.
A spring bears against the lower part of the piece Y. An adjusting-nut t¹ is
fitted to the upper part of said piece, and an upright screw Z is fitted to an arm on
the platen, and so located as to strike the elbow-lever X.
It will be seen that as the platen rises the lever X and pawl W₁ are moved
inwardly, thus rotating the ratchet wheel W and dises 8 in the direction of the
arrow Figure 2. This pulls or draws the paper the distance of one division of the
form. As soon as the impression is to be made, the screw Z strikes the lever X
and stops or throws off the pawl W₁, the lower part of the telescopic piece Y
yielding owing to the pressure on said lever X. The discs 8 immediately become
stationary, and the strip of paper or material is rendered immovable during the
printing operation. When the platen descends the lever X is disengaged from the
screw Z and the pawl returns, riding freely over the teeth of the ratchet wheel W,
whereby the latter remains passive and the paper is not moved. On the next
motion of the platen the ratchet is again operated and the paper fed forward, and
thus the work continues as long as desired or necessary.
As the feeding mechanism is located opposite to the place of entrance of the sheet
to be printed, said sheet will be pulled in contra-distinction to pushed, and thus the
sheet inay be moved uniformly and held taut and thin material may be readily
printed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. In a printing machine, the platen, in combination with the double crank-
shaft, cross heads, and yokes, substantially as and for the purpose above set forth.
Second. The platen, in combination with the yokes provided with stems and the
base, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Third. The platen, in combination with the weighted levers pivotted to the base
and bearing against the stems, substantially as and for the purpose above set
forth.
Fourth. The inking rollers and guided boxes or bearings, in combination with
the jointed arms, the rock-shaft arm M', and the cam M, substantially as and for
the purpose above set forth.
Fifth. The vibrating rollers, in combination with the hinged bar consisting of
two or more pieces hinged together, and each of which pieces is hinged to the
frame and provided with an arm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The cylinders N, N', N", the intermittently operated fountain roller, and
the oscillating roller, all arranged to operate, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Seventh. The stop or throw-off device, in combination with the elbow-lever,
which carries the pawl of the feed-ratchet, arranged and operating as described and
for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The ratchet-wheel, pawl, elbow-lever, screw, and telescopic piece, in
combination with the feed-rollers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Ninth. In a printing machine, the combination with the feed-rollers of the
telescopic piece, the spring, and the adjusting nut, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)