IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPA- RATUS USED IN PRINTING WITH COLORS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Charles Gover, of 9, Princes Street,
Bedford Row, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPA-
RATUS USED IN PRINTING WITH COLORS."
Sealed the 9th April 1858, and dated the 21st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Charles
Gover at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 21st October 1852.
I, HENRY CHARLES GOVER, of 9, Princes St., Bedford Row, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS USED IN PRINTING WITH
COLORS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of improvements in constructing printing
presses for printing several colors in succession on to the same paper or
fabric; and the parts are so combined that according to the number of
colors which the press is intended to print so is the number of plattens
or pressing surfaces, at equal distances from a common centre. On to
these plattens the blocks or printing surfaces are formed or fixed, and
there is an inking apparatus to apply color to each of the printing

page_text: surfaces which act each time after the printing surfaces have operated.
The several pieces of paper or fabric are placed in succession on to
suitable surfaces formed or affixed to a rotating table, there being as
many such surfaces on the table as there are plattens or pressing sur-
faces, so that at each rotation of the table all the colors and impressions
of the several blocks will be printed; and in order that every piece of
paper or fabric may in succession receive an impression from all the
printing surfaces, the table is caused to move each time a distance equal
to that between two neighbouring printing surfaces, so that at the next
time of action the printing surface gives its impression to a fresh sup-
plied piece of paper or fabric, and all the other pieces of paper or fabric
previously in the machine are carried forward one stage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Charles Gover in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
HENRY CHARLES GOVER, of 9, Princes Street, Bedford Row, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Henry Charles Gover, Her special licence
that I, the said Henry Charles Gover, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Charles Gover,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, 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 Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS USED IN PRINTING WITH COLOURS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Charles

page_text: Gover, 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 Henry Charles Gover, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of improvements in constructing printing
presses for printing several colors in succession on to the same paper or
fabric; and the parts are so combined that according to the number of
colors which the press is intended to print so is the number of plattens
or pressing surfaces, at equal distances from a common centre. On to
these plattens the blocks or printing surfaces are formed or fixed, and
there is an inking apparatus to apply color to each of the printing
surfaces, which act each time after the printing surfaces have operated.
The several pieces of paper or fabric are placed in succession on to
suitable surfaces formed or affixed to a rotating table, there being as
many such surfaces on the table as there are plattens or pressing
surfaces, so that at each rotation of the table all the colors and im-
pressions of the several blocks will be printed; and in order that every
piece of paper or fabric may in succession receive an impression from
all the printing surfaces, the table is caused to move each time a
distance equal to that between two neighbouring printing surfaces, so
that at the next time of action the first printing surface gives its
impression to a fresh supplied piece of paper or fabric, and all the
other pieces of paper or fabric previously in the machino are carried
forward one stage.

page_text: shaft, by which they are all actuated. A, A, A, are cast iron upright
pillars or frames carrying a top cross frame or head B, and a lower
frame or cross piece C, C, upon which is fastened the bed of the press
D, D, on which is placed the blocks or plates E, E, to be printed from.
The plattens F, F, are so arranged that by means of a double lever G, G,
they may be raised sufficiently high from off the blocks E, E, as to
admit of a series of conical inking rollers H, H, moving or rolling upon
the blocks E, E, and yet not touching the plattens F, F. These plattens
are kept in their places by working between two grooved end bars I, I,
cast on to the framing A, A, and made tight by the usual means adopted
in hand printing presses. The top of the double levers G, G, are
attached to a joint fixed in the under side of the cross head B, but not
shewn in the Drawing; and that the lower joint is fixed between the
two slings J, J, shewn in an end view in Figure 8. The plattens are
thus made to rise and fall by means of the levers being brought from
their angular position, as drawn to a straight line by means of rods a, a,
Figure 6, attached to the centre joint. These rods are worked by means
of friction pullies b, b, Figures 6, and 7, working in a cam wheel K,
shown also at Figure 7, and so arranged that during one half of the
revolution of the centre shaft L, which carries the cams, the pullics b, b,
are quiet, and the plattens are raised from the blocks so as to admit of
the inking rollers being moved to and fro over the blocks E, so as to
ink the blocks E, as well as to admit of the part which carry the paper
being also shifted from one block to another to be ready for another
impression. On the shaft L, is shewn another way of accomplishing
the same object by means of friction pullies c, c, worked by a cam d,
(Figures 1, and 2).
Figure 3, represents the circular table which moves to and fro
carrying the inking rollers e, c, c (the rollers being conical to suit the
circular motion). The two rings are united by means of stretching
bars, one being shewn at f; the doctor 7, and ink surface h, being
constructed as is usual in printing machines. The central shaft I,
has a bevilled wheel M, upon it, into which is geared a bevil pinion N,
which revolves six times to once of the wheel M. Upon the shaft O,
is fixed another pinion P, shewn in Figure 5, which works inside of an

page_text: endless rack Q, which pinion. P, makes six, revolutions to one to and
fro movement of the rack Q. The rack Q, has an upward and down<
ward motion of a small quantity, being the distance in excess of the
diameter of the rack to that of the pinion, which: motion is used for
the purpose of giving an alternate motion to the circular table' R,
which carries the tympans, &c. for the paper in one direction only,
by means of the catch h, coming in contact with the stop'i, only when
the pinion P, is working in the lower part of the rack Q;. the length
of stroke which the rack makes being equal to rather more than one
sixth part of the revolution of the circular table R. The same alter-
nate motion of the rack Q, is used for giving motion to the inking
apparatus, which is carried backwards and forwards a less' quantity
than the sixth part of the circle by the space left between the two
projecting pins k, k, fixed in the rings which carry the inking apparatus.
1,1, shews the usual method of guide forks attached to the rings. S, S,
for carrying the inking rollers. The rack Q, is not attached to the
ring $, but works in a separate framing not shown'in the Drawing.
The rack Q, is counterbalanced by means of the weights T, T, on
the ends of the levers U, U, so that at each end of the upward and
downward motion of the rack, the weights T, T, may be alternately on
one and then another side of thin fulcrum V, V. The levers U, U, are
likewise connected by a rod W, to ensure uniformity of action.
Figure 4, is a plan of the circular table which carries the tympans
for the paper. When these tympans or frames descend at each stroke of
the platten, they are guided by means of grooved pieces m, m, attached
to the ring R, into which work the frames n, n, which carry the paper,
it being held fast by means of points (not shewn in the Drawing) in
the tympan O, fitting into the frame 12.
Figure 12, represents a method of easily adjusting the separate
blocks, so as to get them into register without taking them off, by means
of a frame a, into which are fitted eight adjusting screws 6, the points
of which press against an inner frame c, into which is fastened in the
usual method the block or plate E, to be printed from.
The blank space left in Figure 2, marked r, is for the purpose of
enabling the workman to take off and lay on the sheets of paper from

page_text: each tympan in the circular ring R, as they come round in succession.
In the first place waste sheets will have to be fed in until they are all
full, when clean sheets may then be fed and continued until the waste
sheets are emptied; and the process then continues uninterrupted by
each sheet having five separate colours impressed upon it, according to
the arrangement shewn (but other numbers may be employed) at each
movement of the circular ring R.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would remark that when heavy
printing blocks or surfaces are used I prefer them to be fixed to a lower
table, as shown, and not on the plattens or pressing surfaces; but if
the printing surfaces are light, they may be formed or fixed on the
plattens or pressing surfaces. I do not, however, claim the forming or
fixing of the printing surfaces, either to a separate table, or to the
platten; and I would state other variations may be made in the details
of the machine, so long as the peculiarity of the combination herein
described be retained, whereby a number of plattens or pressing sur-
faces are arranged equi-distant from a common center, and are combined
with a rotating table or apparatus for moving the paper or fabric, and
with inking apparatus, as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Charles Gover, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of
April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-three
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE.
HENRY C. GOVER. (L.S.)