IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRINTING PRESSES" A communication from abroad by Ira Robbins, of the
City of Camden, State of New Jersey, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES." A communication from
abroad by Ira Robbins, of the City of Camden, State of New Jersey, United States
of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in the class of presses having a hori-
zontally reciprocating platen, and is intended and adapted for printing cards. The
blank cards are fed successively downward by pushers which slide vertically in
guide ways, and are received by a device combining the functions of tympan and
platen, and are by it carried horizontally forward against the form to receive the
impression and then backward, and are discharged downward as hereinafter
described. In carrying out this Invention a stationary table is employed, upon
which the pack or bunch of blank card (for example) to be printed is placed, the
same being held vertically against suitable slotted bars by means of a spring
presser. The bars serve as guides for reciprocating pushers, which consist of bars
having fingers or flanges, or provided with one set of fingers is attached to the
said pushers by springs and second fingers attached to the other fingers by springs,
both being adjustable with reference to each other by milled nuts, so that a card
of any thickness can be forced downward from the front of the bunch at each and
every downward movement of the pushers between the end of the table and the
free lower ends of the guide bars, and thus effect its delivery to the horizontally
reciprocating tympan platen. By turning the milled nut the edges of the fingers
can be set farther apart or be drawn closer, so that a sharp edge formed on one part
projects sufficiently far beyond the other part to catch a card of a certain thickness
and for which it is set. The guide bars may be made to yield slightly to allow of
the passage of a card, or a narrow space may be left between them and the edge
of the table. When the latter construction is adopted, it is preferred to make the

page_text: horizontal ways with hinged pieces on their ends, leaving between such piece and
the guide bars a space equal to the thickness of the card, or a little greater. The
cards are supported upon these ends, and should the face card be set back at the
bottom from the guide bars, the pushers by the aid of its fingers forces the card
down into a box, carrying with it the hinged ends, and pressing back spring pins
with which they are provided until the cards slip from off them, when the said
hinged ends are forced back by the springs to receive and hold another card.
The pushers and tympan platen are connected with and simultaneously operated
by a shaft in such a manner that the tympan platen is caused to recede from the
form, and arrive under the pushers just before their ascent and remain stationary
during their descent.
The means of connection between the shaft and pushers are as follows:-
A cam fixed on the shaft acts on a vertical bar which is adjustably attached to a
horizontal bar extending along the side of the frame of the machine, the last
mentioned bar being carried on a vertical rod, from the upper end of which a third
bar projects laterally above and in the plane of the pushers which are connected
with it. The vertical rod works in guides, and as the shaft rotates the cam
alternately raises the connected parts and thereby elevates the pushers, which then
fall by the effect of gravity. The rear extension of the tympan platen has a slotted
projection or keeper in which the crank of the shaft works. The platen slides in
grooves or ways in the sides of the frame, making its forward movement imme-
diately after the pushers have descended, and thereby delivered a blank card
between parallel vertical grooved holders attached to the head thereof. These
holders are preferably constructed of sheet metal, and have arms which are bent
over the platen head and provided with horizontal slots through which are inserted
clamp screws.
The holders are provided with flat springs which are situate inside and imme-
diately at the back of the card to be printed. When the card is receiving the
impression it is forced up tight against the platen, compressing these springs, and
when the platen has receded these springs force the card from the platen, preventing
it from sticking after printing. By loosening the said screws and sliding the
holders on the head, the holders may be adjusted for cards of different sizes.
When the cards enter between the holders they are pressed up against the side
of one holder by a register attached and operated by the motion of the tympan
platen head by an adjustable table slotted bar having an upright rigid stud, upon
which is a sleeve carrying a rotating cross bar; one end of the last mentioned bar
impinges on an adjustable slotted guide cam (attached to the main guide ways),
and the other of the said rotating cross bar carries a vertical spring finger which
presses against one end of each card after it drops into the box, thus securing a
uniform registry, so that if desired cards may be printed in two or more colors.
After dropping into the holders the cards are supported by a bar which forms the
movable bottom of the platen or card holder. This bar is moved with the platen
proper, but has also an independent movement for the purpose of allowing the
cards to escape from the holders after having received the required impression, that
is to say, when the platen is receding from the form the bar moves backward still
faster, and the card which has just been printed having then no support slides
downward by its own gravity, and passes from the tympan platen into a suitable
receptacle.
This independent movement of the bar is produced by the following mechanism :-
A bar extends rearwardly from the card supporting bar, and from the former a
stud projects up through a longitudinal slot in an extension of the platen. A spring
acts against this stud and holds it pressed against the front end of the slot except
when opposed by a lever which is provided. In such position of the parts the
edges of the card supporting bar projects under the holder or platen proper. The
lever is pivotted flat wise and centrally to the tympan, one end being in contact
with the stud and the other projecting over the inner edge of one of the fixed
guides or ways of the sliding platen. A flat spring abutment is secured to the

page_text: way, and the outer end of the lever alternately alides under and along the side of
a flange or downward projection formed on the free end of the same; thus when
the tympan platen moves forward the outer end of the lever passes under the
rajsed end of the abutment, the inner end of the lever being in such case held in
place by a screw or pin. But when the tympan-platen recedes from the form
the outer end of the lever abuts against and is opposed by the flange on the end of
the abutment, so that it passes along and in contact with the side of the flange.
Thus the inner end of the lever is thrown backward and the stud forced back in
the slot, thereby also drawing the card supporting bar quickly backward.
As soon as the outer end of the lever passes behind the flange of the abutment
the spring forces the bar forward again.
The chase is held vertically in the frame, and adjusted higher or lower or
laterally as required by means of screws which pass through the sides of the
frame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
June 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PRESSES." A communication from
abroad by Ira Robbins, of the City of Camden, State of New Jersey, United States
of America.
The said Invention relates to improvements in the class of presses having a
horizontally reciprocating platen, and is intended and adapted for printing cards.
The blank cards are fed successfully downward by pushers which slide vertically
in guide ways, and the cards are received by a device combining the functions of
tympan and platen, and are by it carried horizontally forward against the form to
receive the impression, and then backward, and are discharged downward, as
bereinafter fully described.
And in order that the 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 represents a side elevation (with part
broken away), of a printing press constructed according to the said Invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the same taken along the line 1-2
(Figure 1); Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along the line 3-4,
Figure 4; Figure 4 is a plan of the upper side of the frame which carries the
platen; Figure 5 is an inverted plan of the same; Figure 6 is a vertical cross
section taken along the line 5-6, Figure 4; Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, are sectional
details, which will be hereinafter described.

page_text: A is a stationary table upon which the pack or bunch of blank cards is placed, the
same being held vertically against bars B by means of a spring presser C. The
bars B serve as guides for reciprocating pushers D, which consist of bars having
fingers or flanges, or provided with fingers D¹ (Figure 9), attached to the said
pushers by springs, and second fingers D, attached to the fingers D' by springs,
both being adjustable with reference to each other by milled nuts Ds, so that a
card of any thickness can be forced downward from the front of the bunch at each
and every downward movement of the pushers D between the end of the table A
and the free lower ends of the guide bars B, and thus effect its delivery to the
horizontally reciprocating tympan-platen E. By turning the milled nut D³, the
edges and d² of the fingers D1 and D2 can be set farther apart or be drawn
closer, so that a sharp edge formed on the part d' projects sufficiently far beyond
the other part & to catch a card of a certain thickness, and for which it is set. As
shown in Figure 9 the card is being forced down, and as the pusher D ascends, the
part d is pressed out by the next card, thereby springing the fingers D¹ and D³
from the pusher D, but immediately after the part d' has passed above the cards
they are forced out against the bars B and part d³, and another card is ready to be
forced downward. The bars B may be made to yield slightly to allow of the passage
of a card, or a narrow space may be left between them and the edge of the
table.
When the latter construction is adopted, it is preferred to arrange the parts as
shown in Figure 9, in which the horizontal ways are supplied on their ends with
hinged pieces E, leaving between such pieces and the bars B a space equal to the
thickness of the card or a little greater. The cards are supported upon these
ends E, and should the face card be set back at the bottom from the bars B, the
pushers D by the aid of its fingers forces the card down into a box b, carrying
with it the hinged ends, pressing back pins e³ which work in bearings et, and
compressing springs by projections e³ from the ends E¹, until the cards slips
from off them, when the said hinged ends are forced back by the springs e³ to
receive and hold another card.
The pushers D and tympan platen E are connected with and simultaneously
operated by a shaft F in such a manner that the tympan platen is caused to recede
from the form, and arrive under the pushers just before their ascent, and remain
stationary during their descent.
:-
The means of connection between the shaft and pushers are as follows:-
A cam G fixed on the shaft acts on a vertical bars H, which is adjustably attached
to a horizontal bar I extending along the side of the frame L of the machine. The
bar I is carried on a vertical rod K, from the upper end of which a third bar M
projects laterally above and in the plane of the pushes D, which are connected
with it as shewn.
The rod K works in guides, and as the shaft F rotates, the cam G alternately
raises the connected parts H, I, K, M, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, and
thereby elevates the pushers D, which then fall by the effect of gravity. The rear
extension of the tympan platen E has a slotted projection or keeper a, in which
the crank of the shaft F works. The platen slides in grooves or ways in the sides
of the frame L, making its forward movement immediately after the pushers D have
descended and thereby delivered a blank card between parallel vertical grooved
holders b attached to the head & thereof. These holders are preferably constructed
of sheet metal, and have arms c which are bent over the platen head d and
provided with horizontal slots, through which are inserted clamp screws c.
The holders b are provided with flat springs b', which are situate inside, as
shown in Figures 10 and 11, and immediately at the back of the card to
be printed. When the card is receiving the impression it is forced up tight
against the platen, thus compressing the springs 6, and when the platen has
receded the said springs force the card from the platen, preventing it from
sticking after printing. By loosening the screws e and sliding the holders b on
the head & the holders may be adjusted for cards of different sizes.

page_text: When the cards enter between the holders 6 they are pressed up against the side
of one holder by a register attached and operated by the motion of the tympan
platen head by means of an adjustable slotted bar 62, having an upright rigid
stud b', upon which is a sleeve carrying a rotating cross bar B¹; one end of the last
mentioned bar impinges on an adjustable slotted guide cam / (attached to the main
guideways L), and the other end of the said rotating cross bar carries a vertical
spring finger 63, which presses against one end of each card after it drops into the
box, thus securing a uniform registry, so that, if desired, cards may be printed in
two or more colors. After dropping into the holders b the cards are supported by a
bar O, which forms the moveable bottom of the platen or card holder. This bar is
moved with the platen proper, but has also an independent movement for the
purpose of allowing the cards to escape from the holders b after having received the
required impression, that is to say, when the platen is receding from the form the
bar O moves backwards still faster, and the card which has just been printed
having then no support slides downward by its own gravity, and passes from the
tympan platen into a suitable receptacle (not shewn in the Drawings.
This independant movement of the bar O is produced by mechanism next herein-
after described. A bar R extends rearwardly from the bar O, and from the
former a stud S projects up through a longitudinal slot in an extension N of the
platen. A spring T acts against the stud, and holds it pressed against the front
end of the slot except when opposed by a lever V. In such position of the parts
the edges of the bar O project under the holder or platen proper E, as shewn in
Figures 3, 4, 7. The lever V is pivoted flatwise and centrally to the part E, one
end being in contact with the stud S and the other projecting over the inner edge
of one of the fixed guides or ways of the sliding platen. A flat spring abutment W
is secured to the way; and the outer end of the lever V alternately slides under and
along the side of a flange or downward projection formed on the free end of the
same; thus when the tympan platen moves forward the outer end of the lever V
passes under the raised end of the abutment, the inner end of the lever being in
such case held in place by screw or pin e¹ But when the tympan platen recedes
from the form the outer ends of the lever abuts against and is opposed by the
flange on the end of the abutment W, so that it passes along and in contact with
the side of the flange. Thus the inner end of the lever is thrown backward, and
the stud forced back in the slot, thereby also drawing the bar O quickly
backward.
As soon as the outer end of the lever passes behind the flange of the abutment W
the spring T forces the bar O forward again
The several positions of the lever V will be fully understood upon reference to
Figures 3, 4, 6.
The chase X, Figure 1, is held vertically in the frame, and adjusted higher, or
lower, or laterally as required by means of screws y, which pass through the sides
of the frame as shown.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same 18 or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not claim broadly the combination
of vertically reciprocating pushers with slotted guides for the purpose of delivering
cards successively to a platen, but what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. In a card printing press, the combination of the cam G, the horizontal and
vertical bars I, H, the vertically sliding rod K, an arm M extending horizontally
from the latter, the pushers D attached to the said arm, and the slotted guides in
which the pushers work vertically, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. In a card printing press, the combination with the sliding platen
head E and the bar O, which forms temporarily the bottom of the card holders b
of the lever V, pivotted to the said plated head, and the stud S, fixed in the bar,

page_text: and an abutment W fixed on the ways or frame, all as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, whereby the operation of the lever
causes the said bar to move back with the platen head but more quickly, for the
purpose herein specified.
Thirdly. In a card printing press, the combination of the crank shaft and its &
cam G with the horizontally sliding platen head E having card holders attached to
its vertical portion and with the vertically reciprocating pushers, slotted guides,
arm M, rod K, and bars H, I, all substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. In a card printing press, the combination of the vertically reciprocating 1
pushers D with the tympan platen which reciprocates horizontally and mechanism,
substantially as described, for operating the latter, whereby it is caused to recede
from the form, and arrives under the pushers just before their ascent and remain
stationary during their descent, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifthly. In a card printing press, the combination of the lever V with the spring
abutment, the bars O, R, stud spring, and reciprocating platen, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly. In a card printing press, the combination of crank shaft, the vertically
acting card pushers D, the rod K, and cam G, the horizontally sliding platen E, the
sliding bars O, R, lever V, stud and spring abutment W, all constructed, arranged,
and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing
Seventhily. In a card printing press, a pusher composed of parts D, D², D³, D³,
d and d³, and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Eighthly. In a card printing press, horizontal ways for the support of the cards,
provided at their ends with hinged pieces E' kept up by springs, substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Ninthly. In a card printing press, the holder 6 provided with a spring b to
prevent the card from sticking to the platen, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Tenthly. In a card printing press, a registering device composed of a rotary
bar B¹, supported upon an adjustable bar b, and operated at one end by a guide
cam 7, and provided at the other end with a spring finger b³ for the purpose of
forcing the card laterally into one of the holders b, substantially as herein before
described,
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, One thousand
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)