IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Walter Davis, of Lower Kennington
Lane, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, and John Parsons, of
Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, Printer, for the Inven-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Walter Davis
and John Parsons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
with their Petition, on the 11th November 1874.
We, BENJAMIN WALTER DAVIS, of Lower Kennington Lane, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, and JOHN PARSONS, of Hammersmith, in
the County of Middlesex, Printer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for ** IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
PRINTING," to be as follows:-
LETTER-PRESS
Our Invention relates to that kind of printing machine which is
known as the "cylinder" printing machine, and the objects of our
Invention are,-
T
In increase the sneed with which such a machine can throw

page_text: Secondly. To cause impressions taken in such a machine more
especially from high class wood engravings, or impressions taken by
means of the autotypic, graphotypic, or electrotypic processes to be
better printed than can now be effected by the ordinary machine.
Thirdly. So to arrange the machine as to permit of the issue of the 5
printed sheets on the same side of the machine as they were fed in àt
the printed side upwards on the delivery boards, this being impracticable
with the ordinary machine.
Fourthly. To give greater strength and solidity to the machine to
prevent vibration, which acts prejudicially on the printing process.
]
The first part of our Invention consists in the improved construction
and arrangement of the foundation bed or frame. This foundation bed
or frame is made of cast iron and has "mounting" cast thereon for
fixing the racks, and carrying the bearings for the driving shaft, crank
wheels, side frames, and centre carriage; by this combination and 1
arrangement stability to the whole machine is attained, and vibration
which so prejudicially affects printing processes is prevented.
Secondly. Our Invention consists of the application of a strong
carriage vertically under the cylinder and runners, so arranged that it
forms a solid section through the centre of the machine, thereby giving 2
a perfectly solid impression.
Thirdly. Our Invention consists of a novel method of stopping the
cylinder and preventing it from "overrunning;" when working it has a
single feeder" and of dispensing with cams, cranks, and connecting
gear when used as a "single feed" machine.
66
2
Fourthly. Our Invention consists of a new arrangement of "feed
boards" and of working them, whereby they have motion imparted to
them direct from the cylinder, thus dispensing with the usual and
ordinary cams and levers used when working from the crank shaft, by.
which means the construction of the machine is made more simple, 3
giving a slower and steadier motion to the feed boards owing to the fact
that motion is imparted to them when the cylinder arrives at the slowest.
part of its revolution.
Fifthly. Our Invention consists in so arranging the cylinder as to get
the feed boards at a suitable height to permit of the inking rollers and 3

page_text: "forme" being got at readily without removing the boards, and to give
a greater travel to the table, thereby permitting a larger number of
inking rollers to travel over the "forme.”
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Walter Davis and John Parsons in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th May 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, BENJAMIN
WALTER DAVIS, of Lower Kennington Lane, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, and JOHN PARSONS, of Hammersmith, in the County of
Middlesex, Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
cighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Benjamin Walter Davis and John
Parsons, Her special license that we, the said Benjamin Walter Davis
and John Parsons, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Benjamin Walter Davis and John Parsons, our
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 MACHINERY FOR LETTER-PRESS PRINTING," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Benjamin Walter Davis and John Parsons,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or their hands and seals, or under the hand and scal of one of us,
or them, 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.

page_text: 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:―
Our Invention relates to that kind of letter-press printing which is
known as "the flat surface printing machine," and the objects of our
Invention are,—.
Firstly. To increase the speed with which such a machine can throw
off impressions from the type and wood engravings placed thereon.
5
Secondly. To cause impressions taken on such a machine, more
especially from high class wood engravings or impressions taken by 10
means of the autotypic or graphotypic processes to be better printed
than can now be effected by the ordinary machine.
Thirdly. So to arrange the machine as to permit of the issue of the
printed sheets on the same side as they were fed in, viz., the printed side
upwards on the delivery boards this being impracticable with the 18
ordinary machine.
Fourthly. To give greater strength and solidity to the machine to
prevent vibration which acts prejudicially on the printing process.
And, Sixthly. An improved method of arranging the ductors.
The first part of our Invention consists in the improved construction 20
and arrangement of the foundation bed or frame; this foundation bed or
frame is made of cast iron with mounting cast on for fixing the racks
and carrying the bearings for the driving shaft, crank wheels, side
frames, and centre carriage; by this combination and arrangement as
clearly shewn on the Drawing, stability to the whole machine is attained 2
and vibration which so prejudicially affects printing processes is
prevented.
Secondly. Our Invention consists of a strong carriage vertically under
the cylinder and runners, so arranged as to form a solid section through
the centre of the machine and adding materially to its stability.
Thirdly. Our Invention consists of a novel method of stopping the
cylinder and preventing it from "overrunning" when working as a
"single feeder;" this is attained by spring stop acting as a break, as
shewn on the Drawings, dispensing with cams, cranks, and connecting
gear, when used as a single feed machine,
8
3

page_text: Fourthly. Our Invention consists of a new arrangement of "feed
boards," and of working them by connecting rods and levers actuated
by a cam direct from the cylinder, thus dispensing with the usual and
ordinary cams, springs, and levers used when working from the crank
shaft, by which means the construction of the machine is made more
simple, giving a slower and steadier motion to the feed boards, owing to
the fact that motion is imparted to them when the cylinder arrives at
the slowest part of its revolution and is almost stationary.
Fifthly. Our Invention consists in so arranging the cylinder as to get
the feed boards at a suitable height to permit of the rollers and forme
being got at readily without removing the boards, and to give a greater
travel to the table, permitting a larger number of rollers to travel over
the forme, and permitting also the printed sheets to issue on the same
side of the cylinder they were fed in at (that is) the printed side
upwards on the delivery boards.
Sixthly. Our Invention consists of a novel method of arranging the
ductors and carrying cams for the vibrating roller gear; they are driven
direct from the driving shaft by means of worm gear having an escape
motion which prevents the ink from being turned out of the ductors
should the machine be reversed, and enables the machinist to turn
the ductor rollers by hand entirely independent of the machine, the
cams enabling him to regulate the supply of ink.
And in order that our Invention may be better understood and more
readily put into operation we will now proceed to describe the Drawings
hereunto annexed, similar letters of reference refering to similar parts
in the various views.
Sheet I. contains a section through the centre of the machine
Figure 1, and a side elevation of a part of the machine.
Figure 2, Sheet 2, contains a general view of the machine drawn to a
smaller scale than Sheet I. B is the bed plate; C, D, bearings for
shafts; E, E, lower racks; F, side carriage; G, carriage for supporting
the table and forme; H, feeding board worked by connecting rod I,
lever K, and cam A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our
Invention, we would have it understood that what we claim and desire to
secure by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―

page_text: Firstly. The construction and arrangement of printing machine
framework with bed plate and bearings, as herein-before described and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement of strong carriage with rollers and
table, as herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying i
Drawings.
Thirdly. The arrangement for stopping the cylinder by spring
stop, as herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourthly. The arrangement of feed boards and connections for moving 1
same, as herein-before described and ascertained by the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifthly. The arrangement of cylinder in combination with the feed
boards, as herein-before described and ascertained by the accompanying
Drawings.
- And, Sixthly. The arrangement of ductors and carrying cams worked
by worm gearing from the driving shaft, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Benjamin Walter Davis and John
Parsons, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day
of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-five.
1
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
London, W.O.
BENJ”. W. DAVIS. (L.S.)
JOHN PARSONS.
(L.S.)