Improvements in Gripper Fingers for Platen Printing Presses.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1801
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gripper Fingers for Platen Printing Presses.
1 EDWARD L. MEGILL, of 60, Duane Street in the City, County and State
of New York in the United States of America Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to sheet-grippers for job-presses, and the object thereof is to
provide an improved gripper finger which may be readily attached to the ordinary
gripper and be extended therefrom upon or against the sheet to ensure the gripper
bringing back the sheet with the platen. I attain this object by the device
illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1. is a perspective view of the device.
Figure 2. is a plan view showing the device and its modifications secured to the
ordinary grippers upon the platen with the guage-pins and a sheet in place.
Figure 3. is a perspective view of another form of the device.
The device is cut from sheet metal, and cousists of a finger A, one end of which
is intended to project from the gripper and the other to grasp it, this latter part
being shown in the drawings as turned over, so as to fit around the outer edge of
the ordinary gripper and form a spring clamp B, whose end is set so as to close
almost against its opposite side, and which when placed on the gripper will bind
tightly. I furnish the fingers with this part bent, as stated, and also with pro-
jections C. C. which are bifurcated from the sides of the fingers and left straight, so
that the pressman can turn them up against the inner edge of the gripper. By this
arrangement the inconvenience in ordering particular sizes for the different grippers
is avoided but prefer to provide the clamp part with a set screw B₁ to fasten it on
the gripper and make up the variations in width and in this case the projections C. C.
are bent up in the course of manufacture. Near the end of the finger may
be made a hook D, formed by piercing a curved notch through the edge of the
metal, to which an elastic band or piece of twine may be secured to cross
the sheet.
In the modifications shown in Figure 2. the one on the left hand gripper illustrates
how the gripper may be lengthened to hold back the sheet from the ink rollers,
the only difference in the construction being that the clamp B. and projections C. C.
are made to fold transversely instead of longitudinally. The finger shown at the
lower part of the right hand gripper is turned over and set at a right angle, so as to
form a laterally-extended finger and bear upon the sheet from the lower edge.
These fingers may be made in various widths and lengths.
The modification shown in Figure 3. represents what I term a "Hair Margin
Finger" which has a short rigid finger with the end turned down as shown, the
object being to enable a narrow margin to be taken hold of. It is of advantage in
the printing of labels &c. which may be cut down to the proper size before printing
where this device is used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A gripper-finger having a finger portion and a spring-attaching clamp (with
or without a set screw) adapted to surround the ordinary gripper, substantially as
described.
2. A. gripper finger having a finger portion with a cord-attaching hook and a
spring-attaching clamp (with or without a set screw) adapted to surround the
ordinary grinner. substantially as described.

page_text: 3. A gripper-finger having a right angle or laterally-extending-finger portion
and a spring attaching clamp (with or without a set screw) adapted to surround the
ordinary gripper substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of April 1891.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.