IMPROVEMENTS IN COPPER AND OTHER PLATE PRINTING
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Neale, of Cincinnati, in the United States of
America, and of No. 17, Cornhill; in the City of London; Copper. Plate
Printer; for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COPPER AND OTHER PLATE
PRINTING."
Sealed the 10th September 1855, and dated the 14th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left, by the said Robert Neale at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents,, with his Petition, on the 14th
March 1855.
I; ROBERT NEALE, of Cincinnati, in the United States of America, & of
No., 17, Cornhill, in the City of London, Copper Plate Printer, do hereby
declare the. nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COPPER AND
OTHER PLATE PRINTING" to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists in inking, wiping, polishing, and printing
an engraved plate, having a reciprocating motion by mechanical means alone,
or by mechanical and chemical: means combined, without the assistance of 'the
human hand in the wiping & polishing processes.
In my machine the engraved plate is attached to a reciprocating bed, and
its engraved surface is always upwards, the inking, wiping, and polishing
apparatus being placed above it. Chemical means are moreover added to
mechanical appliances to facilitate the cleansing of the plate, and of the
wipers and polishers.

page_text: The inking is performed by rollers, and I construct the roller carriages in
such a manner that I can regulate with exactness the line at which the ink
shall be applied to & leave the plate, thus confining the ink to the engraved.
portion, which saves ink, facilitates wiping, & secures clean margins to the
paper.
The wiping is performed by wipers made of fine smooth leather, and stuffed
or lined with some soft elastic material. These wipers are attached to arms
or spokes of a wheel working on a vertical axis, and having a horizontal
rotation. This wheel is made so nicely adjustable that the wipers shall touch
the plate with the least degree of pressure required to cleanse it. I place
three wipers on each spoke or arm, the plate in its progress from the inking
rollers to the pressure rollers passing successively under the three sets. These
wipers which remove the ink from the plate will themselves be cleansed by
passing over revolving endless belts of cloth supplied with suitable chemical or
other materials to aid the cleansing process. Belts of brushes may be
substituted for those of cloth, if preferred. Three belts are employed to cleanse
the three sets of wipers. The set that first comes in contact with the plate,
having the greater portion of the ink to remove, will pass over belts or brushes
moistened with spirits of turpentine; the second set, over those moistened with
a solution of caustic potass and lime mixed with turpentine; and the third set,
which merely completes the polishing, over a dry belt supplied with powdered
whiting. I keep the blankets tight by passing them over a roller attached
to one end of a bent lever, which has a weight of proper size at the other.
The paper to be printed is supplied to the pressure rollers by means of an
endless belt in a well-known mode. I confine the pressure of the pressure
rollers to the engraved portion of the plate by means of a piece of leather
or other proper material placed on either side of the tympan, and made of the
exact size of the engraved portion of the plate, and so placed as to come over
that portion only. This prevents the indentation of the paper, and keeps
its edges clean.
The machine is placed in a proper framework, and the various parts are
driven by well-known mechanical means, which will be fully described and
illustrated in my final Specification and the Drawings which will accom-
many it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Neale in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
NEALE, of Cincinnati, in the United States of America, and of No. 17,
Cornhill, in the City of London, Copper Plate Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Neale, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Neale, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Neale, 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 COPPER AND
OTHER PLATE PRINTING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Neale, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Neale, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in
which Figure 1 is a side view of the machine; Figure 2 is a top view of that
part of the machine containing the wipers and polishers, and the cleaning
apparatus, as arranged on each side of the machine. The same parts are
designated by the same letters in all the Figures.
The nature of my Invention consists in effecting the processes of inking,
wiping, polishing, and printing from an engraved plate, having a reciprocating
motion, and also in giving the plate said motion by mechanical means, and in
the wiping and polishing processes, aiding these means by combining with
them chemical ones if desired; and may be described as follows:-
The engraved plate N in this machine is attached to a reciprocating bed,
and its engraved surface is always upwards, the inking, wiping, and polishing

page_text: apparatus being placed above it.
Drawings by the letters Z, Z, Z, Z.
band wheel, receiving motion from the prime mover by band C, C. The
shaft holds also the pinion D, which works into spur wheel E on the cam
shaft F. E geers into wheel C on the shaft of the roller H, called the upper
pressure roller, through two intermediate geer. This is always stationary as
to its position, although adjustable by means of set screws. H¹, or other device.
It is shown by the dotted lines.
The main frame is represented in the
A is the main or driving shaft; B is its
It may simplify the description if from this point we consider and describe,
'first, the mode by which the reciprocating motion is effected; 'and' in 'this
connection the mode by which the engraved plate fixed on the bed plate 'n', to
which the reciprocating motion is given, is caused to be pressed against the
upper pressure roller H, or in other words the manner in which the printing
is effected.
Secondly, the manner of regulating the inking rollers so that the ink-can
or need only be applied to the engraved part of the plate.
Thirdly, the mode in which the unrequired ink is removed from the
engraved surface of the plate, and by which the plate is cleansed and polished,
'leaving the finest as well as every part of the engraving full of ink previous to
"the printing.
Fourthly, the mode by which the wipers R and the polishers S are them-
selves cleansed from the ink and other material used in order to remove the
ink easily from them.
Fifthly, the mode by which the cleansing cloths or belts are in their turn
cleansed, and again rendered fit to pass in contact with and clean the-surface
of the wipers and polishers.
First, the bed plate n', on which the engraved plate N is secured, may be a
skeleton frame, except where the engraved plate is laid, and so long.that when
moved as far back as desired from the pressure roller H, i. e., when the
engraved plate is in the position to receive the ink from the inking rollers
hereafter to be mentioned, the further end of the frame n¹ shall never be
drawn from beneath roller H. This frame or bed plate moves, as presently
described, horizontally over a series of parallel guide rollers M, M, fixed on
bearings in the frame J, J, J. This frame represented by the red lines in the
Drawings supports the bed plate, and is itself supported upon and by friction
rollers K, one each side of the frame, and by means of slotted guides J, as
represented in the frame Z, Z, or other similar device, is allowed by the action
of the cam L on the shaft 'F to be raised and lowered. The form of this cam
shows that when the circular portion of the cam is in contact with and supports

page_text: the roller K, and consequently the frame,J,.J, they will be higher than when
the other part-sustains it. The frame.J, J.also supports upon bearings the
lower pressure roller. I, and is so adjusted that when it is at its highest eleva-
tion, there shall be just sufficient, space between the two,rollers H and I.for
the bed and engraved, plate, the blankets, and whatever material, leather for
instance,, is deemed requisite to place over the tympan, to assist in giving an
equal pressure on the engraving, ito.be drawn by and to pass between the two
rollers with sufficient compression to give the desired impression. At the
instant.this.is effected the cam L properly adjusted turning, allows the friction
roller K and the whole frame L and lower pressure, roller I,to fall, and thus
frees the bed plate, engraved plate, &c. from further pressure, and at the same
time allows the rack bars attached to the underside of the bed. plate to.come
into,geer with rack pinions, which are not represented in the Drawings, and
are operated by the usual mechanical means from the main shaft A. In this
mode the bed plate, is carried, back, until it arrives at and:under its.proper
position to receive the ink, when the cam L, continually, revolving and
operating upon, the friction, roller, raises the frame.J with the bed plate to its
upper level.
Second, the engraved plate is now ready to receive its ink from the main
Drinking roller O.(which is itself supplied from a doctor roller P in the usual
way) as it is drawn forward-by-the action of the pressure rollers. H and I upon
the other end of the bed plate. But as it is desirable to apply the ink to the
plate only where actually necessary, I support the journals of the inking
croller 0, which, when not employed in inking the plate, is moved, by its
friction on the doctor roller P. (which. is itself.driven by a band from pulley X
on cam shaft :F), and of the distributing roller-Q upon carriages Y, Y,
attached to the main frame Z, Z. These carriages, are allowed a slight
vertical play by means of springs placed under them, or other similar device,
so that when unrestrained they would prevent these rollers from touching the
engraved. plate. On the lower and inner part of these carriages are slight
projections or. teeth y!,.y, these coming in contact with and being pressed
down by strips or, bearers u', u', on the sides of the bed plate, easily and
.accurately adjusted to operate at the right moment, bring down the rollers
upon the engraved bed,plate, as represented in the Drawings, when and as
long as the ink is required to be applied. When the strips have passed over
them the rollers; resume. their former position until again called into action by
the same means. The engraved, plate in this manner receives its supply of
sink.from the main roller O, and by, passing next under, the roller.Q, the inking
is perfected and completed.

page_text: Third, after the plate has received the inking, as above described, being in
continuous motion, it comes within the sphere of operations arranged to remove
all the superfluous ink, and to clean and polish the surface. This is effected
by two, or as I contemplate three, sets of wipers R and polishers S, which in
succession pass over the surface of the plate, the first removing the unnecessary
ink, and the second cleaning and polishing the surface. These operate across
from one side to the other of the plate, and are made of soft leather or other
suitable material, with a very smooth surface, rendered elastic to the touch by
layers of cotton, wadding, soft flannel, or other similar suitable material placed
beneath the leather. They are attached to the arms A, A, A, by screws or
other convenient way, removable at pleasure for adjustment, repairs, or
removal. These arms, of which I use four or more, are attached to a wheel
B', which revolves with its geer or pulley C¹ on a hollow shaft, with a collar
above and below them, the interior of which is a female screw fitted to a
stud or screw bolt, which is made fast in a vertical position to an arch or
brace attached to and supported on each side by the outer frame Z, Z, Z, Z.
This wheel is set on the vertical bolt or stud above the centre of the main
inking rollers O; the hollow shaft projects above the collar with a square nut-
head for a wrench, by which it may be turned to raise or depress the wheel,
and regulate to the greatest nicety the degree of pressure of the wipers and
polishers against the plate. The wheel geer or pulley is driven from shaft D¹,
itself being driven with bevel geer by the drum shaft H', and this by belt from
the cam shaft F.
Fourth, the wipers R and the polishers S, in passing over the surface of the
plate, having performed their office, come then to be cleaned, and this is done
by bringing them into contact with narrow endless belts or aprons I' of cloth,
or bands of brushes of the respective widths, with the cleaners upon which
they are to operate, or with a wide belt. These are supported and moved over
a series of rollers J, J, J, and so adjusted that the surface of said belts shall
be on the same level with the engraved surface of the plate N. The aprons
may be of any length, and pass over any number of rollers or drums K', K',
and be driven from the main or cam shaft, but as the arc described by the
wipers is less than that of the polishers, the wiper belt may be retained in its
horizontal position only for the space passed over by the wiper, while the other
belt or belts are arranged for the longer are of the polishers. This apparatus
is applied on both sides of the frame, so that each wiper, and polisher comes in
contact with its cleansing belt twice before it again passes over the plate.
Fifth, to facilitate the cleansing of the aprons as well as the wipers and
polishers, I moisten the former with spirits of turpentine to act as a solvent to

page_text: the ink, and render it less adhesive, or with a solution of caustic potass and
lime mixed with spirits of turpentine. These solvents may drip through holes
in the trough O¹ on to guide rollers covered with sponge or other suitable
porous material, and coming thus in contact with the aprons will keep them
continually moistened. The wipers and polishers will also receive from the
aprons a portion of these solvents, which will greatly facilitate their operation
upon the plate, and render less pressure necessary to cleanse it, thus greatly
diminishing the wear caused by the operation of wiping and polishing. And
for the third set, for although but two sets of cleaners are represented as
attached to the arms A, A, I contemplate using three, the apron is supplied
with whiting or other suitable drying material from a box P', as represented.
And the mode in which these materials are intended to be applied will be as
follows: The first or inner set of cleaners, having the greater portion of the
ink to remove, may pass over the aprons of cloth or brushes moistened with
turpentine; the second, over aprons moistened with solution of potass and
lime, or a mixture of both; and the third or outer set, which merely completes
the polishing, over a dry belt covered with whiting, but these applications may
be varied according to circumstances and the judgment of the operative. I
also apply a revolving brush R' of bristles, wire, or other material, as repre-
sented in the Drawing, to come in contact with each or all the belts, the more
effectually to remove the dirt. I consider the represented arrangement of
these belts the best adapted for causing them to be well cleaned, as the belts
can be used tighter by means of a roller in a bearing adjusted in stotted
holes S' in the framing of the machine, and the brush R' will have more effect.
I keep the printing blankets tight and smooth by connecting them with tho
tympan, on which we place the overlay, and passing them over rollers V, one
of which is attached to one end of a bent lever U, which has a weight W at
the other; and the paper to be printed is supplied by means of an endless
feeding belt T working on rollers in the usual way.
Having now described the particulars of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would observe that
I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements I
bave given, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features herein-before described; but what I consider
to be new, and claim as such, are,---
First, the application of mechanical means to the inking, wiping, and
polishing of engraved plates when such plates are attached to a reciprocating
bed with their engraved faces upwards.
Second, the frame J, J, J, constructed and operated substantially as described.

page_text: Third, the mode, substantially as described, by which the inking rollers' are
brought into operation and regulated.
Fourth, the wiping and polishing apparatus; constructed and operating sub-
stantially as described.
Fifth, the revolving brush as described, when applied to the cleaning: belts:
used for cleaning the wipers and polishers of plate printing machines..
Sixth, the application and use of spirits of turpentine, of a compound of
caustic potass and lime, or of the two mixed with spirits of turpentine, and
of whiting, or other similar drying material; separately or collectively, to facili-
tate the cleansing of the wipers and polishers and of the plates, substantially
aś described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Neale, have hereto set my
land and seal, this Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand.cight hundred and fifty-five.
ROBERT NEALE.. (L.S.).
NOURSE & Co..