IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO LETTER- PRESS PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Farmer, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO LETTER-
PRESS PRINTING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Farmer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1876.
JAMES FARMER, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
MENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO LETTER-PRESS PRINTING MACHINES."
"IMPROVE-
My Invention relates to the apparatus by which the ink is supplied to the type
roller or type frame, and it consists in engraving or indenting the whole surface of
the "dock roller," that is to say, the roller which revolves in the ink trough, and
which is usually made with a plain surface. The surplus ink is scraped off the
engraved dock roller by means of a thin blade of metal which is pressed against the
surface by a spring or weight, leaving the recesses of the engraved or indented
surface full of ink. The ink is carried out of the indentations by the usual inter-
mediate roller and delivered to the ordinary distributing table roller or table, on
which it is spread by rubbing rollers, and from which it is deposited on the type by
the usual means.
By thus engraving or indenting the dock roller the supply of ink is at all times
uniform, and consequently the printing is more regular than heretofore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Farmer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th April
1877.
"
JAMES FARMER, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO LETTER-PRESS PRINTING MACHINES."
My Invention relates to the apparatus by which the ink is supplied to the type
roller or type frame, and it consists in engraving or indenting the whole surface of
the duct or dock roller, that is to say, the roller which revolves in the ink trough
Price Adı

page_text: and which is usually made with a plain surface. The surplus ink is scraped off the
engraved duct or dock roller by means of a thin blade of metal which is pressed
against the surface by a spring or weight, leaving the recesses of the engraved or
indented surface full of ink. The ink is carried out of the indentations by the usual
intermediate roller and delivered to the ordinary distributing table roller or table,
on which it is spread by other rollers having a traversing as well as a revolving
motion, and from which it is deposited on the type or stereotype by the usual
means.
By thus engraving or indenting the duct or dock roller the supply of ink is at all
times uniform, and consequently the printing is more regular than heretofore.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, and readily carried
into operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in
which Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 a transverse section of part of an ordinary
letter-press printing machine to which my improvements are applied.
a is the ink trough in which the duct roller b revolves slowly in the direction of
the arrow. This roller instead of having a plain surface as now customary is
engraved or indented with fine pin points or other shaped recesses which are filled
with ink as the roller revolves. The surplus ink is scraped off the circumference of
the roller b by the thin blade of metal c, commonly called a "doctor," which is fixed
to the cross bar d mounted in fixed bearings; the doctor is pressed against the
surface of the roller b by the weights e suspended to levers fixed on the axle of the
cross bar d, or springs may be used instead of weights; after the surplus ink has
been cut off the surface of the roller b by the doctor d the ink that fills the indenta-
tions is deposited on the surface of the ordinary intermediate composition roller f
which delivers it to the inking table roller g. The intermediate roller f is mounted
in levers, to which a vibrating motion is given in the usual manner.
deposited on the surface of the roller g is distributed by the ordinary rubbing
rollers and then deposited on the type or on the stereotype.
The ink thus
In the ordinary inking apparatus a scraper is employed to remove the excess of
ink from the duct roller and to leave a thin film of ink on its surface, and in practice
it is found exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to keep this film of the required
thickness, but by engraving or indenting the surface of the duct roller the supply of
ink is at all times uniform, and consequently the printing is more regular and
distinct than heretofore.
Having thus stated the nature and particulars of my Invention I declare that I
claim, engraving or indenting the surface of the duct or inking roller of letter-press
printing machines whereby a uniform supply of ink is delivered to the type or to
the stereotype as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Farmer, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Twentieth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
JAB. FARMER. (L.S.)