IMPROVE- MENTS IN ZINCOGRAPHIC AND LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wallace, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ZINCOGRAPHIC AND LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING."
Sealed the 1st May 1855, and dated the 6th November 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wallace at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
November 1854.
I, JAMES WALLACE, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ZINCOGRAPHIC AND LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING" to be as follows,
that is to say:-
This Invention relates to that class of zincographic and lithographic printing
machines in which a cylindrical printing surface is employed for printing con-
tinuous pieces or webs of material, and consists in an improved arrangement
of the several details of the machine, and in an improved mode of constructing
and preparing the printing cylinder when this cylinder is made with a zinc
surface. According to one modification of the zincographic printing apparatus,
the framing consists of two cast-iron side standards, connected together by tie
rods, and formed with vertical slots down the centre, for the spindles of the
various rollers. The printing cylinder is placed near the centre of the machine,
the counter pressure roller being below, and a pair of inking rollers above it,
all four rollers being in a vertical line. The inking rollers are similar in con-
struction to those used in ordinary zincographic printing presses, the upper one

page_text: being supplied with ink by hand or otherwise; their spindles work in a pair of
slotted brackets, by means of which the rollers can be lifted off the printing
roller, this being effected by eccentrics acting on the bracket. When in action,
the inking rollers rest on the printing roller by their weight only, a more
uniform pressure being produced thereby than when the pressure is obtained
by screws or other similar means. The spindles of the counter-pressure roller
revolve in bearings which work in short vertical slots in the side standards,
and these bearings have bracket arms fixed to them, extending in front of the
machine, to carry the roller from which the fabric or material to be printed is
unwound. These brackets also extend behind the machine to carry the take-
up rollers, and the brackets with the bearings of the counter-pressure roller are
raised and lowered simultaneously by means of an eccentric movement acting
on the bearings. The fabric or material to be printed passes over one or two
breadtheners previous to entering between the printing and counter-pressure
rollers. These breadtheners are of the common fixed grooved description, and
when two are used it is preferred to have one of metal and the other of wood,
the latter being nearer the printing roller. The machine is driven by means
of a spur wheel, fast on the spindle of the printing roller, or on that of the
counter-pressure roller, and the other rollers are all driven by frictional contact
except the take-up roller, which is driven by a pulley and cord from a pulley
on the same spindle as the spur wheel. The spur wheel is in gear with a
pinion on a separate shaft, upon which a winch handle is fixed, or which is
arranged to be driven by any suitable motive power. The printing roller is
moistened by means of a damping pad applied to it on one side, and put
into or out of contact by means of an eccentric or other suitable movement.
The printing cylinder is a roller of solid metal, the core or central part
being iron, which is covered by à considerable thickness of zinc. It is an
important point to have the zinc of such a thickness and solidity as not
to yield in any way to the working pressure, as would be the case were the
layer of zinc too thin. A graduated surface is produced upon the roller to
_enable it to act in a proper manner, and this surface preparation is effected in
a separate apparatus, which is self-acting, and-in-which, whilst a slow rotatory
motion is given to the roller, a rubber supplied with emery powder is made to
work upon
its surface by means of eccentrics or otherwise. It is obvious that
the general arrangements herein-before-described-are.equally applicable to the
construction of printing machines in which a cylindrical lithographic stone is
used as the printing medium.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Wallace in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th May 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
3 WALLACE, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Wallace, junior, Her special license that I, the said James
Wallace, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said James Wallace, junior, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN ZINCOGRAPHIC AND LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Wallace, junior, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Wallace, junior, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to that class of zincographic and lithographic
printing machines or apparatus in which a cylindrical printing surface is
employed for printing continuous pieces or webs of material, and it consists in
an improved arrangement of the several details of such machinery, and in an
improved mode of constructing and preparing the printing cylinder when this
cylinder is made with a zinc surface. According to one modification of the
zincographic printing apparatus, the framing consists of two cast-iron side
standards connected together by tie rods, and formed with vertical slots down

page_text: the centre, for the spindles of the various rollers. The printing cylinder is
placed near the centre of the machine, the counter-pressure roller.being
below, and a pair of inking rollers above it, all four rollers being in a vertical
line. The inking rollers are similar in construction to those used in ordinary
'zincographic printing presses, the upper one being supplied with ink by hand
or otherwise; their spindles work in a-pair of slotted brackets, by means of
which the inking rollers can be lifted off the printing roller, this being effected
by eccentrics acting on the bracket. When in action the inking rollers rest
on the printing roller by their weight only, a more uniform pressure being
produced thereby than when the pressure is obtained by screws or other
similar means. The spindles of the counter-pressure roller revolve in bearings
which work in short vertical 'slots in the side standards, and these bearings
have bracket arms fixed to them, extending in front of the machine, to carry
the roller from which the fabric or material to be printed is unwound. These
brackets also extend behind the machine to carry the take-up rollers, and
the brackets with the bearings of the, counter-pressure roller are raised and
lowered simultaneously by means of an eccentric movement acting on the
bearings, or the delivery roller may be carried in bearings in the fixed framing,
the take-up roller only being carried in the moveable brackets: The fabric or
material to be printed passes over one or two breadtheners previous to entering
between the printing and counter-pressure rollers. These breadtheners are of
the common fixed grooved description, and when two are used, it is preferred
'to have one of metal and the other of wood, the latter being nearer, to the
printing roller than the other. The machine is driven by means of a spur
wheel, fast on the spindle of the printing roller, or on that of the counter-
pressure roller; and the other rollers are all driven by frictional contact except
the take-up roller, which is driven by a pulley and cord from a pulley on the
same spindle as that carrying the spur wheel. The spur wheel is in gear with
a pinion on a separate shaft, upon which a winch handle is fixed, or which
-is-arranged to be driven by any suitable motive power. The printing roller is
moistened by means of a damping pad applied to it on one side,-and-put-into
or out of contact with it by means of an eccentric or other suitable movement.
The printing cylinder is a roller of solid metal, the core or central part being
iron, which is covered by a considerable thickness of zinc. --It-is an important
point to have the zinc of such a thickness and solidity as not to yield in any way
to the working pressure, as would be the case were the layer of zinc too thin.
A granulated surface is produced upon the roller to enable it to act in a proper
manner in printing, and this surface preparation is effected in a separate

page_text: apparatus, which is self-acting, and in which, whilst a slow rotatory motion is
given to the roller, a rubber supplied with emery powder is made to work upon
its surface by means of eccentrics or otherwise. It is obvious that the general
arrangements herein-before described are equally applicable to the construction
of printing machines in which a cylindrical lithographic stone is used as the
printing surface or medium..
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several explanatory: Figures on the two Sheets of
Drawings hereunto attached.
"Figure 1'on Sheet 1 of the Drawings is a side or end elevation of my
improved zincographic printing machine; and Figure 2 is a back elevation,
corresponding to "Figure 1. Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings is a front
elevation of my improved apparatus for granulating or preparing the zinc
surface of the printing roller; and Figure 2 is an end view, corresponding to
Figure 1. The framing of the zincographic printing machine, represented on
Sheet 1 of the Drawings, consists of two cast-iron standards A, connected
together by the wrought-iron tie rods B. The standards A are cast' with
vertical slots C, to receive the spindles of the printing roller D and the inking
rollers E, F, the printing roller D being in the lower part of the slot, whilst
the inking rollers are supported in slotted links G, so that they can be lifted
off the printing roller when necessary. The upper ends of the links Gare
passed through eyes in the top tie rod B, and are screwed for the "adjust-
ment upon them of lifting pieces H, by means of which they are raised,
the lifting pieces H being acted upon by eccentrics on a spindle I, upon
which a lever handle J is fixed. In the Drawings, the inking rollers are
represented as being in their highest position, having been raised by turning
the spindle I, so as to bring upwards the prominent portions of the eccentrics
upon it. The printing roller D is of solid metal, the central part being of
cast iron; which is covered by a considerable thickness K of zinc, the whole
being made in such a solid manner as to bear the printing pressure without
its surface being the least affected thereby. Directly below the printing
roller is the counter-pressure roller L, the bearings of which are capable
of sliding in short vertical slots in the side standards, and these bearings
extend downwards below the "roller, so as to be acted upon by eccen-
trics on a spindle M, which is turned by means of a bent lever handle N,
fixed upon it outside the framing. The bearings of the counter-pressure
roller L are each formed in one piece, with a bent bracket O in slots,
in which are carried the take-up or traction roller P, and a small nipping

page_text: or friction roller Q. The spindle of the roller P has fixed upon it a
pulley R, round which is passed a cord or belt from a pulley S, on the
spindle of the counter-pressure roller L, so that the rotation of the latter
drives the roller P, and causes it to draw through or take up the fabric T as
it is printed. The fabric T to be printed is unwound from a roller U, carried
in bearings formed on the standards A, in front of the printing roller. Friction.
straps V are applied to the spindles of the roller U, to regulate the tension of
the fabric. The fabric T passes from the roller U over a breadthener W,
consisting of a fixed bar, with inclined ridges formed upon it, and running in
opposite directions from the centre towards the sides; this stretches the fabric
and renders it quite smooth, and the fabric passes thence between the print-
ing roller D, and the counter-pressure roller L, and onwards to the taking-up
roller P. When in action, the inking rollers. E, F, which are of the kind
commonly used in zincographic printing presses, having been supplied with
ink, are lowered into contact with the printing roller D, their weight pro-
ducing sufficient pressure for communicating the ink to the latter, and the
counter-pressure roller L is lifted up to the printing roller D and the machine
is set in motion, being driven by means of a spur wheel X, fast on the spindle
of the roller L, and in gear with a pinion Y, fast on the shaft Z, running in
bearings in the side standards, and actuated by means of a winch handle a.
The ink is supplied to the upper roller, and it is spread upon both rollers in
a uniform manner by turning them by means of a handle h, fixed on the
spindle of one of them. The details by which the printing roller is damped
or moistened consist of a roller b, covered with a number of folds or plies of
cloth, or any suitable material capable of holding or absorbing a considerable
supply of water. This roller 6 rolls in contact with the printing roller D, and
the superfluous moisture is taken off by means of a pad c, which is in contact
with the roller, and being stationary, it produces the effect of a rubbing action
upon the roller, whilst the moisture which it collects from the roller runs back
to the roller b, by a piece of cloth attached to the pad. These moistening
details are carried in moveable-brackets-d,-and.can be shifted into or out of
contact with the printing roller by means of a pair of eccentrics e on a
spindle f, carried in bearings in the standard A, and fitted with a small lever
handle g. It will be obvious-to-the-practical_man_that the general arrange-
ment of apparatus just described is equally applicable where a lithographic
printing roller is employed: In granulating or preparing the surface of zinc
printing rollers I employ the apparatus represented on Sheet 2 of the Draw-
ings, consisting of a light frame A, mainly consisting of a rectangular .cast-

page_text: iron base, supporting four vertical pillars, which form two end standards, stayed
across longitudinal by two parallel rods. It is formed with bottom bearings
for the zinc roller B, upon the spindle of which a handle C is temporarily
fixed. On the opposite end of the spindle of the roller B is fixed a pulley D,
the belt E of which passes also round a pulley F, fast on one end of a screw
spindle G, carried in bearings in the upper part of the frame A. The
screw spindle G is tapped through a bracket piece H, to which is connected a
box I, the under surface of which is made to fit the roller B. The box I is
formed with a recess to contain emery powder, or any other powder used in the
granulating process, and this powder finds its way through a suitable aperture
or apertures in the bottom of the box I to the surface of the roller B. Then,
by turning the handle C, the roller B is made to rotate, whilst the action of
the screw spindle G above causes the box I to traverse gradually from end
to end of the roller B, its under side being thereby made to rub or work the
emery powder in a uniform manner upon the zinc surface of the roller B, so
as to produce the required granulation upon it.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of zincographic and
lithographic printing apparatus, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of making the printing roller of zincographic
cylinder printing machines of solid metal, the centre of the roller being of
cast iron or other metal, whilst the outer portion is of zinc, but of such
a thickness as not to be affected by the working pressure, as herein-before
described.
Third, the system or mode of moistening the surface of zincographic printing
rollers by means of a saturated roller and a pad, the former applying moisture
to the roller, and the latter subsequently taking away superfluous moisture, as
herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of granulating or preparing the surface of
zincographic printing rollers, by means of a rubbing surface, supplied with
emery or other powder, and made to traverse from end to end of the roller

page_text: whilst the latter is made to rotate, the two being connected by suitable
gearing and being actuated together, as herein-before described.
In. witness whereof, I; the said James Wallace, junior, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
JAS. WALLACE, JR. (L.S.)