Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 7th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
I CHARLES BUTTERFIELD Printers Engineer Hockley Mill in the Town
and County of the Town of Nottingham do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Improvements in platen printing machines.
The invention relates more to that class of platen printing machines, known as
the stationary type bed; and the object of which is to obtain more certain and
greater results, by a new and novel method of platen arrangement, an improved
means of applying the impression, and to prevent inking of forme when impression
is thrown off, and a new arrangement of applying the ink, and changing the
position of rollers, and obtaining better distribution. Together with an improved
construction of the standards.
The construction of the machine is as follows.
At the front part of machine, and on the inside of each standard are two spur
wheels, that have cast on them their axles that revolve in each standard, the wheels
being driven by pinions cast or fixed on crank driving shaft.
Connecting the two spur wheels is an axle, screwed in or keyed through each
crank hole in the two spur wheels; working on this axle, are links connected to
axles or shaft in a platen carrying frame, the frame being centred near the bottom
of standard and free to oscillate by the crank and link motion. At the top end of
the frame is a shaft or axles carrying the platen.
The platen centred at its top side and moving with its gripper bar grippers &c.,
by its weight, and following down when the machine closes for impression, it rests
rigidly against the frame. On the under side of platen is a truck and axle,
working on a cam fixed on the standard that lifts the bottom side of the platen
when the machine opens after the impression is taken, and holding it in position
while the sheet is fed on to the platen.
The type bed is carried inside and resting on a roller free to move on the
standards, the back side of bed has an incline, or inclines, and working on these
inclines is a frame corresponding to them, the frame back being parallel with the
front part of type bed, the whole pressing against the standards by a weight acting
behind the bed or springs in lieu of weight.
On the type bed frame is an adjustable impression screw and nut, with a rod
acting against it, the other end of rod with swivel cap pressing against one of the
standards; the cap end of rod being lifted or depressed by a lever from front of
machine, and by its movement forces the inclines, and in turn the type bed against
the other standard and forward, thus the impression is given to the type bed and
may be deminished or increased by the impression screw. Free to move on the side
of the standard and over the type bed sides are bearers on which the inking rollers
ride, when the impression is thrown off the bearers are held up by the standards
and thus prevent the rolling of the ink duct and forme. On the top of type bed is
carried the ink cylinders and troughs, and consists of, at each end of type bed a
narrow cylinder on the one spindle and troughs to correspond; the pressure being
gauged in the middle, or each trough separately; on the end of spindle is a toothed
atch wheel and lever with catch to give motion to the ink cylinder, and so timed

page_text: that the motion of cylinder takes place when the inking rollers pass over it,
such motion being given by the side arms, from a truck acting upon the lever.
The side arms have their axles cast on them and work in the standards, they are
coupled together by a cross bar and receive their motion from a crank and link
connected with one of the spur wheels, these carry the rollers that move over the
forme ink duct and ink plate; the rollers being wider than the forme and each
passing over the turuing cylinder receives their ink supply, and transmit it to both
sides of the ink plate. The plate is carried by the standard at the back and over
the ink cylinder and type bed, and is revolved by a clawker under the plate acted
upon by a cam on the cross bar.
I may make the whole arrangement to work from spur wheels at the back of the
machine in place of the front as described above.
The standards may be of any convenient form suitable to its requirements, on
each standard I cast a portion of each stretcher the ends of which have a flange
and facings for coupling the two sides together, with one or more bolts through the
standards or stretchers, the whole thus forming a solid structure.
Dated this 6th day of May 1896.
Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
I CHARLES BUTTERFIELD Printers Engineer Hockley Mill in the Town
and County of the Town of Nottingham, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in and applicable to platen printing
machines and has more particular reference to improvements in and applicable to
platen printing machines with stationary type beds, the object of the present
invention being improvements in the means for and method of carrying and
operating the platen; improvements in the ink distributing arrangements and
means whereby the position of the rollers relatively to the type is changed at each
impression; improvements in the means and method for throwing the impression
on, and off, and means for preventing the ink rollers touching the type and ink
cylinders when the impression is off; improvements in the method of connecting
the standards, and improvements in the general arrangement of the machine.
This invention is herein described with reference to the accompanying sheet of
drawings upon which :-
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of the upper part of a platen printing machine with a
stationary type bed constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the type bed and connected parts.
Fig. 3. is a horizontal section of the same and Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the
method of connecting the standards.
In a machine constructed according to this invention with a stationary type bed
all the moving parts of the machine are carried by the standards a which are of
suitable outline and shaped to correspond with the space required by the various
moving parts. The machine is driven from the shaft b which may be fitted with
pulleys for power driving or with a crank for treadle driving. On the shaft b is a
pinion b which gears into a wheel e carried by a shaft c which has bearings in
both standards and on the inside of the same is fitted with cranks c2 which are
connected by a long crank pin and actuate the platen frame or carriage d' through
a link or links d². This platen frame or carriage is pivotted near the bottom of

page_text: the standards on a line which is practically a continuation of the face of the type
in the type bed. The platen d is pivotted to the upper end of the frame or
carriaged by which it is moved to and from the type. The platen is also pivotted
at e to a link el which is fitted to turn and slide on a pin fixed to the standard,
and between the pin and the end of a slot in the link there is a spring e³. The
platen is also fitted with any convenient arrangement of blanket irons, grippers
gripper bars, and the usual accessories.
As the crank revolves the platen is moved towards the type bed and at the
same time by its own weight turns about the axle d' under the guidance of the
link e until the back or underside of the platen rests upon the face of the frame or
carriage d', or upon stops attached to the platen or frame, or to stops on both the
platen and frame. This meeting of the platen and frame or carriage is designed
to take place before the platen meets the type, and at this point the link e¹ is in
such a position that further movement of the frame or carriage causes the link e¹
to slide on the pine and compress the spring e. On the return motion of the
frame or carriage the reverse action takes place and the platen is raised to the
position shown. By this arrangement the platen is practically without motion at
the time impression is taken when it rests solidly on its frame or carriage, and it is
also without motion at the time it is at its top position.
The type bed is made with side strips for the chase, with lugs f* and fat
the bottom for supporting the chase and frame g and for holding the type bed in
position between the standards a. At the top of the type bed is a flange f which
is fitted to slide on the top of the standards and to carry the ink ducts, while the
underside by the lugs 12 and 3 rests upon one or more rollers which are placed
between the lugs and facings on the standards. The type bed is also fitted with
ink roller bearers p which are described hereafter.
On the adjacent faces of the type bed and frame g there are inclines f* and g',
and at the back of the frame g is the standards a, from which arrangement it follows
that an end movement of the frame g causes the type bed to move to or from the
standards and thus throw the impression on or off. There is also a spring i at the
back of the type bed which is fastened to any convenient fixed part of the standard
and used for keeping the type bed inclines pressed upon the frame inclines g'.
A weight may be used instead of the spring if desired.
At the back of the frame g is a lug g which is tapped for a screw by which
the amount of impression is varied, the standard being cut away at a¹ to allow of
the lug g2 sliding therein and recessed at a² to allow of the head of the screw / and
its lock nut being easily accessible to the attendant.
The end of the screw h fits a cupped recess in one end of a rod whose other
end is fitted to a cupped recess in a block h which is carried by the rod h³ and
fitted to slide vertically on the inner face of the standard between the frame g and
a strip a³. The rod is pivotted to a lever h' fitted inside the standard to an axle
which projects through the standard and is fitted with a lever A the handle of
which is placed within easy reach of the operator. When the parts are in the
position shown the type bed is in its forward position, and the impression is "on,"
that is the type is in position to produce an impression on the paper laid on the
platen when the latter is moved forward. When the impression is to throw off,
the handle is pulled forward, and the block A raised. The spring i then comes
into action drawing back the type bed which in its turn through the inclines f
and g forces the frame g endways, and the type is thus drawn clear of the paper on
the platen when the latter is in its forward position. The amount of impression i
regulated by the screw h.
The rollers k for inking the type are carried by slides in the side arms k³, at
each side of the machine, and pivotted at on the standards. The arms on both
sides of the machine are connected by a tie bar or stretcher k and are actuated by
a link from a crank pin on the wheel c.
A plain ink distributing plate m is used and it is mounted and intermittently
rotated similarly to other ink plates in ordinary platen machines.

page_text: The ink is supplied by means of two narrow ink cylinders n carried by the same
spindle and placed over the type bed and at the sides of the same just inside the
roller bearers p.
The ink ducts and the knives are of the usual description, and each knife may
be adjusted separately or the two knives may be connected together by a bar al as
shown and adjusted by a screw n². In Fig. I the ink duct is omitted to show the
mechanism for intermittently rotating the cylinders. This mechanism consists of
internal ratchet teeth o in one cylinder, a ratchet lever o¹, a clawker o, a pin or
truck o' on the side arm, and a spring not shown for keeping the lever o' in contact
with the truck o. When the rollers k are on the ink plate m, the lever o' is under
the truck o, and as the rollers descend the clawker comes into action to rotate the
ink cylinders n, and as the rollers pass over the cylinders the latter are rotated
quickest because the truck o' is then nearer the fulcrum of the lever o¹, than at any
other time. This action ensures a better ink supply and also revolves the rollers
independently of the rotation due to the motion of the side arms, and a different
part of the rollers is passed over any particular part of the type at each inking of
the same, and a different portion of the ink rollers is likewise presented to the ink
cylinders.
On the ends of the axles of the ink rollers k there are metal trucks which run on
bearers p which rest during printing on the side strips of the type bed. Now
these bearers are fitted to slide at the sides of the standards on pies p', and there
are stops at which limit the motion of the bearers in one direction. When the
impression is thrown off and the type bed is drawn back the bearers p come into
contact with the stops a and are thereby prevented from moving back the same
distance as the type bed and the ink ducts carried by it, with the result that the
face of the bearers are further from the face of the type bed and the ink rollers k
are held clear of the type and ink cylinders.
In a modification of the herein described mechanisms the link e' may be replaced
by a cam fixed to the standard and a truck on the platen which is held to the cam
by a spring. There may also be wheels and c on both sides of the standards it'
desired and these may bc inside or outside the same.
The ink duct arrangement consisting of the cylinders at both sides of the type
bed may he applied to platen printing machines with stationary type beds and means
for throwing the impression on and off from the platen, and also to printing
machines with oscillating type beds.
This invention comprises also an improved method of connecting the standards
together, and such method is illustrated in Figs. 4. 5. 6 and 7. In Figs. 4 and 5 a
hollow part stretcher a is cast on each standard a and the two standards are
fastened together by a bolt a. In Figs. 6 and 7 an angle, curved, or other shaped
part stretcher a' is cast on each standard a and the two parts are bolted together by
Hanges a and bolts a. This method of connecting the standards may also be used
with the various kinds of platen machines herein referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In platen printing machines with stationary type beds, the combination of a
pivotted platen frame or carriage with a platen pivotted thereto, and a link or its
equivalent operating for the purpose specified as herein described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
2. In platen printing machines with stationary type beds the combination of a
type bed fitted to slide for throwing the impression on or off and regulating the
amount of the impression; inclines at the back of the type bed; corresponding
inclines on a frame which is fitted to slide acress the standards; an impression
screw, and connections between the same and the impression lever, constructed and
arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: 3. In platen printing machines with stationary type beds the combination of a
type bed fitted to slide for throwing the impression on and off, and for regulating.
the amount of the impression with ink roller bearers and stops on the standards
arranged to hold up the bearers when the impression is thrown off and prevent the
rollers touching the type and ink cylinders substantially as herein described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. In a platen printing machine with a stationary type bed the combination of
ink duct cylinders placed over and at the sides of the type bed; and ratchet
mechanism for actuating the cylinders, arranged and operating to deliver the ink
on opposite sides of the ink plate and to change the position of the rollers, relatively
to the type at each complete motion as herein described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
5. In a platen printing machine with an oscillating type bed, the combination of
ink duct cylinders placed over and at the sides of the type bed, and ratchet
mechanism for actuating the cylinders, arranged and operating to deliver the ink
on opposite sides of the ink plate, and to change the position of the rollers relatively
to the type at each complete motion as herein described.
6. In platen printing machines constructing the standards with a portion of the
connecting stretchers cast on each standard substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. 4. 5. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In platen printing machines the combination of a platen pivotted to its.
carrying frame which is pivotted on the standards and actuated by a crank, a link
for guiding the free end of the platen a type bed with inclines at the back of the
same, a frame with inclines corresponding to those on the type bed, impression.
screw and connected mechanism ink cylinders at both sides of the type bed, and
ink roller bearers constructed and arranged as herein described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
8. A platen printing machine constructed, arranged and operating as herein.
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of April 1897.
W. H. POTTER,
Brougham Chambers, Nottingham.