Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Platen Printing Machines.
I, CHARLES EDMUND SAWYER, residing at Number 6 Ellis Street, in the City
of Boston, County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, 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 bed and platen printing machines, more particularly
those designed for printing tags, tickets, labels, and other small articles; and my
invention has for its object to provide a machine of this character in which very
short movements of the reciprocating parts are required, thereby enabling the
machine to be run at a greater speed, while at the same time the friction and wear
of the parts are reduced to a minimum. To this end my invention consists in
certain novel features, combinations of parts, and details of construction as herein-
after set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a platen printing-machine constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the machine.
Figure 5 is a plan of the same.
Figure 6 is a sectional diagram showing the position of the parts when the form-
carriers are at the end of their outward traverse.
Figure 7 is a similar diagrain showing the form-carriers at the end of their
inward traverse in a position for printing.
Figure 8 is a detail of the platen showing the upper half or portion lowered or
"thrown off" to avoid taking an impression.
Figure 9 is a detail in perspective of one of the "throw off" rock-shafts by means
of which the upper portion of the platen is raised and lowered.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the upper half or portion of the platen, showing
the tympan-frame made in two parts, each pivoted to the removable top plate of the
platen.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the form-roller hangers.
Figures 12 and 13 are details to be referred to.
In the said drawings, A represents the framework of the machine and B the
bed-plate, upon which is placed the stationary platen C which is secured in place
thereon by a central clamping screw a, Figs. 2 and 6, and is made adjustable
in height by means of four levelling screws on which it rests, said screws being
located at the corners of the platen and passing down through the bed-plate
as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, beneath which they are provided with hand wheels e, by
which they may be turned to effect the desired adjustment of the platen.
D represents the vertically reciprocating form-bed which co-operates with the
platen C, said bed being provided on its upper side with a hollow actuating
plunger adapted to slide in a suitable guide E bolted to the side pieces of the
framework A, said plunger having pivoted to it at 25 a rod e connected to the strap
of an eccentric G on the main or driving-shaft H. by means of which the desired
vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to the form-bed D. The driving
shaft H is supported in bearings in the upper side pieces of the framework, and
carries at one end the fast and loose pulleys 26, 27, and at the opposite end a bevel
gear y, which meshes with a smaller bevel gear g², on a shaft h, Fig. 3, having its
bearings in brackets on the framework and carrying at one end a crank-disk 1
17

page_text: having an adjustable crank pin i to which is pivoted a rod k, the lower end of
which is connected with a ratchet and pawl mechanism J adapted to intermittingly
rotate the lower one of a pair of feed-rolls l, m, between which passes the web of
paper 28 which is drawn in a well known manner from a roll not shown.
The upper
feed-roll is forced downward toward the lower roll m by means of suitable
springs 29, Fig. 2, which exert a pressure upon the vertically sliding journal
boxes of said roll, whereby the necessary friction upon the paper is produced-to
insure a positive feed.
The form-bed D extends out beyond the platen at the front and rear, as shown
in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7, and is provided with horizontal grooves or guideways 30,
in which are fitted two reciprocating type-form carriers L, L, which are arranged
to slide horizontally in said ways in opposite directions away from and toward the
center of the form-bed D, whereby the type-forms 31, secured to the carriers Lin
any suitable manner, are caused to pass over and in contact with the form-inking
rollers both on their outward and inward movement or traverse.
Each of the type-forms is inked by a series of form-inking rollers e, the shafts of
which are supported in hangers p adjustably secured to the sides of the form-bed D
by means of slots and bolts 70, 71, and adjusting screws 72; said hangers being
provided on the inner side with bosses 73 having vertical slots 32 shown in Figs, 6
and 11, for the reception of the journals of the form-roller shafts, whereby as the
form-bed descends to give the impression, the journals of the form-rollers rise in
the slots 32, and the form-rollers are thus permitted to settle or adjust themselves
around the curved or convex surface of the ink cylinder M to insure the proper
supply of ink therefrom before the next outward movement of the type-forms, while
on the ascent of the form-bed the form-rollers descend by their own gravity as far
as permitted by the slots 32, which causes the tops of said rollers to be brought
to a uniform level, thus insuring perfect and complete contact of the form-rollers
with all parts of the type-forms as the latter pass thereover, both on their outward
and inward movement.
The type-form carriers L, L, are reciprocated in their guideways 30 to bring
them alternately into their printing and inking positions by means of rods,;
pivoted thereto at 33, and having their outer ends pivoted at 34 to levers N
depending from long hubs or sleeves 20 secured to horizontal rock-shafts P which
are supported in bearings in the framework and arranged on opposite sides of the
machine, said hubs or sleeves 20 being each provided with an inwardly curved
arm Q carrying at its upper end an anti-friction roll 35 which rests on the surface
of an actuating cam R on the main or driving shaft H. The rolls 35 are kept
constantly in contact with the cams R by means of stiff spiral springs 36, the
opposite ends of which are attached to arms 37 extending upward from the hubs 20
on the rock-shafts 1', whereby as the shaft H is rotated, the cams R acting on
the rolls 35 of the arms Q lift the same against the stress of the springs 36, and
through the connections described, cause the type-form carriers L to be simul-
taneously moved inward to their printing positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the
outward movement of the carriers L with their type-forms to enable the latter to
receive their supply of ink as described, being effected by the springs 36 as the
cams revolve. The arrangement of the mechanism is such that as soon as the
plunger d with the form-bed D has risen about one-eighth of an inch after producing
the impression, the type-forms commence to move outward to be inked, and are
returned to their printing positions by the time the eccentric G has completed its
revolution, and by attaching the form-rollers to the reciprocating form-bed as
described, so that they will move up and down therewith and thereby be caused
to periodically come into contact with the ink cylinders M arranged directly
beneath them in stationary bearings, I am enabled to ink the type-forms and feed
the paper while the form-bed is in motion, very short movements of the reciprocating
mechanism being consequently required under this construction, which renders it
possible to run the machine at a greater speed with a minimum of friction and
wear, advantages not possessed in ordinary bed and platen printing machines..

page_text: The shafts of the ink-cylinders M by which the form-rollers are supplied
with ink are supported in stationary bearings t in the framework, and are each
provided with a grooved pulley 38 which is driven by a belt 39 from a grooved
pulley 40 on a shaft 41 having its bearings in the lower portion of the framework
and carrying at one end a pulley 42 which is driven by a belt 43 from a pulley 44
on the driving shaft H, as shown in Fig. 2.
The ink cylinders M are supplied with ink by distributer rolls and vibrator
rolls 45 of the usual construction which are supplied by ductor rolls 46 which are
adapted to be brought into contact with the fountain rolls 47 in the ink-fountains 48
at each descent of the form-bed D in the following manner: The shaft of each of
the ductor rolls 46 is supported in bearings at the outer end of a frame 49 pivoted
to lugs on the ink-fountain, said frame being pressed upward by flat springs 52
which serve to lift the ductor-roll 46 away from the fountain-roll 47 and keep it
in contact with the vibrator-roll 45, as shown in Fig. 4, until the form-bed begins
to descend, which causes two downwardly-extending arms or bars 53 attached
thereto, one on each side, to come into contact with and depress the frame 49 and
thereby bring the ductor-roll 46 into contact with the fountain-roll 47, which latter
is rotated on the ascent of the form-bed by a ratchet and pawl mechanism 50
operated by a lever 54 connected by a rod 55 with the vertically reciprocating
form-bed D and in this manner a fresh supply of ink is transferred from the
fountain-roll to the ductor-roll at cach descent of the form-bed. The amount of
ink taken up by the fountain-roll is regulated by an inclined plate 56 shown dotted
in Figs. 1 and 4, made adjustable by a series of screws 57, this latter device being
well known and forming no part of my invention. The "throw off" device by
means of which the working surface of the platen is lowered or "thrown off" to
prevent the taking of an impression will now be described. The platen C is com-
posed of two principal portions or halves a, b, the upper portion or half a¹ having
a false or removable plate 58 which forms the upper or working face of the platen,
and to which is secured the tympan-frame 59 by which the blanket 21 and tympan
sheet 22, Fig. 7, are held in place upon the platen in the usual manner.
removable top-plate 59 is steadied and held in place by pins 23, (shown in Figs. 8
and 10) projecting from the portion a into holes in the under side of the plate 58
which permit of the latter being easily removed with the tympan-frame whenever
it may be found necessary to gain access to the tympan-sheet or blanket to adjust
the same, thereby avoiding the necessity of removing the entire portion a', which'
would be inconvenient.
The
The upper surface of the lower portion of the platen is provided with a series
of half-round grooves 60 which form sockets or bearings for a corresponding number
of rock-shafts d', each of which is provided with a longitudinal rib or projection 61,
Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, which fits into a rectangular groove 62 formed in the under side
of the upper portion of the platen, the height of these projections 61 being such
that when turned up by rocking the shafts a quarter revolution into the position
shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 7, they will act upon tlie portion a¹ and raise it clear of
the portion to its proper printing level, the corners of the projections 61 being
rounded off as shown to facilitate this movement. When however it is desired to
"throw off the platen so as not to priut as the web passes beneath the type-forms,
the projections 61 are turned down flatwise as shown in Fig. 8, when they will lie
snugly within the grooves 62, this movement causing the portion a¹ to descend and
rest upon the surface of the portion 6', in which position the working or top surface
of the platen will be below its printing level and no impression will be taken on the
descent of the form-bed D.
The rock-shafts d' are each provided at one end with a slotted crank e', Figs. 1
and 9, with which engages a pin f¹ on a horizontal slide bar g' moving in a
groove 75 in the portion, as shown in Fig. 13, said bar being actuated by a
slotted lever W projecting from a stud ¹, to which is secured a long lever k
provided with a handle 63 at each end, whereby it may be operated from each side
of the machine to simultaneously oscillate the rock-shafts and thus raise or lower

page_text: the working surface of the platen as may be required, suitable guides 64 secured
to the portion a and fitting snugly against the front and rear sides of the
portion and sliding in ways attached thereto, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12,
being employed to keep the portion al in position while being raised or lowered as
described.
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 a platen printing machine, the combination of a vertically reciprocating
form-bed provided with guideways, form-rollers mounted in hangers or supports
secured to said form-bed, a type-form carrier having a horizontally reciprocating
movement in said guideways, whereby the type-form is brought into contact with
the form-rollers, a platen with which said form-bed co-operates, and means, sub-
stantially as described, for vertically reciprocating the form-bed and horizontally
reciprocating the type-form carrier in the ways thereof to bring the type-form into
contact with the form-rollers and return it to its printing position during the time
that the form-bed is in motion, substantially as set forth.
2. In a platen printing machine, the combination with a platen and a vertically
reciprocating form-bed co-operating therewith, said form-bed being provided with
horizontal guideways, of a type-form carrier having a horizontally reciprocating
movement in said guideways, and a series of horizontally arranged form-rollers
supported in vertically slotted hangers attached to said form-bed and adapted to
receive ink from an ink-cylinder arranged directly beneath the same, whereby said
form-rollers are permitted to rise and adapt themselves to the curved surface of the
ink-cylinder on the descent of the form-bed and drop to a uniform level on the
ascent of said form-bed to permit the type-form to be brought into contact will all
of said form-rollers as it passes thercover, substantially as described.
3. In a platen printing machine, the combination, with a vertically reciprocating
form-bed provided with guideways extending outward from its centre in opposite
directions, of two type-form carriers having a horizontal movement in said guide-
ways simultaneously away from and toward the centre of the bed, whereby the
type-forms are caused to be inked, a series of form-rollers for cach type-form
mounted in hangers or supports secured to and moving with the form-bed, a platen
with which said form-bed co-operates, and means, substantially as described for
vertically reciprocating the form-bed and horizontally reciprocating the type-form
carriers in their guideways simultaneously in opposite directions to ink the type-
forms and return the same to their printing positions while the form-bed is in
motion, substantially as set forth.
4. In a platen printing machine, the combination with a vertically reciprocating
form-bed provided with guideways extending outward from its centre in opposite
directions, of two type-form carriers having a horizontal movement in said guide-
ways simultaneously away from and toward the centre of the bed, whereby the
type-forms are caused to be inked, a series of form-rollers for each .type-form
mounted in hangers or supports secured to and moving with the form-bed, a platen
with which said form-bed co-operates, the levers N, connected with said type-form
carriers by rods y, the horizontal rock-shafts P provided with arms Q and 37, and
the cams R and springs 36 for actuating the type-form carriers in opposite
directions, all operating substantially as described.
5. In a platen printing machine, the combination of the vertically reciprocating
form-bed D, its plunger d and the eccentric G for actuating the same, said form-
bed being provided with guideways 30 extending outward from its centre in
opposite directions, the two type-form carriers having a horizontal movement in the
guideways 30 simultaneously away from and toward each other, the platen C, a
series of form-rollers for each type-form, said rollers having their journals
supported in vertical slots 32 in hangers p secured to the form-bed, two ink-
cylinders M arranged one beneath each series of form-rollers, the rock shafts P,

page_text: levers N, connected by the rods y, with the type-form carriers, the arms Q
and 37, the actuating cams R, and the springs 36, all operating substantially as
set forth.
6. In a platen printing machine, a platen composed of two portions vertically
separable from each other, combined with rock-shafts interposed between said
portions and provided with projections adapted to act upon the upper portion of
the platen to raise or lower the working surface of the same, a hand-lever connected
with said rock-shafts for actuating the same, and guides for keeping the upper
portion of the platen in place, substantially as set forth.
7. In a platen printing machine, the platen C composed of a lower portion b
and an upper portion a separable vertically from each other, and provided with
suitable guides, said portion a' having grooves 62 on its under side, in combination
with the rock-shafts having their bearings in the lower portion and provided
with ribs or projections 61 fitting within said grooves 62, and adapted when moved
into a vertical position to raise the upper portion of the platen and hold the same
in its printing position, and when turned into a horizontal position to lower or
"throw off the platen to prevent the taking of an impression, and means sub-
stantially as described for oscillating the rock-shafts to raise and depress the
working surface of the platen, substantially as set forth.
8. In a platen printing machine, the combination with the vertically reciprocating
form-bed and its horizontally reciprocating type-form carrier, of the fountain and
fountain roll, the latter rotated intermittingly by ratchet and pawl mechanism
connected with the form-bed, the ductor-roll mounted on a movable frame and
normally held out of contact with the fountain roll and a bar or projection on the
form-bed adapted to depress the ductor-roll frame on the descent of the form-bed
to bring the ductor-roll into contact with the fountain-roll and retain it in such
position until the ascent of the form-bed, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
D
1
T
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.