IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter
North Britain, for the
MACHINERY."
Connell, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew,
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Connell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th August 1876.
WALTER CONNELL, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINERY."
This Invention which relates to improvements in printing machinery has reference
to that class of such machinery known as platen machines.
The machine constituting the present Invention consists of a framing, in the
upper part of which is a crank shaft provided with a fly wheel and coupled by a
connecting rod to the treadle, by which the operator actuates the machine. On the
crank shaft is a tooth pinion which gears into a tooth wheel on a another shaft, this
shaft carrying a camb, by the movement of which the inking plate which is
situated at an angle at the upper part of the machine, has the requisite hori-
zontal reciprocating movement imparted to it during the time that the ink dis-
tributing rollers are being passed over the surface. The chase which holds the
types from which the impressions are made is situated vertically and beneath the
ink plate. The platen is carried on levers at the front part of the machine and
connected by links to revolving cranks, which as they rotate not only raise the
platen and grippers with the paper to receive the impression into the vertical
position, and draw it with the requisite degree of pressure against the types to
receive the impression therefrom, but also depress the platen to the horizontal
position, so as to enable the impression to be removed and a fresh sheet sub-
stituted.
The inking rollers are carried in a frame connected to the platen, so that as it
rises and falls they also rise and fall, thereby distributing the ink from the ink plate
to the printing types. The platen is supported on set screws, so that it can be at
once adjusted as the types may require.
i

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Connell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th February
1877.
WALTER CONNELL, of Paisley, in the County of Renfew, North Britain.
PROVEMENTS IN PRINTING MACHINERY."
"IM-
My said Invention relates to improvements in that class of printing machinery
known as platen printing machines.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings 'and 'to the letters and Figures marked thereon, that
is to say:-
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a side elevation of the
improved printing machine constructed in accordance with my said Invention;
Figures 2 and 3 nie respectively elevations of the front X and back Y of the
machine; whilst Figure 4 is a plan thereof.
A
As shown by the Drawings the machine consists of vertical frames A in whose
upper part a shaft B is carried On one end of this shaft a fly wheel C is fixed fast
and loose pulleys D and E respectively being carried on its other end to render the
machine capable of being driven from a steam engine or other prime mover
crank F is formed on the shaft B as seen at Figure 3, to which a rod or link G is
connected, the said link being also secured to a treadlo H centred at its rearward
end on a shaft I extending across the lower part of the framing A. By this -means
the machine is rendered capable of being also actuated by the printer or operator in
lieu of by a steam engine or other motor as herein-before mentioned, the connecting
rod G when power is applied being detached from the crank F or from the treadle H.
The shaft B further carries a spur pinion a which gears with a corresponding spur
wheel e fixed upon a shaft K also extending across the upper part of the framing A.
On the shaft Ka camb b or its equivalent is fixed in such a position that when it
rotates an inking plate L carried in an inclined position on the upper part of the
framing A has reciprocating motion imparted to it during the time that the ink dis-
tributing rollers herein-after mentioned are being passed over the surface of the ink
plate. To effect this motion the plate L is geared with the camb by means of a
vertical rod or bar formed with a jaw at its lower end into which the raised part of
the camb enters, as seen at Figure 4 The chase M. which holds the type is placed
vertically on a type bed extending between the frames A at their upper parts, and
immediately below the inking plate L. The chase is supported and held in position
by catches c (Figure 3) upon or within which its lower end rests, and by the rod d
whose hooked forward end passes through a hole or opening in the upper part of the
bed and grips upon the top side of the chase, as seen at Figures 2 and 4, with the
requisite retaining force. When it is desired to remove the chase the rod d is turned
until its hooked end points upwards or away from the chase M which being then
free can be lifted from its position on the bed xc.
The platen or plate N whereon the paper to be printed is placed, is carried on a
holder O centred at its rearward extremity on pins or studs fixed in the front part
of the machine, and the said frame is connected by rods or links G³ to crank discs
fixed upon the opposite ends of the shaft K. The spur wheel e constitutes one of
these discs, the other being marked Q on the Drawings. The discs as they rotate
raise the platen N and the gripper g with the paper to be printed into the vertical
position and draw it against the types with the requisite degree of pressure to cause
the paper to receive an impression therefrom, which being effected the discs again
depress the platen to the horizontal position so as to enable the impressed paper to
be removed and a fresh sheet substituted. The platen plate is carried upon set
screws h, which pass through the holder O, and by means of these screws the plate
may be adjusted to a greater or less distance from the bed as the types may
require.

page_text: The inking rollers i are carried in a frame j connected to the holder O by the
spring rods, and by this arrangement the frame j and the inking rollers are caused
to rise and fall simultaneously with the platen N. In rising, and when opposite the
inking plate L, the spring rods 6 force the rollers i into contact with the inclined
surface of the said plate, which being at the same time reciprocated by the camb b
distributes the requisite amount of ink on the rollers i. These rollers in descending
after one printing operation has been effected, and again in re-ascending, rub
against the types and so ink them for the next operation of printing with the
platen.
In the machine herein-before described the inking plate L has the ink distributed
upon it by hand, but in lieu of this an ink fountain may be provided in the
machine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that 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 improved platen printing machine, arranged and constructed sub-
stantially as herein-before described and shewn on the appended Sheet of Drawings.
Second. The employment in platen printing machines of the apparatus consist-
ing of the camb b or its equivalent, and mechanism by which it is operated, so as to
communicate reciprocating or distributing motion to the ink plate L whilst the
inking rollers are in contact with its inclined surface substantially as herein-before
described with reference to the Drawings hereunto appended.
Third. The improved arrangement of apparatus for actuating the platen N
through a vertical aic, and consisting of the holder O centred at one end on the
framings A, and operated by discs or cranks substantially as described with refer-
ence to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourth. The improved arrangement of apparatus shewn on the accompany-
ing Drawings for operating the inking rollers simultaneously with the platen plate
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The catch d for retaining the type chase on the type bed of printing
machines of the class herein-before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Connell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
WALTER CONNELL, (L.S.)