Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing the Ink in Printing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing the Ink in Printing
Machines.
I, WILLIAM BREWER SILVERLOCK, of 92, Blackfriars Road, in the County
of Surrey, Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My present invention relates to printing machines in which the "forme" (or
surface from which the impression is to be taken), is made to reciprocate backward
and forward, passing first under rollers by which the ink is distributed upon it and
afterwards under a printing cylinder by which aú impression is transferred to the
sheet of paper or other material which is to be printed.
In such machines it is important that the ink should be evenly distributed upon
the forme, and my invention has for its objects novel methods of construction and
arrangements by which such evenness of distribution is ensured.
The inking roller or rollers by which the ink is distributed upon the forme are
ordinarily of comparatively small diameter, and they are provided with one or
more smaller rollers above or adjoining them, by which the ink is more perfectly
distributed, and for this purpose it is advisable that such smaller rollers in addition
to revolving upon the inking rollers should have a movement backward and forward
end ways.
To give them such a movement I fit the smaller rollers loose upon their spindles
so that they can revolve freely upon the latter, and I fix the spindles in the notches
or bearings in which they fit, so that they can neither revolve nor move endways,
and at a convenient part of their length I form a screw thread of sufficient size
and pitch upon which fits and works a corresponding nut fitted into or formed upon
the centre of the roller. When therefore the latter is turned backward and
forward by the movement of the inking roller upon the reciprocating table below,
it also has an endlong movement backward and forward along the spindle.
The arrangement described may be varied more or less. For instance one or
both ends of the spindle (upon which the roller is fixed) may be screwed and fitted
into corresponding nuts which form the bearings and are themselves dropped into
notches or recesses in the frame of the machine, so that they can neither turn
round nor move endways.
Or, in another method of arrangement, I make the rollers fixed upon the
spindles and I make the ends of the latter (which are not screwed) project beyond
the bearings in which they turn, and to each side of the travelling bed or table of
the machine I fix inclined guides which press against the ends of the spindles
and cause them together with the rollers to move backward and forward endways as
the table reciprocates backward and forward.
One cause of the irregular distribution of the ink upon the "forme" (especially
when the latter is of considerable length) is that the end of it which first comes
under the inking roller receives the largest proportion of ink from the latter,
whilst the other end receives less and is therefore less perfectly inked. In order
to remedy this, I make the inking roller of such diameter that its circumference
is at least equal to the length of the forme which is to be inked by it.
As the whole of its circumference becomes inked by the inking table which
passes under it, it follows that every part of the "forme " comes in contact with a
freshly inked part of the roller, the latter making not more than one complete
revolution as the "forme " passes under it, instead of more than one complete
revolution as when a smaller roller is used in the ordinary way.
One or more smaller distributing rollers are preferably arranged in contact with

page_text: the large inking roller described, such smaller rollers being provided with screwed
axes, as already described, so as to give them a movement backward and forward
end ways, as well as of revolution, in order to ensure a more perfect distribution of
the ink.
13
Between the large inking roller described and the printing cylinder, I sometimes
arrange two ordinary inking rollers resting upon the "forme and having above
and between them so as to touch both of them, a smaller roller having a backward
and forward movement end ways as above described.
Or, in another modified form of the inking apparatus the "forme" is inked by
two or more sets of rollers, each set being carried in a frame capable of rising and
falling, and the frames being operated by inclined planes upon the table, or
equivalent devices, so that the rollers in one set are in contact with the "forme
during the first part of its movement under them, whilst in the latter part of such
movement the other set of rollers is lowered upon it, the first set being raised out
of contact.
"
Whilst the rollers are being inked, both sets are lowered upon the inking
table.
I do not confine myself to the precise details, and method of arrangement of the
improved devices described, which may be varied more or less to suit different
circumstances as may be found advisable
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distributing the Ink in Printing
Machines.
1, WILLIAM BREWER SILVERLOCK, of 29, Ludgate Hill, in the City of
London, Printer, 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 and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for distributing the ink, in
printing machines in which the ink is first distributed upon an inking table by
distributing rollers, and is then transferred to inking rollers which ink the
"forme," or lithographic stone, which passes under them, and which then passes
under a cylinder by which the impression is transferred to paper. The objects of
my invention are to ensure the even and uniform distribution of the ink upon the
"forme " or stone and to provide for the equal distribution of the ink upon the
inking roller.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
in which:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of an ordinary cylinder printing machine
as is necessary to explain my invention (Figure 5 shewing such a machine as
ordinarily constructed),
Figure 2 is a front view of the ink distributing rollers,
Figure 3 is a transverse section through the said rollers, and
Figure 4 is an end view of the small roller above the principal ink distributing
roller.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
a is part of the side frame of a printing machine, is one of the bearings in
which the axle of the printing cylinder e revolves, d, d, d, Figure 1, are distributing
rollers by which ink is transferred to the upper surface of an inking table
carried
upon a frame which is made to travel backward and forward in the machine in the
usual way, ink being supplied to the rollers d, d, d, by mechanism of the ordinary

page_text: well known kind. In travelling along the frame the inking table e passes under
the inking rollers, ordinarily consisting (as illustrated in Figure 5) of a sufficient
number of small transverse rollers f,,, capable of rising and falling slightly in
their bearings g.
The inking table e in passing under these rollers transfers to them the ink upon
its surface, and after the inking table has passed under them in its return stroke it
is followed by the type "forme." or lithographic stone, which is carried by the
reciprocating travelling frame so that it passes under the inking rollers and is
inked by them. Upon the next movement of the travelling frame the design is.
transferred and printed upon paper carried by the printing cylinder e which
is provided with grippers and other mechanism of the kind well known in printing
machines.
In the method of arrangement described in which a number of small inking
rollers are used, as illustrated in Figure 5, as has been invariably the case up
to the present time, the ink is always imperfectly distributed upon the "forme
or inking surface, and more especially so where the latter is of considerable
length, because the end of it which first comes under the small inking rollers /
receives the principal part of the ink upon the latter, which as they continue
to revolve upon the "formne," after having made one complete revolution, have
little ink left upon their surface to be transferred to the remainder of the
"forme," and the end of the "forme" which is the last to reach them is
accordingly much less perfectly inked than the first part. This defect is well
known to practical printers, but has never been successfully overcome.
72
"
In order to remedy it, I make the main inking roller (Figure 1) of such a
diameter that its circumference is at least equal to the longest
"forme or
printing surface which is to be used in the printing machine. As the whole of
its circumference becomes inked by the inking table e which passes under it, it
follows that every part of the "forme or printing surface to be inked comes in
contact with a freshly inked part of the roller, the latter making not more than
one complete revolution as the "forme" passes under it, instead of more than one
complete revolution as where smaller rollers are used in the same way, as shewn
at fin Figure 5. One or more of the smaller rollers are however left between
the large inking roller and the printing cylinder c, in order more perfectly to
distribute the ink.
A smaller roller i is carried in bearings above the large roller h, upon which
latter it is pressed by its own weight or by separate weights or springs.
This roller causes a more even and perfect distribution of the ink upon the
surface of the roller h, for which purpose it is advisable that as it revolves by
friction against the roller below it, it should have a simultaneous end movement
backward and forward for a short distance.
For this purpose I make the roller i revolve freely upon its axle k which does
not itself revolve but is fitted into the bearings / so that it can rise and fall, but
can neither revolve nor move end ways, the parts m, m, fitting in the bearings being
square and being provided with collars upon each side of the bearings.
One end of the axle is formed with a screw thread which turns freely in a nut
let into and fixed to the roller i at n. As therefore this roller revolves by friction
against the roller h, it is also made to travel backward and forward along the
screwed axle k.
Instead of the roller moving upon a fixed axle, the latter may be fixed in the
roller as illustrated in Figure 6, one or both of its ends being screwed and passing
through corresponding screwed nuts rising and falling in the bearings / but incapable
of either revolving or moving end ways.
Or in another method of arrangement for the purpose, the rollers are fixed upon
their axles which are not screwed, and the ends of which project beyond the
bearings and come in contact with inclined guides fixed upon each side of the bed
or table, so that as the latter reciprocates the rollers are made to move backward
and forward endways.

page_text: In a modified form of inking apparatus which I sometimes employ, the forme is
inked by two or inore sets of rollers each carried in a frame capable of rising and
falling, and the frames being operated by inclined planes upon the table, or
equivalent devices, so that the rollers of one set are in contact with the forme
during the first part of its movement under them, whilst in the latter part of such
movement the other set of rollers is lowered upon it, the first set being raised out
of contact with it. During inking, both sets of rollers are lowered upon the
table.
The details and method of arrangement of the apparatus may be varied more or
less as may be found desirable.
The devices described may be applied to others of the rollers of the printing
machine which it is desired shall have an endlong movement backward and forward
whilst revolving. By the use of the large inking roller in the manner described,
I have found it possible to obtain an evenness and uniformity of distribution of the
ink upon the printing surface, such as has never heretofore been obtained in such
machines.
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 printing machine, the inking roller having a circumference not less
than the greatest length of the "forme or printing surface which is to be used
in the printing machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
illustrated.
2. In the ink distributing roller of a printing machine, the combination with the
roller of the loose axle & screw threaded and working through a nut n in the
roller, and having its ends m of such a shape as to be capable of rising and falling
in the guides without rotating or moving endways, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 4.
Dated this 10th day of November 1893.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.